Korean word

고발하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationkobalhada

Meaning

  • verbreport

Example

그는 동료의 범죄를 경찰에 고발했다.keu neun tong nyo ui peom joe reul kyeong cha re ko bal haet tta

He reported his colleague's crime to the police.

Illustration for 고발하다 (report)

More examples

시민 단체가 공금 횡령을 검찰에 고발했다.si min tan che ga kong geum hoeng nyeong eul keom cha re ko bal haet tta

A civic group reported the embezzlement of public funds to prosecutors.

Core concept

Making an alleged legal violation known through an official process so that authorities investigate or seek punishment.

Common phrases

  • 부정행위를 고발하다pu jeong haeng wi reul ko bal ha da

    report misconduct

  • 검찰에 고발하다keom cha re ko bal ha da

    report to prosecutors

Similar words

신고하다singohada: Notify the police or another agency about an incident or problem and ask them to respond.
고소하다kosohada: Take formal legal action against someone to hold that person responsible.
폭로하다pongnohada: Reveal a secret or concealed wrongdoing to the public.
제보하다chebohada: Provide useful inside information or proof to someone who can share or act on it.

Definition in Korean

공적 절차를 통해 법률 위반 사실을 신고하여 처벌이나 조사를 촉구하는 말이다.kong jeok cheol cha reul tong hae peom nyul wi ban sa si reul sin go ha yeo cheo beo ri na cho sa reul chok kku ha neun ma ri da

Word origin

The verb comes from a Sino-Korean base combining the ideas of announcing and sending forth, with a verb-forming element meaning to do, giving the sense of making wrongdoing known officially.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this word is used when wrongdoing is taken to an official authority, not when it is merely mentioned to a friend.

Other meanings

  • accuseverb

Opposites

  • 은폐하다eunpyehadaconcealverb

Related words

  • 고발장kobaljangcomplaintnoun
  • 고발인kobarincomplainantnoun

Word lists with this word