“Not at all, not really, a little, very, really” in Korean

These Korean adverbs are used to add varying levels of emphasis to your sentences.

조금

a little, a little bit

정말

really, truly

아주

very, quite

별로

not really, not particularly

전혀

not at all

While 조금, 전말, and 마주 can be used in any sentence, these negative intensifiers can only be used in explicitly negative sentences.

조금

조금

a little, a little bit

Note that 조금 can be used as either an adverb, adjective, or a noun. When it is pronounced quickly, it often becomes 좀. It is sometimes written this way too.

조금 바빠.

I'm a little busy.

조금만 주세요.

Give me only a little bit.

물 조금만 주세요.

Give me only a little bit of water.

Depending on tone, context, and what the listener's assumptions are, 조금 can also mean "very."

정말

정말

really, truly

진짜

really, truly (less formal)

The words 정말 and 진짜 usually work as intensifiers:

정말 비싸요.

It is really expensive.

But it can also be used, like the English word "really," to emphasise truth, as in "I really did it:"

제가 방 청소했어요!

I cleaned my room!

아... 진짜?

Oh, really?

예, 진짜! 보고 싶어요.

Yes, really! Do you want to see it?

아주

아주

very, quite

The word 아주 is the most standard way to say "very," but it's usually dropped out of spoken Korean in favour of 정말 or 진짜.

아주 맛있어요.

It is very delicious.

아주 멀어요.

It is very far away.

별로

별로

not really, not particularly

Unlike the non-negative intensifiers, 별로 can only be used in negative sentences. I.e., usually one making use of 안, -지 않다, or 없어요.

별로 안 비싸요.

It's not too expensive.

별로 재미없어요.

It is not that interesting.

전혀

전혀

not at all

전혀 안 바빠요.

I am not busy at all.

전혀 안 더워요.

It is not hot at all.

너무

Formally, 너무 means "too much" or "excessively," but colloquially it just means "very."[cite:@talktomeinkorean2015talka]

너무

too much, excessively

너무

(colloquial) very

말이 너무 빨라요.

(Someone) speaks too fast.

References

• [cite:@talktomeinkoreanTalkMeKorean2015]

• [cite:@talktomeinkorean2015talka]