For autodidact students of Korean, 생각하다 (saenggakhada) means "think" — to have a thought, opinion, or idea. 생각 (saenggak) alone is the noun "thought/idea." 생각이 나다 (a thought comes) = to remember/think of. 생각해보다 (try thinking about it). 생각에 잠기다 (be lost in thought). 제 생각에는 (in my opinion / I think that). Korean separates "thinking" as mental process (생각하다) from "thinking/considering" (고려하다, more deliberate).
Key Takeaways: - 생각하다: think — general - 생각 (saenggak): thought / idea — noun - 생각이 나다: think of / remember / come to mind - 제 생각에는: in my opinion / I think - 생각해보다: think about it / consider - 생각이 많다: have many thoughts / overthink
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41.1 어떻게 (eotteoke) how 생각해요 (saenggakhaeyo) think-POLITE?
41.2 제 생각에는 (je saenggageneun) in-my-opinion 그렇지 (geureochi) that's-right-INF 않아요 (anhayo) not-POLITE
41.3 좋은 (joeun) good 생각이에요 (saenggagieyo) idea-is-POLITE！
41.4 그 사람이 (geu sarami) that-person-SUBJ 갑자기 (gapjagi) suddenly 생각났어요 (saengganasseoyo) came-to-mind-POLITE
41.5 다시 (dasi) again 한번 (hanbeon) once 생각해봐요 (saenggakhaebwayo) think-about-POLITE
41.6 생각이 (saenGagi) thought-SUBJ 너무 (neomu) too 많아요 (manayo) many-POLITE
41.7 뭘 (mweol) what-OBJ 생각해요 (saenggakhaeyo) thinking-POLITE?
41.8 당신을 (dangsineul) you-OBJ 생각하고 (saenggakhago) thinking-CONJ 있었어요 (isseosseoyo) was-POLITE
41.9 좋게 (jokke) positively 생각해요 (saenggakhaeyo) think-POLITE
41.10 왜 (wae) why 그렇게 (geureoke) like-that 생각해요 (saenggakhaeyo) think-POLITE?
41.11 생각대로 (saenggakdaero) as-thought 됐어요 (dwaesseoyo) became-POLITE
41.12 앞으로 (apeuro) going-forward 어떻게 (eotteoke) how 할지 (halji) what-do-QUOT 생각해봐요 (saenggakhaebwayo) think-about-POLITE
41.13 생각보다 (saenggakboda) than-thought 쉬웠어요 (swiwosseoyo) easy-was-POLITE
41.14 그 말이 (geu mari) that-word-SUBJ 계속 (gyesok) continually 생각나요 (saengganayo) comes-to-mind-POLITE
41.15 생각에 (saenggAge) thought-AT 잠겨 (jamgyeo) submerged 있어요 (isseoyo) am-POLITE
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41.1 어떻게 생각해요? "What do you think? / How do you think about it?" 41.2 제 생각에는 그렇지 않아요. "In my opinion, that's not so." 41.3 좋은 생각이에요! "That's a good idea!" 41.4 그 사람이 갑자기 생각났어요. "That person suddenly came to mind." 41.5 다시 한번 생각해봐요. "Think about it once more." 41.6 생각이 너무 많아요. "I have too many thoughts." 41.7 뭘 생각해요? "What are you thinking about?" 41.8 당신을 생각하고 있었어요. "I was thinking of you." 41.9 좋게 생각해요. "Think positively about it." 41.10 왜 그렇게 생각해요? "Why do you think like that?" 41.11 생각대로 됐어요. "It turned out as I thought." 41.12 앞으로 어떻게 할지 생각해봐요. "Think about what to do going forward." 41.13 생각보다 쉬웠어요. "It was easier than I thought." 41.14 그 말이 계속 생각나요. "Those words keep coming to mind." 41.15 생각에 잠겨 있어요. "I am lost in thought."
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41.1 어떻게 생각해요? 41.2 제 생각에는 그렇지 않아요. 41.3 좋은 생각이에요! 41.4 그 사람이 갑자기 생각났어요. 41.5 다시 한번 생각해봐요. 41.6 생각이 너무 많아요. 41.7 뭘 생각해요? 41.8 당신을 생각하고 있었어요. 41.9 좋게 생각해요. 41.10 왜 그렇게 생각해요? 41.11 생각대로 됐어요. 41.12 앞으로 어떻게 할지 생각해봐요. 41.13 생각보다 쉬웠어요. 41.14 그 말이 계속 생각나요. 41.15 생각에 잠겨 있어요.
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생각이 나다 (saenggagi nada) — "a thought comes / think of / remember": 생각 (thought) + 이 (subject) + 나다 (emerge/come out) = a thought emerges. 갑자기 생각났어요 (suddenly came to mind), 생각이 안 나요 (can't think of it / can't remember). The involuntary arising of memory or thought — the thought comes to the subject, not the subject to the thought.
생각해보다 — "try thinking about / give it thought": 생각하다 + 아/어 보다 = think and see / try thinking. 생각해봐요 (think about it / give it a try). The -아/어 보다 auxiliary applied to thinking: consider it from all angles.
제 생각에는 (je saenggageneun) — "in my opinion / I think": 제 (my, humble) + 생각 (thought) + 에는 (at/on, topic-marked) = "as for my thought / in my thinking." The standard way to preface a personal opinion: 제 생각에는 이게 더 좋아요 (in my opinion this is better).
생각대로 (saenggakdaero) — "as one thought / according to plan": 생각 + 대로 (according to / as) = as thought / as planned. 생각대로 됐어요 (it went according to plan / as I thought). -대로 applied to any noun: 말대로 (as said), 계획대로 (according to plan), 생각대로 (as thought).
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생각이 너무 많아요 (I have too many thoughts) — a common self-description in Korean, particularly among younger people. Korean culture's high-pressure academic and professional environment generates significant internal rumination. The phrase is both a confession and an implicit appeal: someone who says 생각이 너무 많아요 is often asking to be heard. Korean counselling and mental health discourse recognises 생각이 많음 (having many thoughts) as a common presenting complaint.
어떻게 생각해요? (What do you think?) — Korean opinion-seeking is framed as a question about process (어떻게 — how) rather than content (뭐 — what). The "how" of thinking reflects Korean respect for considered reflection rather than snap judgement. The polite response is not a blunt opinion but a considered 제 생각에는 (in my view).
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이상 (Yi Sang), 《오감도 시 제1호》— Crow's Eye View Poem No. 1, 1934
나는 생각한다, 고로 나는 존재한다.
F-A: Interlinear — 나는 (naneun) I-TOPIC 생각한다 (saenggakhanda) think-PLAIN，고로 (goro) therefore 나는 (naneun) I-TOPIC 존재한다 (jonjaehanda) exist-PLAIN
F-B: Translation — "I think, therefore I am."
F-C: Original — 나는 생각한다, 고로 나는 존재한다.
F-D: Notes — Yi Sang's Korean rendering of Descartes in the plain form. 생각한다: present plain declarative of 생각하다. 고로 (therefore): classical Korean logical connector, now literary. 존재하다 (exist): philosophical verb vs 있다 (everyday "there is"). The Cartesian cogito in Korean grammar.
F-E: Commentary — 생각하다 is the verb of self-consciousness in Korean. Yi Sang, Korean modernism's most tormented figure, chose to begin his philosophical sequence with Descartes' cogito in Korean. 나는 생각한다 — the language of thought identifies the thinker. Every 어떻게 생각해요? invites the listener into this loop: to think is to be.
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Two students discussing a difficult decision — the full vocabulary of thinking.
41.16 민준: 요즘 (yojeum) these-days 생각이 (saenGagi) thoughts-SUBJ 너무 (neomu) too 많아 (manha) many-INF
41.17 지수: 무슨 (museun) what 생각들이야 (saenGakdeuriya) thoughts-are-INF?
41.18 민준: 대학원에 (daehagwone) graduate-school-TO 갈지 (galji) whether-go 취직을 (chwijeoguel) employment-OBJ 할지 (halji) whether-do 생각 중이야 (saenggak jungiya) in-the-middle-of-thinking-INF
41.19 지수: 어떻게 (eotteoke) how 생각해봤어 (saenggakhaebwasseo) have-thought-INF?
41.20 민준: 대학원은 (daehagwoneun) grad-school-TOPIC 재미있을 것 같은데 (jaemiisseul geot gateunde) seems-fun-but 취직이 (chwijeoGi) employment-SUBJ 더 (deo) more 현실적인 (hyeonsiljeogin) realistic 것 (geot) thing 같아 (gata) seems-INF
41.21 지수: 제 생각에는 (je saenggageneun) in-my-opinion 둘 다 (dul da) both 해볼 수 있어 (haeBol su isseo) can-try-INF。어느 (eoneu) which 게 (ge) NMLZ 더 (deo) more 행복할 것 같아 (haengBokhal geot gata) seems-happier-INF?
41.22 민준: 그 생각은 (geu saenggagneun) that-thought-TOPIC 못 (mot) couldn't 해봤어 (haebwasseo) tried-thinking-INF
41.23 지수: 그게 (geuge) that-SUBJ 제일 (jeil) most 중요한 (jungnyohan) important 생각인데 (saenggaginde) thought-but
41.24 민준: 좋은 생각 (joeun saenggak) good-idea-SUBJ 났어 (nasseo) came-INF。고마워 (gomawo) thank-you-INF
41.25 지수: 생각대로 (saenggakdaero) as-thought 잘 될 거야 (jal doel geoya) will-go-well-INF
41.26 민준: 생각해보면 (saenggakhaeBomyeon) if-think-about 나는 (naneun) I-TOPIC 연구가 (yeonguga) research-SUBJ 좋아 (joha) like-INF
41.27 지수: 그럼 (geureum) then 그 생각을 (geu saenggageul) that-thought-OBJ 믿어봐 (mideobwa) try-trusting-INF
41.28 민준: 그런 생각을 (geureon saenggageul) such-thought-OBJ 해준 (haejun) gave-me 사람이 (sarami) person-SUBJ 없었는데 (eopseonneuNde) hadn't-been-POLITE
41.29 지수: 생각이 (saenGagi) thought-SUBJ 정리됐어 (jeongrIdwaesseo) organised-INF?
41.30 민준: 응 (eung) yes。생각보다 (saenggakBoda) than-thought 쉬웠어 (swiwosseo) easy-was-INF。고마워 (gomawo) thank-you-INF
41.16 「요즘 생각이 너무 많아.」 "'I have too many thoughts these days.'" 41.17 「무슨 생각들이야?」 "'What thoughts?'" 41.18 「대학원에 갈지 취직을 할지 생각 중이야.」 "'I'm in the middle of thinking whether to go to grad school or get a job.'" 41.19 「어떻게 생각해봤어?」 "'How have you thought about it?'" 41.20 「대학원은 재미있을 것 같은데 취직이 더 현실적인 것 같아.」 "'Grad school seems fun, but employment seems more realistic.'" 41.21 「제 생각에는 둘 다 해볼 수 있어. 어느 게 더 행복할 것 같아?」 "'In my opinion you can try both. Which one do you think would make you happier?'" 41.22 「그 생각은 못 해봤어.」 "'I hadn't tried that thought.'" 41.23 「그게 제일 중요한 생각인데.」 "'But that's the most important thought.'" 41.24 「좋은 생각 났어. 고마워.」 "'A good idea came. Thank you.'" 41.25 「생각대로 잘 될 거야.」 "'It'll go well as you think.'" 41.26 「생각해보면 나는 연구가 좋아.」 "'When I think about it, I like research.'" 41.27 「그럼 그 생각을 믿어봐.」 "'Then try trusting that thought.'" 41.28 「그런 생각을 해준 사람이 없었는데.」 "'There hadn't been someone who said something like that to me.'" 41.29 「생각이 정리됐어?」 "'Have your thoughts been organised?'" 41.30 「응. 생각보다 쉬웠어. 고마워.」 "'Yes. Easier than I thought. Thank you.'"
41.16 「요즘 생각이 너무 많아.」 41.17 「무슨 생각들이야?」 41.18 「대학원에 갈지 취직을 할지 생각 중이야.」 41.19 「어떻게 생각해봤어?」 41.20 「대학원은 재미있을 것 같은데 취직이 더 현실적인 것 같아.」 41.21 「제 생각에는 둘 다 해볼 수 있어. 어느 게 더 행복할 것 같아?」 41.22 「그 생각은 못 해봤어.」 41.23 「그게 제일 중요한 생각인데.」 41.24 「좋은 생각 났어. 고마워.」 41.25 「생각대로 잘 될 거야.」 41.26 「생각해보면 나는 연구가 좋아.」 41.27 「그럼 그 생각을 믿어봐.」 41.28 「그런 생각을 해준 사람이 없었는데.」 41.29 「생각이 정리됐어?」 41.30 「응. 생각보다 쉬웠어. 고마워.」
생각 중이다 (saenggak jungida) — "in the middle of thinking / considering": 생각 (thought) + 중 (middle/midst) + 이다 (be) = be in the midst of thinking. -중이다 applied to any noun: 준비 중이에요 (in preparation), 회의 중이에요 (in a meeting), 생각 중이에요 (in the middle of thinking).
생각이 정리되다 (saenggagi jeongrIdoeda) — "thoughts be organised": 정리되다 (become organised/sorted) applied to thoughts. 생각을 정리하다 (organise one's thoughts — active), 생각이 정리되다 (thoughts become organised — passive/natural). 생각이 정리됐어? (Have your thoughts sorted themselves out?) — a kind question when someone has been deliberating.
그런 생각을 해주다 — "say something like that to [someone]": 생각을 해주다: give/offer a thought (for someone's benefit). 그런 생각을 해준 사람 (a person who offered such a thought). The -아/어 주다 benefactive applied to thinking: offering one's thought as a gift.
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생각하다 (saenggakhada) — IPA: /sɛŋ.ga.kha.da/ — Four syllables. 생 /sɛŋ/ (front vowel + velar nasal) + 각 /gak/ + 하 /kha/ (ㄱ+ㅎ → aspirated /kh/) + 다 /da/. The ㄱ of 각 is aspirated by the following ㅎ: 각하 → [가카].
생각이 나다 (saenggagi nada) — IPA: /sɛŋ.ga.gi.na.da/ — The ㄱ of 각 voices before the vowel 이: [sɛŋ.ga.gi]. 나다: /na.da/ — standard unaspirated onset.
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