jeong
jeong
Jeong is a fundamental Korean concept that describes a deep, emotional bond or connection between people. It goes beyond simple affection or love; it is an enduring attachment formed through shared experiences, time, and mutual care, often described as a "warmth" that ties individuals together. While it is most commonly associated with family and long-term friends, jeong can also develop between neighbors, coworkers, or even toward objects and places. It is a quiet, unspoken commitment to others that emphasizes collective identity and empathy over individualistic boundaries.
In conversation
Discussing a long-term friendship
I really don't want to move away from this neighborhood.
I really don't want to move away from this neighborhood.
Is it because of the house?
Is it because of the house?
No, it's the jeong I’ve built with the shop owners here over the years.
No, it's the jeong I’ve built with the shop owners here over the years.
Jeong is often described as something you 'build' or 'develop' over time.
Explaining why someone helps a stranger
Why did you give him your umbrella? You don't even know him!
Why did you give him your umbrella? You don't even know him!
I just felt a bit of jeong, I guess. He looked so cold.
I just felt a bit of jeong, I guess. He looked so cold.
Jeong can manifest as spontaneous empathy toward others.
Examples
We have a lot of jeong.
We have a lot of jeong.
It is hard to leave because of the jeong I feel for this place.
It is hard to leave because of the jeong I feel for this place.
The deep jeong between the two families has lasted for three generations.
The deep jeong between the two families has lasted for three generations.
