Korean word

이상하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationisanghada

Meaning

  • adjectivestrange

Example

그 사람 행동이 이상해.keu sa ram haeng dong i i sang hae

That person's behavior is strange.

Illustration for 이상하다 (strange)

More examples

밤에 들리는 소리가 이상해.pa me teul li neun so ri ga i sang hae

The sound I hear at night is strange.

Core concept

A familiar situation has a noticeable mismatch that makes it feel strange.

Common phrases

  • 이상하다고 말하다i sang ha da go mal ha da

    say it is strange

  • 이상한 행동i sang han haeng dong

    strange behavior

  • 이상한 소리i sang han so ri

    strange sound

Similar words

어색하다eosaekada: An encounter can feel awkward when people are unsure how to speak or move naturally.
낯설다natsseolda: Little familiarity with a person, place, or thing can leave an uneasy feeling.
수상하다susanghada: A person's behavior or a situation can seem suspicious when unexplained features invite doubt.

Definition in Korean

평상시와 다르거나 낯설어 보이거나 느껴질 때 쓰는 형용사.pyeong sang si wa ta reu geo na nat sseo reo po i geo na neu kkyeo jil ttae sseu neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

이상 (isang, "unusual or abnormal") joined with 하다 (hada, "to make or do") forms an adjective describing something that differs from what is expected.

Usage tips

  • 이상하다 (isanghada, "strange or unusual") often reflects the speaker's judgment, so an action may seem strange to one person but normal to another.

Opposites

Related words

  • 이상isangabnormalitynoun
  • 이상반응isangbaneungabnormal reactionnoun

Word lists with this word