Korean word

난처하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationnancheohada

Meaning

  • adjectiveembarrassed

Example

약속을 깜빡해서 난처했어요.yak sso geul kkam ppa kae seo nan cheo hae sseo yo

I felt embarrassed because I forgot our appointment.

Illustration for 난처하다 (embarrassed)

More examples

회의 중 갑작스러운 질문에 난처했어요.hoe ui chung kap jjak sseu reo un chil mu ne nan cheo hae sseo yo

I felt embarrassed when I was asked an unexpected question during the meeting.

Core concept

An unexpected problem or small mistake leaves someone unsure how to respond.

Common phrases

  • 난처한 상황nan cheo han sang hwang

    an awkward situation

  • 난처한 입장nan cheo han ip jjang

    an awkward position

  • 난처한 표정nan cheo han pyo jeong

    an embarrassed expression

Similar words

곤란하다kollanhada: Finding a situation or request difficult to deal with or accept.
난감하다nangamhada: Feeling stuck because a troublesome situation seems to have no workable response.
어색하다eosaekada: Feeling awkward when an interaction or atmosphere loses its natural flow.
당황스럽다tanghwangseureoptta: Feeling confused and flustered by an unexpected event.

Definition in Korean

예기치 않은 상황이나 작은 실수로 어떻게 반응해야 할지 몰라 난감하거나 곤란한 마음이 드는 상태를 뜻하는 형용사ye gi chi a neun sang hwang i na cha geun sil su ro eo tteo ke pa neung hae ya hal ji mol la nan gam ha geo na kol lan han ma eu mi teu neun sang tae reul tteu ta neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

It comes from a Sino-Korean compound meaning a difficult position, combined with the adjective-forming ending hada.

Usage tips

  • It can describe a practical predicament as well as social discomfort, so context determines whether embarrassed or awkward fits best.

Other meanings

  • awkwardadjective
  • be in a difficult situationadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 난처함nancheohamembarrassmentnoun
  • 난처하게nancheohageawkwardlyadverb
  • 난처해지다nancheohaejidabecome embarrassedverb

Word lists with this word