Korean word

공연히

Pronunciation

Romanizationkongyeonhi

Meaning

  • adverbneedlessly

Example

공연히 걱정하지 마.kong yeon hi keok jjeong ha ji ma

Don't worry needlessly.

Illustration for 공연히 (needlessly)

More examples

공연히 전화하지 마.kong yeon hi cheon hwa ha ji ma

Don't call needlessly.

Core concept

An action or feeling happens without a good reason and serves no useful purpose.

Common phrases

  • 공연히 걱정하다kong yeon hi keok jjeong ha da

    worry needlessly

  • 공연히 화를 내다kong yeon hi hwa reul nae da

    get angry needlessly

Similar words

괜히kwaenhi: An action or feeling arises without a clear cause or need.
쓸데없이sseuldeeopssi: An action or statement has no useful purpose and wastes resources.
아무 이유 없이amu iyu eopssi: An action or condition occurs with absolutely no reason or cause.

Definition in Korean

특별한 이유 없이 행동이나 상태가 불필요하게 일어남을 나타내는 부사.teuk ppyeol han i yu eop ssi haeng dong i na sang tae ga pul pi ryo ha ge i reo na meul na ta nae neun pu sa

Word origin

The word is often analyzed as an uncertain base combined with the adverb-forming ending -hi, but the base has no settled origin that gives a reliable literal meaning.

Usage tips

  • The translation for nothing can suggest zero cost in English, but this word usually focuses on doing something without a good reason.

Other meanings

  • for nothingadverb

Opposites

  • 정당하게cheongdanghagejustifiablyadverb
  • 타당하게tadanghagereasonablyadverb

Word lists with this word