What does 솔직히 mean?

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  솔직히 말해서 그 의견에 동의하지 않아.

  sol-jik-hi mal-hae-seo geu ui-gyeon-e dong-ui-ha-ji an-a., sol jik hi mal hae seo geu ui gyeon e dong ui ha ji an a.

  ‘솔직히’ at the start clearly shows an honest attitude.

• ⭕

  저는 솔직히 그 계획이 마음에 들어요.

  jeo-neun sol-jik-hi geu gye-hoek-i ma-eum-e deul-eo-yo., jeo neun sol jik hi geu gye hoek i ma eum e deul eo yo.

  ‘솔직히’ before the subject expresses honest feelings.

• ⭕

  솔직히, 그거 정말 좋은 생각이야.

  sol-jik-hi, geu-geo jeong-mal joh-eun saeng-gak-i-ya., sol jik hi, geu geo jeong mal joh eun saeng gak i ya.

  ‘솔직히’ at the sentence start is natural and clear.

• ⭕

  그는 솔직히 말하면 조금 게으르다.

  geu-neun sol-jik-hi mal-ha-myeon jo-geum ge-eu-reu-da., geu neun sol jik hi mal ha myeon jo geum ge eu reu da.

  ‘솔직히 말하면’ is a common phrase meaning ‘to be honest.’

• ❌

  솔직히는 그 의견에 찬성하지 않아.

  sol-jik-hi-neun geu ui-gyeon-e chan-seong-ha-ji an-a., sol jik hi neun geu ui gyeon e chan seong ha ji an a.

  ‘솔직히’ is an adverb and cannot take the topic particle ‘는.’

• ⭕

  나는 솔직히 말하고 싶어.

  na-neun sol-jik-hi mal-ha-go sip-eo., na neun sol jik hi mal ha go sip eo.

  ‘솔직히’ before ‘말하고 싶어’ shows honest intention.

• ⭕

  솔직히 너의 의견을 듣고 싶어.

  sol-jik-hi neo-ui ui-gyeon-eul deut-go sip-eo., sol jik hi neo ui ui gyeon eul deut go sip eo.

  ‘솔직히’ at the sentence front expresses honest attitude.

1. Where is it natural to place ‘솔직히’ in a sentence?

   ‘솔직히’가 문장 어디에 위치하는 것이 자연스러운가요?(‘sol-jik-hi’gamun-jangeo-di-ewi-chi-ha-neungeos-ija-yeon-seu-reo-un-ga-yo?, ‘soljikhi’gamunjangeodiewichihaneungeosijayeonseureoungayo?)
   • 문장 맨 앞(mun-jangmaenap, munjangmaenap)
   • 문장 맨 뒤(mun-jangmaendwi, munjangmaendwi)
   • 주어 바로 뒤(ju-eoba-rodwi, jueobarodwi)
   • 목적어 앞(mok-jeok-eoap, mokjeokeoap)

2. Is ‘솔직히는’ a correct expression?

   ‘솔직히는’은 올바른 표현인가요?(‘sol-jik-hi-neun’eunol-ba-reunpyo-hyeon-in-ga-yo?, ‘soljikhineun’eunolbareunpyohyeoningayo?)
   • 예(ye)
   • 아니요(a-ni-yo, aniyo)
   • 상황에 따라 다름(sang-hwang-etta-rada-reum, sanghwangettaradareum)
   • 문맥에 따라 다름(mun-maek-etta-rada-reum, munmaekettaradareum)

3. What is the best meaning of ‘솔직히’?

   ‘솔직히’의 의미로 가장 적절한 것은?(‘sol-jik-hi’uiui-mi-roga-jangjeok-jeol-hangeos-eun?, ‘soljikhi’uiuimirogajangjeokjeolhangeoseun?)
   • 거짓 없이 사실대로(geo-jiseop-isa-sil-dae-ro, geojiseopisasildaero)
   • 조심스럽게(jo-sim-seu-reop-ge, josimseureopge)
   • 감정을 숨기며(gam-jeong-eulsum-gi-myeo, gamjeongeulsumgimyeo)
   • 과장되게(gwa-jang-doe-ge, gwajangdoege)