욕
yok
The Korean word for bad words is 욕 (yok), which covers swear words and the act of swearing.
욕 can refer both to swearing as an act and to the swear words themselves.
Which one should you use?
욕설 is a more formal or technical word for profanity or abusive language than 욕.
How does it change in a sentence?
욕 is often combined with the verb 하다 (to do) to form 욕을 하다, meaning to swear or to use bad words.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced yok.
Did you know?
- In Korea, there are specialized 'swearing' performances called 욕쟁이 할머니 ('swearing grandmothers'), where elderly women insult customers as a form of rough affection and traditional hospitality.
- In Korean culture, the severity of a 'bad word' is often judged by how much it attacks a person's family or social status rather than just the word itself.
- The word 욕 can be derived from two different Chinese characters with completely different meanings: one relating to 'insult' and another relating to 'greed' or 'desire'.
Examples in context
- 욕은 하지 마세요.yogeun haji maseyo.Please do not use bad words.
- 그 사람은 욕을 정말 잘해요.geu sarameun yogeul jeongmal jalhaeyo.That person is really good at using bad words.
- 친구가 욕을 해서 기분이 나빴어요.chingu-ga yogeul haeseo gibuni nappasseoyo.I felt bad because my friend used bad words.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Seoyeon are talking about a movie character.
- 도현 Do-hyeon이 캐릭터는 왜 이렇게 욕을 많이 해?i kaerikteoneun wae ireoke yogeul mani hae?Why does this character use so many bad words?
- 서연 Seo-yeon성격이 아주 거친 캐릭터라서 그래요.seonggyeogi aju geochin kaerikteuraseo geuraeyo.It is because the character has a very rough personality.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그래도 욕 듣는 건 좀 불편해.geuraedo yok deutneun geon jom bulpyeonhae.Still, it is a bit uncomfortable hearing bad words.
- 서연 Seo-yeon맞아요. 저도 그렇게 생각해요.majayyo. jeodo geureoke saenggakhaeyo.You are right. I think so too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 욕, CC BY-SA 4.0.
