Korean Q&A - What is 막? How do you use this word?

In today’s Q&A Hyunwoo answers a very popular question: what is 막?
But wait….doesn’t he usually answer 4 questions? What happened?! Well, 막 has so many meanings and nuances, Hyunwoo thought it best to dedicate a whole episode to it! Was this helpful for you? Let us know in the comments!
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[@kkll7145]

Koreans use this word a lot It will be useful to you guys~~~

[@Mort7an]

Hyunwoo, I think I take it for granted, so I just wanted to compliment you on how great your English is. It is extremely rare to hear a non-native english speaker (who hasn't lived in an English speaking country) that speaks the language as well as you do. Another great video, too. Thank you for all that you and the team do. :)

[@eliTUNE]

Mort7an Exactly, I know right!! And on top of that, it isn't easy to explain something from your language (that you have been used to growing up, and may have an ambiguous meaning), let alone doing it in a non-native language of yours woah. Kudos to Hyunwoo and the team!

[@abbie9879]

So true!! It's so refreshing to hear!

[@caroline8900]

Does it mean that he doesn't have any accent ? I can't tell because I'm not a native english speaker. But I suppose he does.

[@caroline8900]

Yehet Ohorat Ok i see thanks for your answer ☺️, i've always asked myself if i have to take him for example in english to improve.

[@시묵-z8e]

he sounds like a native Korean-American.

[@carolpessoa72]

If it wasn't for TTMIK I wouldn't be able to learn this interesting and beautiful language, I'm really thankful to Hyunwoo Sun 선생님 and all his crew!

[@ajko000]

Absolutely brilliant! I feel like 막 could be similar to "um" or "so" the way they are used in English. You seriously have such a way with explaining the "translations" and meanings of Korean concepts because it isn't as simple as English with defining a word being that it is so agglutinative. You guys inspire me!

[@heonieluvr6781]

Right? I was eating with my Korean friend the other day and we were talking about how talented Hyunwoo is at explaining things. I told him these short videos help me understand so many little intricacies of Korean. Still have a long way to go, but these sure help!

[@amysnable329]

I agree that it is used like "um" or "so" and even "like" as a filler. Without this video, I would be very confused if I ever heard the word used in the 4th context

[@animapringleot7381]

1. 막 just now 2. 마구->막 violently/crazy 3. 막 recklessly carelessly

[@cjej0511]

I really like how this one word is broken down into 4 different meanings. As well as how it is demonstrated in each and every sentences given by Hyunwoo. The 4th meaning of 막 -- I've heard it before. I was listening to BTS's new album. One of their tracks called "Skit: Humiliation and Fear," Rap Monster and Jin were using this word very often as a filler. The explanation definitely helped me to understand it more. Thank you for posting this video! I really appreciate it and I hope that you make more videos like these -- it has helped me a lot!!!! :D

[@Sarah-dm6kj]

I live in South Korea and I hear this all the time in my classroom... these examples are spot on. Thanks so much for breaking it down as always TTMIK!

[@seoulist8346]

I use and have heard it used like in American English when we say "like" in front of our sentence as we're still thinking about what to say, as a filler word.

[@jeff__w]

With regard to #4, it seems like 막 is serving two purposes: In a sentence like 설마 막 집에 사자 있고 그런 거 아니죠? (You don’t have lions at home or something like that, right?) 막 is acting like a _general extender_ - the person isn’t asking specifically just about lions but some category that includes lions, like maybe wild animals or something. (“Or something” is another general extender.) In a sentence like 우리 사진 보면서 막 "이때 좋았지." 했어요. (We were looking at these photos and we were like “Those were good times.”) 막 is acting like a _hedge_ - probably no one actually _said_ 이때 좋았지 but their experience was similar to one in which they _would_ say that. It’s not like 막 has _no_ meaning - it’s kind of a comment about the words it relates to.

[@ManduGC]

Ooooh your comment was really helpful! I didn't get a lot of that one from the video but this was useful, thanks !

[@jeff__w]

That’s great! “Filler words” like 막 in Korean or “like” in English (“We were, like, ‘really?’”) are a little hard to define-they seem to have no real meaning-but they _do_ mean something. That’s for letting me know that comment helped.

[@joyomeish6804]

i would be so lost with out Hyunwoo honestly bless him

[@abbie9879]

A video all about 막 and an advert for MAC cosmetics comes on before the video lol

[@emiller100]

Barry Scott MAC = 맥 ^^

[@arinaky]

😂😂😂 I got a mac ad too

[@belleza416]

Got it lol

[@LLLadySSS]

Hahahah omg!

[@poopycup614]

Not the same for every country

[@natavia4544]

1. You're the best teacher 2. You're better than me at English ( English is my native language) 3. TTMIK is the greatest

[@lunatickle6295]

It almost translates like 'just' in English. "I was sad, so I just cried." "I just got here." "He just buys everything." "There are just some phone cases and chargers." The only one where it doesn't quite work is the picture example. (Hopefully, I'm not wrong about this 😂)

[@mulbaybetul5924]

wow, great point

[@billandregina]

Yes I was just thinking the same thing

[@oypoodle]

이 동영상을 찍어주시고 알아듣게 설명 해주셔서 너무 감사합니다! 저는 '막' 많이 들었으니까 오래 궁금하고 막 사전에서 찾아봤는데 4번째 의미가 없더라고요. 이제는 드디어 이해 하게 됐어요! As a filler it seems similar to "like" in English. There's less stress on 막 when pronouncing vs. #1-3, correct?

[@batchuswati3007]

This explanation was very good! I understood everything perfectly... 감사합니다 😊

[@juliet3883]

الترجمة المعنى1 تركت المنزل الان " ترتك المنزل في هذه اللحظة " 1:54 وصلت الان 2:30 -------------------------------- 2 بكيت بقوة او ضحكت بقوة " تكتب ماغ " بعدين الفعل ------------------------- 3 5:25 انك تسوي شي بعدم مبالاة او تهور او بلا فائدة " ذلك الشخص صرف المال بتهور " "لاتلمسة " + يكون شي ماتبي حد يعبث فية " هذه الملابس " باريحية او عادية "ما البسه في المنزل ----------------------------------------- 4 filler يعني زيادات مثاله الاول قال " مستحيل , يوجد في المنزل اسد , اليس كذلك " المثال الثالث " عندما نرى هذه الصور نقول . هذا كان وقتا جيدا . مع ان الرابعة مالها ترجمة معينة ___________________ كلها تستخدم بعد الفعل و بس . اللهم صلي وسلم على نبينا محمد وعلى اله وصحبة اجمعين اللهم ارحمن المومنين والمومنات الاحياء منهم والاموات الحمد للة سبحان الله استغفر الله الله اكبر لاالة الا الله وحدة لا شريك له ((( اذا عندي خطأ اتمنى تصححو لي وبالتوفيق فايتينغ ))

[@RiOlizzy]

This video hit the spot! 현우 선생님 감사합니다!

[@dpacoa]

The explanation of how 마구 마구 became 막 was the best pronunciation coaching I've ever heard. When I tried to pronounce 막 after saying 마구 마구, it felt as natural speaking English.

[@yasmineblacknwhite2228]

어떡해 쓸지 늘 궁금했어요 이제 다 선명하고 설명해주셔서 감사합니다🙏

[@7sinsAvaritia]

hyunwoo, thank you so much for all of your lessons; I really appreciate these kind of lessons that are full of details since I am more technical.

[@karikari3588]

슬퍼서 막 울었어요.. 어 어 어 ㅠㅠ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 감사합니당 🙏🏻

[@littlevince]

the sound effect for crying is actually 엉 not 어. so you'd say like 엉엉엉

[@eliTUNE]

little-vince 쟤가 막 "엉엉엉" 했어요

[@ericacorbett5384]

What a great q&a vid! Learned so much from this one

[@mackkek7603]

Hyunwoo, you are rly sth man!!! every Q&A video i watch I learn so much :) even after living in Korea for almost 2 years and coming back to Sweden it's hard to keep up with what I learned and keep studying korean, but your videos give me the motivation I need. Thank you! keep it up you rock

[@R2bbang]

It is sooo useful video! Thank you very much! I always was confused by 막 and could not find appropriate translations in dictionaries. Even searching through the internet and different forums it was so complicated to understand. Now finally I got it! Thanks!

[@cyansnapdragons9837]

Wow, this was so helpful!! Thank you for this! (aaahhh, I wish there was a magical way you could do a video like this on every single word, haha)

[@jim6363]

I hardly gonna remember all 4 meanings. Identifying when is each one ''specially the 4th one'' is gonna be hard to me. This is the best explanation Ive got about it thank you so much sonsenim

[@_filifjonkan4290]

Your videos are like presents to me. Thanks!

[@mariyashihab6110]

감사합니다 🙏🏻💕

[@renee5138]

Your youtube channel is a blessing to me. My husband is korean and I dont know much at all. this helps so much and also i want to be able to communicate with koreans

[@chengyi7788]

thanks for explaining! IU uses this word a lot!

[@abbyng7822]

I encounter the 4th use of 막 the most out of all of them. I usually hear it in variety shows and have always been curious how exactly to use it. Though I'm still confused as to where to put it in a sentence and how often I can use them naturally.

[@hyacynth]

우와, 너무 재미있는 레썬이야! 한국어 막 공부하고 있어. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 고마워!!

[@iridaspace]

Great explanation! One of the best videos in the series!

[@dontbeood]

요즘 친구들과 얘기할때 막 자연스럽게 나오는 단어네요ㅋㅋㅋ정확한 의미를 잘 몰라서 설명해주셔서 감사합니다!

[@grainovsand3229]

Wow, this one was great! I've noticed a real rise in production quality from you guys lately (Seokin!?) and I'm enjoying your content a lot. I really liked the extended focus on such an interesting word like this. Can't wait for more!

[@ForeverCellist]

This was quite interesting! I've been interested in Korean culture for quite a while now, but didn't start formally and diligently studying Korean until fairly recently. As a result, like 90% of my Korean just comes from watching shows and picking stuff up. I'm a nerd (lol) so when I'm alone, I often talk to myself out loud in Korean as a way to practice and sort of test my ability to just talk comfortably like I would in English. There are certain words/phrases, like 막, that often make their way into my talking to myself without me even having studied the "official" meaning/usage simply because I've heard it so much. I've found that i often use 막 in the 4th way, which was interesting because it isn't like I heard it one day and intentionally started using it - i just subconsciously picked it up and it make its way into my speech. So it's kinda nice to watch this and learn that I am, in fact, using it correctly haha.

[@giovannamusicsalonso1637]

Gracias, por sus enseñanzas, saludos y bendiciones 👍😁

[@zeynepnihal95]

I can clearly see you enjoyed shooting this. You were always smiling through the video :)

[@talktomeinkorean]

I always enjoy shooting TTMIK videos ^_^!

[@welderella]

I am nowhere near learning this level, but I find the explanations intriguing and I want to get to this level. It also explains why I think I hear this word in dramas all the time.

[@longestpossiblename]

Such a small word but it can be used so many ways! This was really fascinating thanks!

[@agilarasir3746]

Thank you koren Talk To me ln korean

[@demsbudhamagar9918]

좋은 설명 막 해요 선생님 감사합니다

[@reirei9446]

막 y cheese!

[@syra1541]

HAHAHAHAHHA

[@binmanart]

TTMIK videos didn't used to be this good. You guys have improved the past few years. haha Excellent stuff lately!

[@schuuichiminamino]

Great Q&A! Very well explained.

[@sarahlamarre4621]

So it’s like the English filler word “like” I say this word so much I don’t even realize it most of the time. Does 딱 work like this as well?

[@LearnKoreanwithKindMsKim]

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ막 아주 신선한 주제네요^-^ '막'을 마구마구 사용하면서도 무슨 뜻인지 몰랐는데 재밌는 설명 감사합니다.

[@Marshmallox43]

5. Curtain, shed 6. last 7. membrane

[@anggitalintang7943]

완전 유용합니다 감사합니다

[@bluebutterfly2996]

고마워요 선생님... 앞으로 "막"을 사용할거예요 당당하게 ^^

[@megapuspitap]

This is what i am looking for. Have been wondering this word meanjng these days. Thanks Hyun Woo Sonsaengnim and TTMIK!!!!

[@memeskpophavetakenmysoulpl9792]

Good evening, everyone on the US East Coast!!

[@SakuyaLuigi]

감사합니다!

[@memeskpophavetakenmysoulpl9792]

SakuyaLuigi Lol. I tell you "Good Evening" and you respond with "Thank You." Mhm.

[@wessudduth679]

안녕하세요!

[@SakuyaLuigi]

+memes&kpophavetakenmysoul pleasehelpme Heck yeah, I do. 😊 I was thanking for the greeting.

[@jarenel1369]

Florida

[@audrey4441]

This was very helpful! Thank you!

[@beIIa_]

KING!

[@orangejmoothies]

Ahh I don't have twitter (I know i know..I don't really use social media ^^;;;) but if you (or anyone else!) see this question...... what is the difference between ~에게 and ~한테? 우리 엄마 저 [한테/저에게] 영어 말 만 했어요.

[@oh_sparkling]

To my understanding, -에게(서) and -한테(서) have the same meaning, but -에게(서) is slightly more formal and more often used in writing, and -한테(서) is used in more casual conversations.

[@Santi_2]

They have a lesson on that. talktomeinkorean.com/lessons/level-2-lesson-7/comment-page-1/. -에게 and -한테 are pretty much interchangeable but -께 is the honorific one.

[@orangejmoothies]

actually...that makes perfect sense....i always find myself saying /hearing the latter! Thank you!!

[@koreanongbol-anonkorbol2169]

Is 막 and 방금 is the same meaning? Im hoping for your reply..thank you!

[@norseneukdae]

이 단어를 막 처음에 들었을때는 잘 몰라서 사전에 찾아봤는데 도대체 무슨 의미인지 머리가 복잡하고 대체로 이해 안 갔지만 현우 선생님이 열심히 설명해주신 거 덕분에 조금 더 말이 되는 것 같네요. 정말 감사합니다! 몇번에 틀리더라도 언젠간 잘 이해할려면 연습할 수밖에 없겠죠!

[@bmichel83110]

Excellent, as usual. Very cleverly put. Congratulations Would you please explain the same for "jom" which seem to have several meanings ?

[@youtubeuser9693]

Oh, wow. I only knew the second/third meaning. Thank you!! 두번과 세번째 의미만 알고 항상 그렇게 들었어요. 감사합니다 선생님!!

[@JellyIsland]

this was very helpful! 😄 thank you!

[@flowergirl850]

감사합니다 선생님

[@may1be1]

@talktomeinkorean Thank you for this "private class"! Yes, I feel like I've just taken a very useful private class!

[@marlen9006]

Thank you

[@hafsahh1631]

The only one I've recognised before is the 4th meaning, I didn't even know the first 3 examples existed. Great video!!

[@eliTUNE]

Love this video; it was really useful!! Wow 막 is such a useful word to know!! Thank you for this :))

[@Jorge007dr]

This is a great video. Thank you for teaching us ^_^

[@chichaguo]

감사합니다 현우 선생님~~

[@lorenloid]

Hi! In which situations do we use 이름, 성함, 성명? Thank you.

[@cinnamorollrabbit]

Thanks for the great explanations :)

[@MariaTorres-ts2pg]

Oh y me encanta como hablas el Ingles Gamsahabnida

[@HereGoesKevin]

막 #1 - Just Now 막 (마구) #2 - Word Amplifier 막 #3 - Carelessly or Recklessly 막 #4 - Word Filler 1.) 막 - Just now • 이제 막 집에서 나왔어요 / 막 집에서 나왔어요 - I just left home • 저도 막 도착했어요 - I just arrived as well 2.) 마구 >>> 막 - Harshly, Voraciously, Wildly (Word Amplifier) • 배고파서 막 먹었어요 - I was hungry, I ate like crazy • 슬퍼서 막 울었어요 - I was sad, I cried a lot. • 막 때리다 - To badly beat up someone 3.) 막 - Carelessly or Recklessly • 그 사람은 돈을 막 써요 - That person spends their money carelessly. • 막 만지지 마세요 - Don't touch it carelessly (Touch it, but be careful) - 집에서 막 입는옷 - To wear without worries • 이거 집에서 막 입는 옷이에요 - These are clothes that I carelessly wear at home. 4.) 막 - Filler in between words (In English = Like) • 설마 "막" 집에 사자 있고 그런 거 아니죠? - Perhaps by any chance "like" you don't have lions at home right? • 핸드폰 케이스나 "막" 그런 거 많이 보여요 - I can see things "like" cell phone cases and many more. • 우리 사진 보면서 "막" "이때 좋았지" 했어요. - We we're looking at these photos, and we were "like" "Those were good times.".

[@LeticiaBragaEsteves]

Thank you This word seems so confusing but now I got it

[@eundongpark1672]

1:01 Wink! OMG so cute!

[@tammy517]

Good and clear explanation..

[@retnoasihmulyobudiutami9178]

surprisingly I understands those sentence' meaning even before you give translations.. thanks to korean drama 😂 your explanation is verrrry good btw.. thanks a lot ssaem!

[@leeseowon7772]

example 1st usage : 가: 빨리 , 파티에 늦을건데 언제 끝날거야? 나 : 걱정마 막 끝났거든 2nd usage : 가 : 야 안말했잖아 , 남친이랑 헤어질 때가 반응 어땠어? 나 : 손 막 잡고 가지말라고 했어 , 약간 아픈 것 같은데 3rd usage : 가 : 와 이거 봐봐 (고양이) 나 : 귀엽지 가 :혹시 집없는 고양이야? 기를려고 그럼 나 : 응 막 기르지마라 4th usage : 가 : 어떻게 됐어? 나 : 거봐 , 주단태가 천서진이랑 날 배신했다 ~~ 내가 왔을때 막 감짝 놀랬어 Correct me if I am wrong 현우쌤 오늘도 잘 설명해주셔서 감사합니다

[@Fruitypebbles489]

For the 4th meaning, where do you place 막 in the sentence as a filler? Does it go before a verb or noun?

[@Majeed.]

احترمت نفسس حين خيّرتها بين السهل والصعب، فاختارت الصعب

[@Kholonie]

What are the different ways to tell someone not to do something?

[@asmrARA]

this was so helpful :) thank you

[@nickbingham3027]

The 4th usage seems similar to "さ" in Japanese in the sense that it's used to either soften the sentence or used as tempo or cadence. Also comparable to "like" in English. Is that right?

[@Neky_Hina]

확 그냥 막 그냥 아주 그냥 막 그냥! (Just make it as... Just like... like...)

[@banexzeeper]

Yay thank you! I always wanted to know what 막 was

[@pianoholic2007]

Im a great fan of you Sir! I hope i could meet you in Seoul one day and have some fun conversation with you and untie my tongue for Korean language! ^^

[@revivesauerwein5717]

고마워! ^^

[@폰티코]

막이 마구의 줄임말이라는 거는 처음 알았네요 ㅎㅎ

[@pirouettee]

난 한국어를 막 배우다~ 😂💻

[@fatimah971]

*배워요

[@godschildren6449]

@@fatimah971 isn't "배우다" a right form too?

[@esgi181]

​@@godschildren6449 If you're trying to say "I learned/learn korean in a casual way, without particular order(?)," 배웠어요(simple past) and 배워요(simple present) are more likely. So it's 한국어를 막 배웠어요/배워요. If you're saying "I've just started studying korean" by using 막, it can be '한국어를 막 배우기 시작했어요.' '한국어를 막 배웠어요' sounds a little like I learned korean 'a second ago'(한국어를 방금 전에 배웠어요), but it can also be right, depending on situation. and doesn't seem too odd if u use this instead of 배우기 시작했어요. Still, it is more commonly used with more specific subject like 한국어로 인사하는 방법을 막 배웠어요(I've just learned how to greet in korean). 막 배워요 doesn't seem right in this second usage of 막, because of the present form of verb. It conflicts with the implying of 막, 'just now'. 막 배우다 sounds weird in any case of conversational or written form. Dictionary form of verb is rarely used in real life.

[@flacidPillow]

useful little word, thanks

[@ImaniChristine]

Thank you so much!

[@katiegutierrez1795]

hello sir...thanks your vids...i learn a lot about this....sir can you pls make a vids about eps topik exam..

[@MariaTorres-ts2pg]

Annyeong Profesor eres muy Guapo, me gustan tus videos, queria saber si tienes algunos videos o libros con el significado de las palaras escritas en koreano para aprenderlas, Gamsahabnida

[@FancyGeak]

Thank you for the video!^^

[@gobluebro]

I have been looking for an answer like number 4 for so long. Every korean I talked to had no idea what I was talking about because they couldn't remember saying it.

[@triwizardmagic]

It reminds me of "딱". Is "딱" also have a various function like "막"? 감사합니다, 좋은 아침 보내세용~

[@blackrose5862]

5:10 i remembered how i always hear something like hwak with the word beating but now i don't know if my hearing is wrong and it was always mak instead of hwak lol

[@marialuisaachille9608]

선현우 선생님 감사합니다 =)

[@daniellame36]

Based on what he said, is each syllable block considered a letter in a sentence? I know they can also be individual words

[@DemonaLlama]

So the 4th meaning is just like the first ‘just’ I wrote in this sentence. We use it in the same way: I just love that! I just think that ... I just see this and that ... It’s a filler for English too.

[@sorrynotsorry5466]

마지막 회 the first mak i read

[@JoshVs191]

Ahhh is this the 막 (the second one) that I always hear where they emphasize it too "Maaaaaaaakkkk" something like that :o