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Korean Vocabulary #19 – Emotions & Feelings: Essential Korean Words for Expressing Emotions

Writer: Lee Serene
Lee Serene
Oct 26, 2025
3 min read

1️⃣ Introduction


Learn 15 essential Korean emotion words — perfect for expressing how you feel in daily conversations!


These are the most common adjectives and phrases used to talk about happiness, sadness, anger, and more.



2️⃣ Vocabulary List


No.

Korean

Pronunciation

Meaning

1

기분

gi-bun

mood / feeling

2

행복하다

haeng-bo-ka-da

to be happy

3

슬프다

seul-peu-da

to be sad

4

화나다

hwa-na-da

to be angry

5

무섭다

mu-seop-tta

to be scared

6

피곤하다

pi-gon-ha-da

to be tired

7

외롭다

oe-rop-tta

to be lonely

8

긴장하다

gin-jang-ha-da

to be nervous

9

걱정하다

geok-jjeong-ha-da

to worry

10

심심하다

sim-sim-ha-da

to be bored

11

즐겁다

jeul-geop-tta

to be joyful / pleasant

12

놀라다

nol-la-da

to be surprised

13

부끄럽다

bu-kkeu-reop-tta

to be shy / embarrassed

14

만족하다

man-jok-ha-da

to be satisfied

15

편하다

pyeo-na-da

to be comfortable / relaxed


Example Sentences


💬 Example Sentences


  1. 오늘 기분이 좋아요.(o-neul gi-bu-ni jo-a-yo.)→ I feel good today.


  2. 저는 행복해요.(jeo-neun haeng-bo-kae-yo.)→ I am happy.


  3. 그 남자는 슬퍼 보여요.(geu-nam-ja-neun-seul-peo bo-yeo-yo.)→ He looks sad.


  4. 저는 화났어요.(jeo-neun hwa-na-sseo-yo.)→ I’m angry.


  5. 어두운 곳이 무서워요.(eo-du-un go-si mu-seo-wo-yo.)→ I’m scared of dark places.


  6. 오늘 너무 피곤해요.(o-neul neo-mu pi-gon-hae-yo.)→ I’m very tired today.


  7. 가끔 외로워요.(ga-kkeum oe-ro-wo-yo.)→ I feel lonely sometimes.


  8. 시험 전에 긴장해요.(si-heom jeo-ne gin-jang-hae-yo.)→ I get nervous before exams.


  9. 걱정하지 마세요.(geok-jjeong-ha-ji ma-se-yo.)→ Don’t worry.


  10. 심심해서 책을 읽어요.(sim-si-me-seo chae-geul il-geo-yo.)→ I read a book because I’m bored.


  11. 친구랑 놀아서 즐거워요.(chin-gu-rang no-la-seo jeul-geo-wo-yo.)→ I’m happy because I played with my friend.


  12. 정말 놀랐어요!(jeong-mal nol-la-sseo-yo.)→ I was really surprised!


  13. 칭찬을 받아서 부끄러워요.(ching-cha-neul ba-da-seo bu-kkeu-reo-wo-yo.)→ I’m shy because I got a compliment.


  14. 오늘 결과에 만족해요.(o-neul gyeol-gwa-e man-jok-hae-yo.)→ I’m satisfied with today’s result.


  15. 집에 오니까 편해요.(ji-be o-ni-kka pyeo-nae-yo.)→ I feel relaxed when I get home.



3️⃣ Expression Tips & Cultural Notes


  • 기분이 좋아요 / 나빠요 are the most natural ways to talk about your feelings.


  • Koreans often express emotions indirectly, using “보여요” (looks like) or “같아요” (seems like).




3️⃣ Mini Practice



Fill in the blanks.


  1. 오늘 ________이 좋아요. (I feel good today)


  2. 저는 ________해요. (I am happy)


  3. 그 남자는 ________ 보여요. (He looks sad)


  4. 저는 ________났어요. (I’m angry)


  5. 어두운 곳이 ________워요. (I’m scared of dark places)


  6. 오늘 너무 ________해요. (I’m very tired today)


  7. 가끔 ________워요. (I feel lonely sometimes)


  8. 시험 전에 ________해요. (I get nervous before exams)


  9. ________하지 마세요. (Don’t worry)


  10. ________해서 책을 읽어요. (I read a book because I’m bored)


  11. 친구랑 놀아서 ________워요. (I’m happy because I played with my friend)


  12. 정말 ________어요! (I was really surprised!)


  13. 칭찬을 받아서 ________워요. (I’m shy because I got a compliment)


  14. 오늘 결과에 ________해요. (I’m satisfied with today’s result)


  15. 집에 오니까 ________해요. (I feel relaxed when I get home)



Answers


  1. 오늘 기분이 좋아요.(o-neul gi-bu-ni jo-a-yo.)→ I feel good today.


  2. 저는 행복해요.(jeo-neun haeng-bo-kae-yo.)→ I am happy.


  3. 그 남자는 슬퍼 보여요.(geu-nam-ja-neun seul-peo bo-yeo-yo.)→ He looks sad.


  4. 저는 화났어요.(jeo-neun hwa-na-sseo-yo.)→ I’m angry.


  5. 어두운 곳이 무서워요.(eo-du-un go-si mu-seo-wo-yo.)→ I’m scared of dark places.


  6. 오늘 너무 피곤해요.(o-neul neo-mu pi-gon-hae-yo.)→ I’m very tired today.


  7. 가끔 외로워요.(ga-kkeum oe-ro-wo-yo.)→ I feel lonely sometimes.


  8. 시험 전에 긴장해요.(si-heom jeo-ne gin-jang-hae-yo.)→ I get nervous before exams.


  9. 걱정하지 마세요.(geok-jjeong-ha-ji ma-se-yo.)→ Don’t worry.


  10. 심심해서 책을 읽어요.(sim-si-me-seo chae-geul il-geo-yo.)→ I read a book because I’m bored.


  11. 친구랑 놀아서 즐거워요.(chin-gu-rang no-la-seo jeul-geo-wo-yo.)→ I’m happy because I played with my friend.


  12. 정말 놀랐어요!(jeong-mal nol-la-sseo-yo.)→ I was really surprised!


  13. 칭찬을 받아서 부끄러워요.(ching-cha-neul ba-da-seo bu-kkeu-reo-wo-yo.)→ I’m shy because I got a compliment.


  14. 오늘 결과에 만족해요.(o-neul gyeol-gwa-e man-jok-hae-yo.)→ I’m satisfied with today’s result.


  15. 집에 오니까 편해요.(ji-be o-ni-kka pyeo-nae-yo.)→ I feel relaxed when I get home.



📂 Download Practice File


📥 Download your “Emotions & Feelings Vocabulary Worksheet”

Practice expressing your emotions naturally in Korean conversations!



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