Korean Dictionary
How to say "Social Anxiety" in Korean
“Social Anxiety” in Korean is 사회 불안 (pronounced "sahoe buran").
사회 불안
sahoe buran
Usage & Context
Social anxiety is intense fear or nervousness in social situations. In Korea, where social harmony and conformity are highly valued, 사회 불안 can be particularly challenging for individuals.
Example Sentence
사회 불안으로 사람들 앞에 서는 것이 두렵다.
Due to social anxiety, I am afraid of standing in front of people.
How to use 사회 불안 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Social Anxiety” is 사회 불안, romanized as sahoe buran.
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 사회 불안.
Pronunciation Guide
'사회' (sahoe) is pronounced 'sah-hway', with 'sah' like in 'sahara' and 'hway' like in 'highway'. '불안' (buran) sounds like 'boo-ran', with 'ran' similar to 'run' but with a slightly more open 'a' sound. The pronunciation is generally even-paced.
More Example Sentences
Someone describing their nervousness during public speaking.
발표할 때마다 사회 불안 때문에 너무 떨려요.
Every time I have to give a presentation, I tremble so much because of social anxiety.
Someone explaining difficulty in social situations.
사회 불안이 심해서 새로운 사람들을 만나는 게 어려워요.
My social anxiety is severe, so it's hard for me to meet new people.
Someone actively working on their social anxiety.
사회 불안을 극복하기 위해 상담 치료를 받고 있어요.
I'm receiving counseling therapy to overcome social anxiety.
Cultural Context
In Korea, where social harmony, collective identity (우리, 'we' concept), and maintaining 'face' (체면) are highly valued, '사회 불안' can be particularly challenging. Individuals may feel intense pressure to conform, avoid making mistakes, or fear negative judgment, which can exacerbate anxiety in social settings. The fear of standing out or causing discomfort to others is a significant burden, often observed in school, workplace, and even casual social gatherings. Awareness and open discussion about social anxiety are slowly increasing.
Editorial note
We review entries like 사회 불안 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
사회 불안을 겪다
to experience social anxiety
사회 불안이 심하다
to have severe social anxiety
사회 불안 장애
social anxiety disorder (clinical term)
Related Expressions
대인기피증
daein gipijeung
social phobia, avoidance of people (stronger term)
발표 공포증
balpyo gongpojeung
public speaking anxiety/phobia
자의식
ja-uisik
self-consciousness
소심하다
sosimhada
to be timid, shy (adjective)
More Mental Health & Wellness Words
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