Korean word

잘못하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationchalmotada

Meaning

  • verbmake a mistake

Example

제가 잘못했어요.che ga chal mo tae sseo yo

I made a mistake.

Illustration for 잘못하다 (make a mistake)

More examples

그는 말을 잘못했어요.keu neun ma reul chal mo tae sseo yo

He misspoke.

Core concept

Someone acts or speaks in a way that does not match what is true or correct.

Common phrases

  • 말을 잘못하다ma reul chal mo ta da

    misspeak

  • 판단을 잘못하다pan da neul chal mo ta da

    misjudge

Similar words

실수하다silsuhada: Getting a result wrong by accident, without meaning to.
잘못 알다chalmot alda: Mistaking a fact or piece of information for something else.
오해하다ohaehada: Understanding someone's words or feelings in the wrong way.

Definition in Korean

사실이나 기준에 맞지 않게 행동하거나 말하여 오류가 생기는 것을 이르는 동사.sa si ri na ki ju ne mat jji an ke haeng dong ha geo na mal ha yeo o ryu ga saeng gi neun keo seul i reu neun tong sa

Word origin

The verb 잘못하다 (jalmotada, "to make a mistake") was formed from 잘못 (jalmo, "a mistake or wrong action") and 하다 (tada, "to do").

Usage tips

  • In conversation, this word in the past tense can serve as a short apology or admission after an error, depending on the situation.

Other meanings

  • be wrongverb
  • do wrongverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word