Korean word

어찌하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationeojjihada

Meaning

  • verbwhat to do

Example

혼자라서 어찌할 바를 모르겠어.hon ja ra seo eo jji hal ppa reul mo reu ge sseo

I don't know what to do because I'm alone.

Illustration for 어찌하다 (what to do)

More examples

비가 와서 어찌할 도리가 없었다.pi ga wa seo eo jji hal tto ri ga eop sseot tta

It was raining, so there was nothing we could do.

Core concept

A difficult situation leaves someone unable to decide what action to take.

Common phrases

  • 어찌할 도리가 없다eo jji hal tto ri ga eop tta

    have no way to handle it

  • 어찌할 수가 없다eo jji hal ssu ga eop tta

    be unable to do anything

Similar words

어떻게 하지eotteoke haji: A brief question asks what to do when a problem suddenly arises.
어찌할 바를 모르다eojjihal ppareul moreuda: A person is completely at a loss about what action to take.
당황하다tanghwanghada: An unexpected event leaves someone flustered and unable to respond smoothly.
고민하다kominhada: Troubled thinking about a problem or choice makes a decision difficult.

Definition in Korean

어찌하다는 스스로 해결할 방법을 알지 못해 곤란해하는 상태를 가리키는 동사로, 감탄문이나 고전적 표현에서도 쓰인다.eo jji ha da neun seu seu ro hae gyeol hal ppang beo beul al ji mo tae kol lan hae ha neun sang tae reul ka ri ki neun tong sa ro kam tan mu ni na ko jeon jeok pyo hyeo ne seo do sseu in da

Word origin

어찌하다 (eojjihada, "what to do") joins 어찌 (eojji, "how or in what way") with 하다 (hada, "to do"), expressing uncertainty about what action to take.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, simpler wording is often preferred, while this verb is worth recognizing in reading passages and emotional dialogue.

Opposites

Related words

  • 어찌되다eojjidoedaturn outverb

Word lists with this word