무서운
museoun
The English word 'scared' can be expressed in Korean using the forms of 무서운 (museoun).
In English, a distinction is made between the person feeling the emotion (scared) and the thing causing it (scary). In Korean, the root 무섭다 is used for both the quality of being frightening and the feeling of being afraid.
Meaning: afraid, frightened (adj)
Which one should you use?
The dictionary form 무섭다 means 'to be scary'.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can use the word 정말, which means 'really', as an intensifier before 무서워요 to say you are really scared.
How do you pronounce it?
museoun
Did you know?
- When a person is extremely scared, they might use the word 무서워 죽겠다, which literally translates to 'I am so scared I might die'.
- In Korean, the phrase 무서워하다 is used when describing someone else's fear, whereas 무섭다 is used for your own feelings.
- Koreans sometimes use the word 무섭다 to describe something so incredibly impressive or overwhelming in scale that it becomes intimidating.
Examples in context
- 너무 무섭다It's very scary.
- 무서운 영화A scary movie
- 무서운 영화를 보고 싶지 않아요.museoun yeonghwaleul bogo sipji anayo.I don't want to watch a scary movie.
- 혼자 있는 것은 무서운 일이에요.honja inneun geoseun museoun irieyo.Being alone is a scary thing.
- 어두운 밤은 정말 무서운 것 같아요.eoduun bameun jeongmal museoun geot gatayo.Dark nights seem really scary.
Example conversation
Minji and Minjun are talking about a horror movie at a cafe.
- 민지 Min-ji민준 씨, 그 영화 무서운 거예요?Minjun ssi, geu yeonghwa museoun geoyeyo?Minjun, is that movie scary?
- 민준 Min-jun네, 조금 무서운 영화예요.Ne, jogeum museoun yeonghwa-yeyo.Yes, it is a slightly scary movie.
- 민지 Min-ji저는 무서운 건 못 봐요.Jeoneun museoun geon mot bwayo.I cannot watch scary things.
- 민준 Min-jun그럼 다른 영화를 볼까요?Geureom dareun yeonghwaleul bolkkayo?Then shall we watch a different movie?
