Korean word

막막하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationmangmakada

Meaning

  • adjectivefeel lost

Example

앞길이 막막해요.ap kki ri mang ma kae yo

I feel lost about my future.

Illustration for 막막하다 (feel lost)

More examples

병원 검사 결과를 기다리며 마음이 막막해요.pyeong won keom sa kyeol gwa reul ki da ri myeo ma eu mi mang ma kae yo

I feel lost while waiting for the hospital test results.

Core concept

A wide, empty uncertainty where the way forward is hard to see and no response feels clear.

Common phrases

  • 마음이 막막하다ma eu mi mang ma ka da

    feel at a loss

  • 막막한 순간mang ma kan sun gan

    a moment of feeling lost

Similar words

불안하다puranhada: Feeling worried and unable to relax because the future or an outcome is uncertain.
답답하다tapttapada: A blocked situation makes the mind feel heavy and progress feel frustratingly slow.
난감하다nangamhada: A problem feels awkward and difficult to handle when no suitable response comes to mind.
막연하다magyeonhada: Something seems indistinct because its likely course, details, or basis remain unclear.

Definition in Korean

앞일이나 상황이 막막하여 어떻게 대처할지 몰라 절망적이거나 허전한 마음을 느끼는 상태를 가리키는 형용사.a pi ri na sang hwang i mang ma ka yeo eo tteo ke tae cheo hal ji mol la cheol mang jeo gi geo na heo jeon han ma eu meul neu kki neun sang tae reul ka ri ki neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

The word's historical origin is uncertain, so it is best learned as a descriptive adjective for a state of being unable to see a way forward.

Usage tips

  • This word is stronger than ordinary uneasiness because it often describes a whole situation that leaves someone unable to decide what to do next.

Opposites

  • 희망적이다himangjeogidahopefuladjective

Related words

  • 막막하게mangmakagehelplesslyadverb
  • 막막함mangmakamfeeling lostnoun

Word lists with this word