미쳤어?
The English phrase "are you crazy?" is translated into Korean as 미쳤어?
You can use several forms to ask if someone is crazy or out of their mind. 미쳤어? and 제정신이야? are both informal ways to say "Are you crazy?" If you want to ask "Are you out of your mind?" politely, you should use 정신이 나갔어요?
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is derived from the verb 미치다, which means "to go crazy" or "to be possessed".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While 미쳤어요? is a polite version, it remains a very direct and potentially offensive question even in this polite form.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify the phrase to change the tone: adding the suffix –어요 to create 미쳤어요? makes the phrase polite. For a casual or intimate way to ask the question, typically used when speaking to someone younger or a very close friend, use 미쳤니?
Did you know?
- The verb 미치다 originally meant 'to reach' or 'to attain'. In the context of madness, it suggests that a person's mind has reached a limit or a breaking point.
- If you use the polite version 미쳤어요? during a heated argument, it can actually feel more condescending and sarcastic than the informal version.
- The word 미치다 is used in the phrase 미치도록, meaning 'to the point of madness'. This is frequently used in song lyrics to describe an intense, overwhelming love.
Examples in context
- 다칠 수도 있어요. 정신이 나갔어요?You might get hurt. Are you out of your mind?
- 와, 진짜 미쳤어!Wow, you're really crazy!
- 너 미쳤어?neo michyeosseo?Are you crazy?
- 진짜 미쳤어?jinjja michyeosseo?Are you seriously crazy?
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo are arguing about a dangerous stunt.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우야, 너 미쳤어?hyun-u-ya, neo michyeosseo?Hyunwoo, are you crazy?
- 현우 Hyeon-woo아니, 그냥 해보고 싶었어.ani, geunyang haebogo sipeosseo.No, I just wanted to try it.
- 수빈 Su-bin너무 위험해!neomu wiheomhae!It is too dangerous!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo미안해, 조심할게.mianhae, josimhalge.I'm sorry, I will be careful.
