속상한
soksanghan
The English word "upset" can be translated into Korean as 속상한 (soksanghan).
속상하다 is used to describe emotional distress caused by a situation or a person, often involving a sense of regret, disappointment or hurt feelings.
Meaning: angry, distressed, unhappy (adj)
Which one should you use?
While 'upset' can mean angry, 속상한 is more focused on the feeling of being hurt or distressed, whereas 화난 specifically describes the state of being angry or mad.
How does it change in a sentence?
The dictionary form (the infinitive) is 속상하다, while 속상한 is the adjectival form used to modify a noun. In polite, everyday conversation, you would use the form 속상해요 instead of the dictionary form.
How do you pronounce it?
soksanghan
Did you know?
- The word 속상하다 literally means that your 속 'inside' or 'stomach' is 상하다 'damaged' or 'spoiled'. This reflects a cultural belief that emotional distress manifests as physical discomfort in the gut.
- Korean has a specific concept called 화병 'fire illness', which is a psychosomatic disorder caused by suppressing emotions like 속상함 'upsetness' over a long period.
- In Korean, the intensity of being 'upset' can be subtly shifted by changing the verb to 속상해 죽겠다, which literally translates to 'I am so upset I could die'.
Examples in context
- 오늘 일이 있어서 기분이 상했어요.I had something happen today, so I was upset.
- 그 일 때문에 화가 났어요.I got upset because of that matter.
- 민수 오빠 때문에 화났어.I got mad because of Min-su oppa.
- 그 사람 때문에 마음 상해서 오늘 기분이 좋지 않아요.I'm feeling upset because of that person, so I'm not feeling good today.
- 시험 결과 때문에 정말 속상한 마음이에요.si-heom gyeol-gwa ttae-mun-e jeong-mal sok-sang-han ma-eum-i-e-yo.I feel really upset because of the exam results.
- 그 소식을 듣고 너무 속상한 기분이 들었어요.geu so-sik-eul deut-go neo-mu sok-sang-han gi-bun-i deu-reo-sseo-yo.I felt so upset after hearing that news.
- 친구가 내 말을 오해해서 속상한 일이 있었어요.chin-gu-ga nae mal-eul o-hae-hae-seo sok-sang-han il-i it-eo-sseo-yo.There was an upsetting incident because my friend misunderstood me.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Subin are talking about a bad day at work.
- 도현 Do-hyeon수빈 씨, 오늘 무슨 속상한 일 있었어요?Subin-ssi, o-neul mu-seun sok-sang-han il it-eo-sseo-yo?Subin, did something upsetting happen today?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 회사에서 실수해서 정말 속상해요.Ne, hoe-sa-e-seo sil-su-hae-seo jeong-mal sok-sang-hae-yo.Yes, I made a mistake at work, so I'm really upset.
- 도현 Do-hyeon너무 속상해하지 마세요. 다 잘 될 거예요.Neo-mu sok-sang-hae-ha-ji ma-se-yo. Da jal doel geo-ye-yo.Don't be too upset. Everything will be fine.
- 수빈 Su-bin위로해 주셔서 정말 고마워요, 도현 씨.Wi-ro-hae ju-syeo-seo jeong-mal go-ma-wo-yo, Dohyun-ssi.Thank you so much for comforting me, Dohyun.
