Korean word

두근거리다

Pronunciation

Romanizationtugeungeorida

Meaning

  • verbbe nervous

Example

시험 때문에 두근거려요.si heom ttae mu ne tu geun geo ryeo yo

I'm nervous because of the exam.

Illustration for 두근거리다 (be nervous)

More examples

중요한 면접 전에 손이 떨리고 마음이 두근거렸어요.chung yo han myeon jeop cheo ne so ni tteol li go ma eu mi tu geun geo ryeo sseo yo

Before the important interview, my hands were shaking and my heart was pounding.

Core concept

A heart keeps fluttering or racing as nerves or anticipation make the body react.

Common phrases

  • 마음이 두근거리다ma eu mi tu geun geo ri da

    feel one's heart pound

  • 기대에 두근거리다ki dae e tu geun geo ri da

    have one's heart race with anticipation

Similar words

설레다seolleda: A happy expectation fills the heart with eager excitement.
떨리다tteollida: A body part or voice shakes because of cold or strong nervous feelings.
긴장하다kinjanghada: Pressure before an important event makes calm concentration difficult.
두근대다tugeundaeda: A strong, repeated heartbeat can be felt clearly in the chest.

Definition in Korean

마음이나 몸에서 긴장이나 설렘으로 심장이 자꾸 빨라지는 상태를 가리키는 동사.ma eu mi na mo me seo kin jang i na seol le meu ro sim jang i cha kku ppal la ji neun sang tae reul ka ri ki neun tong sa

Word origin

The word combines the sound-symbolic base 두근 (dugeun, "a thumping heartbeat") with 거리다 (georida, "to keep doing something"), forming a verb for repeated heartbeats and the feelings they bring.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it can describe pleasant anticipation as well as nerves, so context decides whether English uses nervous or excited.

Other meanings

  • be excitedverb
  • have palpitationsverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 두근대다tugeundaedapalpitateverb

Word lists with this word