Korean Dictionary
How to say "Hateful" in Korean
“Hateful” in Korean is 증오하다 (pronounced "Jeungohada").
증오하다
Jeungohada
Usage & Context
Expresses intense hatred — a very strong emotion in Korean. Often used in serious contexts like describing hatred toward injustice, discrimination, or deep personal betrayal. Less casual than 싫어하다 (dislike) — 증오 implies deep, sustained hatred.
Example Sentence
불공정함을 증오해요.
I hate injustice.
How to use 증오하다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Hateful” is 증오하다, romanized as Jeungohada.
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 증오하다.
Pronunciation Guide
증 (jeung) sounds like 'jung' in 'jungle' but with a slightly softer 'j' and a 'ng' sound at the end. 오 (o) sounds like 'oh' in 'go'. 하 (ha) sounds like 'ha' in 'haha'. 다 (da) sounds like 'da' in 'dad'. The emphasis is fairly even, with a slight stress on '증'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
증오합니다
Jeungohamnida
Used in formal settings, presentations, or when addressing superiors.
Casual (반말)
증오해
Jeungoohae
Used among close friends, family, or in informal writing.
More Example Sentences
Expressing deep personal hatred due to betrayal.
그는 자신을 배신한 사람을 증오했어요.
He hated the person who betrayed him.
Hatred towards historical injustice or violence.
역사 속의 잔혹한 전쟁을 증오합니다.
I hate the cruel wars in history.
Hatred as a motivator for social change.
차별과 불평등을 증오하는 마음으로 사회 운동에 참여했어요.
I participated in social movements with a heart that hates discrimination and inequality.
Cultural Context
증오하다 is a very strong verb, indicating deep-seated, intense hatred, much more profound than simply 'disliking' (싫어하다). It's often used in serious contexts like political speeches, historical discussions, or dramatic narratives (K-dramas, movies) where characters express extreme animosity towards injustice, enemies, or betrayers. It implies a sustained, powerful negative emotion rather than a fleeting one. Using it in casual conversation would be highly unusual and convey extreme intensity.
Editorial note
We review entries like 증오하다 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
증오심을 품다
To harbor hatred
증오의 감정
Feelings of hatred
증오 범죄
Hate crime
Related Expressions
미워하다
miwohada
To hate, to dislike (less intense than 증오하다, more common for people)
싫어하다
sireohada
To dislike (general, mildest form of negative feeling)
혐오하다
hyeomohada
To detest, to abhor (similar intensity to 증오하다, often for ideas/groups)
사랑하다
saranghada
To love (antonym)
More Emotions Words
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