Korean word

무섭다

Pronunciation

Romanizationmuseoptta

Meaning

  • adjectivescary

Example

밤에 혼자 있으면 무서워요.pa me hon ja i sseu myeon mu seo wo yo

When I'm alone at night, it's scary.

Illustration for 무섭다 (scary)

More examples

밤에 무서운 이야기 들으면 잠이 안 와요.pa me mu seo un i ya gi teu reu myeon cha mi an wa yo

When I listen to scary stories at night, I can't sleep.

Core concept

The feeling of fear that comes when a person or thing seems likely to cause harm.

Common phrases

  • 무서운 사람mu seo un sa ram

    scary person

  • 무서운 이야기mu seo un i ya gi

    scary story

  • 무서운 경험mu seo un kyeong heom

    scary experience

Similar words

겁나다keomnada: Suddenly feeling fear so strongly that it shows in the body or face.
두렵다turyeoptta: Feeling afraid and worried about an uncertain future or a bad result.
오싹하다ossakada: Feeling a sudden chill or goosebumps from fear or unease.
소름끼치다soreumkkichida: Feeling so frightened that goosebumps rise all over the body.

Definition in Korean

위험이나 해를 당할 것 같아서 두려운 느낌을 나타내는 형용사.wi heo mi na hae reul tang hal kkeot ka ta seo tu ryeo un neu kki meul na ta nae neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

Its exact older history is uncertain, but it is a native Korean adjective whose dictionary form uses the standard ending found on many Korean adjectives.

Usage tips

  • English often says that a person is afraid, while this Korean adjective can describe both the frightened person and the thing causing the fear, so the subject helps show the meaning.

Other meanings

  • creepyadjective
  • afraidadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word