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A2 noun #2,000 most common

~아/어 하다

~a/eo hada

Often Confused With

~아/어 하다 vs 감정 동사 (emotion verbs)

Unlike emotion adjectives (like 기쁘다, 슬프다), emotion verbs (like 기뻐하다, 슬퍼하다) are formed with '~아/어 하다' and describe someone else's observable feelings.

~아/어 하다 vs 직접적인 감정 표현 (direct emotional expression)

When you want to express *your own* feelings, you usually use the base adjective (e.g., 저는 기뻐요). When describing *someone else's* observable feelings, you use the '~아/어 하다' pattern (e.g., 그가 기뻐해요).

~아/어 하다 vs 간접 화법 (indirect speech)

While '~아/어 하다' describes outward display, indirect speech reports what someone said or thought. Don't confuse describing an action/expression with reporting a statement.

Easily Confused

~아/어 하다 vs 기쁘다

Often confused with '~아/어 하다' because both relate to feelings. However, '기쁘다' directly means 'to be happy' and describes one's own internal feeling, while '~아/어 하다' describes someone else's outward expression of a feeling.

'기쁘다' is an adjective used for the speaker's feelings. '기뻐하다' uses '~아/어 하다' and describes someone else appearing happy.

나는 친구를 만나서 기뻤어요. (I was happy to meet my friend.) 제 친구가 선물을 받고 기뻐했어요. (My friend was happy to receive the gift. - describes their outward display of happiness)

~아/어 하다 vs 슬프다

Similar to '기쁘다', '슬프다' directly means 'to be sad' for oneself. Learners might incorrectly use it to describe others' sadness.

'슬프다' is an adjective for the speaker's sadness. '슬퍼하다' uses '~아/어 하다' and describes someone else appearing sad.

저는 영화를 보고 슬펐어요. (I was sad after watching the movie.) 아이들이 강아지를 잃고 슬퍼했어요. (The children were sad after losing their puppy. - describes their outward display of sadness)

~아/어 하다 vs 좋다

Many learners confuse '좋다' (to be good/likeable) with '좋아하다' (to like something/someone). The latter uses '~아/어 하다' for the object of liking.

'좋다' is an adjective describing something as good. '좋아하다' is a verb meaning 'to like' and describes someone's preference, often involving the '~아/어 하다' pattern.

이 책이 참 좋아요. (This book is really good.) 저는 한국 음식을 좋아해요. (I like Korean food.)

~아/어 하다 vs 부럽다

This adjective means 'to be envious.' Learners might try to apply '~아/어 하다' incorrectly to express someone else's envy, when the pattern usually applies to observable emotional displays.

'부럽다' is an adjective for one's own feeling of envy. While '부러워하다' exists, it's more about expressing envy outwardly, but '부럽다' itself is common for self-description.

친구가 새 차를 사서 부러웠어요. (I was envious because my friend bought a new car.) 그녀는 제 높은 점수를 부러워했어요. (She envied my high score. - describes her outward expression of envy)

~아/어 하다 vs 그립다

This adjective means 'to miss/long for.' Similar to '부럽다', it's an internal feeling, and learners might struggle to correctly apply the '~아/어 하다' pattern for others.

'그립다' is an adjective for one's own feeling of longing. '그리워하다' uses '~아/어 하다' to describe someone else's outward expression of missing someone/something.

고향에 있는 가족들이 그리워요. (I miss my family in my hometown.) 그는 헤어진 여자친구를 그리워했어요. (He missed his ex-girlfriend. - describes his outward expression of longing)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Talking about someone being shy.

  • 그녀는 부끄러워해요.
  • 우리 아이는 낯을 가려요.
  • 발표할 때 부끄러워했어요.

Talking about someone being sad.

  • 친구가 슬퍼했어요.
  • 그는 많이 슬퍼하는 것 같았어요.
  • 강아지가 주인이 없어서 슬퍼해요.

Talking about someone being happy.

  • 엄마가 기뻐했어요.
  • 아이들이 선물을 받고 기뻐했어요.
  • 할머니는 손주들을 보고 기뻐하셨어요.

Talking about someone being scared.

  • 동생이 무서워했어요.
  • 혼자 집에 있을 때 무서워했어요.
  • 벌레를 보고 무서워해요.

Talking about someone being worried.

  • 아버지가 걱정했어요.
  • 시험 때문에 걱정했어요.
  • 그는 미래에 대해 걱정하고 있어요.

Conversation Starters

"친구는 어떤 상황에서 자주 부끄러워하나요? (In what situations does your friend often act shy?)"

"최근에 누가 슬퍼하는 것을 보셨나요? 왜 슬퍼했을까요? (Who have you seen acting sad recently? Why do you think they were sad?)"

"가족 중에 누가 선물을 받으면 가장 기뻐하나요? (Among your family, who acts the happiest when they receive a gift?)"

"어렸을 때 무엇을 가장 무서워했어요? (What did you act most scared of when you were young?)"

"요즘 주변 사람들이 무엇에 대해 걱정하고 있는 것 같아요? (What do you think people around you seem to be worrying about these days?)"

Journal Prompts

내가 언제 가장 부끄러워하는지 적어보세요. (Write about when you act the most shy.)

다른 사람이 슬퍼할 때 어떻게 위로해 주나요? (How do you comfort others when they act sad?)

최근에 나를 기뻐하게 만든 일은 무엇인가요? (What recently made you act happy?)

무서워하는 것을 극복하기 위해 노력했던 경험이 있나요? (Have you ever tried to overcome something you act scared of?)

내가 걱정하는 것이 있다면 무엇이며, 그 걱정을 어떻게 다루고 있는지 써보세요. (If you have something you act worried about, what is it and how are you dealing with that worry?)

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