마음
ma-eum
Definition
The mind, heart, or inner feelings of a person; one's emotions, thoughts, or intentions.
Example
그의 마음은 항상 따뜻하고 친절하다.
Show translation
His heart is always warm and kind.
Etymology
Native Korean word (고유어) with no Sino-Korean root. It has been used since Old Korean to refer to the seat of feeling and intention — much like how English once used "heart" to mean both emotion and will. Its closest conceptual sibling in Chinese-influenced Korean vocabulary is 심 (心), but 마음 carries a distinctly warmer, more personal resonance.
Cultural note
마음 is deeply embedded in Korean emotional culture. Phrases like 마음이 맞다 ("our minds match" = we get along well) and 마음을 먹다 (literally "eat one's mind" = to make up one's mind) show how the word extends far beyond simple "heart" or "mind." The concept of 눈치 (reading the room) is also linked to sensing another person's 마음. In Korean pop music and drama, 마음 is one of the most frequently sung and spoken words.