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사이나쁘다

A2 adjective #8,500 가장 일반적인 9분 분량

사이나쁘다

상위 8,500

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 사이나쁘다 30초 만에

설명 사이나쁘다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of '사이나쁘다' as a simple way to describe people who don't get along. You already know '나쁘다' means 'bad' (like in '날씨가 나빠요' - the weather is bad). '사이' is just the 'space' or 'connection' between people. So, '사이가 나빠요' means 'The connection is bad.' You can use this to talk about your siblings or friends when you are fighting. It is a very useful phrase because it helps you describe social situations simply. Just remember to put '가' after '사이' to make it sound natural: '사이가 나빠요'. You can also use '하고' to say 'with': '엄마하고 사이가 나빠요' (I am on bad terms with Mom).

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At the A2 level, you should start using '사이나쁘다' with different grammar structures. You can use the past tense '사이가 나빴어요' to talk about people who used to fight but are okay now. You can also use '사이가 나빠서' (because they are on bad terms) to explain why people aren't talking to each other. For example: '그들은 사이가 나빠서 같이 안 놀아요' (They don't play together because they are on bad terms). You should also learn the opposite: '사이가 좋다' (to be on good terms). Practice switching between these two to describe the various relationships in your life or in the K-dramas you watch.

At the B1 level, you can explore the nuances of '사이나쁘다' and its variations like '사이가 나빠지다' (to become bad). This is helpful for describing the plot of a story or a changing social dynamic. You can also use adverbs like '별로' (not really) or '무척' (extremely) to modify the intensity. For example: '두 사람은 별로 사이가 안 좋아요' (Those two aren't on particularly good terms). At this level, you should also be able to use the noun-modifying form '사이가 나쁜' to describe people: '사이가 나쁜 친구들이 화해했어요' (The friends who were on bad terms reconciled). You are moving from simple descriptions to more complex narratives.

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At the B2 level, you should understand the social implications of '사이나쁘다' in Korean culture. It's not just a description; it's a statement about social harmony. You can use this phrase in more formal settings, perhaps using '나쁩니다' or '좋지 않습니다'. You should also begin to recognize related but more specific terms like '틀어지다' (to go sour) or '서먹하다' (to be awkward). You can explain *why* a relationship is bad using complex connectors like '-는 바람에' (because of... with a negative result). For example: '오해를 하는 바람에 사이가 아주 나빠졌어요' (Because we had a misunderstanding, the relationship became very bad).

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At the C1 level, you can use '사이나쁘다' as a baseline to discuss more abstract concepts of discord and social friction. You should be comfortable using idiomatic expressions like '견원지간' (like dogs and monkeys) or '물과 기름' (like water and oil) alongside this phrase. You can use it to analyze international relations or corporate rivalries. You should also understand the 'Nunchi' involved in using this phrase—knowing when it is too blunt to say '사이가 나쁘다' and when to use a euphemism like '관계가 원만하지 않다' (the relationship is not smooth). Your usage should reflect an understanding of the subtle power dynamics in Korean speech levels.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of the spectrum of terms related to '사이나쁘다'. You can engage in deep discussions about the sociolinguistic aspects of the word '사이' and how it defines the Korean concept of the 'self' as part of a collective. You can use the phrase in literary analysis, high-level business negotiations, or academic papers. You understand how to manipulate the phrase to convey irony, sarcasm, or deep emotional resonance. You are also aware of historical or literary references where famous figures were described as having '사이가 나쁘다', and you can use these references to enrich your own speech and writing.

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연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

사이나쁘다 30초 만에

Refers to being on bad terms with someone.
Combines '사이' (relationship) and '나쁘다' (bad).
Can describe mild tension or serious conflict.
Commonly used with particles '와/과' or '하고'.

The Korean expression 사이나쁘다 (often written as the phrase 사이가 나쁘다) is a foundational descriptive phrase used to characterize the quality of a relationship between two or more parties. At its core, it combines the noun 사이 (meaning 'space', 'gap', or 'relationship') with the adjective 나쁘다 (meaning 'bad'). When you say two people are 사이나쁘다, you are literally saying the 'space' or 'connection' between them is of poor quality. This isn't just about a temporary argument; it often implies a sustained state of discord, friction, or mutual dislike. In the context of Korean social dynamics, where harmony (inhwa) is highly valued, describing a relationship this way carries significant weight. It suggests a breakdown in the expected social glue that keeps families, colleagues, or friends together.

Social Context: It is used to describe siblings who fight constantly, coworkers who cannot cooperate, or nations in a state of diplomatic tension. It covers everything from 'not speaking to each other' to 'active hostility'.
Nuance of 'Space': The word '사이' refers to the invisible thread connecting people. When that thread is frayed or knotted, the relationship is 'bad'.

우리 형이랑 저는 요즘 사이가 나빠요. (My older brother and I are on bad terms lately.)

— A common way to describe family friction.

In Korean culture, maintaining a 'good' relationship (사이가 좋다) is often seen as a personal and collective responsibility. Therefore, admitting that you are 사이나쁘다 with someone can sometimes feel like a confession of failure in social navigation. However, it is also used objectively by third parties to describe observed tension. For example, a manager might observe that two employees are on bad terms and try to mediate. It is a versatile phrase that scales from mild coldness to intense enmity. You will hear it frequently in K-dramas to describe the 'enemies-to-lovers' trope before the romance begins, or the bitter rivalry between second-generation chaebol heirs.

그 두 회사는 경쟁 때문에 사이가 아주 나쁩니다. (Those two companies are on very bad terms due to competition.)

Furthermore, the phrase is often modified by adverbs to show the degree of bad blood. Adding 매우 (very), 무척 (extremely), or 별로 (not particularly, used with a negative) allows for precise descriptions of social friction. It is important to note that 사이나쁘다 describes the *state* of the relationship, not necessarily a specific action like 'fighting' (싸우다). You can be on bad terms without ever raising your voice, simply by ignoring one another or harboring silent resentment.

Using 사이나쁘다 correctly requires understanding how to link the people involved in the relationship. The most common sentence structure involves using the particle -와/과 (with) or -하고 (with) to connect the two subjects, followed by the phrase 사이가 나쁘다. Alternatively, you can list the subjects using the plural marker -들은 or -끼리 to indicate a group dynamic.

The 'A and B' Pattern: [Person A]와/과 [Person B]는 사이가 나쁘다. (Person A and Person B are on bad terms.) This is the standard way to describe a mutual state of discord.
The 'With' Pattern: 저는 제 이웃과 사이가 나빠요. (I am on bad terms with my neighbor.) This places the focus on the speaker's perspective of the relationship.

부모님과 사이가 나빠지면 정말 힘들어요. (It is really hard when your relationship with your parents turns bad.)

When conjugating 사이나쁘다, remember that it behaves like a standard Korean adjective ending in -다. In polite conversation, you will use 나빠요 (present), 나빴어요 (past), or 나쁠 거예요 (future). For formal situations, use 나쁩니다. A very common variation is 나빠지다, which means 'to become bad'. This is used to describe a deteriorating situation where a previously good or neutral relationship has soured.

You can also use this phrase as a noun modifier to describe a specific type of relationship. By changing 나쁘다 to 나쁜, you can say 사이가 나쁜 사람들 (people who are on bad terms). This is useful for storytelling or providing context about a group. For example, '사이가 나쁜 형제들이 드디어 화해했습니다' (The brothers who were on bad terms finally reconciled). This flexibility allows you to integrate the concept into complex sentences involving time markers like '오랫동안' (for a long time) or reason markers like '-어서/아서' (because).

그들은 사이가 나빠서 같이 밥을 안 먹어요. (They are on bad terms, so they don't eat together.)

In daily life in Korea, 사이나쁘다 is a staple of social commentary. You will hear it most frequently in private conversations when people are gossiping or sharing concerns about their social circles. Because Korean society is deeply networked, knowing who is on bad terms with whom is a crucial part of nunchi (social sensing). If you know that 'Minjun and Jiho are on bad terms', you will avoid inviting them to the same dinner party or seating them next to each other.

In the Workplace: Colleagues might whisper, "김 대리님하고 이 과장님, 요즘 사이가 좀 나쁜 것 같아요." (It seems like Assistant Manager Kim and Manager Lee are on bad terms lately.) This often implies a professional conflict or a clash of personalities.
In Family Dramas: A mother might complain about her children: "우리 애들은 어릴 때부터 사이가 나빴어요." (My kids have been on bad terms since they were young.)

"너희 둘, 무슨 일 있어? 요즘 사이가 나빠 보여." (Is something going on between you two? You look like you're on bad terms lately.)

The phrase is also common in news reports regarding international relations or politics. When two political parties cannot agree on a bill, or when two countries have a diplomatic spat, journalists will describe their relationship as 사이가 나쁘다 or use the more formal equivalent 관계가 악화되다 (relationship has worsened). However, in talk shows and interviews, celebrities will use 사이가 나쁘다 to describe their past feuds or misunderstandings with other stars, making it a very humanizing and relatable term.

Lastly, you will encounter this phrase in psychological or counseling contexts. Counselors often ask clients about their relationship with their parents or spouses using this term: "부부 사이가 나빠진 원인이 무엇인가요?" (What is the cause of the relationship between the couple turning bad?). It serves as a neutral, non-judgmental starting point for discussing complex interpersonal issues. Whether it's a casual observation or a serious diagnosis of a conflict, this phrase is the go-to expression for describing human disconnection.

While 사이나쁘다 seems straightforward, English speakers often make nuanced errors when translating their thoughts into Korean. The most common mistake is confusing 'being on bad terms' with 'disliking someone' (싫어하다) or 'fighting' (싸우다). While these concepts are related, they are not interchangeable.

Mistake: Using '싫어하다' instead: If you say "I dislike him," you use '저는 그를 싫어해요.' But if you say "We are on bad terms," you use '우리는 사이가 나빠요.' The latter describes the mutual atmosphere, while the former describes a personal feeling.
Mistake: Forgetting the Particle: Many learners say '사이 나빠요' without the '가'. While understandable in fast speech, it can sound 'broken' or overly informal in many contexts. Including '가' (사이가 나빠요) makes the sentence flow much better.

❌ 저와 친구는 사이를 나빠요.
✅ 저와 친구는 사이가 나빠요.

— Avoid using the object marker '를' with adjectives.

Another frequent error is using 사이나쁘다 to describe a one-sided situation. In English, we might say "I am on bad terms with him," which sounds like a mutual state. However, in Korean, if only one person is angry and the other is oblivious, 사이나쁘다 might feel slightly inaccurate. It usually implies a mutual recognition of the 'bad space' between them. If you are the only one who is upset, it is better to say "I am angry at him" (그에게 화가 났어요).

Finally, learners sometimes use the word 불편하다 (uncomfortable) when they actually mean 사이나쁘다. While 불편하다 describes the *feeling* you have when you are around someone you don't like, 사이나쁘다 describes the *objective state* of the relationship. If you haven't spoken to your sister in years, you are 사이가 나쁘다. If you feel awkward sitting next to her at a wedding, you feel 불편하다.

Depending on the intensity and the context of the relationship, you might want to use words other than 사이나쁘다. Korean has a rich vocabulary for interpersonal dynamics, ranging from casual slang to formal academic terms.

서먹하다 (Seomeok-hada): This means 'to be awkward' or 'to feel like strangers'. It is used when a relationship isn't necessarily 'bad' or hostile, but lacks warmth or familiarity. For example, after a long time apart, friends might feel 서먹하다.
틀어지다 (Teureojida): This literally means 'to be twisted' or 'to go sour'. It is used when a previously good relationship suddenly breaks down due to a specific event. "계획이 틀어지다" (the plan went wrong) vs "사이가 틀어지다" (the relationship went sour).
불화 (Bul-hwa): A formal noun meaning 'discord' or 'disharmony'. You will see this in news headlines like "고부 갈등과 가정 불화" (conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and family discord).

그들은 사소한 오해로 사이가 틀어졌어요. (Their relationship went sour over a minor misunderstanding.)

If you want to express that two people are 'like cats and dogs', you can use the idiom 견원지간 (Gyeon-won-ji-gan), which literally translates to 'the relationship between a dog and a monkey'. This is much stronger than just saying 사이나쁘다 and implies a deep-seated, historical animosity. On the other hand, if you want to be more subtle, you can say 사이가 예전 같지 않다 (the relationship is not like it used to be), which hints at trouble without explicitly labeling it as 'bad'.

Finally, for very formal contexts, you might use 관계가 원만하지 못하다 (the relationship is not smooth/harmonious). This is common in business reports or academic writing to describe friction between organizations or departments. Choosing the right synonym depends entirely on who you are talking to and how much drama you want to convey.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

In old Korean, '사이' was also used to describe time intervals. So being '사이나쁘다' could metaphorically mean the 'timing' or 'space' between two people's hearts is misaligned.

발음 가이드

UK /sa.i.na.p͈ɯ.da/

US /sa.i.nɑ.p͈u.dɑ/

The primary stress is on the first syllable of '나쁘다' (nap).

라임이 맞는 단어

기쁘다 (gippeuda - to be happy) 바쁘다 (bappeuda - to be busy) 아프다 (apeuda - to be sick/hurt) 예쁘다 (yeppeuda - to be pretty) 슬프다 (seulpeuda - to be sad) 고프다 (goppeuda - to be hungry) 가쁘다 (gappeuda - to be out of breath) 미쁘다 (mippeuda - to be trustworthy)

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing 'sai' as 'say'. It should be 'sah-ee'.
Not tensing the 'pp' in 'nappeuda', making it sound like 'nabeuda'.
Dropping the final 'a' sound in casual speech.
Merging 'sai' and 'nappeuda' into one word without a slight pause or distinct boundary.
Mispronouncing the 'eu' sound in 'p͈ɯ' as 'oo'.

난이도

독해 2/5

Easy to recognize in text as it uses basic vocabulary.

쓰기 3/5

Requires correct use of particles like '가' and '와/과'.

말하기 3/5

Natural conjugation and intonation are important.

듣기 2/5

Very common in dramas and daily speech.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

사이 나쁘다 좋다 와/과 하고

다음에 배울 것

틀어지다 서먹하다 화해하다 갈등 중재

고급

견원지간 불화 반목 관계 개선 원수

알아야 할 문법

Subject Marker -가/이

사이가 나빠요.

Comitative Particles -와/과

동생과 사이가 나빠요.

Causal Connector -아서/어서

사이가 나빠서 안 봐요.

Change of State -아/어지다

사이가 나빠졌어요.

Adjective Noun Modifier -(으)ㄴ

사이가 나쁜 사람.

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수준별 예문

우리는 사이가 나빠요.

We are on bad terms.

Simple present tense with the subject marker '가'.

사이가 나빠요?

Are you on bad terms?

Question form using intonation.

동생하고 사이가 나빠요.

I am on bad terms with my younger sibling.

Using '하고' to mean 'with'.

철수와 영희는 사이가 나빠요.

Cheolsu and Younghee are on bad terms.

Using '와' to connect two subjects.

그들은 사이가 나빠요.

They are on bad terms.

Third-person plural subject.

사이가 안 나빠요.

We are not on bad terms.

Negative form using '안'.

언니랑 사이가 나빠요.

I am on bad terms with my older sister.

Using '랑' (informal 'with').

누구랑 사이가 나빠요?

Who are you on bad terms with?

Using the question word '누구'.

사이가 나빠서 안 만나요.

They don't meet because they are on bad terms.

Using '-아서' to show reason.

어제는 사이가 나빴어요.

We were on bad terms yesterday.

Past tense '나빴어요'.

왜 사이가 나빠요?

Why are you on bad terms?

Using the question word '왜'.

친구와 사이가 나빠졌어요.

I became on bad terms with my friend.

Using '-아/어지다' to show change of state.

사이가 나쁜 친구들이에요.

They are friends who are on bad terms.

Noun-modifying form '나쁜'.

사이가 나쁘면 안 돼요.

You shouldn't be on bad terms.

Using '-면 안 되다' (shouldn't).

아빠하고 사이가 나빠졌어요.

I became on bad terms with my dad.

Change of state in the past tense.

사이가 나쁘지만 같이 살아요.

They are on bad terms, but they live together.

Using '-지만' (but).

그 두 나라는 사이가 아주 나빠요.

Those two countries are on very bad terms.

Using the adverb '아주' (very).

사이가 나빠지지 않게 조심하세요.

Be careful not to let the relationship turn bad.

Using '-지 않게' (so that... not).

사이가 나쁜 것 같아요.

It seems like they are on bad terms.

Using '-는 것 같다' (it seems like).

사이가 나빠서 대화를 안 해요.

They don't talk because they are on bad terms.

Causal connection with '-아서'.

오랫동안 사이가 나빴던 형제예요.

They are brothers who were on bad terms for a long time.

Using '-던' to describe a past state.

사이가 나빠도 예의를 지키세요.

Even if you are on bad terms, keep your manners.

Using '-아/어도' (even if).

별로 사이가 나쁘지 않아요.

We aren't on particularly bad terms.

Using '별로' with a negative.

사이가 나빠질까 봐 걱정돼요.

I'm worried the relationship might turn bad.

Using '-을까 봐' (worried that...).

사이가 나쁜 원인이 무엇입니까?

What is the cause of the bad terms?

Formal question form.

사이가 나빠지기 시작한 건 작년부터예요.

It was from last year that the relationship started to turn bad.

Using '-기 시작하다' (start to).

돈 문제로 사이가 나빠지는 경우가 많아요.

There are many cases where relationships turn bad due to money issues.

Using '-는 경우' (cases where).

사이가 나쁘다고 들었어요.

I heard that they are on bad terms.

Indirect quotation '-다고 듣다'.

사이가 나쁜 만큼 서로를 잘 알아요.

They know each other as much as they are on bad terms.

Using '-는 만큼' (as much as).

사이가 나빠질 대로 나빠졌어요.

The relationship has turned as bad as it can get.

Using '-을 대로 -어지다' (to the extreme).

사이가 나쁜데도 같이 일해야 해요.

Even though they are on bad terms, they have to work together.

Using '-는데도' (even though).

사이가 나빠진 지 꽤 오래됐어요.

It's been quite a while since the relationship turned bad.

Using '-(으)ㄴ 지' (since).

고부 갈등으로 인해 사이가 나빠졌습니다.

The relationship soured due to conflict between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Using '-으로 인해' (due to - formal).

사이가 나쁘기로 유명한 두 감독이 만났어요.

Two directors famous for being on bad terms met.

Using '-기로 유명하다' (famous for).

사이가 나빠서 생기는 오해들이 많습니다.

There are many misunderstandings that arise because they are on bad terms.

Noun phrase with '-는 것' implied.

그들은 겉으로는 친해 보이지만 사실 사이가 나빠요.

They look close on the outside, but they are actually on bad terms.

Using '겉으로는... 사실은...' structure.

사이가 나빠질 것을 대비해서 중재자가 필요해요.

A mediator is needed in case the relationship turns bad.

Using '-을 것을 대비해서' (in preparation for).

사이가 나쁜 상태가 지속되면 건강에도 해로워요.

If the state of being on bad terms continues, it is harmful to health.

Using '상태가 지속되다' (state continues).

사이가 나빠진 근본적인 이유를 찾아야 합니다.

We must find the fundamental reason the relationship turned bad.

Using '근본적인 이유' (fundamental reason).

사이가 나쁘다고 해서 무조건 피할 수는 없어요.

Just because you are on bad terms, you can't just avoid them unconditionally.

Using '-다고 해서' (just because).

두 가문의 사이가 나빠진 역사는 수백 년 전으로 거슬러 올라갑니다.

The history of the two families being on bad terms goes back hundreds of years.

Using '거슬러 올라가다' (to go back in time).

사이가 나쁜 관계를 복원하기 위해서는 막대한 노력이 필요합니다.

Immense effort is required to restore a relationship that is on bad terms.

Using '복원하다' (to restore).

사이가 나빠지는 과정에서 발생하는 심리적 기제를 분석해 봅시다.

Let's analyze the psychological mechanisms that occur in the process of a relationship turning bad.

Academic terminology '심리적 기제'.

그들의 사이가 나쁜 것은 공공연한 비밀이었습니다.

It was an open secret that they were on bad terms.

Using '공공연한 비밀' (open secret).

사이가 나빠질 대로 나빠져 이제는 돌이킬 수 없는 지경에 이르렀다.

The relationship has turned so bad that it has reached an irreversible point.

Using '지경에 이르다' (reach a state/point).

사이가 나쁜 두 정치인의 극적인 화해는 큰 파장을 불러일으켰다.

The dramatic reconciliation of the two politicians on bad terms caused a great stir.

Using '파장을 불러일으키다' (cause a stir).

사이가 나쁜 주체들 간의 상호작용은 갈등 이론의 핵심입니다.

The interaction between subjects on bad terms is the core of conflict theory.

Using '상호작용' (interaction).

사이가 나빠진 배경에는 복잡한 이해관계가 얽혀 있습니다.

Complex interests are intertwined in the background of the relationship turning bad.

Using '이해관계가 얽혀 있다' (interests are intertwined).

자주 쓰는 조합

사이가 아주 나쁘다

사이가 나빠지다

사이가 나쁜 형제

고부 사이가 나쁘다

사이가 나쁜 이유

부부 사이가 나쁘다

친구와 사이가 나쁘다

사이가 나쁘기로 유명하다

사이가 나빠질 대로 나빠지다

사이가 나빠 보이다

자주 쓰는 구문

사이가 나빠서 그래요

— It's because they are on bad terms. Used to explain someone's behavior.

그들이 말을 안 하는 건 사이가 나빠서 그래요.

사이가 나쁠 게 뭐 있어요?

— Why would we be on bad terms? Used to dismiss the idea of conflict.

우리가 사이가 나쁠 게 뭐 있어요? 친해요!

사이가 나빠질까 걱정이에요

— I'm worried the relationship will turn bad. Expressing anxiety about a bond.

싸우고 나서 사이가 나빠질까 걱정이에요.

사이가 나쁜 건 아니지만

— It's not that we're on bad terms, but... Used to introduce a nuance.

사이가 나쁜 건 아니지만 자주 만나지는 않아요.

사이가 나빠진 계기

— The turning point/event that made the relationship bad.

사이가 나빠진 계기가 있었나요?

사이가 나쁘기로는 일등이다

— To be the 'best' at being on bad terms (sarcastic).

그 형제는 사이가 나쁘기로는 일등이에요.

사이가 나빠도 할 건 해야지

— Even if we're on bad terms, we must do what needs to be done.

사이가 나빠도 업무 협조는 할 건 해야지.

사이가 나빠지면 끝이다

— If the relationship goes bad, it's over.

연인 사이는 한 번 사이가 나빠지면 끝이다.

사이가 나쁘게 지내지 마라

— Don't be on bad terms with each other (advice).

친구랑 사이가 나쁘게 지내지 마라.

사이가 나쁜 채로

— In a state of being on bad terms.

사이가 나쁜 채로 졸업했어요.

자주 혼동되는 단어

사이나쁘다 vs 싫어하다

To dislike (personal feeling) vs. to be on bad terms (relational state).

사이나쁘다 vs 싸우다

To fight (action) vs. to be on bad terms (ongoing state).

사이나쁘다 vs 서먹하다

To be awkward (feeling) vs. to be on bad terms (negative state).

관용어 및 표현

"견원지간"

— Like dogs and monkeys; extreme animosity.

그 두 팀은 견원지간이에요.

Literary/Formal

"물과 기름"

— Like water and oil; people who don't mix well.

우리 둘은 물과 기름처럼 사이가 나빠요.

Neutral

"원수 집안"

— Enemy families; generational feud.

그들은 원수 집안이라 사이가 나쁠 수밖에 없어요.

Dramatic

"가까이하기엔 너무 먼 당신"

— Someone who is too far away (emotionally/socially) to be close to.

그 상사는 저에게 가까이하기엔 너무 먼 당신이에요.

Humorous/Pop culture

"등 돌린 사이"

— A relationship where people have turned their backs on each other.

이제 그들은 완전히 등 돌린 사이가 되었어요.

Neutral

"빙판 위를 걷는 사이"

— A relationship like walking on ice; very tense and precarious.

요즘 우리 부부 사이는 빙판 위를 걷는 것 같아요.

Metaphorical

"남보다 못한 사이"

— A relationship worse than strangers; usually used for family.

우리는 이제 남보다 못한 사이가 됐어요.

Emotional

"칼로 물 베기"

— Like cutting water with a knife; used for couples' fights that don't last.

부부 싸움은 칼로 물 베기라 금방 좋아질 거예요.

Proverb

"앙숙"

— Enemies who hate each other deeply.

그 둘은 학교 다닐 때부터 유명한 앙숙이었어요.

Informal

"가시 돋친 사이"

— A relationship with thorns; prickly and hurtful.

그들은 만나기만 하면 가시 돋친 말을 주고받는 사이예요.

Metaphorical

혼동하기 쉬운

사이나쁘다 vs 나쁘다

Learners might use it alone.

'나쁘다' means 'bad' in general. '사이가 나쁘다' specifically means the relationship is bad.

날씨가 나빠요 (Weather is bad) vs. 사이가 나빠요 (Relationship is bad).

사이나쁘다 vs 안 좋다

They are almost the same.

'안 좋다' is slightly softer and more common in casual conversation.

사이가 안 좋아요.

사이나쁘다 vs 불편하다

Being on bad terms makes you feel uncomfortable.

'불편하다' is about the feeling of discomfort. '사이가 나쁘다' is the reason for it.

그와 사이가 나빠서 마음이 불편해요.

사이나쁘다 vs 어색하다

Both involve negative social feelings.

'어색하다' is for awkwardness (like meeting a stranger). '사이가 나쁘다' is for conflict.

처음 만나서 어색해요 vs. 싸워서 사이가 나빠요.

사이나쁘다 vs 멀어지다

Both involve a gap.

'멀어지다' means to drift apart (distance). '사이가 나쁘다' means to be on bad terms (quality).

바빠서 친구와 멀어졌어요.

문장 패턴

N1하고 N2는 사이가 나빠요.

민수하고 지수는 사이가 나빠요.

N와/과 사이가 나빠졌어요.

친구와 사이가 나빠졌어요.

사이가 나빠서 V-지 않아요.

사이가 나빠서 말하지 않아요.

사이가 나쁜 N

사이가 나쁜 이웃.

N 때문에 사이가 나빠지다

오해 때문에 사이가 나빠지다.

사이가 나쁘다고 하다

그들은 사이가 나쁘다고 해요.

사이가 나쁜 것을 해결하다

사이가 나쁜 것을 해결하기 위해 노력해요.

사이가 나빠진 배경에는 N이/가 있다

사이가 나빠진 배경에는 시기심이 있다.

어휘 가족

명사

사이 (relationship/gap)

불화 (discord)

갈등 (conflict)

동사

나빠지다 (to become bad)

싸우다 (to fight)

다투다 (to quarrel)

형용사

나쁘다 (bad)

좋다 (good)

안 좋다 (not good)

사용법

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written Korean.

자주 하는 실수

사이를 나빠요 → 사이가 나빠요
You cannot use the object marker '를' with the adjective '나쁘다'.
우리는 사이가 나빠요 (when only you are mad) → 저는 그에게 화가 났어요
'사이가 나쁘다' implies a mutual state of discord.
사이가 나쁘다 (for a broken object) → 고장 났다
'사이가 나쁘다' is only for relationships, not physical things.
사이가 나쁘다 (for a bad smell) → 냄새가 나쁘다/고약하다
Don't confuse the 'space' (사이) with other things that can be 'bad'.
사이가 나쁘다 (for being mean) → 성격이 나쁘다 / 못됐다
'사이가 나쁘다' is about the relationship, not the person's character.

팁

Check the Subject Marker

Always use '가' after '사이'. '사이가 나쁘다' is the standard form.

Softening the Blow

Use '좀' (a bit) or '안 좋다' (not good) to sound less aggressive when talking about real people.

Learn the Pair

Always learn '사이가 나쁘다' and '사이가 좋다' together as a set.

Context Matters

Use '나빠지다' if the relationship was good before but changed.

Descriptive Modifiers

Use '사이가 나쁜' to describe people in your stories.

Listen for Particles

Notice if the speaker uses '와/과' or '하고' to identify who is involved.

Intonation

Use a falling intonation at the end to sound more natural when stating a fact.

Visualizing Space

Imagine '사이' as a bridge. If the bridge is broken, it is '나쁘다'.

Don't Overuse

Don't use it for minor disagreements; it usually implies something more lasting.

Formal Situations

In very formal settings, use '관계가 원만하지 못하다' instead.

암기하기

기억법

Imagine a 'Sigh' (사이) of disappointment because the relationship is 'Nap-bad' (나쁘다). You sigh whenever you think of how bad the relationship is.

시각적 연상

Picture two people standing on opposite sides of a giant, dark crack in the earth. The crack is the '사이' and it looks '나쁘다' (ugly/bad).

Word Web

Relationship Conflict Discord Friction Bad blood Enemies Tension Hostility

챌린지

Try to describe three pairs of characters from a movie who are '사이가 나빠요' and explain why using '사이가 나빠서...'.

어원

The word is a combination of the native Korean noun '사이' (sai) and the adjective '나쁘다' (nappeuda). '사이' originally referred to the physical space between two objects, which later evolved to represent the social distance or relationship between people.

원래 의미: The bad space between us.

Koreanic (Native Korean)

문화적 맥락

Be careful when using this to describe someone's family, as it can be a very sensitive topic in Korean culture.

English speakers might use 'we don't get along' or 'we're not talking,' but '사이가 나쁘다' feels slightly more descriptive of the 'space' between people.

The movie 'The Front Line' (고지전) depicting the bad terms between North and South. K-Drama 'The Penthouse' where almost everyone is on bad terms. The rivalry between historical figures like Jeong Do-jeon and Yi Bang-won.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Family Conflict

부모님과 사이가 나빠요
형이랑 사이가 나빠졌어요
가족 사이가 나쁘면 힘들어요
사이가 나쁜 형제

Workplace Tension

상사와 사이가 나빠요
동료와 사이가 나빠지면 불편해요
부서 사이가 나빠요
사이가 나쁜 팀원들

Romantic Breakups

헤어지고 사이가 나빠졌어요
사이가 나빠서 헤어졌어요
전 남친과 사이가 나빠요
사이가 나쁜 연인

School Life

짝꿍이랑 사이가 나빠요
선생님과 사이가 나빠졌어요
사이가 나쁜 친구들
사이가 나빠서 안 놀아요

International News

두 나라 사이가 나빠요
외교적으로 사이가 나쁜 국가
사이가 나빠진 배경
사이가 나빠질까 봐 우려돼요

대화 시작하기

"요즘 친구랑 사이가 어때요? 혹시 사이가 나빠진 건 아니죠?"

"드라마에서 사이가 나쁜 두 주인공이 결국 사랑에 빠지는 걸 좋아하세요?"

"사이가 나쁜 사람과 같이 일해야 한다면 어떻게 하시겠어요?"

"형제나 자매와 사이가 나빴던 적이 있나요?"

"사이가 나빠진 친구와 화해하는 가장 좋은 방법이 뭐라고 생각하세요?"

일기 주제

내가 누군가와 사이가 나빠졌던 경험에 대해 써보세요. 왜 그렇게 됐나요?

사이가 나쁜 사람을 대할 때 나의 태도는 어떠한가요?

사이가 나빠진 관계를 회복하기 위해 노력해 본 적이 있나요?

사이가 나쁜 것과 그냥 안 친한 것의 차이는 무엇이라고 생각하시나요?

세상에서 사이가 가장 나쁜 두 사람(또는 그룹)에 대해 설명해 보세요.

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

No, it is strictly for relationships between people, groups, or countries. You cannot say two cars are '사이가 나쁘다'.

It is a direct statement. While not 'rude', it is very blunt. In polite company, people often use '사이가 좀 안 좋아요' (the relationship isn't very good) to be more subtle.

'싸우다' is the act of fighting. '사이가 나쁘다' is the state of the relationship after or during the conflict. You can be on bad terms without fighting actively.

You say '우리는 사이가 나빠요' (Polite) or '우리 사이 나빠' (Informal).

Yes, you can describe two companies or departments as being on bad terms, though '관계가 좋지 않다' is more professional.

People might say '사이가 꽝이다' or '완전 틀어졌다' to express the same thing more colorfully.

No. '나쁘다' is an adjective. You must use the subject marker '가' (사이가 나쁘다).

You say '사이가 나빠지고 싶지 않아요'.

The direct opposite is '사이가 좋다' (to be on good terms).

Yes, it is very common in news to describe countries with poor diplomatic relations.

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