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마음에 듣다 vs 좋아하다

Writer's picture: KSJ 쌤KSJ 쌤

Updated: 3 days ago


안녕하세요 리더님! Koreanstudyjunkie입니다~


We all know that 좋아하다 is how we say "I like" something. Sometimes the word 좋다 even gets translated as "I like it"


Click here to learn: 좋다 vs 좋아하다


But there is one other phrase that can be used "마음에 듣다”.



ABOUT 마음에 듣다


The phrase "마음에 듣다" is a combination of the noun "마음" (meaning "heart" or "mind") and the verb "듣다" (meaning "to listen" or "to hear").


However, when used together in this way, the phrase doesn’t have a literal meaning of "to hear with the heart," but rather, it takes on a figurative meaning in Korean, which roughly translates to “to be pleasing” or “to be agreeable” to someone’s taste or preferences.


In other words, something that "듣다" (to hear) "마음에" (in the heart/mind) means that the person finds it pleasing or acceptable.



The Breakdown:

- 마음: The noun for "heart" or "mind," which often refers to one's feelings or preferences.

- 에: This is a particle indicating direction or location, and in this case, it can be thought of as “to” or “in” the context of the phrase.

- 듣다: The verb "to hear" or "to listen."


When combined, 마음에 듣다 describes something that resonates positively with someone's heart or mind, meaning it pleases them or they like it.



Examples:

1. 그 노래가 마음에 들어요.

"I like that song." / "That song is pleasing to me."

Here, the song resonates with the person’s taste or preference.


2. 이 드레스가 마음에 든다.

"This dress looks good to me." / "This dress is pleasing to my taste."

The dress appeals to the person's sense of style.


3. 그 사람의 말이 마음에 안 든다.

"I don't like what that person said." / "The person's words don't sit well with.



In Summary:

"마음에 듣다" is not used literally as "to hear in the heart," but rather as a way to express that something is pleasing or agreeable to one's tastes or preferences.


It's often used in situations where you express liking or disliking something, be it music, fashion, ideas, or opinions.


 

마음에 듣다 vs 좋아하다


The difference between "좋아하다" and "마음에 듣다" lies in both their meanings and the nuances of how they're used in everyday Korean.


좋아하다 Meaning:

the most straightforward way to say "to like" or “to enjoy" in Korean. It directly expresses that someone has a positive feeling or preference for something.


Usage: It is a verb that directly indicates that the speaker enjoys, likes, or is fond of something.


Examples:

저는 한국 음식을 좋아해요.

"I like Korean food."


그 사람을 좋아해요.

"I like that person."


"좋아하다" is used in a straightforward, general sense to express liking something, whether it’s a person, an object, an activity, etc.


마음에 듣다 Meaning:

a more figurative expression, and its meaning is closer to "to be pleasing" or "to resonate with someone's taste". It’s not simply about liking something; rather, it's used to describe something that appeals to or fits well with one's preferences, tastes, or feelings.


 

Key Differences:


Direct vs. Figurative Expression:

좋아하다 is a direct expression of liking or enjoying something. When you use 좋아하다, you're stating plainly that you like something or someone, without much room for subtlety.


마음에 듣다, on the other hand, is more figurative. It’s not just about liking something, but rather how something fits or resonates with you emotionally or aesthetically. It’s about something being pleasing or suitable to your preferences, rather than just liking it outright.



Scope of Use:

좋아하다 is a broad verb that can be used for nearly anything that you can like: people, objects, activities, ideas, places, etc.

Example: "저는 음악을 좋아해요." (I like music.)


마음에 듣다 is typically used for things that are pleasing or agreeable to one's taste or heart. It’s a bit more selective and usually implies that something has a more refined or personal appeal.


Example: 그 영화는 제 마음에 들어요." (That movie is pleasing to me.)



Formality and Nuance:

좋아하다 is neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It’s the most general and widely-used term for expressing like or affection.


마음에 듣다 has a softer, more nuanced feel. It's used less frequently in casual conversation and often carries a bit of emotional or aesthetic weight, as it’s focused on personal taste or feelings.


Example: "그 그림이 제 마음에 듭니다." (That painting resonates with me.)



Verb Tense and Structure:

좋아하다 is used as a regular verb and can be conjugated in various tenses and forms:

- Present: 좋아해요 (I like)

- Past: 좋아했어요 I liked)

- Future: 좋아할 거예요 (I will like)

마음에 듣다 requires the verb "듣다" in its specific form (usually "듣다" → "듬" or "들다" in its conjugated forms), and it's more commonly used in expressions with particular subjects (e.g., songs, things, or people). It’s not as flexible as "좋아하다" in terms of basic sentence structures.



Emotional vs. Aesthetic Appeal:

좋아하다 can be used in a broader sense of liking anything, from emotions to actions.


마음에 듣다 is more likely to be used when expressing aesthetic or emotional appeal (such as how a piece of art, music, or an idea resonates with someone).



In summary, 좋아하다 is a more general and straightforward way to express liking, while 마음에 듣다 conveys a deeper sense of personal, emotional, or aesthetic appeal that resonates with someone's tastes or preferences.


 

CONTEXTUAL EXAMPLES:



Example 1: 좋아하다 (to like)

Context: Two friends are discussing their favorite foods.


:"저는 피자를 정말 좋아해요."

A: "I really like pizza."


:"저는 치킨을 좋아해요. 특히 양념치킨!"

B: "I like chicken. Especially spicy fried chicken!"


In this conversation, 좋아하다 is used to simply express liking a food (pizza and chicken). It’s a straightforward expression of what the person enjoys.



Example 2: 마음에 듣다 (to be pleasing to one’s taste)

Context: Two people are discussing a song they just heard.


:"저는 이 노래가 정말 마음에 들어요."

A: "I really like this song." / "This song is pleasing to me."

:"저도요. 가사가 제 마음에 딱 들어요!"

B: "I agree. The lyrics really resonate with me!"


In this case, 마음에 듣다 emphasizes that the song is not just liked, but particularly pleasing or resonating with the person’s emotional or aesthetic taste. It implies that the song is exactly what they enjoy or it fits their preferences perfectly.



Example 3: 좋아하다 (to like)

Context: Two people are talking about a movie.


:"어제 본 영화 어땠어요?"

A: "How was the movie you watched yesterday?"

:"정말 좋았어요! 저는 그런 액션 영화를 좋아해요."

B: "It was really good! I like those kinds of action movies."

A:"저도요. 액션 영화 좋아해요."

A: "Me too. I like action movies."


In this conversation, 좋아하다 is used to simply express a general liking for a type of movie (action movies). It’s a broad, straightforward statement.



Example 4: 마음에 듣다 (to be pleasing to one’s taste)

Context: Two people are discussing a new fashion item (a dress).


A:"이 드레스 어때요? 예쁜 것 같아요?"

A: "How do you like this dress? Do you think it’s pretty?"

B:"그 드레스는 제 마음에 들어요. 색깔이 너무 예쁘고 디자인도 마음에 들어요."

B: "I really like that dress. The color is so pretty, and the design really suits my taste."


Here, 마음에 듣다 is used to indicate that the dress pleases the person on a deeper, more personal level. It’s not just about liking it— it fits their personal aesthetic and emotional preference.



Example 5: 좋아하다 (to like)

Context: Two people talking about a favorite actor.


:"김수현 배우 좋아해요?"

A: "Do you like actor Kim Soo-hyun?"

:"네, 정말 좋아해요! 그의 연기력도 최고예요."

B: "Yes, I really like him! His acting skills are the best."

:"저도 좋아해요. 그 사람 정말 멋져요."

A: "I like him too. He’s really cool."


In this case, 좋아하다 is used to express general liking or admiration for the actor, with no emphasis on personal resonance or emotional appeal. It’s simply about liking him as an actor.



Example 6: 마음에 듣다 (to be pleasing to one’s taste)

Context: Two people are discussing a new restaurant they visited.


:"그 식당 음식은 어땠어요?"

A: "How was the food at that restaurant?"

:"저는 정말 마음에 들었어요. 특히 비빔밥이 맛있었어요."

B: "I really liked it. Especially, the bibimbap was delicious."

:"그래요? 그럼 저도 가봐야겠어요."

A: "Really? Then I should try it too."


Here, 마음에 듣다 conveys that the food pleased the person on a personal level, especially the bibimbap. It implies that the food matched their taste or preferences in a way that made them feel satisfied.



Example 7: 좋아하다 (to like)

Context: Two people are talking about hobbies.


A:"어떤 운동 좋아하세요?"

A: "What kind of sports do you like?"

B:"저는 축구를 좋아해요."

B: "I like soccer."


In this case, 좋아하다 is simply used to express a liking for a sport, in a straightforward manner. There’s no deeper implication about why or how the person likes it.


 

That's the end of this lesson! Hopefully, you can now discern between 마음에 듣다 and 좋아하다 now.


If you scroll down, you'll see 3 other posts that i hand picked for you! Check them out~

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