울부짖다 in 30 Sekunden
- A powerful verb meaning to howl or wail, combining 'cry' and 'bark' for maximum emotional intensity.
- Used for animals (wolves, dogs), natural elements (wind), and humans in extreme emotional distress.
- Carries a literary and dramatic weight, often associated with deep resentment or 'Han'.
- Not for everyday minor crying; reserved for profound grief, agony, or primal nature sounds.
The Korean verb 울부짖다 (ul-bu-jit-da) is a powerful, evocative word that transcends the simple act of crying. It is a compound verb formed from 울다 (to cry) and 부짖다 (an archaic or emphatic form of 짖다, to bark or shout). When you use this word, you are describing a sound that is loud, mournful, and deeply visceral. It is most commonly associated with two distinct contexts: the natural world of animals and the intense emotional world of humans.
- Animalistic Context
- In nature, this word is the standard translation for 'to howl.' When a wolf or a coyote cries out to the moon or to its pack, it is 울부짖는 것. It captures the long, echoing, and often haunting quality of an animal's cry in the wilderness.
- Human Emotional Context
- When applied to humans, 울부짖다 signifies a level of grief or pain that has become uncontrollable. It is not just shedding tears; it is wailing, screaming in agony, or lamenting loudly. You might hear this in a K-drama during a funeral scene or in a novel describing a person who has lost everything.
깊은 밤, 숲속에서 늑대가 울부짖는 소리가 들렸다.
— Translation: In the deep night, the sound of a wolf howling was heard in the forest.
Beyond biological beings, this word is frequently used metaphorically. For example, the wind can 울부짖다 during a violent storm, or a person's heart/soul can 울부짖다 when they are suffering in silence but feel a screaming pain within. This versatility makes it a favorite for poets and lyricists who want to convey a sense of raw, untamed suffering or power.
사고 현장에서 유가족들이 울부짖고 있었다.
— Translation: At the accident scene, the bereaved families were wailing in grief.
- Metaphorical Use
- The word is often used to describe the 'howling wind' (울부짖는 바람) or the 'roaring sea' (울부짖는 바다), emphasizing the violent and noisy nature of the elements.
In summary, 울부짖다 is a high-intensity verb. It is not used for minor inconveniences. You wouldn't use it if you stubbed your toe, but you would use it if you were describing a legendary hero mourning a fallen comrade or a storm that sounds like a thousand ghosts screaming. It carries a weight of 'Han' (한), the unique Korean sentiment of deep sorrow and resentment.
폭풍우가 치는 밤, 창밖의 바람이 울부짖었다.
— Translation: On a stormy night, the wind outside the window howled.
Using 울부짖다 requires an understanding of its emotional weight. Because it is a compound verb, it functions grammatically as a regular verb ending in -다. It is typically an intransitive verb (meaning it doesn't always need a direct object), but it often appears with subjects like animals, natural phenomena, or people in distress.
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- The subject is usually the source of the sound. If you are describing a person, the subject is the person. If you are describing the sound itself, you might use '소리' (sound) as a related noun.
그녀는 억울함에 가슴을 치며 울부짖었다.
— Translation: She wailed, beating her chest in resentment.
When conjugating, follow the standard rules for verbs ending in a consonant stem. In polite speech, it becomes 울부짖어요. In the past tense, it is 울부짖었어요. In formal settings, 울부짖습니다 is common, especially in news reports or literature.
개들이 밤새도록 허공을 향해 울부짖고 있다.
— Translation: The dogs are howling toward the empty air all night long.
- Combining with Adverbs
- Common adverbs used with this verb include 처절하게 (desperately/piteously), 슬프게 (sadly), and 미친 듯이 (like crazy/frantically).
It is also used as a modifier for nouns. For instance, 울부짖는 소리 (the sound of howling) or 울부짖는 군중 (the wailing crowd). This allows the speaker to set a very specific atmosphere in descriptive writing.
전쟁터는 병사들의 울부짖는 소리로 가득 찼다.
— Translation: The battlefield was filled with the wailing sounds of soldiers.
Finally, remember that 울부짖다 is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation about small things. If you use it to describe a friend crying over a movie, it might sound sarcastic or overly dramatic unless the movie was truly devastating.
While 울부짖다 might not be a word you use to order coffee, you will encounter it frequently in specific media and cultural contexts. Understanding these contexts helps you grasp the 'soul' of the word.
- In Literature and Webtoons
- Korean literature often explores themes of tragedy and historical trauma. Authors use 울부짖다 to describe the collective grief of a nation or the solitary pain of a character who has been wronged. In fantasy webtoons, you'll see this word when monsters appear or when a hero's power awakens through sorrow.
소설 속 주인공은 하늘을 우러러 울부짖었다.
— Translation: The protagonist of the novel looked up at the sky and howled in grief.
K-Dramas and films are another prime source. Think of historical dramas (Sa-geuk) where a queen loses her child, or a modern thriller where a victim's family demands justice outside a courtroom. The subtitles might say 'wailing' or 'crying out,' but the Korean word being acted out is almost certainly 울부짖다.
뉴스에서는 이재민들이 도움을 요청하며 울부짖는 장면이 나왔다.
— Translation: The news showed scenes of disaster victims wailing while asking for help.
- Nature Documentaries
- If you watch a documentary about wolves in the DMZ or wildlife in Siberia, the narrator will use this word to describe the calls of the wild. It adds a poetic and majestic quality to the animals.
In music, particularly in rock or 'ballad' genres, singers might '울부짖다' through their vocals. This refers to a singing style that is raw, powerful, and filled with high-pitched emotional release. Fans might describe a particularly moving performance as '울부짖는 듯한 노래' (a song that sounds like wailing/howling).
그 가수는 무대 위에서 영혼을 다해 울부짖듯 노래했다.
— Translation: That singer sang on stage as if howling with all their soul.
While 울부짖다 is a useful word, its high intensity makes it easy to misuse if you don't understand its specific nuances. Here are the most common pitfalls for English speakers.
- Overusing for Simple Crying
- The biggest mistake is using 울부짖다 when 울다 (to cry) is more appropriate. If a child is crying because they want candy, they are 울다. If you use 울부짖다, it implies the child is experiencing a soul-crushing tragedy. Use it only for extreme situations.
❌ 아이가 사탕을 못 먹어서 울부짖어요.
✅ 아이가 사탕을 못 먹어서 울고 있어요.
Another mistake is confusing it with 짖다 (to bark). While 울부짖다 contains the root for barking, it specifically refers to a long, mournful sound. A dog barking at a stranger is just 짖다. A dog howling because it's lonely or sensing something is 울부짖다.
- Misapplying to Small Animals
- We usually don't say a hamster or a small bird 울부짖다. The word implies a certain volume and depth of sound. It's for wolves, large dogs, or the wind—things with a 'big' voice.
❌ 작은 새가 나무 위에서 울부짖는다.
✅ 작은 새가 나무 위에서 지저귄다 (chirp).
Lastly, be careful with the spelling. Because the 'ㅈ' in 짖 is followed by 다, the pronunciation becomes 'jit-da' (t-stop). Some learners might forget the 'ㅈ' bottom consonant or misspell it as 울부짓다. Always remember the root 짖다 (to bark).
To truly master 울부짖다, you should know its synonyms and how they differ in nuance. This allows you to choose the perfect word for the specific type of 'crying' you want to describe.
- 울부짖다 vs. 통곡하다 (Ttong-gok-ha-da)
- 통곡하다 means to wail loudly, often at a funeral or after a major tragedy. While 울부짖다 can be used for animals and wind, 통곡하다 is strictly for humans and emphasizes the social/ritual aspect of loud mourning.
- 울부짖다 vs. 오열하다 (O-yeol-ha-da)
- 오열하다 describes sobbing so hard that your throat feels blocked and your body shakes. It is more about the physical struggle of crying than the 'howling' sound of 울부짖다.
그는 부모님의 죽음 앞에 통곡했다.
— Translation: He wailed loudly before his parents' death.
If you want to describe a sound that is more like a scream than a cry, use 절규하다 (jeol-gyu-ha-da). This word means to scream out in desperate agony or to make a frantic appeal. It is often used in political or existential contexts.
- 짖다 (Jit-da)
- This is the base word for 'barking.' If a dog is just being noisy or guarding, use this. Only upgrade to 울부짖다 if the dog sounds like it's crying or howling.
In summary, choose 울부짖다 when you want to emphasize the 'howl-like' or 'mournful' quality of a loud sound, especially if it feels primal or connected to the elements. Use the other alternatives when you want to focus on the human social ritual (통곡), the physical act of sobbing (오열), or the desperate scream (절규).
Wusstest du?
In Middle Korean, '짖다' was used more broadly for various animal sounds, not just dogs. Combining it with '울다' created a word that perfectly captures the overlap between human sorrow and animalistic vocalization.
Aussprachehilfe
- Pronouncing the final ㅈ as a full 'j' sound instead of a 't' stop.
- Forgetting the double consonant sound in '다' (it sounds like 'tta').
- Misplacing the emphasis on the 'bu' syllable.
- Confusing the spelling with '울부짓다' (using ㅅ instead of ㅈ).
- Not making the 'ul' sound clear enough.
Beispiele nach Niveau
강아지가 울부짖어요.
The puppy is howling.
Present tense: 울부짖다 + 어요.
늑대가 산에서 울부짖는다.
A wolf howls in the mountain.
Plain form: 울부짖다 + 는다.
슬퍼서 울부짖었어요.
I wailed because I was sad.
Past tense: 울부짖 + 었어요.
누가 울부짖고 있어요?
Who is wailing?
Continuous: 울부짖 + 고 있다.
바람이 울부짖어요.
The wind is howling.
Metaphorical use for wind.
개들이 같이 울부짖어요.
The dogs are howling together.
Plural subject.
어젯밤에 늑대가 울부짖었어요.
A wolf howled last night.
Time adverb '어젯밤'.
울부짖지 마세요.
Please don't wail.
Negative imperative: -지 마세요.
아이가 엄마를 찾으며 울부짖었다.
The child wailed while looking for their mother.
-으며 (while) connects two actions.
배가 고파서 늑대들이 울부짖고 있다.
The wolves are howling because they are hungry.
Reason -아서/어서 + continuous.
폭풍우 속에서 바람이 울부짖었다.
The wind howled in the storm.
Locative '속에서'.
그녀는 슬픈 소식을 듣고 울부짖었다.
She wailed after hearing the sad news.
-고 (after/and) connects actions.
마을 사람들이 억울함에 울부짖었다.
The villagers wailed in resentment.
Noun + 에 (reason/cause).
다친 개가 아파서 울부짖어요.
The injured dog is howling because of the pain.
Adjective + 아서/어서.
밤마다 숲에서 울부짖는 소리가 들려요.
Every night, a howling sound is heard from the forest.
Noun modifying form: 울부짖는.
사람들이 도와달라고 울부짖고 있어요.
People are wailing, asking for help.
Quoted request: -달라고.
자식을 잃은 어머니가 목놓아 울부짖었다.
The mother who lost her child wailed at the top of her lungs.
Adverbial '목놓아' (loudly).
전쟁의 비극 속에서 사람들은 울부짖을 수밖에 없었다.
In the tragedy of war, people had no choice but to wail.
-을 수밖에 없다 (no choice but to).
그의 가슴속에서는 고통이 울부짖고 있었다.
Inside his chest, pain was howling.
Metaphorical use for internal pain.
늑대 무리가 달빛 아래에서 일제히 울부짖기 시작했다.
The wolf pack started howling all at once under the moonlight.
-기 시작하다 (start to).
버림받은 강아지가 주인 이름을 부르듯 울부짖었다.
The abandoned puppy howled as if calling its owner's name.
-듯 (as if).
억울한 누명을 쓴 죄수가 하늘을 보며 울부짖었다.
The prisoner, falsely accused, wailed while looking at the sky.
Complex noun phrase subject.
차가운 바닷바람이 해안가에서 울부짖고 있었다.
The cold sea breeze was howling at the seaside.
Descriptive adverbs.
그녀의 울부짖는 소리가 온 집안에 울려 퍼졌다.
The sound of her wailing echoed throughout the house.
Resultative: 울려 퍼지다.
시대의 아픔을 목격한 시인은 펜으로 울부짖었다.
The poet who witnessed the pain of the era howled with his pen.
Metaphorical use for writing.
무너진 건물 잔해 속에서 생존자들이 울부짖고 있었다.
Survivors were wailing among the debris of the collapsed building.
Noun '잔해' (debris).
그 영화의 마지막 장면에서 주인공은 처절하게 울부짖는다.
In the last scene of the movie, the protagonist wails desperately.
Adverb '처절하게'.
바람에 흔들리는 숲이 마치 울부짖는 괴물처럼 보였다.
The forest swaying in the wind looked like a howling monster.
Simile: -처럼 보이다.
그는 자신의 무능함에 분노하며 속으로 울부짖었다.
He howled inside, feeling angry at his own incompetence.
Internalized action: 속으로.
역사의 소용돌이 속에서 민중은 자유를 향해 울부짖었다.
In the vortex of history, the people howled for freedom.
Directional '향해'.
짐승의 울부짖음은 밤의 적막을 깨뜨렸다.
The animal's howling broke the silence of the night.
Nominalized form: 울부짖음.
사랑하는 이를 떠나보낸 남자는 밤새 울부짖다 지쳐 잠들었다.
The man who sent away his loved one fell asleep after wailing all night and getting exhausted.
-다(가) 지쳐 (exhausted after doing).
작가는 소외된 자들의 목소리를 울부짖듯 그려냈다.
The author depicted the voices of the marginalized as if they were howling.
Adverbial comparison: 울부짖듯.
도시의 소음은 마치 거대한 기계가 울부짖는 것처럼 들렸다.
The city noise sounded like a giant machine howling.
Complex simile.
그의 연설은 정의를 갈구하며 울부짖는 선언과도 같았다.
His speech was like a declaration howling in long for justice.
Noun + 과도 같다 (is like).
심연 속에서 울부짖는 영혼의 소리에 귀를 기울여 보라.
Try to listen to the sound of the soul howling in the abyss.
Imperative: -어 보라.
자연의 역습 앞에 인간은 그저 울부짖을 뿐이었다.
Before nature's counterattack, humans could only wail.
-을 뿐이다 (only/just).
그녀의 침묵은 그 어떤 비명보다 더 크게 울부짖고 있었다.
Her silence was howling louder than any scream.
Paradoxical expression.
광기 어린 눈으로 그는 허공을 향해 무언가를 울부짖었다.
With crazed eyes, he howled something toward the empty air.
Adjective '광기 어린' (crazed).
폭정 아래 억압받던 이들이 마침내 울부짖으며 거리로 쏟아져 나왔다.
Those oppressed under tyranny finally came pouring into the streets, wailing.
Compound verb '쏟아져 나오다'.
존재의 근원적 고독이 그의 내면에서 끊임없이 울부짖었다.
The fundamental loneliness of existence constantly howled within him.
Abstract philosophical subject.
그 비극적 서사는 독자의 가슴을 울부짖게 만드는 힘이 있다.
That tragic narrative has the power to make the reader's heart wail.
Causative: -게 만들다.
초월적 존재를 향한 인간의 울부짖음은 종교의 시초가 되었다.
The human wailing toward a transcendent being became the beginning of religion.
Historical/Sociological context.
삶과 죽음의 경계에서 생명은 마지막 본능으로 울부짖는다.
At the boundary of life and death, life howls with its final instinct.
Philosophical boundary.
예술가는 고통을 승화시켜 울부짖는 캔버스를 완성했다.
The artist sublimated pain to complete a howling canvas.
Metaphorical art description.
문명의 붕괴를 예견한 예언자는 광야에서 홀로 울부짖었다.
The prophet who foresaw the collapse of civilization howled alone in the wilderness.
Biblical/Archetypal tone.
언어로 다 표현할 수 없는 슬픔이 울부짖음이 되어 터져 나왔다.
Sorrow that could not be fully expressed in language burst out as a wail.
Nominalized subject.
우주는 그 거대한 침묵 속에서 별들의 탄생과 죽음을 울부짖고 있는지도 모른다.
Perhaps the universe is howling the birth and death of stars in its vast silence.
-는지도 모른다 (might be).
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
— The sound of howling or wailing.
어디선가 울부짖는 소리가 들린다.
— To cling to someone while wailing.
그녀는 울부짖으며 그의 바짓가랑이를 붙잡았다.
— To stop howling/wailing.
그는 겨우 울부짖음을 멈추고 진정했다.
— Sounding like a howl/wail.
그것은 울부짖는 듯한 기괴한 소리였다.
— A blood-boiling (intense) wail.
민중의 피 끓는 울부짖음이 들리는가?
— The sound of the howling wind.
울부짖는 바람 소리에 잠을 설쳤다.
— A heart that is wailing (metaphor for pain).
울부짖는 가슴을 안고 집으로 돌아왔다.
— A howling wolf.
울부짖는 늑대는 무서우면서도 슬프게 들린다.
— To wail until one's throat bursts.
그녀는 목이 터져라 울부짖었다.
— To wail in sorrow.
모두가 그 슬픔에 울부짖었다.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
— To cry out intensely in one's heart without making a sound.
그는 겉으로는 웃었지만 가슴으로 울부짖고 있었다.
Metaphorical— Used to describe thunder or a very violent storm as if the sky is crying.
하늘이 울부짖는 듯한 천둥소리가 났다.
Literary— To wail while hitting the ground (a classic sign of extreme grief in Korea).
할머니는 땅을 치며 울부짖으셨다.
Traditional— To wail as if vomiting blood (extremely desperate/agonizing).
그는 피를 토하며 울부짖듯 진실을 요구했다.
Dramatic— The storm is howling (very common in literature).
폭풍우가 울부짖는 밤이었다.
Literary— A paradoxical idiom where silence feels as loud as a howl.
그 빈 방에는 적막만이 울부짖고 있었다.
Poetic— The deepest possible cry from one's soul.
그의 노래는 영혼의 울부짖음이었다.
Artistic— The past/history cries out (usually about injustice).
역사가 울부짖는 소리에 귀를 기울여야 한다.
Political— The mountains and rivers (the whole land) are wailing.
나라를 잃자 산천이 울부짖는 듯했다.
Historical— To cry out like a beast (losing human restraint).
그는 고통에 못 이겨 짐승처럼 울부짖었다.
NeutralWortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Verwandt
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Imagine a wolf named 'UL' (울) who is 'BU' (부) -hoo crying while he 'JIT' (짖) barks at the moon. UL-BU-JIT-DA.
Visuelle Assoziation
A silhouette of a wolf howling on a cliff, with the sound waves forming the word '울부짖다'.
Wortherkunft
A compound of '울-' (stem of '울다', to cry) and '부짖-' (derived from '짖다', to bark/shout). The '부-' is an emphatic prefix or an archaic connective that intensified the action of '짖다'.
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To cry out loudly like an animal or in great distress.
Korean (Native)Summary
The word <span class='font-bold'>울부짖다</span> is your 'go-to' verb for high-intensity, mournful sounds. Whether you're describing a wolf howling at the moon (<span class='italic'>늑대가 울부짖다</span>) or a person wailing in grief, it captures a raw, visceral energy that a simple 'cry' cannot.
- A powerful verb meaning to howl or wail, combining 'cry' and 'bark' for maximum emotional intensity.
- Used for animals (wolves, dogs), natural elements (wind), and humans in extreme emotional distress.
- Carries a literary and dramatic weight, often associated with deep resentment or 'Han'.
- Not for everyday minor crying; reserved for profound grief, agony, or primal nature sounds.
Beispiel
개 한 마리가 밤새도록 울부짖었다.
Verwandte Inhalte
Mehr nature Wörter
~에 대한
A2Ein grammatikalischer Ausdruck, der 'über' oder 'bezüglich' bedeutet.
~게
A2Ein Suffix, das Adjektive in Adverbien umwandelt, ähnlich wie die adverbiale Verwendung im Deutschen.
공기
A1Die Luft, die wir atmen. 'Die Bergluft ist sehr frisch.'
몽땅
B1몽땅 bedeutet 'alles', 'vollständig'. Es wird verwendet, wenn etwas vollständig verbraucht, weg oder involviert ist. Es betont die Totalität.
온갖
B1Allerlei, alle Arten von. Wird vor einem Substantiv verwendet, um eine große Vielfalt anzuzeigen.
~을/를 따라서
A2Bezeichnet eine Bewegung oder Handlung entlang eines Weges oder gemäß einer Anleitung. 'Entlang des Flusses gehen' oder 'den Anweisungen folgen'.
동물
A1Ein Lebewesen, das sich bewegen kann und Empfindungen hat. In Korea gibt es viele berühmte Zoos für Tiere.
개미
A1Ein kleines, häufiges Insekt, das in großen Kolonien lebt. Sie sind bekannt dafür, sehr beschäftigt und fleißig zu sein.
주위에
A2Um mein Haus herum gibt es viele Parks. (주위에)
그대로
A2So wie es ist; unverändert. Wird verwendet, um auszudrücken, dass ein Zustand beibehalten wird oder eine Handlung genau einem Muster folgt.
