Korean word

쓸데없다

Pronunciation

Romanizationsseuldeeoptta

Meaning

  • adjectiveuseless

Example

그건 쓸데없다.keu geon sseul de eop tta

That's useless.

Illustration for 쓸데없다 (useless)

More examples

그렇게 걱정해도 결국 쓸데없다.keu reo ke keok jjeong hae do kyeol guk sseul de eop tta

Even if you worry that much, it is ultimately useless.

Core concept

Something has no useful effect, so time or resources spent on it bring no benefit.

Common phrases

  • 쓸데없는 시간sseul de eom neun si gan

    wasted time

  • 쓸데없는 노력sseul de eom neun no ryeok

    wasted effort

Similar words

소용없다soyongeoptta: Something is unable to help or make a situation better, despite the hopes placed in it.
헛되다heotttoeda: An effort ends fruitlessly because it fails to achieve the desired result.
무의미하다muuimihada: Something lacks meaning and therefore has little value in its situation.
보람없다porameoptta: An activity brings no satisfaction or feeling of accomplishment despite the effort involved.

Definition in Korean

실제로 도움이 되지 않아 시간이나 자원을 들이는 것이 헛된 상태를 표현하는 말sil je ro to u mi toe ji a na si ga ni na cha wo neul teu ri neun keo si heot ttoen sang tae reul pyo hyeon ha neun mal

Word origin

쓸데 (sseulde, "use or useful purpose") + 없다 (eoptta, "not exist") forms a word meaning that no useful purpose is present.

Usage tips

  • Because it judges an idea or action directly, it can sound blunt in formal writing, where a neutral description of its effect is often safer.

Other meanings

  • pointlessadjective
  • unnecessaryadjective
  • trivialadjective

Opposites

  • 쓸모있다sseulmoitttausefuladjective

Related words

Word lists with this word