Want to learn what Jeong means in Korean?
I’m a Korean girl and here to explain things!
Quick Summary
- Jeong is a Korean concept that means deep emotional bonds and connections between people, things, or even places.
- Acts of jeong can be seen in South Korea, such as sharing food, helping a neighbor, or showing concern for someone’s well-being.
Koreans often talk about Jeong, which is sometimes difficult to translate directly into English.
Beyond simple affection or love, it’s an emotional and psychological bond that gives a sense of attachment, warmth, and unspoken understanding between people, places, or even objects.
It’s one of my favorite parts of Korean society.
What Is the Definition of Jeong?
Jeong is a bond that gives a sense of affection, compassion, sympathy, warmth, and attachment.
It develops naturally over time between people, and your jeong with places or things grows over time.
Jeong isn’t something you can force.
It grows through shared experiences, kindness, and selfless gestures.
It’s the reason an old shopkeeper gives you extra snacks “just because” or why your Korean friend insists on walking you home or nearest subway station if you’re taking one.
At its core, jeong is about altruistic giving, expecting nothing in return but fostering a deep emotional connection.
What Are Some Types of Jeong?
Jeong comes in many forms.
It can be experienced between family, friends, colleagues, and even neighbors.
As a deep-rooted emotional connection, jeong can be:
- Aejeong (애정): This form of jeong is related to love and affection, often in romantic relationships. Aejeong isn’t just about passion. It’s about a deep emotional connection built over time.
- Ujeong (우정): Ujeong refers to the jeong shared among friends. It’s about loyalty, trust, and a strong sense of camaraderie. This friendship creates supportive relationships and forms a bond that withstands hardships and time.
- Injeong (인정): Injeong is the compassion for humanity and kindness shared between people. It highlights empathy, often seen in acts of kindness toward strangers or acquaintances. These acts of generosity and empathy make Koreans feel warmer.
- Dongjeong (동정): Dongjeong refers to sympathy felt towards others. It involves understanding and sharing the feelings of someone who is suffering or in need.
What Are Acts of Jeong?
Jeong is not just a feeling.
It manifests in daily life through actions that express warmth and care.
Here are some acts of jeong you might experience in Korea:
- Sharing food: In Korea, food is more than eating. It’s about bonding. If a Korean person offers you food from their plate, they’re showing jeong. It’s a simple yet meaningful gesture that says, “I care about you.”
- Helping others without being asked: Whether it’s an elderly person receiving help carrying groceries or a neighbor helping each other without hesitation, jeong naturally drives acts of kindness.
- Worrying about someone’s well-being: Koreans express jeong through concern. If a Korean friend constantly reminds you to wear warm clothes or asks if you’ve eaten, they’re not nagging. That’s how we show jeong!
- Sticking together in tough times: Once jeong is formed, it’s hard to break. Even after arguments, long-distance moves, or time apart, the emotional bond remains strong. This is why some old friendships or relationships last despite hardships.
How Is Jeong Used in Language?
Jeong is such a fundamental part of Korean life that we have many expressions:
- Dajeonghada (다정하다): (Someone is) warmhearted and kind.
- Jeongi deulda (정이 들다): (You) grow fond of or develop an affection for (someone or something).
- Jeong tteoreojida (정 떨어지다): (You) are put off by or got the ick with (someone or something).
- Miun jeong (미운 정): Affection based on negative feelings (like loving someone despite their flaws).
- Goun jeong (고운 정): Affection based on positive feelings.
- Jeong eopda (정 없다): (Someone) has no jeong, as in so cold or too formal, lacking warmth.
Why is Jeong So Special?
Jeong deepens with time. It’s like a good, aged kimchi (Mugeunji).
It can start from small acts of kindness and grow into a bond that lasts a lifetime.
It explains why Koreans feel nostalgic about places they’ve lived, why they remain friends with people they met decades ago, and why they instinctively take care of others without expecting anything in return.
Although people feel more transactional or calculating now, jeong still remains a heartwarming connection.
Whether it’s a grandmother slipping extra banchan onto your plate, a friend stubbornly refusing to let you pay for coffee, or a stranger holding an umbrella over you in the rain, these are all beautiful, everyday expressions of jeong.
When someone in Korea insists on giving you help or an extra dessert, don’t fight it and just accept it with a smile. That’s jeong in action.
I hope you can experience heartfelt jeong in Korea!
