Explanation at your level:
You use 어둡다 to say 'It is dark.' If you enter a room and can't see, you say '방이 어두워요' (The room is dark). Use this word when you want to describe light levels. It is very simple and very common!
At this level, you can use it to describe more than just rooms. You can say 'The weather is dark' (날씨가 어두워요) when it is cloudy. It helps you describe your environment clearly to others.
Now you can use it for abstract ideas. You might describe a 'dark' personality or a 'dark' future. It adds nuance to your sentences, showing you can express complex feelings beyond just physical light.
Use 어둡다 in literary descriptions. You can describe a 'dark atmosphere' (어두운 분위기) in a movie or a book. It helps you set the scene for your listeners or readers effectively.
Advanced learners use it to discuss social or economic 'darkness'. You might talk about the 'dark side of technology' or 'dim prospects' for a project. It shows a high level of vocabulary control.
At the mastery level, you use it in metaphorical and poetic ways. You might describe the 'darkness of human nature' or use it to contrast with 'enlightenment'. It carries cultural and philosophical weight here.
Palavra em 30 segundos
- Means 'to be dark'.
- Used for light, mood, and future.
- Conjugates as '어두워'.
- Opposite is '밝다'.
Hey there! 어둡다 is a super useful Korean word that literally means to be dark. Think of it as the opposite of 'bright' (밝다). Whether you're talking about a room at night or a gloomy day, this is the word you'll reach for.
Beyond just light, we use it to describe moods and situations too. If someone looks sad or a situation seems hopeless, you can say it's 'dark'. It's a very versatile word that helps you paint a picture with your language!
The word 어둡다 has deep roots in the Korean language. It evolved from ancient forms that were used to describe the dimness of the forest or the setting sun. Historically, it is connected to the concept of 'shadows' and 'hidden things'.
In older texts, it was often used to describe the mystery of the night. Over centuries, it kept its core meaning while expanding into the psychological realm. It's fascinating how a word for 'lack of light' naturally becomes a word for 'lack of hope' across so many languages!
You'll use 어둡다 in daily life constantly. Use it with 방 (room) to say a room is dark, or with 날씨 (weather) to describe a cloudy, gloomy day.
It's used in both casual and formal settings. If you're talking to a friend, you might say 'It's dark here!' (여기 어두워!). In a formal report, you might describe an 'outlook' as dark. It's neutral, so you don't need to worry about being accidentally rude!
1. 앞날이 어둡다: To have a bleak future. Example: 'Without hard work, his future looks dark.'
2. 어두운 면: The dark side. Example: 'Every story has a dark side.'
3. 등잔 밑이 어둡다: The area under the lamp is dark (It's hard to see what's right in front of you).
4. 어두운 밤: A dark night.
5. 표정이 어둡다: To have a gloomy expression.
As an adjective, 어둡다 follows standard conjugation. When you add a vowel-starting ending, the ㅂ changes to 우 (e.g., 어두워요). It's a classic ㅂ-irregular verb/adjective pattern!
Pronunciation-wise, focus on the eo sound—it's like the 'u' in 'but'. The final p sound is soft. Rhyming words in English include 'bird' (vowel sound) or 'curb', though the syllable structure is quite different.
Fun Fact
The word is linked to ancient roots describing the 'dimming' of the sun.
Pronunciation Guide
Similar to 'uh-dup-dah'.
Similar to 'uh-dup-dah'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'eo' sound
- Hardening the 'p' sound
- Ignoring the ㅂ-irregularity
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read.
Requires conjugation knowledge.
Very common.
Easy to hear.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avançado
Grammar to Know
ㅂ-irregular
어둡다 -> 어두워
Adjective Modifier
어두운 방
Change of state
어두워지다
Examples by Level
방이 어두워요.
Room-is dark.
Basic adjective sentence.
밖이 어둡다.
Outside-is dark.
Subject-particle usage.
불을 켜세요, 어두워요.
Turn on light, it's dark.
Imperative + reason.
여기는 너무 어둡다.
Here-is too dark.
Adverb 'too' usage.
어두운 밤입니다.
It is a dark night.
Adjective modifying noun.
어두워지네요.
It is getting dark.
Change of state.
어두운 곳은 싫어요.
I don't like dark places.
Object particle.
날씨가 어두워요.
The weather is dark.
Describing weather.
밤이 되면 어두워집니다.
어두운 색을 좋아해요.
영화관은 어두워요.
어두운 길을 걸었어요.
그 방은 너무 어두워서 안 보여요.
어두운 구름이 몰려와요.
어두운 밤하늘을 보세요.
불이 꺼져서 어둡다.
미래가 어둡다고 생각해요.
그의 표정이 어두워 보였어요.
어두운 과거를 가지고 있다.
어두운 골목길은 위험해요.
그는 어두운 성격이 아니에요.
어두운 경제 전망이 발표되었습니다.
어두운 조명 아래서 책을 읽지 마세요.
어두운 면을 보지 말고 밝은 면을 보세요.
그 사건은 어두운 진실을 담고 있다.
어두운 터널을 지나 빛을 보았다.
정치적 상황이 어두워지고 있다.
어두운 기억을 지우고 싶다.
그는 어두운 분위기의 음악을 즐긴다.
어두운 현실을 직시해야 한다.
어두운 구석에 숨겨진 비밀.
예술가는 어두운 감정을 표현했다.
그의 야망은 어두운 욕망에서 비롯되었다.
사회적 갈등이 어두운 그림자를 드리운다.
어두운 시대의 역사를 연구한다.
그는 어두운 회의론에 빠져 있었다.
어두운 복선이 깔린 소설이다.
어두운 전망에도 불구하고 도전했다.
어두운 심연을 들여다보는 기분이다.
역사의 어두운 페이지를 넘기다.
인간 내면의 어두운 본성을 탐구하다.
어두운 운명에 맞서 싸우는 주인공.
어두운 지성주의의 함정에 빠지지 마라.
철학적으로 어두운 시기를 통과하고 있다.
그의 시는 어두운 서정성을 띠고 있다.
어두운 허무주의가 그를 지배했다.
어두운 시대적 배경을 완벽히 재현했다.
어두운 신비주의적 요소가 가미되었다.
Colocações comuns
Idioms & Expressions
"등잔 밑이 어둡다"
It is hard to see what is right in front of you.
등잔 밑이 어둡다더니 바로 옆에 있었네!
casual"앞날이 어둡다"
To have a bleak future.
경제 상황을 보니 앞날이 어둡다.
neutral"어두운 터널을 지나다"
To go through a hard time.
지금은 어두운 터널을 지나고 있지만 곧 빛이 올 거야.
literary"어두운 면을 보다"
To focus on the negative side.
항상 어두운 면만 보지 마세요.
neutral"어두운 그림자를 드리우다"
To cast a negative influence.
사건은 마을에 어두운 그림자를 드리웠다.
formal"어두운 구석"
A hidden or neglected place.
마음의 어두운 구석을 청소해야 한다.
literaryEasily Confused
Both mean dark.
캄캄하다 is 'pitch black'.
방이 어둡다 (dim) vs 방이 캄캄하다 (no light at all).
Both used for weather.
흐리다 is 'cloudy'.
날씨가 흐리다 (cloudy) vs 날씨가 어둡다 (dark/gloomy).
Both mean dim.
침침하다 is for vision.
눈이 침침하다 (eyes are blurry/dim).
Look similar.
어둑하다 is slightly more literary/descriptive.
방이 어둑하다 (a bit dim).
Sentence Patterns
Subject + 가/이 + 어둡다
방이 어둡다.
어두운 + Noun
어두운 밤.
Subject + 가/이 + 어두워 보이다
그가 어두워 보인다.
Subject + 가/이 + 어두워지다
밖이 어두워진다.
어둡게 + Verb
방을 어둡게 했다.
Família de palavras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
Erros comuns
ㅂ-irregular conjugation rule.
Incorrect modifier form.
Spacing error.
Modifier must be used before noun.
Missing polite ending.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a dark room in your house.
Native Context
Use it for weather and mood!
Cultural Insight
Koreans use it to express 'gloomy' feelings.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember the ㅂ to 우 change.
Say It Right
Keep the 'eo' sound open.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say '어둡어요'.
Did You Know?
It's a very old word.
Study Smart
Use it with '앞날' to practice abstract meaning.
Daily Use
Use it when the lights go out.
Modifier Rule
Use '어두운' before a noun.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Uh-dup' (Oh, it's deep/dark).
Visual Association
A dark, deep cave.
Word Web
Desafio
Describe your room in 3 sentences using '어둡다'.
Origem da palavra
Native Korean
Original meaning: Dimness, lack of light
Contexto cultural
None.
Used similarly to 'dark' in English for both light and mood.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At home
- 불 좀 켜요, 너무 어두워요.
- 방이 어두워서 책을 못 읽겠어.
Outside
- 벌써 어두워졌네.
- 어두운 밤길은 조심하세요.
Work/School
- 경제 전망이 어둡다.
- 그의 표정이 어두워 보여서 걱정이다.
Art/Movies
- 이 영화는 분위기가 너무 어두워.
- 어두운 조명을 사용했다.
Conversation Starters
"Do you like dark rooms or bright rooms?"
"What do you do when it gets dark outside?"
"Do you think the future of the environment is dark?"
"Why do you think he looked so dark today?"
"Is it better to work in a bright or dark place?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you were in a very dark place.
Write about a 'dark' day in your life.
How does a dark room make you feel?
Is the future of our world dark or bright? Why?
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasNo, it is often used for mood and future prospects.
It is a ㅂ-irregular, so it becomes '어두워'.
No, it is a neutral descriptive word.
Yes, it is common to describe skin tone.
캄캄하다 is much darker (pitch black).
Yes, to describe 'dark' economic outlooks.
Yes, if describing their mood or expression.
Yes, '어둠' (darkness).
Teste-se
방이 ___.
Describes lack of light.
Which means 'It is getting dark'?
Change of state.
Can '어둡다' describe a person's mood?
Yes, it means gloomy/sad.
Word
Significado
Matching meanings.
Subject + Adjective.
Pontuação: /5
Summary
어둡다 is the essential word for describing darkness, whether it's the lack of light in a room or a gloomy feeling in your heart.
- Means 'to be dark'.
- Used for light, mood, and future.
- Conjugates as '어두워'.
- Opposite is '밝다'.
Memory Palace
Imagine a dark room in your house.
Native Context
Use it for weather and mood!
Cultural Insight
Koreans use it to express 'gloomy' feelings.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember the ㅂ to 우 change.
Exemplo
밤에는 어두워요.
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Esta palavra em outros idiomas
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