꿈꾸다 vs 상상하다: Dreaming vs Imagining

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  나는 어젯밤에 이상한 꿈을 꿈꿨어.

  na-neun eo-jes-bam-e i-sang-han kkum-eul kkum-kkwoss-eo., na neun eo jes bam e i sang han kkum eul kkum kkwoss eo.

  Use 꿈꾸다 to describe a dream experienced during sleep.

• ❌

  나는 어젯밤에 이상한 상상을 했어.

  na-neun eo-jes-bam-e i-sang-han sang-sang-eul haess-eo., na neun eo jes bam e i sang han sang sang eul haess eo.

  Do not use 상상하다 for dreams during sleep; use 꿈꾸다 instead.

• ⭕

  그는 미래에 큰 성공을 꿈꾼다.

  geu-neun mi-rae-e keun seong-gong-eul kkum-kkun-da., geu neun mi rae e keun seong gong eul kkum kkun da.

  Use 꿈꾸다 to express hopes or goals for the future.

• ⭕

  그는 미래에 큰 성공을 상상한다.

  geu-neun mi-rae-e keun seong-gong-eul sang-sang-han-da., geu neun mi rae e keun seong gong eul sang sang han da.

  상상하다 can be used to consciously visualize future scenarios.

• ❌

  나는 내일 일어날 일을 꿈꿨어.

  na-neun nae-il il-eo-nal il-eul kkum-kkwoss-eo., na neun nae il il eo nal il eul kkum kkwoss eo.

  You cannot use 꿈꾸다 for future events you think about while awake; use 상상하다.

• ⭕

  나는 내일 일어날 일을 상상했어.

  na-neun nae-il il-eo-nal il-eul sang-sang-haess-eo., na neun nae il il eo nal il eul sang sang haess eo.

  Use 상상하다 to imagine future events consciously.

• ⭕

  작가는 새로운 세계를 상상한다.

  jak-ga-neun sae-ro-un se-gye-reul sang-sang-han-da., jak ga neun sae ro un se gye reul sang sang han da.

  Use 상상하다 for creative or hypothetical thinking.

• ❌

  작가는 새로운 세계를 꿈꾼다.

  jak-ga-neun sae-ro-un se-gye-reul kkum-kkun-da., jak ga neun sae ro un se gye reul kkum kkun da.

  꿈꾸다 is inappropriate for conscious creative imagining; use 상상하다.

1. Which word should be used to describe dreams during sleep?

   잠자는 동안 본 꿈을 표현할 때 어떤 단어를 써야 할까요?(jam-ja-neundong-anbonkkum-eulpyo-hyeon-halttaeeo-tteondan-eo-reulsseo-yahal-kka-yo?, jamjaneundonganbonkkumeulpyohyeonhalttaeeotteondaneoreulsseoyahalkkayo?)
   • 꿈꾸다(kkum-kku-da, kkumkkuda)
   • 상상하다(sang-sang-ha-da, sangsanghada)
   • 둘 다 맞다(duldamaj-da, duldamajda)

2. Which word is appropriate when picturing future events in your mind?

   미래에 일어날 일을 머릿속으로 그려볼 때 어떤 단어가 적합할까요?(mi-rae-eil-eo-nalil-eulmeo-ris-sok-eu-rogeu-ryeo-bolttaeeo-tteondan-eo-gajeok-hap-hal-kka-yo?, miraeeileonalileulmeorissokeurogeuryeobolttaeeotteondaneogajeokhaphalkkayo?)
   • 꿈꾸다(kkum-kku-da, kkumkkuda)
   • 상상하다(sang-sang-ha-da, sangsanghada)
   • 둘 다 맞다(duldamaj-da, duldamajda)

3. Which word should be used when a writer imagines a new world in their mind?

   작가가 새로운 세계를 마음속으로 그릴 때 어떤 단어를 써야 할까요?(jak-ga-gasae-ro-unse-gye-reulma-eum-sok-eu-rogeu-rilttaeeo-tteondan-eo-reulsseo-yahal-kka-yo?, jakgagasaerounsegyereulmaeumsokeurogeurilttaeeotteondaneoreulsseoyahalkkayo?)
   • 꿈꾸다(kkum-kku-da, kkumkkuda)
   • 상상하다(sang-sang-ha-da, sangsanghada)
   • 둘 다 맞다(duldamaj-da, duldamajda)