세월

se-wol

time passing

세월이 흘러가다

Time passes by

informal

The passage of time, often with a sense of nostalgia or reflection on how things change over the years.

세월이 흘러 우리도 많이 달라졌어.

Time has passed, and we've all changed a lot.

Often used to express how people, places, or situations change over time.

neutral

A period of time, especially a long one.

그 세월 동안 많은 일이 일어났어.

Many things happened during that time.

Can refer to a specific or general period.

Collocations

time passes

traces of time

세월 is often used to express nostalgia or reflection on how things have changed over time.

While 세월 can mean 'time,' it often carries a sense of reflection or change, unlike the more neutral 시간.

From 세 (world) + 월 (month), originally referring to the passage of months and years, now generalized to mean the passage of time.

Often used in reflective or nostalgic contexts, emphasizing the changes that occur over time.

세

world

root

월

month

root

한영사전