What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 너무, meaning "too" or "so" and 긴장돼요, which means "to be nervous" or "to be tense".
Which one should you use?
You can also use 저는 정말 긴장돼 있어요 to say "I am really nervous" or 진짜 너무 긴장 돼 to say "I am really nervous". If your nervousness is affecting your physical state, you might say 긴장해서 떨리고 있어 to mean "I am nervous and trembling."
How does it change in a sentence?
Dropping the 요 at the end of 너무 긴장돼요 to make it 너무 긴장돼 makes the phrase informal. Alternatively, changing the ending to 됩니다 to create 너무 긴장됩니다 makes the phrase highly formal. If you want to describe the effect of your nervousness, you can use the form 긴장해서… to link the nervousness to another action, such as 긴장해서 말이 안 나와요 (I am so nervous that I can't speak) or 긴장해서 떨리고 있어 (I am nervous and trembling).
How do you pronounce it?
neomu ginjangdwaeyo
Did you know?
- Though 너무 originally meant 'too much' in a negative sense, it is now used as a general intensifier for positive things, like saying someone is 'too' beautiful.
- While 긴장 means 'tension', it is also used in Korean to describe a 'tense' or 'thrilling' plot in a movie or book, regardless of whether the reader feels anxious.
- If you want to say you are 'so nervous' in a very casual way with close friends, you might use the slangy prefix 졸라 instead of 너무, though this is quite strong.
Examples in context
- 저는 긴장해서 얼굴이 붉어지는 걸 느껴요I feel my face turning red because I am nervous.
- 진짜 너무 긴장돼서 심호흡을 하고 있어I am taking deep breaths because I am really nervous.
- 너무 긴장돼서 말이 안 나오는 거 같아I feel like I can't speak because I am so nervous.
- 발표를 앞두고 너무 긴장돼요.balpyoreul apeugo neomu ginjangdwaeyo.I am so nervous before my presentation.
- 면접 때문에 너무 긴장돼요.myeonjeop ttaemune neomu ginjangdwaeyo.I am so nervous because of the interview.
- 내일 시험이라 너무 긴장돼요.naeil siheomira neomu ginjangdwaeyo.I am so nervous because of tomorrow's exam.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo is telling Jieun that he is nervous about a concert performance.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo오늘 공연 때문에 너무 긴장돼요.oneul gongyeon ttaemune neomu ginjangdwaeyo.I am so nervous about today's performance.
- 지은 Ji-eun현우 씨, 잘할 수 있어요!Hyunwoo ssi, jalhal su isseoyo!Hyunwoo, you can do it!
- 현우 Hyeon-woo고마워요, 지은 씨.gomawoyo, Jieun ssi.Thank you, Jieun.
- 지은 Ji-eun심호흡을 크게 해 보세요.simhobeul keuge hae boseyo.Try taking a deep breath.
