Korean word

당황

Pronunciation

Romanizationtanghwang

Meaning

  • verbbe flustered

Example

갑자기 질문을 받아 당황했어요.kap jja gi chil mu neul pa da tang hwang hae sseo yo

I was flustered when I was suddenly asked a question.

Illustration for 당황 (be flustered)

More examples

택시가 오지 않아서 잠깐 당황했어요.taek ssi ga o ji a na seo cham kkan tang hwang hae sseo yo

I was briefly flustered because the taxi did not come.

Core concept

An unexpected event disrupts someone's composure so that a suitable response does not come immediately.

Common phrases

  • 길을 잃어 당황했어요ki reul i reo tang hwang hae sseo yo

    be flustered after getting lost

  • 문제가 생겨서 당황했어요mun je ga saeng gyeo seo tang hwang hae sseo yo

    be flustered when a problem arises

  • 아이들이 갑자기 울어서 당황했어요a i deu ri kap jja gi u reo seo tang hwang hae sseo yo

    be flustered when children suddenly cry

Similar words

놀라다nollada: Feeling sudden surprise when unexpected news, events, or sounds occur.
어쩔 줄 모르다eojjeol jjul moreuda: Not knowing what action to take in an unexpected situation.
혼란스러워하다hollanseureowohada: Having thoughts that are jumbled and difficult to organize.

Definition in Korean

예기치 않은 일을 만나 마음이 어수선해지고 즉시 적절히 반응하지 못하는 상태를 가리키는 말.ye gi chi a neun i reul man na ma eu mi eo su seon hae ji go cheuk ssi cheok jjeol hi pa neung ha ji mo ta neun sang tae reul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

Its traditional Sino-Korean elements express confronting a situation and becoming unsettled, a combination that reflects the word's reaction to surprise.

Usage tips

  • This word is useful for moments such as sudden questions or unfamiliar requests, when the main problem is the delayed response rather than a lack of knowledge.

Other meanings

  • be confusedverb
  • be taken abackverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word