Korean Dictionary
How to say "Patience" in Korean
“Patience” in Korean is 인내 (pronounced "innae").
인내
innae
Usage & Context
Patience is the capacity to accept delay or difficulty without becoming upset. Korean culture values 인내 as a virtue, often expressed in the saying 참을 인 세 번이면 살인도 면한다.
Example Sentence
인내심을 갖고 차분히 기다리는 것이 때로는 최선이다.
Patiently and calmly waiting is sometimes the best approach.
How to use 인내 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Patience” is 인내, romanized as innae.
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 인내.
Pronunciation Guide
'인' (in) sounds like 'in' in 'ink'. '내' (nae) is pronounced like 'nay' in 'nay-say'. The double 'n' in the romanization 'innae' suggests a slight emphasis or a brief pause between the syllables, making it sound like 'inn-nay'.
More Example Sentences
Giving advice to someone starting a new venture.
성공하려면 인내심을 가지고 꾸준히 노력해야 해.
To succeed, you need to have patience and consistently put in effort.
Encouraging team members during a challenging project.
이 프로젝트는 많은 인내를 요구하지만, 결국 좋은 결과를 낼 거야.
This project demands a lot of patience, but it will yield good results in the end.
A parent talking about their experiences.
아이들을 키우는 데는 정말 많은 인내가 필요해요.
Raising children really requires a lot of patience.
Cultural Context
'인내' is a deeply ingrained virtue in Korean culture, often linked with resilience and perseverance. The famous proverb '참을 인 세 번이면 살인도 면한다' (If you endure 'in' three times, you can avoid even murder) underscores its extreme importance. This cultural value is evident in the dedication to education (like the Suneung exam), strong work ethic, and the rigorous training of K-pop idols, though it can sometimes lead to suppressing emotions.
Editorial note
We review entries like 인내 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
인내심을 가지다
to have patience
인내가 필요하다
patience is needed
인내의 한계
limits of patience
Related Expressions
끈기
kkeungi
perseverance, tenacity
참을성
chameulseong
patience (often used with 있다/없다)
조급함
jogeupham
impatience, hastiness
극기
geukgi
self-control, self-discipline
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