Meaning and Usage
The Korean noun '고백' (gobaek) primarily means 'confession,' often used in the context of confessing feelings, especially love. It can also refer to admitting something honestly or revealing a truth.
Common Contexts
Most frequently, '고백' is used when someone expresses romantic feelings to another person. However, it can also be used in broader contexts such as confessing a mistake or truth.
Collocations and Patterns
- 고백하다: to confess (used with feelings, mistakes, or truths)
- 사랑을 고백하다: to confess love
- 고백하기 전에: before confessing
These patterns are common in everyday conversation and media.
Register and Politeness
'고백' is a neutral noun and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The verb form '고백하다' is polite when conjugated appropriately.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '고백' with '자백,' which also means confession but is used mainly in legal or criminal contexts. Use '고백' for personal or emotional confessions.