뻔뻔하다
ppeonppeonhada[p͈ʌ̹np͈ʌ̹nɦa̠da̠]
The English word shameless is expressed in Korean as 뻔뻔하다 (ppeonppeonhada). Wiktionary also lists 뻔뻔스럽다 (ppeonppeonseureopda) and 몰염치하다 (moryeomchihada).
Meaning: having no shame (adj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 뻔뻔하다 | ppeonppeonhada | [p͈ʌ̹np͈ʌ̹nɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 뻔뻔스럽다 | ppeonppeonseureopda | [p͈ʌ̹np͈ʌ̹nsʰɯɾʌ̹p̚t͈a̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 몰염치하다 | moryeomchihada | [mo̞ɾjʌ̹mt͡ɕʰiɦa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
What does it mean word for word?
The formal term 몰염치하다 is derived from the prefix 몰-, meaning 'lack of' and the noun 염치, meaning 'sense of shame' or 'propriety'.
Which one should you use?
몰염치하다 is a more formal and literary term used to describe a lack of shame or sense of propriety.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
몰염치하다 is a formal and literary term.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 뻔뻔하다 as an adjective modifying a noun (e.g., 'a shameless person'), you must use the attributive form 뻔뻔한. To use the concept as an adverb (e.g., 'he acted shamelessly'), use the form 뻔뻔하게.
How do you pronounce it?
ppeonppeonhada
Did you know?
- If someone is being extremely shameless, you might hear the expression 철판을 깔다, which literally means 'to lay down an iron plate' over one's face.
- Koreans may use the phrase 염치없다, meaning 'to have no shame', as a polite softener when asking for a big favor to show they know they are imposing.
- The term 몰염치 is a Sino-Korean word, meaning its roots come from Chinese characters, which is why it sounds more formal and literary than the native Korean 뻔뻔하다.
Examples in context
- 그는 정말 뻔뻔스럽게 거짓말을 했어요.He shamelessly lied.
- 너 정말 뻔뻔하게 거짓말을 하지마!Don't shamelessly lie!
- 남에게 돈을 받고도 결과물을 못 내는 게 부끄럽지 않아?Aren't you ashamed to take money from others but fail to deliver the results?
- 그 사람은 정말 뻔뻔하다.geu saram-eun jeongmal ppeonppeonhada.That person is truly shameless.
- 거짓말을 하고도 뻔뻔하다.geojitmar-eul hagodo ppeonppeonhada.He is shameless even after lying.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo is complaining about a friend who forgot a debt.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo돈을 안 갚다니 정말 뻔뻔하다.doneul an gapdani jeongmal ppeonppeonhada.It's really shameless that he won't pay the money back.
- 서연 Seo-yeon그러게, 정말 너무하네.geureoge, jeongmal neomuhane.I agree, that's really too much.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo미안하다는 말조차 안 해.mianhadaneun maljocha an hae.He doesn't even say he's sorry.
- 서연 Seo-yeon현우 씨, 그냥 잊어버리세요.Hyeon-u ssi, geunyang ijeobeoriseyo.Hyunwoo, just forget about it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shameless” translations and entries 뻔뻔하다, 뻔뻔스럽다, 몰염치하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 몰염치하다, 뻔뻔스럽다, 뻔뻔하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
