재미없어
jaemieopseo
The English phrase "not funny" can be translated into Korean as 재미없어 (jaemieopseo).
This phrase is used to describe something that is boring or lacks humor.
Which one should you use?
While 재미없어 describes a lack of interest or fun, 안 웃겨 specifically means something is not funny in the sense that it fails to provoke laughter.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The informal version is 재미없어. For a formal way to say "It's not funny," you can use 재미없네요 or 웃기지 않아요 to mean "It's not amusing/funny." Younger people also use the slang term 노잼 to say something is boring or not funny.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary base form is 재미없다, which is used in writing or when talking to oneself. To make the phrase polite and suitable for speaking to people you are not close with or those older than you, add the suffix –어요 to create 재미없어요.
How do you pronounce it?
jaemieopseo
Did you know?
- The word 재미 (fun) shares a conceptual root with the idea of 'taste' or 'flavor' in some linguistic contexts, implying that a conversation lacks 'flavor' when it is boring.
- Depending on the intonation, saying 재미없어 with a rising tone can actually be a playful, flirtatious way of teasing a friend who is trying too hard to be funny.
- The slang term 노잼 is a combination of the English word 'no' and the Korean word 재미, meaning 'fun'.
Examples in context
- 와 이건 진짜 웃기지 않아.Dude, this is seriously not funny.
- 그 영화 진짜 재미없어.geu yeonghwa jinja jaemieopseo.That movie is really not funny.
- 그 책은 별로 재미없어.geu chaegun byeollo jaemieopseo.That book is not really funny.
Example conversation
Subin and Dohyun are watching a comedy show together.
- 수빈 Su-bin도현, 이 프로그램 너무 재미없어.Dohyeon, i peurogeuraem neomu jaemieopseo.Dohyun, this show is so boring.
- 도현 Do-hyeon정말? 나는 웃긴데.jeongmal? naneun utginde.Really? I think it's funny.
- 수빈 Su-bin전혀 안 웃겨. 진짜 재미없어.jeonhyeo an utgyeo. jinjja jaemieopseo.It's not funny at all. It's really boring.
- 도현 Do-hyeon그럼 다른 거 보자.geureom dareun geo boja.Then let's watch something else.
