화난
hwanan
The Korean word for 'angry' is 화난 (hwanan).
화난 is an adjective used to describe someone who is displaying anger. If you want to express that someone is feeling more like irritation or annoyance rather than full-blown rage, 짜증나다 is a more natural choice.
Meaning: displaying anger (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 화난 is composed of the noun 화 (anger) and the verb 나다 (to occur or to arise), literally meaning 'anger that has arisen'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Korean, the verbal phrase 화가 나다 is more commonly used to express the process of getting angry. To describe a current state of being angry in conversation, such as saying 'He is angry right now', the past tense form 화났다 is frequently used. 화난 itself functions as the adjective form used to describe a person.
How do you pronounce it?
hwanan
Did you know?
- There is a cultural concept called 화병 or 'fire disease'. It refers to a physical illness caused by suppressing anger for a long time, which is recognized as a cultural-bound syndrome in Korea.
- When Koreans want to say they are 'venting' their anger, they use the word 풀다 which means 'to untie' or 'to loosen'. Anger is viewed as a tight knot in the heart that must be undone.
- The phrase 화가 나다 uses the verb 나다 which also describes a flower blooming or a sprout emerging. This frames anger as something that grows or pops up spontaneously.
Examples in context
- 나는 그가 화난 줄 알았다.I thought that he was angry.This sentence is useful for expressing a thought about someone being 화난.Tatoeba #11105663 by intertime, translation #897946 by CK
- 저는 지금 화내고 있습니다.I am angry right now.
- 그는 분노하고 있어요.He is angry.
- 왜 이렇게 화나?Why are you so angry?
- 우리 엄마가 화가 나셨어요.Our mom got angry.
- 화가 났어요I got angry.
- 짜증나I'm annoyed.
- 화내지 마세요Don't get angry.
- 화가 나게 하지 마Don't make me angry.
- 그는 지금 화난 상태예요.geuneun jigeum hwanan sangtaeyeyo.He is in an angry state right now.
- 화난 표정으로 나를 봤어요.hwanan pyojeong-euro nareul bwasseoyo.She looked at me with an angry expression.
Example conversation
Hyun-woo asks Seo-yeon why she looks upset.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo서연 씨, 왜 그렇게 화난 얼굴이에요?Seoyeon ssi, wae geureoke hwanan eolgurieyo?Seo-yeon, why do you have such an angry face?
- 서연 Seo-yeon제 컴퓨터가 갑자기 고장 났거든요.je keompyuteoga gapjagi gojang natgeodeunyo.Because my computer suddenly broke down.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말 속상하시겠어요.jeongmal soksanghasigesseoyo.You must be really upset.
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 너무 짜증나요.ne, neomu jjajeungnayo.Yes, it's so frustrating.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “angry” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
