인정 (injeong) — Agreed; fair point; I agree.
This is lesson 6 in our Korean Slang series, adapted from Korean Your Teacher Doesn’t Teach You by Injin Hwang. The explanations below focus on understanding casual Korean and choosing an appropriate situation.
What 인정 means
As a short response, 인정 signals agreement with a friend, especially when their point seems hard to argue with. It is brisk and conversational.
A short conversation
A: 이 집은 빵이 맛있어.
B: 인정. 매일 먹고 싶어.
A: The bread here is great.
B: Agreed. I could eat it every day.
How to understand the expression
The sample adds a second sentence after 인정. This is a useful habit for learners: agree first, then explain why. Here 매일 먹고 싶어 means wanting to eat it every day. Using 인정 does not mean you are issuing an official recognition or certificate; it is simply conversational agreement.
Use it with care
The short response is casual. The ordinary noun also means recognition or acknowledgment in other contexts.
A more neutral or polite alternative: 맞아요. 저도 그렇게 생각해요.
Yes. I think so too.
Try it yourself
Your friend gives an opinion you agree with. Can 인정 be a short reply?
Show the answer
Yes, in an appropriately casual conversation.
Read both parts of the dialogue aloud. Then imagine a different situation and decide whether this reaction would sound friendly, exaggerated or unsuitable. Focus on the relationship between the speakers, not only the dictionary meaning.
Based on the author’s slang collection, with additional learning notes for this website. Illustration created with AI for this lesson.
