How to Say “Jealous“ in Korean270

Jealousy is a common human emotion that can be experienced by people of all ages and backgrounds. In Korean, there are several different ways to express jealousy, depending on the context and the speaker's intent. Here are some of the most common ways to say "jealous" in Korean:

1. 질투하다 (jiltuhada)

This is the most common way to say "jealous" in Korean. It is a verb that means "to be jealous of someone or something." 질투하다 can be used in a variety of contexts, both formal and informal. For example, you could say:

나는 그 사람이 부러워요. (naneun geu saram-i bureowoyo.)
I'm jealous of that person.

그녀는 내가 그와 이야기하는 것을 질투해요. (geunyeoneun naega geuwa iyagihaneun geoseul jiltuhaeyo.)
She's jealous of me talking to him.

2. 시기하다 (sigihada)

This is another common way to say "jealous" in Korean. It is a verb that means "to envy someone or something." 시기하다 is often used in a negative sense, to express feelings of resentment or bitterness towards someone who has something that you want. For example, you could say:

나는 그의 성공이 시기해요. (naneun geuui seonggongi sigihaeyo.)
I'm envious of his success.

그녀는 내가 가진 모든 것을 시기해요. (geunyeoneun naega ganun modeun geoseul sigihaeyo.)
She envies everything that I have.

3. 부러워하다 (bureowohda)

This is a less common way to say "jealous" in Korean. It is a verb that means "to be envious of someone or something." 부러워하다 is often used in a positive sense, to express feelings of admiration or respect for someone who has something that you want. For example, you could say:

나는 그의 재능이 부러워요. (naneun geuui jaeneungi bureowoyo.)
I'm envious of his talent.

그녀는 내가 가진 모든 것을 부러워해요. (geunyeoneun naega ganun modeun geoseul bureowoh-aeyo.)
She envies everything that I have.

4. 다른 표현 (dareun pyo-hyeon)

In addition to the three main ways to say "jealous" in Korean listed above, there are also a number of other expressions that can be used to convey this emotion. Here are a few examples:
질투심 (jiltusim): This noun means "jealousy" or "envy."
시기심 (sigisim): This noun means "envy" or "resentment."
부러움 (bureum): This noun means "envy" or "admiration."
시샘 (sisaem): This noun means "jealousy" or "envy."
질투에 불타다 (jiltu-e bul-tada): This verb means "to be burning with jealousy."
시기에 녹다 (sigie nog-da): This verb means "to melt with envy."
부러움에 눈이 녹다 (bureume nuni nog-da): This verb means "to have one's eyes melt with envy."

5. 문화적 고려 사항 (munhwajeok go-ryeosaham)

When expressing jealousy in Korean, it is important to be aware of the cultural context. In Korean culture, it is generally considered to be impolite to express jealousy directly. Instead, it is more common to hint at your feelings through indirect language or body language. For example, you could say something like:

그 사람이 부럽네요. (geu saram-i bureubneyo.)
I wish I had what that person has.

그녀가 너무 예뻐요. (geunyeoga neomu yeppeoyo.)
She's so pretty, it makes me jealous.

By using indirect language, you can avoid coming across as rude or confrontational. It is also important to be aware of the social hierarchy in Korea. When expressing jealousy, it is important to be respectful of those who are older or have a higher social status than you. For example, you would not want to say something like:

선배님, 부러워요. (seonbaenim, bureowoyo.)
Senior, I'm jealous of you.

This would be considered to be very disrespectful. Instead, you could say something like:

선배님, 정말 멋지세요. (seonbaenim, jeongmal meojiseyo.)
Senior, you're really cool.

This way, you can express your jealousy without being disrespectful.

2025-02-14

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