This is the 9154th most frequent Korean word.
거짓
Falsehood; lie.
The word '거짓말' combines '거짓' (falsehood) and '말' (speech), thus meaning 'a lie'.
그는 거짓말로 상황을 모면하려 했어요.
He tried to get out of the situation with a lie.
Here, '거짓' stands alone as 'falsehood,' emphasizing the inauthentic nature of their happiness.
그들의 행복은 거짓에 불과했어요.
Their happiness was nothing but a falsehood.
In this sentence, '거짓' is juxtaposed with '진실' (truth), highlighting the absence of falseness.