Korean word

덤비다

Pronunciation

Romanizationteombida

Meaning

  • verbcome at

Example

그 남자가 사소한 일로 나에게 덤비면 참을 수 없어.keu nam ja ga sa so han il lo na e ge teom bi myeon cha meul ssu eop sseo

I can't stand it if that man comes at me over something trivial.

Illustration for 덤비다 (come at)

More examples

무턱대고 덤비면 일이 더 커질 수 있다.mu teok ttae go teom bi myeon i ri teo keo jil ssu it tta

If you recklessly come at someone, things could get worse.

Core concept

A person approaches someone with words or actions meant to provoke, threaten, or confront that person.

Common phrases

  • 남에게 덤비다na me ge teom bi da

    come at someone

  • 무턱대고 덤비다mu teok ttae go teom bi da

    recklessly come at someone

Similar words

도발하다tobalhada: To deliberately provoke someone in order to draw out a reaction.
시비걸다sibigeolda: To pick an argument with someone by finding a reason to bother them.
건드리다keondeurida: To lightly tease or irritate someone by touching a sensitive subject.

Definition in Korean

도발하거나 위협하려는 의도로 상대에게 다가가 말이나 행동으로 맞서는 상황을 가리키는 동사.to bal ha geo na wi hyeo pa ryeo neun ui do ro sang dae e ge ta ga ga ma ri na haeng dong eu ro mat sseo neun sang hwang eul ka ri ki neun tong sa

Word origin

This is a native Korean verb whose exact historical formation is uncertain, so it is best learned as a whole word for hostile confrontation.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a neutral approach, this word signals that the other person is being challenged and can sound aggressive even when the conflict is small.

Other meanings

  • attackverb
  • pick a fightverb
  • pounceverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 덤벼들다teombyeodeuldapounce onverb

Word lists with this word