🔥 “Really? Very? Super?” — Make - 정말·아주·진짜·되게
🔥 “Really? Very? Super?” — Make 정말·아주·진짜·되게 Work for You
If you say “very” the same way every time, you’re losing impact.
This lesson turns four tiny words—정말, 아주, 진짜, 되게—into a simple system. You’ll see when each one fits (polite vs casual), avoid common mistakes, and build a tiny daily habit to sound more natural.
정말·아주·진짜·되게를 상황에 맞게 고르는 연습을 해 볼 거예요. 말투(격식·친근함)를 구분하고, 자주 하는 실수를 줄이면서 자연스러운 강조 표현을 만들 수 있습니다.
📚 Table of Contents
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💬 Quick Meanings at a Glance
All four words can mean “really / very,” but each has its own register (polite vs casual) and feeling.
| Word | Romanization | Core Meaning | Register · Tone | Typical Combos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 정말 | jeong-mal | really / truly | neutral, polite, safe anywhere | 정말 감사해요, 정말 맛있어요 |
| 아주 | a-ju | very | more formal / written; a bit textbooky in speech | 아주 중요하다, 아주 친절하신 분 |
| 진짜 | jin-jja | really (strong) | casual/spoken, lively, friendly | 진짜 예뻐요, 진짜 몰랐어요 |
| 되게 | doe-ge | super / extremely | slangy, very casual (avoid in formal) | 되게 재밌어요, 되게 빨라요 |
🧭 How They’re Different (Register & Nuance)
- 정말 vs 진짜 — Almost the same meaning. 정말 is slightly more polite; 진짜 feels more chatty and emotional.
- 아주 — Great in writing, presentations, and reports. In everyday speech it can sound stiff or “textbook Korean.”
- 되게 — Super common in casual speech (especially younger people). Do not use it in job interviews or formal emails.
Mini contrast:
• 정말 맛있어요. (polite, safe)
• 진짜 맛있다. (casual, friendly)
• 되게 맛있어. (very casual, “super tasty”)
📝 Usage Examples (Hangul · RR · EN)
정말 맛있어요!
jeong-mal ma-sit-seo-yo!
It’s really delicious! (polite)
아주 친절하신 분이에요.
a-ju chin-jeol-ha-sin bun-i-e-yo.
She is a very kind person. (formal + polite)
진짜 예뻐요!
jin-jja yep-peo-yo!
She’s really pretty! (friendly but still polite)
그 영화 되게 재미있었어.
geu yeong-hwa doe-ge jae-mi-it-eos-seo.
That movie was super fun. (casual past)
오늘 발표, 정말 긴장돼요.
o-neul bal-pyo, jeong-mal gin-jang-dwae-yo.
I’m really nervous about today’s presentation. (polite)
🔤 Patterns & Placement
- Adverb + adjective/verb
정말 / 아주 / 진짜 / 되게 + 커요, 좋아요, 바빠요, 예뻐요 - With negatives
진짜 몰라요 (I really don’t know.)
정말 안 가요 (I really won’t go.) - Formal filter
Reports, emails, and presentations → use 매우 / 아주 / 대단히 rather than 진짜/되게.
❌ Common Mistakes (and Easy Fixes)
-
Stacking too many intensifiers
❌ 정말 너무 진짜 맛있어요.
✔ 정말 맛있어요. / 너무 맛있어요.
한 문장에 강조어는 보통 하나만 쓰면 자연스러워요. -
Using 되게 in formal contexts
❌ 면접에서 “되게 힘들었습니다.”
✔ 매우 힘들었습니다. / 아주 힘들었습니다.
공식 상황에서는 진짜/되게 대신 매우/아주를 사용하세요. -
Overusing 아주 in casual talk
❌ 아주 예뻐! (to a close friend)
✔ 진짜 예뻐! / 너무 예뻐! -
With superlatives
❌ 아주 최고예요.
✔ 정말 최고예요. / 최고예요.
🎯 Practice & Mini-Quiz
- Make a polite compliment using 정말 or 매우.
예) “오늘 발표가 _____ 좋았어요.” - With a friend, say the same sentence using 진짜 and then 되게 to feel the tone difference.
- When you hear an intensifier in a K-drama, try swapping it for another one and repeat the line aloud.
Quiz 1) (formal report) “_____ 중요한 이슈입니다.”
아주 / 매우 중요한 이슈입니다.
Quiz 2) (casual) “와, _____ 맛있다!”
진짜 / 되게 맛있다!
Quiz 3) Pick one (polite): “오늘 _____ 바빠요.”
정말 바빠요.
🔗 Related Posts
🎓 Take a Lesson with Me
Want feedback on your word choice and tone (polite vs casual)? Bring 3–5 sentences you often say, and we’ll rewrite them together using 정말·아주·진짜·되게 in the most natural way.
👉 Book a 1:1 Korean lesson with me on italki
💌 Final Thoughts
Build the habit, not the hype. Practice just one sentence a day using 정말 / 아주 / 진짜 / 되게—the voice you repeat becomes the voice you own.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” — James Clear
I hope that while reading various posts on my blog, you’ll learn Korean and grow to love Korea. As a Korean teacher, I sincerely wish for that. Please come back anytime to discover new expressions and cultural insights! 😊
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