열심히 vs 성실하게
Korean word comparison
Listen to 열심히
Listen to 성실하게
| 열심히 | 성실하게 |
|---|---|
yeol-SIM-hee adverb | seongsilhage adverb |
| diligently; with effort; hard (as in working or studying hard) | conscientiously; faithfully; with steady responsibility |
How they differ
성실하게 emphasizes steadiness, responsibility, and a trustworthy attitude — it describes a reliable, consistent approach over time rather than a burst of intense effort; 열심히 focuses more on the intensity or energetic effort applied to an activity.
When to use each
When to use 열심히: Prefer 열심히 when you want to stress intense, focused effort for a specific task or period (e.g., studying very hard for an exam).
When to use 성실하게: Prefer 성실하게 when describing someone's consistent, responsible attitude or long-term conscientious effort (e.g., an employee who reliably does their work).
Side-by-side examples
- 그는 이번 시험을 위해 열심히 공부했다.
(He studied hard for this exam.) - 그는 항상 성실하게 공부한다.
(He always studies conscientiously.)
Register & nuance: Both are neutral, but 성실하게 sounds slightly more formal and is often used in evaluations or to describe character and reliability.