3 · 40 words

Feelings and attitudes

Satisfied, disappointed, moved, nervous, envious, homesick, embarrassed, relieved.

A Korean adjective of feeling states the speaker's own feeling: 그리워요, “I miss it”. For somebody else, the adjective becomes a verb with -아/어하다 — 할머니가 할아버지를 그리워하세요 — because nobody can state from outside what another person feels. Korean also has single words for feelings English needs a phrase for: 답답하다, the stifled feeling of being stuck, and 시원섭섭하다, glad and sorry at the same time.

The words

Verb (12)

만족하다to be satisfiedVerb3

새로 이사한 집에 아주 만족해요.I am very happy with the place I have moved into.

What satisfies you takes 에: 결과에 만족해요.

실망하다to be disappointedVerb3

기대했던 영화가 재미없어서 실망했어요.The film I had been looking forward to was dull, so I was disappointed.

감동하다to be moved, touchedVerb3

친구의 편지를 읽고 크게 감동했어요.I was deeply moved when I read my friend's letter.

Something moving is 감동적이다.

긴장하다to be nervous, tenseVerb3

면접 때 너무 긴장해서 말을 잘 못 했어요.I was so nervous at the interview that I could not speak well.

진정하다to calm downVerb3

화내지 말고 좀 진정하세요.Do not get angry — calm down a little.

부러워하다to envy (of someone else)Verb3

친구들이 제 새 휴대폰을 부러워했어요.My friends were envious of my new phone.

그리워하다to miss, long for (of someone else)Verb3

할머니는 돌아가신 할아버지를 그리워하세요.Grandmother misses Grandfather, who has passed away.

기죽다to lose heart, feel crushedVerb3

한 번 실패했다고 기죽지 마세요.Do not lose heart just because you failed once.

후회하다to regretVerb3

그때 더 열심히 공부하지 않은 것을 후회해요.I regret not studying harder back then.

고민하다to agonise over, think hard aboutVerb3

어느 대학교에 갈지 오래 고민했어요.I agonised for a long time over which university to go to.

The noun 고민 is a worry you are wrestling with: 고민이 있어요.

다짐하다to resolve, promise oneselfVerb3

새해에는 운동을 꼭 하겠다고 다짐했어요.I resolved that I would definitely exercise in the new year.

자랑하다to boast; to show off proudlyVerb3

친구가 새 차를 자랑했어요.My friend showed off his new car.

Adverb (1)

기꺼이gladly, willinglyAdverb3

도움이 필요하면 기꺼이 도와 드릴게요.If you need help, I will gladly help you.

This list belongs to People and feelings — twelve lists and 477 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.