Dictionary — Entry No. 0673
걱정
geokjeong · noun
걱정
geokjeong
[guhk-JUHNG]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Worry, concern, or anxiety. 걱정 is the noun; 걱정하다 is the verb ‘to worry.’ It spans everything from mild concern to deep dread, and expressing 걱정 for someone is considered an act of love in Korean culture — caring enough to worry is caring deeply.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Korean parents are famous for expressing love through 걱정 — 걱정했잖아! (I was so worried!) is the classic greeting when a child comes home late. BTS’s ‘Spring Day (봄날)’ is saturated with this kind of anxious longing for someone missing, and the word resonates deeply with fans who worry about their favorite idols’ wellbeing.
Example Sentences
걱정이 너무 많아.
Geokjeong-i neomu mana.
I have too many worries. (expressing being overwhelmed)
네 걱정이 돼.
Ne geokjeong-i dwae.
I’m worried about you. (a heartfelt expression of caring)
걱정 마. 잘 될 거야.
Geokjeong ma. Jal doel geoya.
Don’t worry. It’ll work out. (gentle reassurance)
⚠️ Don’t use geokjeong when…
걱정 (worry) and 고민 (concern/dilemma) overlap but aren’t identical — 고민 implies wrestling with a decision or problem, while 걱정 is pure, sometimes helpless worry. Second, the pronunciation has a stopped ㄱ at the end of 걱 that creates a subtle pause before 정 — skipping this makes it sound unnatural.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Crash Landing on You — Captain Ri conceals his intense 걱정 for Se-ri behind a military stoicism that gradually cracks, becoming one of the drama’s most beloved slow-burn tensions.
- K-Pop: BTS — Spring Day (봄날)
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.