Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 닥쳐 | dakcheo |
| 시끄러워 | sikkeureowo |
| 시끄러 | sikkeureo |
These expressions are used to command someone to stop talking or to express annoyance at noise.
Which one should you use?
While both can translate to "shut up" in English, 닥쳐 is a direct and much more aggressive, blunt command to stop talking. In contrast, 시끄러워 literally means "it is noisy" and is used to tell someone to be quiet because they are making too much noise. The form 시끄러 is a variation of this.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The forms 닥쳐, 시끄러워 and 시끄러 are all informal and should be used with caution due to their rude nature. For a formal way to request silence, especially in professional settings or when speaking to a group, use 조용히 해 주십시오 (Please be quiet). For a slightly irritated but still informal tone, you might say 진지하게 조용히 해줄래? (Can you seriously be quiet?). Another informal option is 입 다물어, which literally means "close your mouth."
How do you pronounce it?
dakcheo
Did you know?
- While 닥쳐 is used to tell someone to 'shut up', the root verb 닥치다 can also mean 'to come close' or 'to approach' in different contexts.
- In Korean pop culture and dramas, characters often use the phrase 시끄러워 not to demand silence but to dismiss an unwanted truth or a nagging piece of advice.
- Because Korean culture places high value on social hierarchy, using any of the informal 'shut up' forms to someone older than you is considered a major social transgression.
Examples in context
- 닥쳐.Shut up.This is a simple example of the command 닥쳐.Tatoeba #6305160 by Queserasera, translation #6728420 by jej13b
- 시끄러워!Shut up!This example shows how to use 시끄러워 to tell someone to shut up.Tatoeba #6305163 by Queserasera, translation #462430 by lukaszpp
- 닥쳐. 안그러면 쫓아낼거야.Shut up. If you don't, you'll be thrown out.This sentence uses the command 닥쳐 alongside a warning.Tatoeba #4748136 by kimhkng, translation #516507 by CK
- 조용히 해주세요. 일이 진행 중입니다.Please be quiet. We're in the middle of something.
- 닥쳐. 나 지금 집중해야 돼.Shut up. I need to concentrate right now.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ji-hoon and Min-ji are arguing during a game.
- 지훈 Ji-hun너 정말 못한다!Neo jeongmal mot-handa!You are really bad at this!
- 민지 Min-ji닥쳐, 지훈!Dak-chyeo, Ji-hoon!Shut up, Ji-hoon!
- 지훈 Ji-hun사실이잖아.Sasil-ijana.It's the truth.
- 민지 Min-ji그만 말해.Geuman mal-hae.Stop talking.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
