Korean Dictionary
How to say "Caught Red-Handed" in Korean
“Caught Red-Handed” in Korean is 현행범으로 잡히다 (pronounced "Hyeonhaengbeomro Japida").
현행범으로 잡히다
Hyeonhaengbeomro Japida
Usage & Context
Being caught red-handed means being caught in the act of doing something wrong. This concept is clearly expressed in Korean legal and everyday language.
Example Sentence
그 사람이 현행범으로 잡혔어요.
That person was caught red-handed.
How to use 현행범으로 잡히다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Caught Red-Handed” is 현행범으로 잡히다, romanized as Hyeonhaengbeomro Japida.
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 현행범으로 잡히다.
Pronunciation Guide
현행범으로 (hyun-haeng-beom-roh) sounds like 'hyun' in 'Hyundai', 'haeng' like 'hang', 'beom' like 'bum', and 'roh' like 'row'. 잡히다 (jah-pee-dah) sounds like 'jah' in 'jar', 'pee' in 'pea', and 'dah' in 'data'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
현행범으로 잡혀요
Hyeonhaengbeomro Japyeoyo
Standard polite form, commonly used.
Casual (반말)
현행범으로 잡혀
Hyeonhaengbeomro Japyeo
Standard casual form.
More Example Sentences
Reporting a crime in the news.
도둑이 현행범으로 잡혀 경찰서로 연행되었다.
The thief was caught red-handed and taken to the police station.
A student confessing to being caught cheating.
시험 중 부정행위를 하다가 현행범으로 잡혔어.
I was caught red-handed cheating during the exam.
A lighthearted story about being caught doing something mischievous.
몰래 과자를 먹다가 엄마한테 현행범으로 잡혔지 뭐야.
Guess what, I was caught red-handed by Mom while secretly eating snacks.
Cultural Context
While '현행범' (hyeonhaengbeom) is a legal term meaning 'offender caught in the act,' its usage extends widely into everyday Korean. It's used to describe being caught doing anything wrong, from serious crimes to minor mischief like secretly eating snacks. The phrase emphasizes the undeniable nature of being caught 'in the moment,' leaving no room for excuses, a common trope in K-dramas for comedic or dramatic effect.
Editorial note
We review entries like 현행범으로 잡히다 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
현행범으로 체포되다
to be arrested as a red-handed criminal
현행범으로 붙잡히다
to be apprehended as a red-handed criminal
현행범으로 몰리다
to be accused/framed as a red-handed criminal
Related Expressions
딱 걸리다
ttak geollida
to be caught exactly (casual)
증거를 잡다
jeunggeoreul japda
to catch evidence
들키다
deulkida
to be discovered, to be found out
도망치다
domangchida
to escape, to run away
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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