Korean Dictionary
How to say "Guilty" in Korean
“Guilty” in Korean is 죄책감을 느끼다 (pronounced "Joechaekgameul neukkida").
죄책감을 느끼다
Joechaekgameul neukkida
Usage & Context
Describes the internal feeling of moral guilt for wrongdoing. Different from shame (부끄럽다) which is more public — guilt is a private, conscience-driven emotion. Common in religious and ethical discussions in Korea.
Example Sentence
친구에게 거짓말을 해서 죄책감을 느껴요.
I feel guilty for lying to my friend.
How to use 죄책감을 느끼다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Guilty” is 죄책감을 느끼다, romanized as Joechaekgameul neukkida.
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 죄책감을 느끼다.
Pronunciation Guide
죄책감 (Joechaekgam) is pronounced "Jwe-chaek-gam." "Jwe" is like 'jway' (as in 'highway'). "Chaek" is like 'check'. "Gam" is like 'gum'. 을 (eul) is a short 'u' sound followed by 'l'. 느끼다 (neukkida) is "Neu-kki-da." "Neu" is like 'new'. "Kki" is a tense 'k' sound followed by 'ee'. "Da" is like 'dah'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
죄책감을 느껴요 / 죄책감을 느낍니다
Joechaekgameul neukkyeoyo / Joechaekgameul neukkimnida
Standard polite forms for verbs.
Casual (반말)
죄책감을 느껴
Joechaekgameul neukkyeo
Casual form for verbs.
More Example Sentences
Feeling guilty about breaking a commitment.
약속을 지키지 못해서 죄책감을 느꼈어요.
I felt guilty for not keeping my promise.
Experiencing survivor's guilt or similar profound regret.
그의 희생에 대해 죄책감을 떨칠 수 없었다.
I couldn't shake off the guilt about his sacrifice.
Struggling with guilt after deceiving family.
부모님께 거짓말을 한 후 죄책감에 시달렸어요.
After lying to my parents, I suffered from guilt.
Cultural Context
죄책감을 느끼다 describes the internal, conscience-driven feeling of guilt for having committed a wrongdoing, whether intentional or not. It's a private emotion, distinct from '부끄럽다' (shame), which often has a social component. In Korean culture, where communal harmony and filial piety are important, causing harm or disappointment to others, especially family, can lead to significant '죄책감.' This feeling is often explored in K-dramas and literature, particularly in narratives involving moral dilemmas or redemption.
Editorial note
We review entries like 죄책감을 느끼다 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
죄책감에 시달리다
To suffer from guilt
죄책감을 가지다
To have guilt
죄책감에서 벗어나다
To escape from guilt
Related Expressions
후회하다
Huhwehada
To regret
반성하다
Banseonghada
To reflect on one's mistakes, to self-reflect
책임감을 느끼다
Chaekimgameul neukkida
To feel a sense of responsibility
양심의 가책
Yangsimui gachaek
Remorse of conscience (stronger, more formal)
More Emotions Words
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