Korean word

못되다

Pronunciation

Romanizationmotttoeda

Meaning

  • adjectivemean

Example

그 친구는 항상 못돼요.keu chin gu neun hang sang mot ttwae yo

That friend is always mean.

Illustration for 못되다 (mean)

More examples

그 이웃은 가끔 못돼요.keu i u seun ka kkeum mot ttwae yo

That neighbor is sometimes mean.

Core concept

A person acts coldly or spitefully and causes trouble for others.

Common phrases

  • 못된 짓mot ttoen chit

    mean deed

  • 못된 말mot ttoen mal

    mean words

Similar words

심술궂다simsulguttta: Small tricks or taunting remarks can show a wish to annoy someone.
무례하다muryehada: A person is rude when speech or behavior shows no proper respect.
까칠하다kkachilhada: A blunt manner can make a person seem distant and unfriendly.

Definition in Korean

냉정하거나 심술궂어 남을 괴롭히는 성향이나 그런 행동을 나타내는 형용사.naeng jeong ha geo na sim sul gu jeo na meul koe ro pi neun seong hyang i na keu reon haeng dong eul na ta nae neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

못되다 (motttoeda, "to be mean or bad") joins 못 (mot, "badly") with 되다 (ttoeda, "to become"), and came to describe someone who is bad or unkind.

Usage tips

  • It can describe an unkind character or a particular unkind act, so context shows whether the speaker is serious or teasing.

Opposites

Related words

  • 못되먹다motttoemeokttamean-spiritedadjective
  • 못됨motttoemmeannessnoun

Word lists with this word