Korean Dictionary
How to say "Longing" in Korean
“Longing” in Korean is 그리워하다 (pronounced "Geuriwohada").
그리워하다
Geuriwohada
Usage & Context
Expresses deep yearning for someone or something absent. Tied to the Korean concept of 한 (deep emotional longing). 보고 싶다 (I miss you/I want to see you) is the most common everyday expression of longing in Korean.
Example Sentence
고향을 너무 그리워해요.
I long for my hometown so much.
How to use 그리워하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Longing” is 그리워하다, romanized as Geuriwohada.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 그리워하다.
Pronunciation Guide
'Geu' sounds like 'goo' in 'good' but with a softer 'g' and a shorter 'oo'. 'Ri' is like 'ree' in 'tree'. 'Wo' is like 'woah' without the 'h'. 'Ha' is like 'ha' in 'haha', and 'da' is like 'dah' in 'dah-ling'. The stress is fairly even.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
그리워합니다
Geuriwohamnida
Formal declarative form, used in polite and respectful situations.
Casual (반말)
그리워해
Geuriwohae
Casual declarative or imperative form, used with close friends or subordinates.
More Example Sentences
Missing family members living abroad.
해외에 있는 가족들을 항상 그리워해요.
I always long for my family who are overseas.
Nostalgia for a past place.
어릴 적 살던 동네를 그리워하는 사람들이 많다.
Many people long for the neighborhood where they lived as children.
Yearning for a past period or state of being.
그 시절의 자유로움을 그리워하며 살고 있어요.
I live longing for the freedom of those days.
Cultural Context
'그리워하다' is deeply embedded in the Korean emotional landscape, often linked to the concept of '한 (han),' a complex feeling of unresolved sorrow, regret, and longing. While '보고 싶다' (I miss you/I want to see you) is the most common everyday expression for missing someone, '그리워하다' conveys a deeper, more profound yearning, often for something or someone that is absent, lost, or in the past. It's a sentiment frequently explored in Korean ballads and historical dramas.
Editorial note
We review entries like 그리워하다 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
고향을 그리워하다
to long for one's hometown
옛 친구들을 그리워해요.
I long for my old friends.
그리워할 거예요.
I will long for it/them.
Related Expressions
보고 싶다
Bogo sipda
to miss someone/want to see (most common everyday expression)
그립다
Geupda
to be missed/yearned for (adjective form, often used with subject as the thing missed)
향수병
Hyangsbyeong
homesickness (related concept)
잊다
Itda
to forget (antonym)
More Emotions Words
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