感
- to feel;
- to sense;
Etymology
A phono-semantic compound consisting of:
心 (심, “heart, mind”) - indicates emotion, sensation, or inner response
咸 (함, “all, together”) - provides the sound (감 / gǎn)
Originally, 感 meant:
- “to be moved in the heart”
- “to respond emotionally or physically to something”
It implies that something external acts upon the heart, producing a feeling or reaction.
Usage in Korean
It is widely used in words related to emotion, sensation, and gratitude.
감정 (感情) - emotion
감각 (感覺) - sense; perception
감사 (感謝) - gratitude
감동 (感動) — deep emotion; to be moved
감염 (感染) — infection (lit. “being affected and 染”)
Additional notes
感 does not simply mean passive feeling. It often implies:
- being affected by something
- a response caused by contact, influence, or stimulus
This is why 感 is central to words related to emotion, perception, gratitude.
Words that derived from 感
- 감(感)–feeling; sense; reception
- 감각(感覺)–sense; sensation; feeling; insight; taste
- 감격(感激)–strong feelings; strong impression; deep emotion
- 감기(感氣)–cold
- 감동(感動)–strong feelings; strong impression; deep emotion
- 감복(感服)–admiration
- 감사(感謝)–gratitude; appreciation; thanks
- 감사히(感謝히)–thankfully; gratefully
- 감성(感性)–sensitivity; sensibility
- 감응(感應)–sympathy; influence; divine response
- 감정(感情)–emotion; feeling; sentiment
- 감촉(感觸)–touch; feel
- 감탄(感歎/感嘆)–admiration; wonder
- 감탄사(感歎詞)–interjection
- 감흥(感興)–inspiration
- 독감(毒感)–flu; influenza
- 동감(同感)–agreement
- 만족감(滿足感)–satisfaction
- 모욕감(侮辱感)–feeling of insult
- 목감기(목感氣)–sore throat
- 실감(實感)–lifelike feeling; actual feeling
- 영감(靈感)–mysterious feeling; queer foreboding; inspiration
- 자신감(自信感)–self-assurance; confidence
- 정감(情感)–affection
- 코감기(코感氣)–sinus cold
- 호감(好感)–good feeling; favorable impression; feeling favorably
- 戈口心 (IRP)
- ⿱ 咸 心 (G J K V)
- ⿵ 咸 心 (H T)
