멍청해
meongcheonghae
In Korean, the phrase for "you're dumb" is 멍청해 (meongcheonghae).
The phrase is used to tell someone that they lack intelligence. Because it is quite blunt, it can be offensive and is typically used during heated arguments or between very close, casual friends.
Which one should you use?
While 멍청해 implies a lack of intelligence or being slow-witted, the word 바보 is a more common and often softer way to call someone a "fool".
How does it change in a sentence?
You can change the level of politeness by adding the suffix –요 to the end of the phrase to create the polite form 멍청해요.
How do you pronounce it?
meongcheonghae
Did you know?
- While 멍청해 targets intelligence, the related word 바보 can actually be used as a term of endearment between romantic partners, suggesting they are 'sweetly foolish' for one another.
- Korean has a specific distinction between being 'dumb' due to lack of wit, 멍청하다, and being 'dumb' because one is naive or easily tricked, 어수룩하다.
- Korean often omits the word 'you' entirely. Saying 멍청해 alone is the standard way to say 'you're dumb', as explicitly adding the word for 'you' can make the phrase sound unnaturally aggressive or like a translated movie script.
Examples in context
- 너 바보야!You're dumb!
- 어리석습니다.You're foolish.
- 정말 무지하시네요.You're truly clueless.
- 너 진짜 멍청해.neo jin-jja meong-cheong-hae.You're really dumb.
- 그건 좀 멍청해 보였어.geu-geon jom meong-cheong-hae bo-yeoss-eo.That looked a bit dumb.
- 왜 이렇게 멍청해?wae i-reoh-ge meong-cheong-hae?Why are you so dumb?
Example conversation
Minji and Dohyun are arguing about a simple mistake.
- 민지 Min-ji이것 좀 봐, 너 진짜 멍청해.i-geot jom bwa, neo jin-jja meong-cheong-hae.Look at this, you're really dumb.
- 도현 Do-hyeon내가 뭘 잘못했어?nae-ga mwol jal-mot-haess-eo?What did I do wrong?
- 민지 Min-ji너무 멍청한 질문이야.neo-mu meong-cheong-han jil-mun-i-ya.That's such a dumb question.
- 도현 Do-hyeon말을 너무 심하게 하네.mal-eul neo-mu sim-ha-ge ha-ne.You're being too harsh.
