고민 vs 걱정
Korean word comparison
Listen to 고민
Listen to 걱정
| 고민 | 걱정 |
|---|---|
go-MIN noun | geok-jeong noun |
| something you worry about or think about deeply; a concern or dilemma | worry; concern |
How they differ
걱정 is usually about anxiety over a specific problem, risk, or bad outcome. 고민 is often deeper and more internal, meaning you are mentally weighing what to do or being stuck in a dilemma.
When to use each
When to use 고민: Use 고민 when someone is thinking hard about a choice, problem, or personal dilemma.
When to use 걱정: Use 걱정 when the main idea is anxiety or concern about something that may happen.
Side-by-side examples
- 진로에 대해 고민이 많아요.
(I have a lot of 고민 about my career path.) - 진로가 정해질지 걱정돼요.
(I'm worried that my career path may not be decided.)
Register & nuance: 걱정 is very common in everyday speech and is slightly more emotion-focused than 고민.
- See the full Word of the Day entry for 고민
- See the Word of the Day entry for 걱정
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