무서운
museoun
The English word "afraid" is translated to Korean as 무서운 (museoun).
The word is used to describe being impressed with fear or apprehension.
Meaning: impressed with fear or apprehension, in fear, apprehensive (adj)
Which one should you use?
While 무서운 is the common word for being afraid of something specific, such as a dog or a ghost, the term 두려운 is a more formal and abstract word used for existential or profound dread.
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing a person's reaction or their specific feeling of fear toward an object, use the verb 무서워하다 rather than the adjective 무섭다.
How do you pronounce it?
museoun
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the adjective 무섭다 (to be scary) with the verb 무서워하다 (to feel fear). Use the latter when describing a person's reaction or feeling of fear toward an object.
Did you know?
- If you want to say 'The dog is scary', you use the adjective 무섭다, but if you want to say 'The dog is afraid', you must use a completely different expression like 겁을 먹다, which means 'to eat fear'.
- In some contexts, describing something as 무서운 can actually be a backhanded compliment regarding someone's formidable skill or talent.
- In children's stories, characters often express fear using the onomatopoeic phrase 덜덜덜, which mimics the sound and motion of shivering or trembling.
Examples in context
- 공개 발표가 있으면 항상 겁나요.I am always afraid when there is a public presentation.
- 밤에 혼자 있는 건 무서운 일이에요.bam-e hon-ja it-neun geon mu-seo-un il-i-e-yo.Being alone at night is a scary thing.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a horror movie they watched.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo어제 본 영화 정말 무서운 것 같지 않았어?eo-je bon yeong-hwa jeong-mal mu-seo-un geot gat-ji an-at-eo?Didn't the movie we saw yesterday seem really scary?
- 서연 Seo-yeon응, 너무 무서워서 잠을 못 잤어.eung, neo-mu mu-seo-wo-seo jam-eul mot jat-eo.Yes, it was so scary that I couldn't sleep.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo서연이 너 정말 겁이 많구나.seo-yeon-i neo jeong-mal geob-i man-gu-na.Seoyeon, you really are easily frightened.
- 서연 Seo-yeon무서운 건 싫어.mu-seo-un geon sil-eo.I hate scary things.
