Korean Dictionary
How to say "Frustrated" in Korean
“Frustrated” in Korean is 답답하다 (pronounced "Dapdaphada").
답답하다
Dapdaphada
Usage & Context
A uniquely Korean concept describing the feeling of being stifled or unable to express yourself. Can describe both physical tightness in the chest and emotional frustration. Commonly used when communication breaks down or situations are out of control.
Example Sentence
말이 잘 안 통해서 정말 답답해요.
I'm so frustrated that we can't communicate well.
How to use 답답하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Frustrated” is 답답하다, romanized as Dapdaphada.
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 답답하다.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'dahp-dah-pa-da' — the double 'p' in 답답 creates a short pause and a slightly emphasized 'p' sound. Both 'dap' syllables rhyme with 'stop' but cut short, and 'hada' is quick and flat.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
답답합니다
dap-dap-ham-ni-da
Formal form used in professional or polite contexts
Casual (반말)
답답해
dap-dap-hae
Casual form used with close friends and family
More Example Sentences
commenting on a long mask-wearing day
마스크 쓰니까 숨이 답답해요.
Wearing a mask makes it hard to breathe.
venting to a coworker over coffee
일이 진행이 안 돼서 너무 답답해.
The project isn't moving forward and I'm so frustrated.
complaining about someone after an argument
말귀를 못 알아들어서 진짜 답답하다.
They just don't get what I'm saying — it's really frustrating.
Cultural Context
답답하다 is one of those Korean words that resists direct translation — it can describe a literal tightness in the chest, a stuffy room, or the emotional suffocation of being misunderstood or stuck in a slow-moving situation. In K-drama dialogue, you'll hear 답답해 hundreds of times, often delivered with a fist to the chest, which is a genuine gesture Koreans use when the feeling peaks. It's closely related to 고구마 (sweet potato), a slang term where a frustrating, slow-moving situation is called 고구마 because eating dry sweet potato without water feels 답답. The opposite — a satisfyingly resolved moment — is 사이다 (cider), reflecting that same chest-focused emotional vocabulary.
Editorial note
We review entries like 답답하다 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
아, 답답해!
Ugh, I'm so frustrated!
답답해서 미치겠어요.
I'm going crazy from frustration.
속이 답답해요.
My chest feels tight / I feel stifled.
Related Expressions
갑갑하다
gap-ga-pa-da
stifling / confining
속이 터지다
so-gi teo-ji-da
to be extremely frustrated (lit. 'insides bursting')
고구마
go-gu-ma
slang for a frustrating, slow-moving situation
시원하다
si-won-ha-da
refreshing / cleared up (antonym)
More Emotions Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Frustrated and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
