걱정돼요.
Geokjeongdwaeyo.
I'm worried.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use '걱정돼요' to express that you are feeling anxious or concerned about a situation, person, or upcoming event.
- Means: 'I am worried' or 'It is worrying me' in a polite way.
- Used in: Health concerns, exam stress, or when a friend is late.
- Don't confuse: With '무서워요' (I'm scared), which implies fear of a physical threat.
Explanation at your level:
Significado
Expressing a feeling of anxiety or concern.
Contexto cultural
Worrying is often seen as a form of 'Jeong' (affection). Parents will constantly tell their children they are worried as a way to say 'I love you.' In Korean companies, expressing worry about a project can be a way to show you are taking your responsibilities seriously, rather than showing weakness. Koreans use '걱정' in comments to show solidarity. If an idol or celebrity posts about being tired, fans will flood the comments with '걱정돼요'. When someone is worried or stressed, it is common to give a small gift like a 'Vitamin C' drink or a 'Bacchus' to help them 'overcome their worry.'
The Particle Rule
Always remember to use '이/가' for the thing you are worried about. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.
Showing Care
Saying '걱정돼요' to a Korean friend who is going through a hard time is often more appreciated than just saying '힘내세요' (Cheer up).
Significado
Expressing a feeling of anxiety or concern.
The Particle Rule
Always remember to use '이/가' for the thing you are worried about. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.
Showing Care
Saying '걱정돼요' to a Korean friend who is going through a hard time is often more appreciated than just saying '힘내세요' (Cheer up).
Use with -(으)ㄹ까 봐
Master the '-(으)ㄹ까 봐 걱정돼요' pattern to sound much more like a native speaker.
Don't Overuse
If you say '걱정돼요' for every small thing, you might come across as an overly anxious person.
Teste-se
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and verb form.
시험( ) ( ). (I am worried about the exam.)
The word '시험' ends in a consonant, so it takes the particle '이'. '걱정돼요' is the natural verb form.
Which sentence is the most natural way to show concern for a friend's health?
Choose the best option:
'무서워요' means scared, and '걱정 마세요' means don't worry. '건강이 걱정돼요' is the correct way to say 'I'm worried about your health.'
Complete the dialogue.
가: 내일 면접 잘 볼 수 있을까요? 나: ( )
When someone expresses worry, the most common and supportive response is '걱정 마세요' (Don't worry).
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are worried you might be late for a meeting.
The grammar '-(으)ㄹ까 봐' is used to express worry about a potential future event.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
걱정되다 vs 무섭다
Perguntas frequentes
14 perguntas걱정되다 is a state (I am worried), while 걱정하다 is an action (I am worrying). In most cases, 걱정되다 sounds more natural when talking about your feelings.
Yes, but if you want to be extra polite, use '걱정됩니다' or '염려됩니다'.
You can say '(이름) 씨가 걱정돼요' or just '걱정돼요' if the context is clear.
No, '걱정 마' is banmal (informal). Only use it with close friends or people younger than you. Use '걱정 마세요' for others.
It literally means 'to buy worry.' It's used for people who worry about things that haven't happened or don't matter.
No, for the past use '걱정됐어요' (I was worried).
A common casual way to say you're worried/stressed is '멘붕' (mental breakdown) or '미치겠어' (I'm going crazy).
It's a cultural way of showing empathy and 'Jeong'. It builds social bonds.
No, use '고소공포증이 있어요' or '높은 곳이 무서워요'.
There is no direct Hanja for '걱정' as it is a native word, but the synonym '염려' is {念慮}.
미래가 걱정돼요.
It is gender-neutral. Anyone can use it.
Yes! '강아지가 아파서 걱정돼요' (I'm worried because my puppy is sick).
안심돼요 (I feel relieved).
Frases relacionadas
걱정 마세요
contrastDon't worry.
염려돼요
synonymI am concerned.
불안해요
similarI feel anxious.
고민이에요
builds onIt's a struggle/dilemma for me.
안심이에요
contrastI am relieved.
걱정이 태산이다
specialized formTo be extremely worried.
Onde usar
Before an Exam
Student A: 내일 수학 시험 공부 많이 했어?
Student B: 아니, 하나도 못 해서 너무 걱정돼요.
Health Concern
Doctor: 어디가 아프세요?
Patient: 요즘 계속 머리가 아파서 걱정돼요.
Late Friend
Friend A: 지수가 왜 아직 안 오지?
Friend B: 연락도 안 돼서 걱정돼.
Job Interview
Applicant: 한국어로 면접을 보는 게 처음이라 걱정돼요.
Friend: 잘 할 수 있을 거예요! 걱정 마세요.
Bad Weather
Person A: 태풍이 온대요.
Person B: 집에 혼자 계신 할머니가 걱정돼요.
Financial Stress
Husband: 이번 달 생활비가 부족할 것 같아.
Wife: 나도 그게 제일 걱정돼요.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Gok-jeong' as 'Glock-Jung'. If someone has a 'Glock' (gun) in the 'Jung'le, you would be very worried!
Visual Association
Imagine a person carrying a heavy backpack labeled '걱정' (Worry). As they walk, the backpack gets bigger and bigger until it looks like a mountain (태산).
Rhyme
걱정돼요, 어떡해요? (I'm worried, what should I do?)
Story
Min-su has a big test tomorrow. He can't sleep. He looks at his books and says '걱정돼요'. His mom brings him warm milk and says '걱정 마세요'. He feels better and sleeps.
Word Web
Desafio
Try to tell a Korean friend or language partner one thing you are worried about today using the pattern '-(으)ㄹ까 봐 걱정돼요'.
In Other Languages
心配です (Shinpai desu)
Japanese often uses 'shinpai' as a Na-adjective, while Korean treats it as a noun-verb compound.
我担心 (Wǒ dānxīn)
Chinese uses a subject-verb-object structure (I worry [about] you).
Estoy preocupado
Spanish requires gender agreement (preocupado/preocupada), which Korean does not.
Je m'inquiète
The reflexive nature makes it feel more like an internal process than a state that 'happens' to you.
Ich mache mir Sorgen
In German, you 'make' worries; in Korean, worries 'become' or 'happen'.
أنا قلق (Ana qaliq)
Arabic focus is on the physical sensation of restlessness rather than the 'burden' of the worry.
Estou preocupado
Portuguese often uses 'preocupar-se' reflexively in more formal contexts.
I'm worried
English uses 'about' for the object, while Korean uses the subject particle '이/가'.
Easily Confused
Learners often use 'worried' when they mean 'scared'.
Use '무서워요' for ghosts, spiders, or heights. Use '걱정돼요' for exams, health, or the future.
Sometimes learners say they are 'worried' about a result when they are just 'curious'.
If you just want to know the answer, use '궁금해요'. If the answer might be bad, use '걱정돼요'.
Perguntas frequentes (14)
걱정되다 is a state (I am worried), while 걱정하다 is an action (I am worrying). In most cases, 걱정되다 sounds more natural when talking about your feelings.
Yes, but if you want to be extra polite, use '걱정됩니다' or '염려됩니다'.
You can say '(이름) 씨가 걱정돼요' or just '걱정돼요' if the context is clear.
No, '걱정 마' is banmal (informal). Only use it with close friends or people younger than you. Use '걱정 마세요' for others.
It literally means 'to buy worry.' It's used for people who worry about things that haven't happened or don't matter.
No, for the past use '걱정됐어요' (I was worried).
A common casual way to say you're worried/stressed is '멘붕' (mental breakdown) or '미치겠어' (I'm going crazy).
It's a cultural way of showing empathy and 'Jeong'. It builds social bonds.
No, use '고소공포증이 있어요' or '높은 곳이 무서워요'.
There is no direct Hanja for '걱정' as it is a native word, but the synonym '염려' is {念慮}.
미래가 걱정돼요.
It is gender-neutral. Anyone can use it.
Yes! '강아지가 아파서 걱정돼요' (I'm worried because my puppy is sick).
안심돼요 (I feel relieved).
