Korean Dictionary
How to say "Heartbroken" in Korean
“Heartbroken” in Korean is 마음이 아프다 (pronounced "Maeumi apeuda").
마음이 아프다
Maeumi apeuda
Usage & Context
Literally means 'my heart hurts' in Korean, expressing deep emotional pain. Commonly used after breakups, losses, or witnessing suffering. K-drama scenes frequently feature this expression, making it well-known to international fans.
Example Sentence
이별 후에 마음이 너무 아파서 아무것도 할 수 없었어요.
After the breakup, my heart was so broken I couldn't do anything.
How to use 마음이 아프다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Heartbroken” is 마음이 아프다, romanized as Maeumi apeuda.
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 마음이 아프다.
Pronunciation Guide
마음 (ma-eum) sounds like 'ma' in 'mama' followed by 'eum' like the 'um' in 'album'. 이 (i) is like 'ee' in 'see'. 아프다 (a-peu-da) has 'a' like 'father', 'peu' like 'pooh' without the 'h', and 'da' like 'dah' in 'dah-ling'. The stress is generally even across the syllables.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
마음이 아픕니다
Maeumi apeumnida
Standard formal ending for verbs/adjectives.
Casual (반말)
마음 아파
Maeum apa
Often drops the subject particle '이' and uses the casual '아/어' ending.
More Example Sentences
Expressing empathy for a friend's struggles.
친구의 힘든 이야기를 들으니 마음이 아팠어요.
Hearing my friend's difficult story made my heart ache.
Reacting to a sad scene in a K-drama.
드라마 주인공이 죽는 장면에서 정말 마음이 아팠어.
My heart really ached during the scene where the drama protagonist died.
Feeling sad or pained by a parent's hardship.
부모님께서 고생하시는 모습을 보니 마음이 아파요.
Seeing my parents struggle breaks my heart.
Cultural Context
This phrase is incredibly common in K-dramas, especially during emotional breakup scenes or moments of deep personal grief. It's a direct and powerful way to express emotional pain, often accompanied by a hand over the chest. It's used not only for one's own sorrow but also to express deep empathy when witnessing the suffering of others, highlighting a collective emotional sensibility in Korean culture.
Editorial note
We review entries like 마음이 아프다 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
마음이 너무 아파.
My heart hurts so much.
마음 아프게 하지 마.
Don't break my heart / Don't make me sad.
마음이 아플 때
When your heart hurts / When you're heartbroken
Related Expressions
슬프다
Seulpeuda
Sad
가슴 아프다
Gaseum apeuda
Heartbroken (literally 'chest hurts', very similar)
괴롭다
Goeropda
Distressed, tormented
안타깝다
Antakkapda
Pitiable, regrettable (often used when feeling bad for someone)
More Emotions Words
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