Korean Emotion Vocabulary and Phrases: How to Express Your Feelings in Korean
Published January 12, 2023 · Fluent in Korean
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Korean words and phrases can express joy, sadness, fear, anger, confusion, shyness, hurt, and tiredness. This lesson groups 80 vocabulary entries and 79 sample expressions by those themes. Some entries name emotions; others describe related actions, states, or behavior.
Usage note: Dictionary forms ending in 다 are vocabulary forms, not automatically polite sentences. Examples ending in 요 are generally polite, and 합시다 is a formal proposal. The examples without polite endings are casual, plain written, or self-directed; choose an ending appropriate to the listener. The anger and hurt sections retain harsh expressions for recognition, rather than as neutral conversational models. Latin spellings follow Revised Romanization (RR), which does not show every predictable sound change; check dictionary recordings too.
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 make someone laugh (verb); can also sound mocking in context
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! (Profanity; impolite.)
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 can leave the subject understood when the context is clear. This is why 행복해요 may mean “I am happy,” “you are happy,” or another appropriate subject in context. A complete English translation often needs more words.
For practice, choose one polite example and name its situation and listener. Then change one casual example to a suitable polite form: 너무 속상해 → 너무 속상해요 (“I am so upset”), or 숨고 싶어 → 숨고 싶어요 (“I want to hide”). These forms soften the speech level; they do not automatically make a harsh message appropriate.
