진짜(jin-jja, jinjja)
'진짜' means 'real' or 'genuine' and emphasizes that a fact or situation is true, not false. It functions as an adverb or noun.
Nuances
- Used to express strong surprise or admiration
- Emphasizes truthfulness and reliability
- Creates a friendly and natural tone
- Less used in formal situations
When to use
Casual conversation, Expressing surprise, Business meeting
In context
'진짜' is commonly used as an adverb placed before verbs or adjectives to emphasize meaning. It can also be a noun, e.g., '진짜 사람' (real person). It's very common in spoken Korean; in formal settings, '정말' or '진실로' are more appropriate.