Korean Conversation · Level 169
15 words
Korean word
멋대로
Pronunciation
Romanizationmeotttaero
Meaning
- adverbarbitrarily
Example
그는 멋대로 약속을 취소했어요.keu neun meot ttae ro yak sso geul chwi so hae sseo yo
He arbitrarily canceled the appointment.
More examples
그는 멋대로 결정을 내려 팀이 혼란스러웠어요.keu neun meot ttae ro kyeol jeong eul nae ryeo ti mi hol lan seu reo wo sseo yo
He made the decision arbitrarily, and the team was confused.
Core concept
Following one's own chosen path without letting outside directions or rules influence the action.
Common phrases
멋대로 행동하다meot ttae ro haeng dong ha da
act as one pleases
멋대로 결정하다meot ttae ro kyeol jeong ha da
decide as one pleases
멋대로 이용하다meot ttae ro i yong ha da
use as one pleases
Similar words
마음대로maeumdaero: Doing something in the way one wants, with no outside control deciding what happens.
제멋대로chemeotttaero: Behaving according to personal likes without considering what else may be affected.
함부로hamburo: Doing or saying something carelessly, without enough thought, permission, or regard for boundaries.
Definition in Korean
자기 생각이나 기분을 우선하여 다른 사람의 말이나 규칙을 신경 쓰지 않고 행동하는 모양을 나타내는 부사.cha gi saeng ga gi na ki bu neul u seon ha yeo ta reun sa ra mui ma ri na kyu chi geul sin gyeong sseu ji an ko haeng dong ha neun mo yang eul na ta nae neun pu sa
Word origin
멋 (meot, "style or taste") and 대로 (ttaero, "in the way of") join to describe doing something according to one's own preferred style.
Usage tips
- English uses similar words for both random behavior and self-directed behavior, but this Korean adverb especially points to disregard for other people's wishes or rules.
Other meanings
- as one pleasesadverb
- as desiredadverb
Opposites
- 정해진 대로cheonghaejin taeroas prescribedadverb
Related words
- 멋쟁이meotjjaengistylish personnoun
- 멋있다meositttacooladjective
- 멋스럽다meotsseureopttastylishadjective