Korean word

황당하다

Pronunciation

Romanizationhwangdanghada

Meaning

  • adjectivedumbfounded

Example

그 소식을 듣고 황당해서 말이 나오지 않았다.keu so si geul teut kko hwang dang hae seo ma ri na o ji a nat tta

After hearing the news, I was so dumbfounded that I couldn't speak.

Illustration for 황당하다 (dumbfounded)

More examples

그 농담은 너무 황당해서 아무도 웃지 않았다.keu nong da meun neo mu hwang dang hae seo a mu do ut jji a nat tta

The joke was so absurd that no one laughed.

Core concept

An absurd event leaves someone speechless, caught between disbelief and bafflement.

Common phrases

  • 황당한 소식hwang dang han so sik

    absurd news

  • 황당한 표정hwang dang han pyo jeong

    dumbfounded expression

Similar words

어이없다eoieoptta: Feeling shocked and annoyed by something so unbelievable that no sensible explanation seems possible.
어처구니없다eocheogunieoptta: Feeling that an action or situation is absurdly foolish and far outside common sense.

Definition in Korean

사건이나 소식이 지나치게 비합리적이어서 입이 막히고 어이가 없어지는 상태를 뜻하는 형용사.sa geo ni na so si gi chi na chi ge pi ham ni jeo gi eo seo i bi ma ki go eo i ga eop sseo ji neun sang tae reul tteu ta neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

The word is built from a Sino-Korean compound for something wild and unreasonable, with hada forming an adjective that describes this state.

Usage tips

  • In casual conversation, it can describe the news or situation itself, not only the person reacting to it, which helps distinguish it from many English uses.

Other meanings

  • unbelievableadjective
  • ridiculousadjective

Opposites

  • 상식적이다sangsikjjeogidareasonableadjective
  • 현실적이다hyeonsiljeogidapracticaladjective

Related words

  • 황당함hwangdanghamabsurditynoun

Word lists with this word