Korean · Emotions & Descriptions
"Kind" in Korean: 친절하다
친절하다chinjeolhada
Kind in Korean is 친절하다 (chinjeolhada). 친절하다 describes helpful or courteous behavior toward someone; 착하다 is another word for kind-hearted.
Kind: an everyday statement
직원이 친절해요.jigwoni chinjeolhaeyo.
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How to pronounce 친절하다
Say it
chinjeolhada
/tɕʰintɕʌlhata/
Read 친절하다 as chinjeolhada. The spoken form 친절해요 is chinjeolhaeyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"Kind" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 친절하다chinjeolhada | Kind Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 친절해요chinjeolhaeyo | Kind (polite present) Use 친절해요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 친절해요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 친절했어요chinjeolhaesseoyo | Kind (polite past) Use 친절했어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 친절했어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 친절하다 in real life
- 1Kind: an everyday statement
직원이 친절해요.
jigwoni chinjeolhaeyo.
The staff member is kind.
친절해요 is the present form of 친절하다.
- 2Kind: a different situation
어제 만난 사람이 친절했어요.
eoje mannan sarami chinjeolhaesseoyo.
The person I met yesterday was kind.
친절했어요 is the past form of 친절하다.
- 3Kind: a question or request
선생님이 친절해요?
seonsaengnimi chinjeolhaeyo?
Is the teacher kind?
친절해요 is the present form of 친절하다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 친절하다
Incorrect: 친절하다.
Correct: 친절해요.
When practicing kind, 친절하다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 친절해요.
Incorrect: 어제 친절해요.
Correct: 어제 친절했어요.
When practicing kind, for a completed event yesterday, use 친절했어요; the present form 친절해요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
친절하다 describes helpful or courteous behavior toward someone; 착하다 is another word for kind-hearted. 친절해요 is the polite conversational form of 친절하다; 친절했어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led emotions and descriptions study exercise: two sentences with 친절하다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
직원이 친절해요.
jigwoni chinjeolhaeyo.
The staff member is kind.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 만난 사람이 친절했어요.
eoje mannan sarami chinjeolhaesseoyo.
The person I met yesterday was kind.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Kind" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Kind" in Korean
How do I use 친절하다 in polite speech?
친절해요 is the polite conversational form of 친절하다; 친절했어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 친절하다 in a past-tense sentence?
친절했어요 is the polite past form. 친절하다 describes helpful or courteous behavior toward someone; 착하다 is another word for kind-hearted.
What does 친절해요 mean here?
친절해요 is used for kind. For example, 직원이 친절해요. means “The staff member is kind.”
What should I remember about 친절하다?
친절하다 describes helpful or courteous behavior toward someone; 착하다 is another word for kind-hearted.
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