구애하다
guaehada[kuɛɦa̠da̠]
To woo in Korean is 구애하다 (guaehada).
구애하다 is a verb used in contexts describing romantic pursuit or the formal process of seeking someone's favor or affection.
Meaning: to endeavor to gain someone's affection/support (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a combination of the noun 구애 (courtship/woo) and the verb 하다 (to do).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
구애하다 is a formal and somewhat literary term used to describe the act of courtship or seeking someone's affection.
How do you pronounce it?
guaehada
Did you know?
- In Korean culture, the concept of 'woo' often involves 밀당 (mildang), a word meaning 'push and pull'. This describes the strategic psychological game of alternating between showing and hiding interest.
- The noun part of the phrase, 구애, can also be used in a scientific context. For example, animal behaviorists use the term to describe the 'courtship' rituals or displays performed by birds or insects to attract mates.
- The first character in 구애 is 求, which means 'to seek' or 'to beg'. This gives the phrase a slightly more desperate or intense nuance than the English 'woo', implying an active pursuit of someone's heart.
Examples in context
- 그는 그녀에게 구애하다가 거절당했다.geuneun geunyeoege guaehadaga geojeoldanghaetda.He was rejected while wooing her.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 구애하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 구애하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
