What is the litteral meaning of 정말?
It is translated to 'really' or 'truly'. But I think I see the noun 말 in there. Could it literally mean something like 'clean words'?

I am just curious.

Question

What is the litteral meaning of 정말?
It is translated to 'really' or 'truly'. But I think I see the noun 말 in there. Could it literally mean something like 'clean words'?

I am just curious.

Answer

정-말 is formed with sino-Korean word 정(正) and native Korean word 말. Literally, 정말(正: 바를 정, 말) means that 바른 말,

바르다 means to be straight, right, or not bent, not wrong, so 바른 말 means a straight / right word.

The opposite word of 바른 말 is 거짓말,

Answer

말 alone means language or words

Answers · 3

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