Korean Dictionary
How to say "Agitated" in Korean
“Agitated” in Korean is 흥분하다 (pronounced "Heungbunhada").
흥분하다
Heungbunhada
Usage & Context
Describes emotional excitability or agitation. Can be positive (excited agitation) or negative (angry agitation). In Korean news, this word describes both enthusiastic crowds and angry protesters, so context is important.
Example Sentence
그 소식을 듣고 너무 흥분했어요.
I was so agitated/excited after hearing that news.
How to use 흥분하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Agitated” is 흥분하다, romanized as Heungbunhada.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 흥분하다.
Pronunciation Guide
흥 (Heung) sounds like 'hung' in 'hung jury,' but with a softer 'h' and the 'eu' vowel like the 'u' in 'put.' 분 (bun) sounds like 'boon' in 'boon companion.' 하 (ha) sounds like 'ha' in 'haha,' and 다 (da) sounds like 'da' in 'dad.' The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
흥분합니다
Heungbunhamnida
Uses the formal '-(스)ㅂ니다' ending.
Casual (반말)
흥분해
Heungbunhae
Uses the casual '-아/어' ending.
More Example Sentences
Describing a sports crowd's reaction to an exciting moment.
경기 막판에 역전골이 터지자 관중들이 모두 흥분했어요.
When the winning goal was scored in the final moments of the game, all the spectators became agitated/excited.
Describing someone expressing anger with a raised voice.
그는 화가 나서 흥분한 목소리로 소리쳤어요.
He shouted in an agitated voice because he was angry.
Describing positive excitement leading to sleeplessness.
오랜만에 만난 친구들과 이야기하며 밤새도록 흥분해서 잠을 못 잤어요.
Talking with friends I hadn't seen in a long time, I was so excited/agitated all night that I couldn't sleep.
Cultural Context
흥분하다 is a versatile word that can describe both positive excitement (like a fan at a concert) and negative agitation (like someone arguing angrily). In K-dramas, you'll often hear characters say '너무 흥분하지 마세요' (Don't get too agitated/excited) to calm someone down, regardless of whether they're overly joyful or on the verge of an outburst. It signifies a state of heightened emotional arousal rather than a specific emotion.
Editorial note
We review entries like 흥분하다 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
흥분하지 마세요.
Don't get agitated/excited.
너무 흥분했어.
I got too excited/agitated.
흥분한 상태
An agitated/excited state.
Related Expressions
신나다
Sinnada
To be excited, thrilled (more positive)
들뜨다
Deultteuda
To be elated, giddy (often implies unstable excitement)
화나다
Hwanada
To be angry (more specific to anger)
침착하다
Chimchakhada
To be calm, composed (antonym)
More Emotions Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Agitated and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
