mam

Heart

TOPIK 4

Meaning and Usage

"맘" is a colloquial and shortened form of "마음," which means "heart" or "mind." It is commonly used in informal speech to express feelings, preferences, or intentions.

Common Contexts

You will often hear "맘" when someone talks about their feelings or what they like, such as "맘에 들다" (to like something) or "맘이 아프다" (to feel hurt emotionally).

Collocations and Patterns

  • 맘에 들다: to like something, used when expressing preference.
  • 맘대로 하다: to do as one pleases, indicating freedom or permission.
  • 맘이 편하다: to feel at ease, describing emotional comfort.

Register and Nuance

"맘" is informal and mostly used in spoken Korean or casual writing like messages. It is not suitable for formal or academic contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "맘" with "맘" as a noun referring to "mom" in English loanwords, but in Korean "맘" here strictly relates to feelings or heart. Always consider context to avoid misunderstanding.

Example Sentences

그 사람은 정말 맘이 따뜻해요.

Geu sarameun jeongmal mami ttatteushaeyo.

That person really has a warm heart.

맘에 드는 옷을 찾았어요.

Mame deuneun oseul chajasseoyo.

I found clothes that I like.

맘대로 해도 돼요.

Mamdaero haedo dwaeyo.

You can do as you please.