Korean word

멍하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationmeonghada

Meaning

  • adjectivespaced out

Example

아침에 머리가 멍했어a chi me meo ri ga meong hae sseo

My head felt foggy in the morning.

Illustration for 멍하다 (spaced out)

More examples

시험 결과를 보고 한동안 정신이 멍했어.si heom kyeol gwa reul po go han dong an cheong si ni meong hae sseo

I was spaced out for a while after seeing the exam results.

Core concept

A mind that has gone blank and is slow to respond to what is happening around it.

Common phrases

  • 머리가 멍하다meo ri ga meong ha da

    have a foggy head

  • 정신이 멍하다cheong si ni meong ha da

    be in a daze

  • 멍한 표정meong han pyo jeong

    blank expression

Similar words

정신없다cheongsineoptta: A hectic state leaves the mind too busy and unsettled to stay organized.
무기력하다mugiryeokada: A drained state brings too little energy or desire to take action.
혼미하다honmihada: A dulled state of consciousness makes clear thought and quick responses difficult.

Definition in Korean

생각에 잠기거나 멍하니 시간이 흐르면서 현재 상황에 반응하지 못하는 상태를 가리키는 형용사.saeng ga ge cham gi geo na meong ha ni si ga ni heu reu myeon seo hyeon jae sang hwang e pa neung ha ji mo ta neun sang tae reul ka ri ki neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

The word is generally analyzed as 멍 (meong, "a sound-symbolic expression for a blank state") plus 하다 (hada, "to be or become"), forming a description of being mentally blank.

Usage tips

  • When it describes a person in a class or meeting, it can suggest that the person seems inattentive, so the context and tone matter.

Other meanings

  • stunnedadjective

Opposites

  • 또렷하다ttoryeotadaclearadjective
  • 맑다makttaclear-headedadjective

Word lists with this word