TOPIK · Level 190
15 words
Korean word
엉뚱하다
Pronunciation
Romanizationeongttunghada
Meaning
- adjectiveoff the mark
Example
그의 대답이 엉뚱했어요.keu ui tae da bi eong ttung hae sseo yo
His answer was off the mark.
More examples
그는 엉뚱한 질문을 했다.keu neun eong ttung han chil mu neul haet tta
He asked an off-the-mark question.
Core concept
The speaker expects one kind of response, but the actual response veers away and feels mismatched.
Common phrases
엉뚱한 대답eong ttung han tae dap
off-the-mark answer
엉뚱한 질문eong ttung han chil mun
off-the-mark question
엉뚱한 생각eong ttung han saeng gak
off-the-mark thought
엉뚱한 행동eong ttung han haeng dong
off-the-mark action
엉뚱한 말eong ttung han mal
off-the-mark remark
Similar words
뜬금없다tteungeumeoptta: A remark that appears without a clear connection to the current topic feels sudden and out of place.
이상하다isanghada: Something different from what is usual can seem strange or unnatural.
어이없다eoieoptta: An unbelievable situation can cause shocked disbelief and strong disapproval.
Definition in Korean
생각이나 반응이 상황의 기대와 다르게 나타나서 어울리지 않게 보이는 성질을 나타내는 형용사.saeng ga gi na pa neung i sang hwang ui ki dae wa ta reu ge na ta na seo eo ul li ji an ke po i neun seong ji reul na ta nae neun hyeong yong sa
Word origin
The word has a native Korean formation with an adjective-making -hada ending after a base whose older etymology is uncertain.
Usage tips
- When 엉뚱하다 (eongttunghada, "off the mark") describes a person's comment, it can sound mildly critical or amused, so an English gloss should not automatically make the speaker sound harsh.
Other meanings
- outlandishadjective
- out of placeadjective
- unexpectedadjective
Opposites
- 적절하다cheokjjeolhadaappropriateadjective
- 타당하다tadanghadavalidadjective
Related words
- 엉뚱함eongttunghamincongruitynoun
- 엉뚱스럽다eongttungseureopttaoutlandishadjective