Korean word

초조하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationchojohada

Meaning

  • adjectivenervous

Example

중요한 면접이라서 초조해요.chung yo han myeon jeo bi ra seo cho jo hae yo

I'm nervous because it's an important interview.

Illustration for 초조하다 (nervous)

More examples

시험 결과를 기다리며 초조한 표정으로 앉아 있었다.si heom kyeol gwa reul ki da ri myeo cho jo han pyo jeong eu ro an ja i sseot tta

I sat with a nervous expression while waiting for the exam results.

Core concept

A mind that cannot settle because an important situation keeps it on edge.

Common phrases

  • 초조한 마음cho jo han ma eum

    nervous feelings

  • 초조한 표정cho jo han pyo jeong

    nervous expression

  • 초조한 목소리cho jo han mok sso ri

    nervous voice

Similar words

불안하다puranhada: Feeling uneasy and worried because the future or a situation is uncertain.
긴장되다kinjangdoeda: Becoming tense in an important situation, often with a stiff body or shaky voice.
조마조마하다chomajomahada: Feeling nervous while waiting to see how an uncertain result turns out.
걱정스럽다keokjjeongseureoptta: Causing concern because a person, event, or result seems troubling.

Definition in Korean

어떤 일이나 상황 때문에 마음이 가라앉지 않고 불안하거나 안절부절 못한 상태를 이르는 형용사.eo tteon i ri na sang hwang ttae mu ne ma eu mi ka ra an jji an ko pu ran ha geo na an jeol bu jeol mo tan sang tae reul i reu neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

The word combines the Sino-Korean base 초조 (chojo, "agitated unease") with 하다 (hada, "to do"), forming an adjective that describes having that state.

Usage tips

  • Because this is a descriptive adjective, it presents unease as a person's current state rather than as an action, a useful pattern for reading Korean sentences.

Other meanings

  • restlessadjective
  • anxiousadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 초조감chojogamnervousnessnoun
  • 초조해지다chojohaejidabecome nervousverb

Word lists with this word