Korean Dictionary
How to say "Misfortune" in Korean
“Misfortune” in Korean is 불운 (pronounced "Burun").
불운
Burun
Usage & Context
Misfortune refers to bad luck or an unfortunate event. Korean culture has many proverbs and expressions dealing with the concept of misfortune and how to face it.
Example Sentence
불운이 찾아와도 포기하지 마세요.
Even when misfortune comes, do not give up.
How to use 불운 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Misfortune” is 불운, romanized as Burun.
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 불운.
Pronunciation Guide
불 (bul) sounds like 'bull' or 'pool' but with a 'b' sound. 운 (un) is like 'oon' in 'moon'. The stress is relatively even.
More Example Sentences
Describing someone's resilience in the face of adversity.
그는 계속되는 불운에도 불구하고 희망을 잃지 않았다.
Despite continuous misfortune, he didn't lose hope.
Lamenting a series of unfortunate events.
이번 사고는 정말 불운의 연속이었어.
This accident was truly a string of misfortunes.
Reflecting on personal growth through difficult experiences.
불운을 겪을 때마다 더 강해지는 것 같아요.
It seems I get stronger every time I experience misfortune.
Cultural Context
Koreans often use expressions related to '불운' in daily life, sometimes attributing it to 사주 (saju, a form of fortune-telling) or 팔자 (palja, one's fate). While modern Koreans are less superstitious, the concept of 'bad luck' or 'unfortunate fate' still resonates. People might say '운이 없었어' (I had no luck) or '팔자가 사납다' (My fate is harsh) when facing difficulties, reflecting a blend of fatalism and resilience.
Editorial note
We review entries like 불운 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
불운이 닥치다.
Misfortune strikes.
불운을 겪다.
To experience misfortune.
불운을 이겨내다.
To overcome misfortune.
Related Expressions
악운
agun
Bad luck, ill fortune (stronger, more negative connotation)
재수 없음
jaesu eopseum
Bad luck, misfortune (more colloquial, often used to express annoyance)
행운
haengun
Good luck, fortune (antonym)
액땜
aekttaem
Averting misfortune (by experiencing a minor one or performing a ritual)
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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