괴롭다
괴롭다 در ۳۰ ثانیه
- 괴롭다 means to be in distress or pain, usually mental.
- It follows the 'ㅂ' irregular conjugation (괴로워요).
- It is stronger and more internal than '힘들다' (hard/tired).
- The causative form '괴롭히다' means to harass or bully.
The Korean adjective 괴롭다 (goeropda) is a multi-faceted word that primarily describes a state of being in pain, distress, or suffering. While it can refer to physical discomfort, its most potent and frequent application is in the realm of emotional and mental anguish. When you say something is '괴롭다', you are expressing a deep sense of being troubled or tormented by a situation, a thought, or a physical sensation. It captures the essence of 'suffering' in a way that other words like '아프다' (to be sick/hurt) or '힘들다' (to be hard/tired) do not quite reach. It implies a lingering, often internal, struggle that weighs heavily on the soul.
- Core Essence
- The word signifies a state where one's peace is disturbed by external pressure or internal conflict, leading to a feeling of misery.
- Physical Nuance
- Used when the body feels distressed, such as during extreme nausea or when a chronic ache becomes mentally exhausting.
- Emotional Nuance
- Describes the agony of guilt, the pain of a breakup, or the stress of being bullied (괴롭힘).
"마음이 너무 괴로워서 잠을 잘 수가 없어요."
— (My heart is so distressed that I cannot sleep.)
In a broader context, 괴롭다 is the root for the verb 괴롭히다, which means 'to harass' or 'to bully'. This connection highlights that '괴롭다' is the state of the victim or the person undergoing the hardship. It is a passive state of suffering. If you are '괴롭다', something is acting upon you—be it your own conscience, a difficult person, or an unfortunate circumstance. It is one of the most expressive words in the Korean language for conveying human vulnerability and the weight of existence.
"숨쉬기조차 괴로운 순간들이 있다."
— (There are moments when even breathing is painful.)
When analyzing the word's usage in literature, it often appears in poems and songs to describe the 'sweet agony' of love or the 'bitter distress' of loss. It is not a word used lightly for minor inconveniences. If you lose your keys, you are '짜증나다' (annoyed) or '당황스럽다' (flustered). If you lose a lifelong friend, you are '괴롭다'. Understanding this scale of intensity is crucial for achieving fluency and emotional resonance in Korean.
- Synonym Comparison
- Unlike '슬프다' (sad), which is a pure emotion, '괴롭다' implies a state of being tormented. Unlike '아프다' (hurt), it is usually more mental than physical.
"양심의 가책으로 괴로워하고 있다."
— (He is suffering from the pricks of conscience.)
Using 괴롭다 correctly requires an understanding of the 'ㅂ' irregular conjugation. Like many adjectives ending in 'ㅂ', the 'ㅂ' changes to '우' when it meets a vowel-starting suffix. This transformation is the key to natural-sounding Korean. For example, '괴롭다' becomes '괴로워요' in the polite present tense, not '괴롭아요'. This phonetic shift makes the word flow more smoothly, reflecting the lingering nature of the distress it describes.
- Conjugation Patterns
- Present Polite: 괴로워요 (Goerowoyo)
- Past Polite: 괴로웠어요 (Goerowosseoyo)
- Future/Supposition: 괴로울 거예요 (Goeroul geoyeyo)
- Noun Modifying: 괴로운 (Goeroun)
In sentences, 괴롭다 usually follows a noun marked with the subject marker '이/가'. Common subjects include '마음' (heart/mind), '몸' (body), '삶' (life), or '기억' (memory). It can also be used with the particle '-기(가) 괴롭다' to describe an action that is painful to perform, such as '보기가 괴롭다' (it is painful to watch).
"그의 실패를 지켜보기가 참 괴롭다."
— (It is truly painful to watch his failure.)
When you want to describe a person who is suffering, you use the modifying form '괴로운'. For instance, '괴로운 나날' (painful days) or '괴로운 표정' (a distressed expression). This allows you to add emotional depth to your descriptions of people and their states of mind. It is also frequently used in the causative form '괴롭히다' (to make someone suffer/harass), which is a common verb in social and school contexts.
"괴로운 과거는 잊고 새롭게 시작하세요."
— (Forget the painful past and start anew.)
- Common Sentence Structures
- [Subject] + 이/가 + 괴롭다 (e.g., 머리가 괴롭다 - My head is in distress/pain)
- [Action]-기(가) + 괴롭다 (e.g., 듣기가 괴롭다 - It's painful to listen to)
- [Reason] + -아서/어서 + 괴롭다 (e.g., 돈이 없어서 괴롭다 - I'm distressed because I have no money)
You will encounter 괴롭다 in a variety of poignant settings, ranging from high-stakes television dramas to the lyrics of melancholic ballads. It is a staple of Korean storytelling because it encapsulates the internal conflict that drives character development. In K-Dramas, you might hear a protagonist exclaim '괴로워 죽겠어!' (I'm so distressed I could die!) during a moment of intense emotional turmoil, such as a betrayal or a difficult moral choice.
"너를 볼 때마다 내 마음이 너무 괴로워."
— (Every time I see you, my heart is in so much pain.)
In the music industry, particularly in 'Ballad' and 'Indie' genres, '괴롭다' is used to describe the lingering pain of a breakup. Lyrics often focus on the '괴로운 기억' (painful memories) that haunt the singer after a relationship ends. It conveys a sense of being trapped by one's emotions, unable to escape the mental distress of loss. This makes the word highly relatable to listeners who have experienced similar heartbreaks.
Beyond entertainment, you will hear this word in news reports or documentaries discussing social issues. For example, victims of workplace harassment or school bullying are often described as living through '괴로운 시간' (painful times). In these contexts, the word carries a weight of social justice and empathy, highlighting the serious impact of negative actions on an individual's mental health.
- Common Scenarios
- Therapy or Counseling: Describing mental states.
- Apologies: '내가 너를 괴롭게 했구나' (I must have made you suffer).
- Historical Context: Discussing the '괴로운 역사' (painful history) of the nation.
"취업 준비 기간이 정말 괴로웠습니다."
— (The period of preparing for employment was truly painful/distressing.)
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 괴롭다 with 힘들다 (himdeulda). While they both describe difficulty, '힘들다' is a much broader term that usually refers to physical exhaustion or a task being hard to complete. If you are tired from running, you say '힘들다'. If you are suffering from a deep emotional wound that makes your life feel like a burden, you say '괴롭다'. Using '힘들다' in a deeply tragic situation can sometimes sound too light or casual.
- Mistake 1: Confusing with '아프다'
- '아프다' is for physical pain (a headache, a cut). '괴롭다' is for the *distress* caused by pain or mental agony. You wouldn't say '손가락이 괴로워요' for a small cut; you'd say '손가락이 아파요'.
- Mistake 2: Subject-Object Confusion
- Learners often try to use '괴롭다' as a verb to mean 'to bully'. Remember, '괴롭다' is an adjective (to be distressed). To say 'to bully/harass', you must use the causative verb '괴롭히다'.
❌ "그는 나를 괴로워요." (He is me distressed - Incorrect)
✅ "그는 나를 괴롭혀요." (He harasses me - Correct)
Another common error involves the 1st person vs. 3rd person rule for adjectives of feeling. In Korean, you generally use '괴롭다' for yourself ('나는 괴롭다'). However, when describing someone else's feelings, you should use the '-어/아하다' form: '그는 괴로워한다'. This indicates that you are observing their outward signs of suffering rather than experiencing their internal state directly. Failing to do this can make your Korean sound unnatural or overly presumptive about others' internal lives.
"배가 아파서 괴로워요."
— (Correct: My stomach hurts so much it's causing me distress/misery.)
To truly master 괴롭다, you must understand its neighbors in the emotional landscape of the Korean language. Several words share a similar semantic space but carry different nuances of intensity, cause, and physical vs. mental focus. By learning these distinctions, you can choose the exact word that fits your situation.
- 고통스럽다 (Gotong-seureopda)
- This is a more formal and intense version of '괴롭다'. It literally means 'to be painful' (고통 = pain). It is often used in medical or highly tragic contexts. While '괴롭다' is a feeling, '고통스럽다' is the state of being in agony.
- 답답하다 (Dapdaphada)
- This describes a feeling of being stifled, frustrated, or 'suffocated' by a situation. If '괴롭다' is sharp pain, '답답하다' is a heavy, clogged feeling in the chest because things aren't going as planned or someone isn't understanding you.
- 슬프다 (Seulpeuda)
- The basic word for 'sad'. '괴롭다' is often the result of being '슬프다' for too long or too intensely. Sadness is an emotion; distress (괴롭다) is a state of being.
"그의 죽음은 우리에게 큰 고통이었다."
— (His death was a great pain/agony to us.)
There is also 안타깝다 (antakkapda), which is used when you feel sorry or frustrated for someone else's unfortunate situation. While you might be '괴롭다' because of your own failure, you feel '안타깝다' when you see a talented person fail. Understanding these social nuances helps in expressing empathy correctly in Korean culture.
"말을 못 하니 정말 답답하고 괴롭네요."
— (It's so frustrating and distressing not being able to speak.)
چقدر رسمی است؟
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گرامر لازم
مثالها بر اساس سطح
마음이 괴로워요.
My heart is distressed.
Basic present tense of 괴롭다.
친구가 없어서 괴로워요.
I am distressed because I have no friends.
Reason (-어서) + feeling.
공부가 괴로워요?
Is studying painful/distressing?
Question form.
몸이 괴로워요.
My body is in distress (feeling very sick).
Physical distress usage.
괴로운 노래예요.
It is a painful/sad song.
Noun modifying form '괴로운'.
어제는 정말 괴로웠어요.
Yesterday was really distressing.
Past tense '괴로웠어요'.
너무 괴로워하지 마세요.
Don't be so distressed.
-지 마세요 (Don't) with 3rd person feeling form.
머리가 아파서 괴로워요.
My head hurts, so I'm in distress.
Cause and effect.
시험 기간은 정말 괴로워요.
Exam periods are truly distressing.
Topic marker '은'.
괴로운 기억을 잊고 싶어요.
I want to forget painful memories.
-고 싶다 (want to).
배가 너무 고파서 괴로워요.
I'm so hungry it's painful.
Extreme physical state.
그 사람은 나를 괴롭게 해요.
That person makes me distressed.
-게 하다 (to make someone...).
괴로운 일이 있었어요?
Did something distressing happen?
Past tense modifying '일'.
감기 때문에 숨쉬기가 괴로워요.
It's painful to breathe because of a cold.
Noun-forming '-기'.
돈이 없으면 삶이 괴로워요.
Life is distressing if you have no money.
Conditional '-으면'.
괴로워도 웃어야 해요.
Even if it's painful, I have to smile.
-어도 (even if).
거짓말을 한 후로 마음이 계속 괴롭습니다.
My heart has been constantly distressed since I lied.
Formal polite '-습니다'.
헤어진 연인 때문에 괴로워하고 있어요.
He/she is suffering because of an ex-lover.
3rd person feeling '-어하다'.
직장 상사가 저를 너무 괴롭혀요.
My boss harasses me too much.
Causative verb '괴롭히다'.
가난은 사람을 괴롭게 만듭니다.
Poverty makes people distressed.
-게 만들다 (to make...).
부모님의 기대를 저버리는 것은 괴로운 일이다.
Disappointing one's parents is a painful thing.
Gerund '-는 것'.
양심에 가책을 느껴 괴로웠습니다.
I felt guilty and was distressed.
Idiomatic '양심의 가책'.
그의 괴로운 표정을 보니 마음이 아프다.
Seeing his distressed face makes my heart ache.
-니 (since/because).
괴로움을 참지 말고 이야기하세요.
Don't hold back your distress; talk about it.
Noun form '괴로움'.
실패의 쓴맛은 누구에게나 괴로운 법이다.
The bitter taste of failure is bound to be painful for anyone.
-는 법이다 (it is bound to be).
전쟁의 기억은 평생을 괴롭히는 상처가 된다.
Memories of war become wounds that haunt one for a lifetime.
Metaphorical usage.
그는 자신의 잘못을 깨닫고 몹시 괴로워했다.
He realized his mistake and was extremely distressed.
Adverb '몹시' (extremely).
인간관계에서 오는 괴로움이 가장 크다.
Distress coming from human relationships is the greatest.
Relative clause '-에서 오는'.
괴로운 현실을 잊기 위해 술을 마셨다.
I drank to forget the painful reality.
-기 위해 (in order to).
사회의 부조리를 지켜보는 것은 괴로운 일이다.
Watching social injustice is a painful thing.
Advanced noun '부조리' (injustice/absurdity).
괴로움 끝에 낙이 온다는 말을 믿으세요.
Believe the saying that pleasure follows pain.
Proverbial usage.
그녀는 괴로운 심정을 일기에 털어놓았다.
She poured out her distressed feelings in her diary.
Verb '털어놓다' (to pour out/confess).
작가는 창작의 고통과 괴로움을 작품에 담았다.
The author poured the pain and distress of creation into the work.
Abstract noun usage.
지독한 고독은 인간을 근원적으로 괴롭게 한다.
Intense loneliness distresses humans fundamentally.
Adverb '근원적으로' (fundamentally).
그의 침묵은 나를 더욱 괴롭게 만들 뿐이었다.
His silence only served to make me more distressed.
-을 뿐이다 (only/nothing but).
괴로운 번민 속에서 그는 결단을 내렸다.
Amidst painful agony/deliberation, he made a decision.
Advanced noun '번민' (agony/anguish).
삶의 무게가 너무 무거워 괴로울 때가 있다.
There are times when life is distressing because its weight is too heavy.
Metaphorical '삶의 무게'.
그녀의 눈빛에는 말로 다 할 수 없는 괴로움이 서려 있었다.
In her eyes, there was an unspeakable distress.
Verb '서리다' (to be permeated/suffused).
역사의 소용돌이 속에서 민초들은 괴로운 삶을 이어갔다.
In the vortex of history, the common people continued their painful lives.
Literary term '민초' (common people).
괴로움을 승화시켜 예술로 탄생시켰다.
He sublimated his distress and gave birth to it as art.
Verb '승화시키다' (to sublimate).
실존적 괴로움은 인간 존재의 필연적인 동반자이다.
Existential distress is an inevitable companion of human existence.
Philosophical register.
그는 죄책감이라는 감옥에 갇혀 괴로운 나날을 보냈다.
He spent painful days trapped in the prison of guilt.
Complex metaphor.
타인의 고통을 보며 괴로워하는 것은 공감의 증거이다.
Being distressed by seeing others' pain is evidence of empathy.
Subjective gerund phrase.
정치적 억압 속에서 지식인들은 괴로운 선택의 기로에 섰다.
Under political oppression, intellectuals stood at the crossroads of painful choices.
Historical/Political context.
그의 문장은 삶의 비애와 괴로움을 처절하게 묘사하고 있다.
His sentences desperately describe the sorrow and distress of life.
Adverb '처절하게' (desperately/tragically).
괴로움의 심연에서 빠져나오기 위해 그는 몸부림쳤다.
He struggled to escape from the abyss of distress.
Noun '심연' (abyss).
무지의 괴로움보다 아는 것의 괴로움이 더 클 때가 있다.
There are times when the distress of knowing is greater than the distress of ignorance.
Comparative structure.
그녀는 괴로운 과거와의 화해를 통해 평온을 되찾았다.
She regained peace through reconciliation with her painful past.
Abstract noun '화해' (reconciliation).
ترکیبهای رایج
عبارات رایج
괴로워 죽겠다 (I'm so distressed I could die)
괴로운 시간을 보내다 (To spend/go through painful times)
괴로움을 잊다 (To forget one's distress)
괴로움을 털어놓다 (To pour out one's distress)
남을 괴롭히지 마라 (Don't harass others)
괴로움에 시달리다 (To suffer from distress)
괴로움을 참다 (To endure distress)
괴로움이 가시다 (Distress fades away)
괴로운 운명 (Painful fate)
괴로워하는 사람 (A person who is suffering)
اغلب اشتباه گرفته میشود با
Refers to difficulty or exhaustion, whereas 괴롭다 is mental/physical distress.
Refers to physical pain or being sick, whereas 괴롭다 is the suffering caused by it.
Refers to sadness, whereas 괴롭다 is a more intense state of being tormented.
اصطلاحات و عبارات
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بهراحتی اشتباه گرفته میشود
الگوهای جملهسازی
نحوه استفاده
It is more 'passive' than '힘들다'. You are a victim of the distress.
Very high in emotional contexts, medium in daily physical contexts.
- Using '괴롭다' instead of '괴롭히다' to mean 'to bully'.
- Using '괴롭다' for simple tiredness (should be '힘들다').
- Forgetting the ㅂ-irregular conjugation (saying '괴롭아요').
- Using '괴롭다' for 3rd person subjects without '-어하다'.
- Using '괴롭다' for minor physical pain like a small scratch (should be '아프다').
نکات
ㅂ Irregular
Always remember that ㅂ becomes 우 before vowels. 괴롭 + 어요 = 괴로워요.
Pair with 마음
The most common usage is '마음이 괴롭다'. Use this to express guilt or sadness.
Empathy
When someone says they are '괴롭다', respond with '많이 괴롭겠어요' (It must be very distressing).
Poetic Use
Use '괴로운' to describe abstract nouns like '기억' (memory) or '운명' (fate).
Pronunciation
The '괴' sound is like 'G' + 'W' + 'E'. Practice it to avoid sounding like '개' (dog).
vs 힘들다
If you are tired from work, use '힘들다'. If you are suffering from a bad boss, use '괴롭다'.
Han
Understand that this word is linked to the Korean concept of deep sorrow (Han).
Physical Distress
Use it for nausea or extreme heat: '더워서 괴로워요' (It's so hot it's distressing).
Avoid '괴롭다' for others
Don't say '그는 괴롭다'. Say '그는 괴로워한다'.
Idioms
Learn '괴로움 끝에 낙이 온다' to sound more like a native speaker.
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Think of 'Glow-up' (괴롭). If you don't have a 'glow-up', you might feel '괴롭다' (distressed) about your appearance! (Just a silly way to remember the sound).
ریشه کلمه
Native Korean word.
بافت فرهنگی
Often used in 'Sijo' (traditional poetry) to describe the pain of longing for a king or a lover.
When someone says they are '괴롭다', it is polite to listen deeply rather than offering quick solutions.
تمرین در زندگی واقعی
موقعیتهای واقعی
شروعکنندههای مکالمه
"요즘 괴로운 일이라도 있어요? (Is there something distressing you these days?)"
"괴로울 때는 어떻게 스트레스를 풀어요? (How do you relieve stress when you are distressed?)"
"공부하면서 가장 괴로운 순간이 언제예요? (When is the most painful moment while studying?)"
"괴로운 기억을 지울 수 있다면 지울 건가요? (If you could erase painful memories, would you?)"
"친구가 괴로워할 때 어떻게 도와주나요? (How do you help a friend when they are suffering?)"
موضوعات نگارش
내 인생에서 가장 괴로웠던 순간은 언제였나? (When was the most painful moment in my life?)
나를 괴롭게 만드는 생각들은 무엇인가? (What are the thoughts that make me distressed?)
괴로움을 이겨내기 위한 나만의 방법. (My own way to overcome distress.)
누군가를 괴롭혔던 적이 있는가? 그때의 기분은? (Have I ever harassed someone? How did I feel then?)
괴로움이 나를 어떻게 성장시켰나? (How has suffering made me grow?)
سوالات متداول
10 سوالYes, if the headache is so bad it's making you miserable, you can say '머리가 아파서 괴로워요'.
It is an adjective (descriptive verb) in Korean grammar.
You use the verb form: '나 좀 괴롭히지 마세요!'
The noun form is '괴로움', meaning 'suffering' or 'distress'.
No, that would be '심심하다'. '괴롭다' is much too strong for boredom.
Yes, to describe '직장 내 괴롭힘' (workplace harassment).
'괴로워' is for 'I feel...', '괴로워해' is for 'He/She feels...'.
Yes, it is extremely common in daily life, media, and literature.
Only if the food makes you feel sick or distressed, like '매워서 괴로워요' (It's so spicy it's painful).
Not really, but people use '멘붕' (mental breakdown) for similar but less serious situations.
خودت رو بسنج 180 سوال
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نمره کامل!
Summary
Use '괴롭다' when you want to express deep emotional suffering or intense physical distress that weighs on your mind. It is the go-to word for 'agony' in daily Korean conversation and media.
- 괴롭다 means to be in distress or pain, usually mental.
- It follows the 'ㅂ' irregular conjugation (괴로워요).
- It is stronger and more internal than '힘들다' (hard/tired).
- The causative form '괴롭히다' means to harass or bully.
ㅂ Irregular
Always remember that ㅂ becomes 우 before vowels. 괴롭 + 어요 = 괴로워요.
Pair with 마음
The most common usage is '마음이 괴롭다'. Use this to express guilt or sadness.
Empathy
When someone says they are '괴롭다', respond with '많이 괴롭겠어요' (It must be very distressing).
Poetic Use
Use '괴로운' to describe abstract nouns like '기억' (memory) or '운명' (fate).
محتوای مرتبط
این کلمه در زبانهای دیگر
واژههای بیشتر emotions
받아들이다
A2پذیرفتن، قبول کردن.
아파하다
A2To feel pain or sorrow.
감탄스럽다
A2To be admirable or wonderful; to inspire awe.
감탄
A2Admiration or marvel; a feeling of wonder.
감탄하다
A2To admire or to marvel; to express wonder.
기특하다
B1Admirable for a good deed or thought; commendable.
충고
B1راهنمایی یا توصیههایی که در رابطه با اقدامات آینده ارائه میشود؛ نصیحت صادقانه.
애정
B1Affection; a gentle feeling of fondness or liking.
애틋하다
B2To be tender, fond, or wistful.
살갑다
B2To be warm, friendly, affectionate.