Korean word

머뭇거리다

Pronunciation

Romanizationmeomutkkeorida

Meaning

  • verbhesitate

Example

그는 중요한 질문에 머뭇거렸다.keu neun chung yo han chil mu ne meo mut kkeo ryeot tta

He hesitated when faced with an important question.

Illustration for 머뭇거리다 (hesitate)

More examples

그는 사과를 머뭇거렸다.keu neun sa gwa reul meo mut kkeo ryeot tta

He hesitated to apologize.

Core concept

Small pauses keep interrupting a person's attempt to decide or begin speaking.

Common phrases

  • 사과를 머뭇거리다sa gwa reul meo mut kkeo ri da

    hesitate to apologize

  • 사실을 머뭇거리다sa si reul meo mut kkeo ri da

    hesitate to tell the truth

  • 시작을 머뭇거리다si ja geul meo mut kkeo ri da

    hesitate to start

Similar words

망설이다mangseorida: To pause before an action or decision because the choice is not yet settled.
머뭇대다meomutttaeda: To keep faltering with small pauses in speech or movement.
주저하다chujeohada: To hold back from starting an important action or giving a reply.
주춤하다chuchumhada: To stop briefly or lose momentum during movement or an action.

Definition in Korean

결정을 내리거나 말을 꺼내려다가 여러 번 잠깐씩 멈추는 동작을 나타내는 동사.kyeol jeong eul nae ri geo na ma reul kkeo nae ryeo da ga yeo reo peon cham kkan ssik meom chu neun tong ja geul na ta nae neun tong sa

Word origin

The word is commonly analyzed as a hesitation stem plus a suffix that adds a repeated or ongoing quality.

Usage tips

  • English hesitate can sound neutral, while this word often highlights the visible, stop-and-start manner of the hesitation.

Opposites

Related words

  • 머뭇거림meomutkkeorimhesitationnoun

Word lists with this word