잘못된
jalmotdoen
The English word "wrong" can be translated into Korean as 잘못된 (jalmotdoen).
잘못된 is a formal term used to describe something as incorrect.
Meaning: asserting something incorrect (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 잘못, meaning mistake or fault and the adjectival verb form 된, meaning become or made, literally meaning "made into a mistake".
Which one should you use?
While 잘못된 often implies a mistake or an error in process or judgment, the term 틀린 is more commonly used to indicate that a specific answer or fact is incorrect.
How does it change in a sentence?
잘못된 is the attributive form used to modify a noun, such as in the phrase 잘못된 방식 (wrong way).
How do you pronounce it?
jalmotdoen
Did you know?
- The word 잘못 is a combination of 잘 (well) and 못 (cannot), creating a paradoxical structure where 'wrong' is expressed as 'not doing well'.
- In Korean, calling a person 'wrong' by saying 틀리다 can sound like you are calling them a liar, rather than just saying they made a mistake.
- When admitting a mistake, Koreans often use the phrase 잘못했습니다, which literally means 'I have done wrong', rather than simply saying 'I was wrong'.
Examples in context
- 누군가는 톰에게 그걸 잘못된 방식으로 하고 있다고 말했어야 했다.Someone should have told Tom that he was doing that the wrong way.This sentence demonstrates how to use 잘못된 to describe an incorrect way of doing something.Tatoeba #13755239 by qlTmalffk, translation #6867886 by CC
- 그 답은 틀렸어요.That answer is wrong.
- 그 결정은 잘못됐어요.That decision was wrong.
- 너 이번에도 틀렸어.You were wrong again this time.
- 너, 이거 좀 틀려.Hey, this is a bit wrong.
- 그건 잘못된 정보예요.geugeon jalmotdoen jeongboyeyo.That is wrong information.
- 잘못된 선택을 했어요.jalmotdoen seontaegeul haesseoyo.I made a wrong choice.
Example conversation
Minji and Jihoon are discussing a news report.
- 민지 Min-ji이 기사 내용이 맞아요?i gisa naeyongi majayo?Is this article's content correct?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니요, 잘못된 내용이에요.aniyo, jalmotdoen naeyongieyo.No, it is wrong content.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 지훈 씨 말이 맞네요.jeongmal Jihoon ssi mari manneyo.Jihoon, you are truly right.
- 지훈 Ji-hun확실한 사실을 확인해야 해요.hwaksilhan sasireul hwaginhaeya haeyo.We must check the actual facts.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
