감정 [gamjeong] (emotion) is expressed both verbally and physically in the Korean language. Just like in English, there are different words appropriate for every emotion. This article will be your guide to wisely choosing which Korean word to use and when to use it to express the exact emotion you are aiming for.
Usage note: The vocabulary tables include emotions and related actions or descriptions. Dictionary forms ending in 다 are not automatically ready-made polite sentences. Most examples ending in 요 are polite; examples without polite endings are casual or self-directed and should not be used indiscriminately with strangers. The anger and hurt sections include harsh expressions for recognition. Romanization follows Revised Romanization.
Emotion vocabulary by theme — 감정 [gamjeong]
Joy 기쁨 [gippeum]
- Here are some different words to express this emotion:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 행복하다 | haengbokada | to be happy |
| 즐기다 | jeulgida | to enjoy |
| 좋아하다 | joahada | to like / love |
| 잘되다 | jaldoeda | to go well / turn out well |
| 다행이다 | dahaengida | to be a relief / be fortunate |
| 만족하다 | manjokada | to be satisfied |
| 축하하다 | chukahada | to congratulate |
| 감사하다 | gamsahada | to be grateful / thank |
| 재미있다 | jaemiitda | to be interesting / fun |
| 웃기다 | utgida | to be funny / make someone laugh |
- Sample phrases expressing joyful emotion:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 행복해요. | haengbokaeyo | I’m happy. |
| 잘됐어요. | jaldwaesseoyo | It turned out well. / Good for you! |
| 다행이에요. | dahaengieyo | What a relief. |
| 최고예요. | choegoyeyo | You’re the best. / It’s the best. |
| 즐거웠어요. | jeulgeowosseoyo | I had fun. |
| 축하해요. | chukahaeyo | Congratulations. |
| 잘했어요. | jalhaesseoyo | Well done. |
| 대단해요. | daedanhaeyo | That’s amazing. |
| 부러워요. | bureowoyo | I envy you. |
| 도움이 돼서 기뻐요. | doumi dwaeseo gippeoyo | I’m glad to be of help. |
Sadness 슬픔 [seulpeum]
- Here are some different words to express this emotion:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 외롭다 | oeropda | to be lonely |
| 우울하다 | uulhada | to feel down / be depressed |
| 불행하다 | bulhaenghada | to be unhappy / unfortunate |
| 절망하다 | jeolmanghada | to despair |
| 미안하다 | mianhada | to be sorry |
| 실망하다 | silmanghada | to be disappointed |
| 불평하다 | bulpyeonghada | to complain |
| 억울하다 | eogulhada | to feel wronged / unfairly treated |
| 가망이 없다 | gamangi eopda | to have no hope / prospect |
| 포기하다 | pogihada | to give up |
- Sample phrases expressing sad emotions:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 너무 외로워요. | neomu oerowoyo | I’m so lonely. |
| 우울해요. | uulhaeyo | I feel down. / I’m depressed. |
| 슬픈 일이에요. | seulpeun irieyo | It’s a sad event. |
| 절망적이에요. | jeolmangjeogieyo | It’s hopeless. / The situation is desperate. |
| 유감이에요. | yugamieyo | That’s regrettable. / I’m sorry to hear that. |
| 실망이에요 | silmangieyo | That’s a disappointment. |
| 불평하지 마세요. | bulpyeonghaji maseyo | Please don’t complain. |
| 억울해요. | eogulhaeyo | I feel wronged. |
| 가망이 없어요. | gamangi eopseoyo | There’s no hope. |
| 최악의 날이에요. | choeagui narieyo | It’s the worst day. |
Fear 두려움 [duryeoum]
- Here are some different words to express this emotion:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 무섭다 | museopda | to be scary / afraid |
| 공포스럽다 | gongposeureopda | to be terrifying |
| 소름 돋다 / 소름 끼치다 | soreum dotda / soreum kkichida | to get goosebumps / feel a shiver |
| 끔찍하다 | kkeumjjikada | to be horrible / dreadful |
| 놀라다 | nollada | to be surprised / startled |
| 겁나다 | geomnada | to feel scared |
| 당황하다 | danghwanghada | to be flustered / bewildered |
| 아슬아슬하다 | aseuraseulhada | to be precarious / nerve-racking |
| 긴장하다 | ginjanghada | to feel tense / nervous |
| 두렵다 | duryeopda | to be afraid |
- Sample expressions of fear:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 어머! | eomeo | Oh my goodness! |
| 끔찍해요. | kkeumjjikaeyo | How horrible! |
| 못 보겠어요. | mot bogesseoyo | I can’t watch it. |
| 상상도 못해요. | sangsangdo motaeyo | I can’t even imagine it. |
| 심장이 뛰어요. | simjangi ttwieoyo | My heart is beating. |
| 긴장해서 식은땀이 나요. | ginjanghaeseo sigeunttami nayo | I’m breaking into a cold sweat because I’m nervous. |
| 소름 돋았어요. | soreum dodasseoyo | I got goosebumps. |
| 두려운 생각이 들어요. | duryeoun saenggagi deureoyo | Frightening thoughts come to mind. |
| 무섭게 생겼어요. | museopge saenggyeosseoyo | It looks frightening. |
| 소름 돋아요. / 소름 끼쳐요. | soreum dodayo / soreum kkichyeoyo | It gives me goosebumps. / It gives me the creeps. |
Anger 분노 [bunno]
- Here are some different words to express this emotion:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 화나다 | hwanada | to get angry |
| 짜증 나다 | jjajeung nada | to feel annoyed |
| 밉다 | mipda | to be hateful / dislikeable |
| 괴롭다 | goeropda | to feel distressed / suffer |
| 불쾌하다 | bulkwaehada | to be unpleasant / feel offended |
| 미치다 | michida | to go crazy (can be figurative) |
| 열받다 | yeolbatda | to get very angry (colloquial) |
| 속상하다 | soksanghada | to feel upset / distressed |
| 기분 나쁘다 | gibun nappeuda | to feel bad / offended |
| 분노하다 | bunnohada | to be angry / indignant |
- Sample phrases expressing anger:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 꺼져! | kkeojyeo | Get lost! (Rude.) |
| 내 앞에 나타나지 마. | nae ape natanaji ma | Don’t show up in front of me. (Harsh.) |
| 너무 속상해. | neomu soksanghae | I’m so upset. |
| 미치겠어. | michigesseo | I’m going crazy. / This is driving me crazy. |
| 미쳤어? | michyeosseo | Are you crazy? (Can be insulting.) |
| 젠장! | jenjang | Damn it! (Mild profanity.) |
| 용서 못 해. | yongseo mot hae | I can’t forgive it / you. |
| 진짜 짜증 나. | jinjja jjajeung na | This is so annoying. |
| 열받아. | yeolbada | I’m really angry. |
| 너 미워. | neo miwo | I hate you. |
Confusion 혼란스러움 [hollanseureoum]
- Here are some different words to express this emotion:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 불확실하다 | bulhwaksilhada | to be uncertain / unclear |
| 불안하다 | buranhada | to feel anxious / uneasy |
| 당황하다 | danghwanghada | to be flustered / bewildered |
| 걱정하다 | geokjeonghada | to worry |
| 속이다 | sogida | to deceive |
| 멍하다 | meonghada | to be dazed / absent-minded |
| 비슷하다 | biseutada | to be similar |
| 헷갈리다 | hetgallida | to get confused / mixed up |
| 부정확하다 | bujeonghwakada | to be inaccurate |
| 막연하다 | magyeonhada | to be vague |
- Sample phrases expressing confused emotions:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 몰라요. | mollayo | I don’t know. |
| 불확실해요. | bulhwaksilhaeyo | It’s uncertain. |
| 어떡하지? | eotteokaji | What should I do? |
| 너무 헷갈려. | neomu hetgallyeo | I’m so confused. |
| 비슷하게 생겼다. | biseutage saenggyeotda | They look alike. |
| 잘 골라야 돼. | jal gollaya dwae | You / I need to choose carefully. |
| 생각할 시간 좀 줘. | saenggakal sigan jom jwo | Give me some time to think. |
| 너 따라 할게. | neo ttara halge | I’ll do what you do. |
| 야! 걱정했잖아. | ya geokjeonghaetjana | Hey! I was worried! |
| 설명해 봐. | seolmyeonghae bwa | Explain it. |
Shyness 부끄러움 [bukkeureoum]
- Here are some different words to express this emotion:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 창피하다 | changpihada | to feel embarrassed / be embarrassing |
| 소심하다 | sosimhada | to be timid |
| 수줍다 | sujupda | to be shy |
| 주저하다 | jujeohada | to hesitate |
| 차분하다 | chabunhada | to be calm / composed |
| 내성적이다 | naeseongjeogida | to be introverted |
| 쑥스럽다 | ssukseureopda | to feel shy / self-conscious |
| 겸손하다 | gyeomsonhada | to be humble |
| 온순하다 | onsunhada | to be gentle / docile |
| 자신 없다 | jasin eopda | to lack confidence |
- Sample phrases to express shy emotions:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 창피해! | changpihae | I’m embarrassed! / That’s embarrassing! |
| 쑥스러워서 못 참겠어요. | ssukseureowoseo mot chamgesseoyo | I’m so embarrassed I can’t stand it. |
| 제발 이러지 마. | jebal ireoji ma | Please don’t do this. |
| 바보 같아. | babo gata | I / you look foolish. (Context-dependent.) |
| 바보 멍청이! | babo meongcheongi | You idiot! (Insulting.) |
| 당황스러워서 할 말이 없어. | danghwangseureowoseo hal mari eopseo | I’m so flustered that I’m speechless. |
| 없어지고 싶다. | eopseojigo sipda | I want to disappear. |
| 도망가고 싶어. | domanggago sipeo | I want to run away. |
| 숨고 싶어. | sumgo sipeo | I want to hide. |
Hurt 아픔 [apeum]
- Here are some different words to express hurt emotion.
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 질투하다 / 질투 나다 | jiltuhada / jiltu nada | to be jealous / feel jealous |
| 배신하다 | baesinhada | to betray |
| 실망하다 | silmanghada | to be disappointed |
| 상처받다 | sangcheobatda | to be hurt emotionally |
| 다치다 | dachida | to get injured |
| 거절하다 / 거부하다 | geojeolhada / geobuhada | to reject / refuse |
| 가슴 아프다 / 마음 아프다 | gaseum apeuda / maeum apeuda | to feel heartbroken |
| 사기당하다 | sagidanghada | to be scammed / conned |
| 학대하다 | hakdaehada | to abuse / mistreat |
| 왕따 당하다 | wangtta danghada | to be ostracized / excluded by a group |
- Sample phrases to express hurt in Korean.
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 아파, 그만해! | apa geumanhae | It hurts. Stop! |
| 너무하다, 진짜. | neomuhada jinjja | That’s really too much. |
| 마음이 아프다. | maeumi apeuda | My heart aches. |
| 이건 다 나쁜 꿈이야. | igeon da nappeun kkumiya | This is all a bad dream. |
| 가슴이 찢어질 거 같아. | gaseumi jjijeojil geo gata | It feels as if my heart is being torn apart. |
| 마음이 미어져. | maeumi mieojyeo | My heart aches deeply. |
| 어떻게 이럴 수 있어? | eotteoke ireol su isseo | How can you do this? |
| 나한테 왜 그래? | nahante wae geurae | Why are you doing this to me? |
| 울고 싶다 정말. | ulgo sipda jeongmal | I really want to cry. |
| 나 좀 내버려 둬. | na jom naebeoryeo dwo | Leave me alone. |
Tiredness 피곤 [pigon]
- Here are some different words to express tired emotions:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 진이 빠지다 | jini ppajida | to be drained of energy |
| 영혼이 없다 | yeonghoni eopda | to seem disengaged / lack feeling (figurative) |
| 몸이 무겁다 | momi mugeopda | to feel physically heavy / sluggish |
| 기운이 없다 | giuni eopda | to have no energy |
| 지치다 | jichida | to become exhausted |
| 쓰러지다 | sseureojida | to collapse / fall down |
| 연약하다 | yeonyakada | to be frail / weak |
| 과로하다 | gwarohada | to overwork |
| 기진맥진하다 | gijinmaekjinhada | to be utterly exhausted |
| 피곤하다 | pigonhada | to be tired |
- Sample phrases expressing tiredness in Korean:
| Korean | Revised Romanization | Meaning and use |
|---|---|---|
| 졸리다. | jollida | I’m sleepy. |
| 하얗게 불태웠어! | hayake bultaewosseo | I gave it everything I had. (Dramatic, figurative.) |
| 정말 지쳤어. | jeongmal jichyeosseo | I’m totally exhausted. |
| 아무것도 하기 싫어. | amugeotdo hagi sireo | I don’t want to do anything. |
| 충전이 필요해. | chungjeoni piryohae | I need to recharge. |
| 힘이 완전히 빠졌어. | himi wanjeonhi ppajyeosseo | I’m completely drained. |
| 더 이상 못 하겠어. | deo isang mot hagesseo | I can’t do any more. |
| 나 이제 그만할래. | na ije geumanhallae | I want to stop now. |
| 오늘은 여기까지 합시다. | oneureun yeogikkaji hapsida | Let’s stop here for today. |
| 아무 데도 가기 싫어. | amu dedo gagi sireo | I don’t want to go anywhere. |
Other Korean vocabulary lists you should check out:
Korean Vocabulary: Jobs and Professions
Korean Vocabulary For Your Daily Routine
All About Baby! Baby-Related Korean Vocabulary
Conclusion
In Korean, a single predicate can form a complete utterance when the context supplies the subject and other information. So as you can see in the sample phrases, the Korean word and the English translation differ in the number of words. It is because the Korean language does not require that we state who or what (subject) is being discussed if they are already understood from context.
There are also rules to consider regarding the Korean alphabet, in which some symbols have changes in phonetics when used in a word together with some specific symbols. I encourage you to try using these phrases to express your emotions and become more familiar with the usage and pronunciation for a more natural effect.
Have fun and stay tuned for more interesting topics. Please don’t forget to share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or send to your friends’ email. Thank you so much! 감사합니다!