Korean word

엇갈리다

Pronunciation

Romanizationeotkkallida

Meaning

  • verbpass each other

Example

길에서 친구와 엇갈렸어요.ki re seo chin gu wa eot kkal lyeo sseo yo

I passed my friend on the street.

Illustration for 엇갈리다 (pass each other)

More examples

지하철에서 많은 사람들과 엇갈려서 길을 찾기 어려웠어요.chi ha cheo re seo ma neun sa ram deul gwa eot kkal lyeo seo ki reul chat kki eo ryeo wo sseo yo

Because I kept passing many people in the subway, it was hard to find my way.

Core concept

People or ideas head in different directions and do not meet at the expected point.

Common phrases

  • 사람과 엇갈리다sa ram gwa eot kkal li da

    pass each other

  • 길에서 엇갈리다ki re seo eot kkal li da

    pass each other on the road

Similar words

어긋나다eogeunnada: A plan, position, or arrangement fails to line up as expected.
갈리다kallida: A group becomes divided when its members hold different views.

Definition in Korean

의견이나 감정, 판단 따위가 서로 달라 일치하지 않거나 엇나갈 때 쓰는 동사.ui gyeo ni na kam jeong pan dan tta wi ga seo ro tal la il chi ha ji an keo na eon na gal ttae sseu neun tong sa

Word origin

Its parts suggest something splitting in an askew direction, which developed into the idea of people or views failing to meet or agree.

Usage tips

  • 엇갈리다 (eotkkalrida, "to differ") can describe a difference of opinion without suggesting an angry argument.

Other meanings

  • miss each otherverb
  • differverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 엇갈림eotkkallimcrossing pathsnoun

Word lists with this word