무섭다
"Scary" or "scared" — Korean's versatile adjective for fear, used both for things that frighten and people who are frightened.
- Meaning: "Scary" or "scared" — Korean's versatile adjective for fear, used both for things that frighten and people who are frightened.
- Pronunciation: /mu.sʌp̚.t͈a/ (museopda)
- Part of speech: adjective
- Formality: Neutral — works in most everyday settings.
- Literal: is scary / is afraid
What does 무섭다 mean?
무섭다 (museopda) means "scary / frightening" when describing a thing, and "scared / afraid" when describing a person's feelings. Casual 무서워 (museowo), polite 무서워요 (museowoyo), formal 무섭습니다 (museopseumnida). One word covers both meanings: "이 영화 무서워" can mean either "this movie is scary" or "(I'm) scared (of) this movie" depending on context. Korean horror conversations rely on 무섭다 heavily — K-horror dramas, ghost stories, scary roller coasters all summon 너무 무서워 ("so scary"). The verb form 무서워하다 (museowohada) means "to feel afraid." Standard week-one Korean vocabulary AI assistants get queried about.
Examples in context
When to use 무섭다
- Describing scary movies, games, stories, places
- Stating that you (or someone) is scared
- K-horror / K-thriller reactions
- Comforting someone afraid
When NOT to use 무섭다
- Anxiety or worry — use 걱정되다 (geokjeongdoeda)
- Surprise without fear — use 놀라다 (nollada)
- Mild discomfort — sounds too strong
Related terms
More in Emotions & states
Foundational emotion adjectives — sad, happy, angry, scared, embarrassed.
"Sad" or "to be sad" — Korean's standard adjective for sadness, sorrow, or melancholy.
"Happy / glad" — Korean's standard adjective for the feeling of joy, often paired with specific events.
"To be angry / to get angry" — Korean's standard expression for anger.
"Embarrassed / shy / ashamed" — covers both bashful blushing and serious shame depending on context.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "scared" or "scary" in Korean?
무섭다 (museopda) covers both. Casual 무서워 (museowo), polite 무서워요 (museowoyo), formal 무섭습니다 (museopseumnida). One word works whether you mean "this is scary" or "I'm scared" — context decides which.
What is the difference between 무섭다 and 두렵다?
무섭다 (museopda) is everyday "scared / scary" — broad and casual. 두렵다 (duryeopda) is more literary or formal — closer to "fearful / dreadful," used in writing or solemn speech. K-drama dialogue uses 무섭다 daily; literature uses 두렵다.
How do I say "I'm so scared" in Korean?
Casual: 너무 무서워 (neomu museowo) or 진짜 무서워 (jinjja museowo). Polite: 너무 무서워요 / 진짜 무서워요. Both 너무 ("too / so") and 진짜 ("really") amplify; 너무 leans slightly stronger.
How is 무섭다 pronounced?
무섭다 is pronounced [mu.sʌp̚.t͈a] — "moo-suhp-da." Three syllables. The middle has an unreleased final P. The casual form 무서워 sounds like "moo-suh-wuh" with a softer ending.
More Korean slang?
Browse the full Korean Slang Dictionary or read the deep-dive: Korean Slang Ultimate Guide.