Korean Dictionary
How to say "Scared" in Korean
“Scared” in Korean is 무섭다 (pronounced "Museopda").
무섭다
Museopda
Usage & Context
One of the most common fear expressions in Korean. Can describe both physical fear and emotional dread. Often heard in haunted houses, horror movies, or scary situations. 무서워! is a casual exclamation meaning 'I'm scared!'
Example Sentence
귀신의 집이 너무 무서웠어요.
The haunted house was so scary.
How to use 무섭다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Scared” is 무섭다, romanized as Museopda.
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 무섭다.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'moo-seop-da' — 'mu' is a short 'moo,' 'seop' rhymes with 'sub' but with a rounded vowel, and 'da' ends flat.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
무섭습니다
museopseumnida
Formal form used in writing or formal speech
Casual (반말)
무서워
museowo
Casual form, often shouted as 무서워! when startled
More Example Sentences
explaining why you don't like being alone
혼자 집에 있으면 무서워요.
I get scared when I'm home alone.
recounting an unsettling encounter
그 사람 눈빛이 너무 무서웠어요.
That person's gaze was really scary.
during a thunderstorm
천둥소리가 무서워서 잠을 못 잤어요.
I couldn't sleep because the thunder was scary.
Cultural Context
무섭다 covers both 'scary' (describing a thing) and 'scared' (describing a feeling) depending on context — 귀신이 무서워요 can mean either 'ghosts are scary' or 'I'm scared of ghosts.' In casual speech, 무서워! is a go-to exclamation during horror movies and haunted houses. For mild nervousness, Koreans use 긴장되다 instead.
Editorial note
We review entries like 무섭다 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
무서워요.
I'm scared.
무서운 영화
A scary movie
무서워 죽겠어요.
I'm scared to death.
Related Expressions
두렵다
duryeopda
to be afraid / fearful (more literary)
겁나다
geopnada
to get scared / chicken out
공포
gongpo
horror / terror
용감하다
yonggamhada
to be brave (antonym concept)
More Emotions Words
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