Korean Dictionary
How to say "Surprised" in Korean
“Surprised” in Korean is 놀라다 (pronounced "Nollada").
놀라다
Nollada
Usage & Context
Expresses sudden surprise or shock. Koreans often say 깜짝 놀랐어요 (I was startled) for a jump-scare surprise. It can also be used positively for pleasant surprises like unexpected gifts.
Example Sentence
깜짝 파티에 정말 놀랐어요!
I was really surprised by the surprise party!
How to use 놀라다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Surprised” is 놀라다, romanized as Nollada.
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 놀라다.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'nol-la-da' — 'nol' rhymes with 'knoll,' 'la' is a quick open 'lah,' and 'da' ends flat. The double 'l' is slightly drawn out.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
놀랐습니다
nollatseumnida
Formal past-tense form used in writing or formal speech
Casual (반말)
놀랐어
nollasseo
Casual past-tense form commonly used with friends
More Example Sentences
someone jumping out unexpectedly
갑자기 나타나서 깜짝 놀랐어요.
You appeared suddenly and I was totally startled.
reacting to unexpectedly good or bad results
시험 점수를 보고 놀랐어요.
I was surprised when I saw my test score.
reacting to surprising news
그 소식 듣고 진짜 놀랐어요.
I was really shocked when I heard that news.
Cultural Context
놀라다 is usually used in the past tense (놀랐어요) since surprise is a reactive state. The word 깜짝 (kkamjjak) often precedes it for sudden fright — 깜짝 놀랐어요 is one of the most common expressions in daily conversation. For pleasant surprises, people may also use 의외다 (it's unexpected).
Editorial note
We review entries like 놀라다 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
깜짝 놀랐어요!
I was totally startled!
놀라지 마세요.
Don't be surprised.
정말 놀라운 일이에요.
It's a truly surprising thing.
Related Expressions
깜짝 놀라다
kkamjjak nollada
to be startled / jump
충격
chunggyeok
shock / impact
의외다
uioeda
to be unexpected
어이없다
eoieopda
to be dumbfounded
More Emotions Words
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