Korean word

불행하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationpulhaenghada

Meaning

  • adjectiveunhappy

Example

그는 항상 불행해요.keu neun hang sang pul haeng hae yo

He is always unhappy.

Illustration for 불행하다 (unhappy)

More examples

아이는 시험 결과를 보고 불행해 보였다.a i neun si heom kyeol gwa reul po go pul haeng hae po yeot tta

The child looked unhappy after seeing the test results.

Core concept

A state in which happiness is absent and life or the mind feels burdened by suffering or bad fortune.

Common phrases

  • 불행해 보이다pul haeng hae po i da

    look unhappy

Similar words

불운하다purunhada: Being unlucky because chance brings repeated disadvantages or bad results.
속상하다sokssanghada: Feeling upset and troubled after something disappointing or unpleasant happens.
안타깝다antakkaptta: Feeling regret and sadness when a hoped-for result does not happen.
불쌍하다pulssanghada: Inspiring pity because a person or animal is in hardship or needs help.

Definition in Korean

행복하지 않고 삶이나 마음이 괴롭고 안타깝게 느껴지는 상태를 나타내는 형용사.haeng bo ka ji an ko sal mi na ma eu mi koe rop kko an ta kkap kke neu kkyeo ji neun sang tae reul na ta nae neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

불행하다 (bulhaenghada, "to be unhappy") is formed from 불행 (bulhaeng, "misfortune") and 하다 (hada, "to do or be"), giving a descriptive form for being in an unhappy condition.

Usage tips

  • A person can have this condition even when no single unlucky event is discussed, which separates lasting personal distress from a brief stroke of bad luck.

Other meanings

  • unluckyadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 불행pulhaengunhappinessnoun
  • 불행히도pulhaenghidounfortunatelyadverb

Word lists with this word