숨 vs 숨결
Korean word comparison
Listen to 숨
Listen to 숨결
| 숨 | 숨결 |
|---|---|
SOOM noun | sum-gyeol noun |
| air taken in and out of the lungs; breath | breath; the feel or flow of breathing |
How they differ
숨결 usually means the gentle flow or presence of breath, and it often carries a soft, vivid, or emotional nuance. Unlike 숨, which can simply mean a breath, 숨결 can suggest the warmth, closeness, or life-giving quality of breathing.
When to use each
When to use 숨: Use 숨 for the basic physical meaning of breath or taking a breath.
When to use 숨결: Use 숨결 when you want a more poetic or sensory expression, especially in descriptions of people, nature, or atmosphere.
Side-by-side examples
- 그는 숨을 멈추고 소리에 귀를 기울였다.
(He held his breath and listened carefully to the sound.) - 창문 너머로 차가운 숨결이 느껴졌다.
(A cold breath/air current was felt beyond the window.)
Register & nuance: 숨 is neutral and everyday, while 숨결 is more literary and descriptive.