Korean Dictionary
How to say "Overwhelmed" in Korean
“Overwhelmed” in Korean is 압도되다 (pronounced "Apdoedda").
압도되다
Apdoedda
Usage & Context
Describes feeling overcome by an intense emotion or too many responsibilities. Can swing positive (overwhelmed with joy) or negative (overwhelmed with work). Common in Korea's demanding work and academic culture.
Example Sentence
할 일이 너무 많아서 압도되는 느낌이에요.
I feel overwhelmed because there's so much to do.
How to use 압도되다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Overwhelmed” is 압도되다, romanized as Apdoedda.
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 압도되다.
Pronunciation Guide
압 (ap) sounds like 'ap' in 'apple' but with a strong, unreleased 'p' sound at the end. 도 (do) is like 'doe'. 되 (dwae) is similar to 'do' but with a slightly wider mouth shape, like 'dweh'. 다 (da) is like 'da' in 'dad'. Note that '도되다' often sounds like '또되다' (tto-dwae-da) due to consonant assimilation, making the 'ㄷ' sound tense. The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
압도돼요
Apdoedwaeyo
Common polite form used in everyday conversation.
Casual (반말)
압도돼
Apdoedwae
Casual form used with close friends or subordinates.
More Example Sentences
Describing a powerful and impactful performance or speech.
그의 연설에 청중은 완전히 압도되었다.
The audience was completely overwhelmed by his speech.
Feeling stressed or burdened by too many tasks at work.
새로운 업무량에 압도되는 기분이었어요.
I felt overwhelmed by the new workload.
Experiencing intense positive emotion, like joy or gratitude.
그녀는 예상치 못한 선물에 감격하여 압도되었다.
She was overwhelmed with emotion by the unexpected gift.
Cultural Context
압도되다 implies being overcome by something, whether it's a feeling, a task, or an experience. In Korea's fast-paced society and demanding work/academic culture, it's common to hear people express feeling '압도되다' by workload (업무량에 압도되다) or study pressure. However, it can also describe being overwhelmed by beauty, joy, or a powerful performance, like in K-pop concerts where fans might feel '압도적인 감동' (overwhelming emotion). The nuance depends heavily on context.
Editorial note
We review entries like 압도되다 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
업무에 압도되다
To be overwhelmed by work
감정에 압도되다
To be overwhelmed by emotion
압도적인 존재감
Overwhelming presence
Related Expressions
벅차다
Beokchada
To be overwhelming, too much to handle (often used for emotions or tasks)
감당하기 어렵다
Gamdanghagi eoryeopda
To be difficult to handle/manage
넘치다
Neomchida
To overflow, to be full of (can be used for overwhelming emotions like joy)
지치다
Jichida
To be exhausted, tired (often a result of being overwhelmed)
More Emotions Words
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