Korean Dictionary
How to say "Guilt" in Korean
“Guilt” in Korean is 죄책감 (pronounced "joechaekgam").
죄책감
joechaekgam
Usage & Context
Guilt is the feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing. Excessive 죄책감 can contribute to depression, and Korean therapists help clients distinguish between healthy guilt and shame-based self-attack.
Example Sentence
과도한 죄책감은 우울증의 증상일 수 있다.
Excessive guilt can be a symptom of depression.
How to use 죄책감 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Guilt” is 죄책감, romanized as joechaekgam.
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 죄책감.
Pronunciation Guide
죄 (joe) sounds like 'jweh' or 'jway' (like 'j' in 'jet' + 'way'). 책 (chaek) sounds like 'check' in 'check mark'. 감 (gam) sounds like 'gahm' (like 'gum' but with an 'ah' sound). Put it together as 'jweh-check-gahm'. The '죄' syllable can be a bit tricky, practice the 'jw' sound.
More Example Sentences
Reflecting on a personal wrongdoing.
친구에게 거짓말을 해서 죄책감이 들었다.
I felt guilty for lying to my friend.
Describing someone's prolonged emotional distress.
죄책감에 시달리다.
To suffer from guilt.
Explaining the motivation behind an apology.
그는 죄책감을 덜기 위해 사과했다.
He apologized to lessen his guilt.
Cultural Context
죄책감 (joechaekgam) is a universal emotion, but in Korea, it can be particularly tied to filial piety (효, hyo) and group harmony. Failing to meet family expectations or causing discord within a group can lead to significant 죄책감. In K-dramas, characters often grapple with 죄책감 over past actions, driving much of the plot, especially in revenge or redemption narratives.
Editorial note
We review entries like 죄책감 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
죄책감을 느끼다.
To feel guilty.
죄책감에 시달리다.
To be tormented by guilt.
죄책감을 덜다.
To alleviate guilt.
Related Expressions
책임감
chaegimgam
sense of responsibility (related concept)
후회
huhwe
regret (often accompanies guilt)
양심의 가책
yangsimui gachaek
pangs of conscience, remorse
면죄
myeonjoe
absolution, acquittal (antonym)
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