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A2 verb 9 min read

자책하다

jachaekhada
Examples 자책하다 in 30 Seconds
Explanation 자책하다 in your Level:
At the A1 level, '자책하다' might be a bit advanced, but you can understand it as 'feeling very, very sorry to yourself.' When you make a big mistake, like breaking a friend's toy, you feel bad inside. That 'bad feeling' directed at yourself is what this word describes. You might hear people say '너무 자책하지 마세요,' which just means 'Don't feel too bad' or 'Don't blame yourself.' Think of it as a stronger version of '미안하다' (to be sorry) but the 'sorry' is for yourself. You don't need to use this word often yet, but knowing '자책하지 마세요' is very helpful for being a kind friend. It shows you care about how the other person is feeling inside. In simple Korean, you can think of it as '내가 잘못했다고 생각하고 슬퍼하다' (To think I did wrong and feel sad).
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At the A2 level, you are starting to learn more specific emotion words. '자책하다' is an important verb for describing feelings of guilt. It comes from '자' (self) and '책' (blame). So, it literally means 'to blame yourself.' You use it when you think a problem happened because of you. For example, '시험을 못 봐서 자책했어요' (I blamed myself because I didn't do well on the exam). It’s common to use it with the ending '-지 마세요' (please don't). If your friend is crying because they lost their wallet, you can say, '자책하지 마세요. 누구나 실수할 수 있어요' (Don't blame yourself. Anyone can make a mistake). This word helps you move beyond basic 'sad' or 'happy' descriptions and talk about more complex human feelings. It is a 'hada' verb, so it follows all the standard conjugation rules you already know.
By B1, you should be able to distinguish between '자책하다' and other similar words like '후회하다' (to regret). While '후회하다' is about wishing you could change the past, '자책하다' is about the emotional weight of holding yourself responsible. You will see this word often in intermediate reading passages about psychology or in K-drama scripts. A common pattern is '자책감에 빠지다' (to fall into a sense of self-blame). This suggests a deeper, more lasting feeling than a simple apology. You can also use it to describe others: '그는 친구의 사고에 대해 깊이 자책하고 있다' (He is deeply blaming himself for his friend's accident). Understanding the Hanja (自責) helps you remember that this is an internal action. It is often used to show a character's conscience or their struggle with their own standards.
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At the B2 level, you should use '자책하다' to discuss moral dilemmas and complex emotional states. It is often used in more formal contexts, such as essays or news reports. You might encounter the phrase '자책의 목소리' (voice of self-reproach) in an article about a community reflecting on a social issue. At this level, you should also be familiar with the noun form '자책감' and how it functions as a subject or object in a sentence. For example, '자책감이 그를 괴롭혔다' (The sense of self-blame tormented him). You can use it to talk about professional responsibility, such as a leader '자책하며' (blaming themselves) for a team's failure. It is also useful for expressing the nuance of 'taking the fall' or 'internalizing blame' in a way that '탓하다' (to blame) cannot, as '탓하다' is often perceived as more accusatory and external.
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At the C1 level, you should understand the philosophical and psychological depth of '자책하다.' It is a key term in discussions about 'Han' (Korean collective sorrow) and the high moral expectations placed on individuals within a Confucian-influenced society. You can use it in literary analysis to describe a character's internal conflict or in professional apologies to convey a deep sense of '책임 통감' (keen sense of responsibility). You should also be aware of how it contrasts with '자괴감' (self-loathing) and '수치심' (shame). '자책' is often seen as a more 'active' form of guilt where the person is constantly re-evaluating their actions. Advanced grammar patterns like '자책할 수밖에 없다' (cannot help but blame oneself) or '자책한들 무엇하겠는가' (what's the use of blaming oneself) are appropriate at this level to express resignation or intense emotion.
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At the C2 level, you master the subtle nuances of '자책하다' in high-level discourse. You can use it to discuss the social psychology of self-reproach in modern Korean society, perhaps in the context of academic pressure or corporate culture. You understand its role in '자아성찰' (self-reflection) and how it can be both a catalyst for ethical growth and a symptom of pathological guilt. You are capable of using it in poetic or highly formal writing, such as '자책의 굴레' (the shackles of self-reproach). You can also critique the use of the word in public discourse, recognizing when public figures use '자책' as a rhetorical device to garner sympathy ('자책하는 척하다'). Your understanding extends to the historical usage of the root '책' in classical texts and how the modern concept of 'self-blame' has evolved alongside Western psychological influences.
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Examples

자책하다 in 30 Seconds

  • To blame oneself or feel deep guilt for a mistake or failure.
  • Commonly used in emotional contexts and supportive phrases like 'Don't blame yourself.'
  • Derived from Hanja meaning 'Self' and 'Blame,' emphasizing internal responsibility.
  • Distinct from simple regret; it focuses on personal fault and moral weight.

The Korean verb 자책하다 (jachaek-hada) is a deeply emotive word that translates to 'to blame oneself' or 'to engage in self-reproach.' At its core, it describes an internal process where an individual holds themselves responsible for a negative outcome, mistake, or perceived failure. Unlike simple regret, which focuses on the event, 자책하다 focuses on the self as the cause of the pain. In Korean society, where interpersonal harmony and collective responsibility are highly valued, this word often carries a heavy weight of moral introspection. People use it when they feel they have let others down or failed to meet their own ethical standards. It is not just about saying 'I made a mistake,' but rather 'I am the reason things went wrong, and I feel the burden of that.' This word is frequently heard in intimate conversations, psychological contexts, and dramatic narratives where characters grapple with their past actions.

Etymological Root
The word is composed of the Hanja 自 (자) meaning 'self' and 責 (책) meaning 'to blame' or 'responsibility.' Combined with the active verb ending 하다, it literally means 'to perform the act of blaming oneself.'

그는 사고가 난 것이 자기 때문이라며 밤새도록 자책했다.

Translation: He blamed himself all night, saying the accident was his fault.

In daily life, you might hear a friend say, '너무 자책하지 마세요' (Don't blame yourself too much) after you apologize for a minor error. This phrase acts as a comfort, acknowledging that while the person feels responsible, they should not let that guilt consume them. The word is often paired with adverbs like '깊이' (deeply) or '심하게' (severely) to indicate the intensity of the self-reproach. It is distinct from '후회하다' (to regret), which is a broader term for wishing an event hadn't happened. 자책하다 is specifically about the 'blame' aspect of that regret. In literature, it is used to describe the '자책감' (sense of self-blame) that drives a character's redemption arc or their tragic downfall. Understanding this word requires an appreciation for the Korean concept of 'Che-myeon' (face/honor); when one loses face or causes others to lose face, 자책하다 is the natural internal response.

Social Context
In Korean culture, admitting one's fault through self-reproach is often seen as a sign of maturity and conscientiousness, although excessive self-blame is discouraged as it hinders progress.

과거의 실수에 대해 자책하는 것은 성장에 도움이 되지 않습니다.

Translation: Blaming yourself for past mistakes does not help with growth.

Using 자책하다 correctly involves understanding its grammatical placement and the particles that accompany it. Since it is a verb that describes an internal emotional state or action, it is frequently used with the particle -고 to indicate a continuing state or -어서/아사 to show cause and effect. For instance, '실수해서 자책했어요' (I blamed myself because I made a mistake). It is a transitive-like verb in meaning but usually functions without a direct object in the way 'blame' does in English; you don't 'blame yourself' (자기를 자책하다) as often as you simply 'self-blame' (자책하다), because the 'self' is already built into the word '자' (自).

Grammatical Pattern: ~지 마세요
This is the 'Don't do' pattern. '자책하지 마세요' is the most frequent usage in supportive dialogues.

이미 일어난 일이니까 너무 자책하지 마세요.

Translation: It already happened, so please don't blame yourself too much.

When you want to describe the feeling as a noun, you use 자책감 (jachaek-gam), where 'gam' means feeling or sense. This is used with the verb '느끼다' (to feel). For example, '나는 깊은 자책감을 느꼈다' (I felt a deep sense of self-reproach). This is arguably more common in written Korean or formal speeches. In spoken Korean, the verb form '자책하다' is preferred for its directness. Another important aspect is the level of formality. In a formal setting, such as a news report or a formal apology, you would use '자책하고 있습니다' (I am blaming myself). In an informal setting with friends, '자책하지 마' (Don't blame yourself) is appropriate.

Common Adverbs
자책하다 is often modified by: 끊임없이 (constantly), 홀로 (alone), 공개적으로 (publicly), or 남몰래 (secretly).

그녀는 자신의 선택을 자책하며 눈물을 흘렸다.

Translation: She shed tears while blaming herself for her choice.

You will encounter 자책하다 across various media and real-life scenarios in Korea. It is a staple in Korean dramas (K-Dramas), particularly in medical, legal, or family dramas where high stakes lead to inevitable mistakes. A doctor might '자책하다' after a failed surgery, or a parent might '자책하다' for their child's difficulties. In these contexts, the word emphasizes the character's humanity and their deep sense of duty. It is also a key term in psychological counseling and self-help literature in Korea. Therapists often talk about the '자책하는 습관' (the habit of self-blaming) and how to overcome it. In news reports involving public figures who have committed errors, you might hear that the individual is '자책하며 자숙 중이다' (blaming themselves and in a period of self-reflection/seclusion).

K-Drama Scenario
In a scene where a protagonist loses a trial, their mentor might say: '네 잘못이 아니야. 그만 자책해.' (It's not your fault. Stop blaming yourself.)

영화 주인공은 동료의 죽음을 자신의 탓으로 돌리며 자책하는 모습을 보였다.

Translation: The movie protagonist showed a side of himself blaming himself, attributing his colleague's death to his own fault.

In social media or blogs, people often write about their '자책' when they feel they haven't lived up to their productivity goals. You might see posts titled '자책하지 않는 법' (How not to blame yourself). Furthermore, in religious contexts, particularly in Korean Christianity or Buddhism, '자책' is sometimes discussed in the context of repentance or confession, though it is usually balanced with the concept of forgiveness. If you are watching a variety show and a member fails a mission, they might jokingly '자책하다' by hitting their head or making a sad face, though in this case, the nuance is lighter and more performative.

News & Media
Headline: '감독, 경기 패배 후 선수들 대신 본인을 자책' (Coach blames himself instead of players after match loss).

그는 인터뷰에서 자신의 무능함을 자책하며 눈시울을 붉혔다.

Translation: In the interview, he blamed himself for his incompetence and his eyes welled up.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with 자책하다 is redundant phrasing. Because the '자' (自) already means 'self,' saying '나를 자책하다' (blaming me-self) is technically redundant, though sometimes used for emphasis. Usually, just '자책하다' is sufficient. Another mistake is confusing '자책하다' with '후회하다' (to regret). While they are related, '후회하다' focuses on the action ('I regret buying this'), whereas '자책하다' focuses on the moral or personal responsibility ('I blame myself for being so foolish as to buy this'). You wouldn't '자책하다' about a bad meal you ordered, but you would '자책하다' if you forgot your mother's birthday.

Mistake: Confusing with '탓하다'
'탓하다' means to blame someone/something. You must specify who. '자책하다' is specifically for the self. Don't say '친구를 자책하다' to mean you blame your friend.

Incorrect: 친구를 자책하면 안 돼요. (Wrong)
Correct: 친구를 탓하면 안 돼요. (Right)

Note: Use '탓하다' for others, '자책하다' for yourself.

Learners also sometimes struggle with the level of intensity. '자책하다' is a heavy word. If you just feel a bit sorry, '미안하다' or '죄송하다' is better. Using '자책하다' for a very minor inconvenience might sound overly dramatic or even insincere. For example, if you are five minutes late for coffee, saying '자책하고 있어요' might make your friend uncomfortable because it implies a level of self-flagellation that the situation doesn't warrant. Reserve '자책하다' for situations involving significant guilt, moral failure, or life-altering mistakes.

Mistake: Particle Errors
Learners often try to use the object particle '를/을' with 자책하다. While '자신을 자책하다' is acceptable, '자책을 하다' is more common when turning it into a noun-verb phrase.

그는 스스로를 자책하며 괴로워했다.

Translation: He suffered while blaming himself (using '스스로' for emphasis).

To truly master 자책하다, you should understand how it compares to its synonyms and related terms. Korean has a rich vocabulary for emotions, and choosing the right word depends on the specific nuance of the situation. The most common related words are 후회하다 (to regret), 반성하다 (to reflect/introspect), and 자괴감을 느끼다 (to feel a sense of shame/self-loathing). While they all deal with looking back at one's actions negatively, their focus and intensity differ significantly.

자책하다 vs. 후회하다
후회하다 is 'I wish I hadn't done that.' 자책하다 is 'I am a bad person for doing that.' The former is about the choice; the latter is about the person.
자책하다 vs. 반성하다
반성하다 is more constructive. It implies looking back to learn and improve. 자책하다 is more emotional and often destructive, focusing on the pain of the blame.

그는 잘못을 반성하고 다시는 그러지 않기로 했다.

Translation: He reflected on his mistake and decided not to do it again (Constructive).

Another powerful alternative is 자괴감 (jagoegam). This is often translated as 'a sense of shame' or 'self-loathing.' It is stronger than 자책. While 자책 is about blaming yourself for a specific action, 자괴감 is often about feeling worthless as a whole. You might feel 자책 after failing a test, but you might feel 자괴감 if you feel you are fundamentally incapable of succeeding. In professional settings, 책임을 통감하다 (to feel a keen sense of responsibility) is a formal way to express self-blame without the raw emotional weight of 자책하다. This is often used by CEOs or politicians during public apologies.

Antonyms
남 탓하다 (to blame others), 정당화하다 (to justify), 뻔뻔하다 (to be shameless/brazen).

그는 자신의 실수를 정당화하며 남을 탓했다.

Translation: He blamed others while justifying his own mistakes (Antonym usage).
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Examples by Level

1

너무 자책하지 마세요.

Don't blame yourself too much.

Uses the prohibitive form -지 마세요.

2

저는 제 실수를 자책했어요.

I blamed myself for my mistake.

Past tense of 자책하다.

3

자책하지 마, 괜찮아.

Don't blame yourself, it's okay.

Informal (Banmal) version of the prohibitive.

4

그는 혼자 자책하고 있어요.

He is blaming himself alone.

-고 있다 indicates a continuous action.

5

자책하는 마음이 슬퍼요.

The heart that blames itself is sad.

Noun-modifying form -는.

6

엄마, 자책하지 마세요.

Mom, don't blame yourself.

Honorific usage.

7

왜 자책해요?

Why do you blame yourself?

Simple present question.

8

자책하면 마음이 아파요.

If you blame yourself, your heart hurts.

Conditional -면.

1

시험에 떨어져서 자책했어요.

I blamed myself because I failed the exam.

Cause and effect with -어서.

2

친구에게 화를 내고 자책했어요.

I got angry at my friend and then blamed myself.

Sequential action with -고.

3

자책할 필요 없어요. 실수니까요.

There's no need to blame yourself. It's just a mistake.

-ㄹ 필요 없다 (no need to).

4

그녀는 항상 자신을 자책해요.

She always blames herself.

Adverb '항상' (always).

5

자책하기보다는 다시 시작하세요.

Rather than blaming yourself, start again.

-기보다는 (rather than).

6

우리는 그를 자책하지 않기로 했어요.

We decided not to blame him (or he decided not to blame himself).

-기로 하다 (decided to).

7

자책하는 대신 운동을 하세요.

Instead of blaming yourself, do some exercise.

-는 대신 (instead of).

8

너무 자책하면 건강에 안 좋아요.

If you blame yourself too much, it's not good for your health.

Conditional -면 and health context.

1

사고의 원인이 본인에게 있다고 자책했다.

He blamed himself, saying the cause of the accident lay with him.

Indirect quotation style -고.

2

깊은 자책감에 빠져 잠을 못 잤다.

I couldn't sleep because I fell into a deep sense of self-blame.

Noun form '자책감' (sense of self-blame).

3

자책하는 마음을 버리고 앞을 보세요.

Throw away the self-blaming heart and look forward.

Imperative -세요 with a metaphorical object.

4

그는 자신의 무능함을 자책하며 울었다.

He cried while blaming himself for his incompetence.

-며 (while doing).

5

자책할 시간에 해결책을 찾읍시다.

Let's find a solution instead of spending time blaming ourselves.

-ㄹ 시간에 (at the time of/instead of time spent on).

6

남을 탓하기보다 먼저 자책하는 태도가 중요하다.

An attitude of blaming oneself first rather than others is important.

Comparative structure.

7

그녀는 과거의 선택을 끊임없이 자책한다.

She constantly blames herself for her past choices.

Adverb '끊임없이' (constantly).

8

자책하는 것은 아무런 도움이 되지 않는다.

Blaming oneself is of no help at all.

-는 것은 (nominalization).

1

프로젝트 실패에 대해 팀장으로서 자책하고 있다.

As the team leader, I am blaming myself for the project failure.

-로서 (as a/in the capacity of).

2

그는 자신의 부주의가 초래한 결과를 자책했다.

He blamed himself for the consequences brought about by his carelessness.

Relative clause '초래한 결과'.

3

자책감은 때로 우리를 더 나은 사람으로 만든다.

Self-blame sometimes makes us better people.

-로 만들다 (to make into).

4

더 이상 자책하지 말고 훌훌 털어버리세요.

Don't blame yourself anymore; just shake it off.

Idiomatic expression '훌훌 털어버리다'.

5

부모님은 자식의 방황을 본인들의 탓이라며 자책하셨다.

The parents blamed themselves, saying their child's wandering was their fault.

Honorific -시- with indirect quote.

6

자책하는 목소리가 여기저기서 들려왔다.

Voices of self-reproach were heard from here and there.

Passive-like expression '들려왔다'.

7

성공한 사람들도 때로는 심하게 자책하곤 한다.

Even successful people sometimes blame themselves severely.

-곤 하다 (habitual action).

8

그녀의 일기는 온통 자책하는 내용으로 가득했다.

Her diary was full of self-blaming content.

-로 가득하다 (to be full of).

1

그는 도덕적 결함에 대해 뼈저리게 자책했다.

He blamed himself poignantly for his moral flaws.

Adverb '뼈저리게' (to the bone/poignantly).

2

자책의 늪에서 벗어나기 위해 부단히 노력했다.

He tried incessantly to escape from the swamp of self-reproach.

Metaphor '자책의 늪' (swamp of self-blame).

3

지나친 자책은 자존감을 갉아먹는 원인이 된다.

Excessive self-blame becomes a cause that eats away at self-esteem.

Metaphorical verb '갉아먹다' (to gnaw/erode).

4

그는 공인으로서 책임을 통감하며 자책의 뜻을 밝혔다.

As a public figure, he felt a keen sense of responsibility and expressed self-reproach.

Formal expression '뜻을 밝히다'.

5

자책할 수밖에 없는 상황이었지만 그는 담담했다.

It was a situation where he couldn't help but blame himself, but he was calm.

-ㄹ 수밖에 없다 (cannot help but).

6

인간은 자책을 통해 윤리적 성찰을 이룩하기도 한다.

Humans sometimes achieve ethical reflection through self-reproach.

Academic tone.

7

자책하기에는 이미 너무 많은 시간이 흘러버렸다.

Too much time has already passed to be blaming oneself now.

-기에는 (for doing/to do).

8

그의 내면은 자책과 원망이 뒤섞인 복잡한 상태였다.

His inner state was a complex mix of self-blame and resentment.

Noun phrase '뒤섞인 복잡한 상태'.

1

자책은 때로 비겁한 자기방어의 일환일 수도 있다.

Self-reproach can sometimes be a part of cowardly self-defense.

Philosophical assertion.

2

그는 실존적 고뇌와 자책 사이에서 갈등했다.

He conflicted between existential agony and self-reproach.

High-level vocabulary '실존적 고뇌'.

3

자책의 정서는 한국 문학의 비극적 미학을 구성한다.

The sentiment of self-reproach constitutes the tragic aesthetics of Korean literature.

Literary criticism tone.

4

끊임없는 자책은 영혼을 황폐화시키는 독과 같다.

Incessant self-blame is like a poison that devastates the soul.

Simile with '독과 같다'.

5

그는 자책의 굴레를 벗어던지고 새로운 삶을 천명했다.

He cast off the shackles of self-reproach and proclaimed a new life.

Idiomatic '굴레를 벗어던지다'.

6

자책이라는 감정의 소용돌이 속에서 그는 길을 잃었다.

He lost his way in the vortex of the emotion called self-blame.

Metaphorical '소용돌이'.

7

공동체의 붕괴를 목도하며 그는 깊은 자책에 침잠했다.

Witnessing the collapse of the community, he sank into deep self-reproach.

Advanced verb '침잠하다' (to sink/be immersed).

8

자책이 성찰로 승화될 때 비로소 진정한 용서가 시작된다.

True forgiveness begins only when self-reproach is sublimated into reflection.

Complex conditional '승화될 때 비로소'.

Common Collocations

깊이 자책하다
끊임없이 자책하다
혼자 자책하다
자책하며 울다
자책할 필요 없다
심하게 자책하다
속으로 자책하다
자신을 자책하다
뼈저리게 자책하다
공개적으로 자책하다

Common Phrases

너무 자책하지 마세요

— Don't blame yourself too much. Used to comfort someone in distress.

너무 자책하지 마세요. 누구에게나 일어날 수 있는 일이에요.

자책감에 시달리다

— To suffer from a sense of self-blame. Describes a lingering mental pain.

그는 오랫동안 자책감에 시달려 왔다.

자책의 늪

— The swamp of self-reproach. A metaphor for being stuck in guilt.

한번 자책의 늪에 빠지면 나오기 힘들다.

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