Korean word

세상에

Pronunciation

Romanizationsesange

Meaning

  • interjectionoh my gosh

Example

세상에, 너도 여기에 있었어?se sang e neo do yeo gi e i sseo sseo

Oh my gosh, you were here too?

Illustration for 세상에 (oh my gosh)

More examples

세상에 이런 일이 생길 줄 몰랐어.se sang e i reon i ri saeng gil jjul mol la sseo

Oh my gosh, I had no idea something like this would happen.

Core concept

A mild spoken burst of surprise at something unexpected or hard to believe.

Common phrases

  • 세상에 이런 일이se sang e i reon i ri

    oh my gosh, something like this

Similar words

설마seolma: A short way to question surprising information while suggesting that it probably is not true.
어머eomeo: A soft reaction to something unexpected, often showing friendly surprise.
말도 안 돼maldo an twae: A forceful way to say that a statement or situation cannot be true.
헐heol: A slangy burst of surprise when something seems unbelievable.

Definition in Korean

뜻밖의 소식에 가볍게 내는 감탄사.tteut ppa kkui so si ge ka byeop kke nae neun kam tan sa

Word origin

세상 (sesang, "world") plus 에 (e, "in or at") forms the expression in the world, which also functions independently as an interjection of surprise.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a fixed English reaction, it can sound amused, worried, annoyed, or sympathetic depending on the surrounding situation and tone.

Related words

  • 세상sesangthe worldnoun
  • 세상살이sesangsarilife in societynoun
  • 세상적인sesangjeoginworldlyadjective

Word lists with this word