Dictionary — Entry No. 0634
꿈
kkum · noun
꿈
kkum
[KKOOM]
nounbeginner
Meaning
꿈 means ‘dream’ in Korean, covering both literal sleep-dreams and figurative aspirations or goals. It carries deep emotional weight in Korean culture, where pursuing one’s dream is tied to themes of youth, identity, and perseverance.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
BTS built their early era around 꿈 — their debut single ‘No More Dream’ challenged young Koreans to reclaim authentic aspirations over societal pressure. The word saturates K-Pop fan culture, where idol trainees are praised for chasing their 꿈 through years of hardship before debut.
Example Sentences
내 꿈은 가수가 되는 거야.
Nae kkum-eun gasu-ga doeneun geoya.
My dream is to become a singer. (A phrase heard in countless idol audition stories — 꿈 here is a life’s calling, not just a wish.)
꿈에서 봤어.
Kkum-eseo bwasseo.
I saw you in a dream. (Romantic and wistful — common in K-Drama confessions, where the line blurs between sleep and longing.)
꿈을 포기하지 마.
Kkum-eul pogi-haji ma.
Don’t give up on your dream. (A fan chant staple — 꿈 doubles as the word for both aspiration and the act of dreaming.)
⚠️ Don’t use kkum when…
The opening ㄲ is a tense consonant — it sounds like a sharp, clipped ‘k’, not the soft ‘g’ English speakers default to. Also, 꿈꾸다 (kkum-kkuda) is the verb ‘to dream’; 꿈 alone is only the noun form.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Start-Up (스타트업) — protagonist Seo Dal-mi’s entire journey is framed as chasing her 꿈 of building a tech company, making the word a recurring emotional anchor through every setback.
- K-Pop: BTS — No More Dream (노 모어 드림)
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.