근심

First attested in the Beonyeok Bak Tongsa (飜譯朴通事 / 번역박통사), before 1517, as Middle Korean 근심 (Yale: kunsim). Probably ultimately Sinitic, with the second syllable being 심(心) (sim, “mind, heart”).

Perhaps a Sino-Korean word from 勤 (“to exert, to labor, miserable”) + 心 (“mind, heart”), although an initial long vowel should then be expected. However, the long vowel in the traditional Seoul pronunciation of the hanja 勤 (geun) is itself an irregular development, and the regular reflex from Middle Chinese should be a short vowel.

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [kɯnɕʰim]
• Phonetic hangul: [근심]

근심 • (geunsim) (usually no hanja; sometimes 勤心)

1. worry; anxiety

   Synonyms: 걱정 (geokjeong), 불안(不安) (buran)

   너는 걱정 근심이 너무 많아. 자신감을 가져.

   Neo-neun geokjeong geunsim-i neomu mana. Jasin'gam-eul gajeo.

   You have too much worries and anxieties. Be more confident.