Korean Dictionary
How to say "Worry" in Korean
“Worry” in Korean is 걱정 (pronounced "geokjeong").
걱정
geokjeong
Usage & Context
Worry is repetitive thinking about potential negative outcomes. Excessive 걱정 is a hallmark of anxiety disorders and is addressed in Korean CBT programs.
Example Sentence
걱정이 너무 많으면 일상생활에 지장을 줄 수 있다.
Excessive worry can interfere with daily life.
How to use 걱정 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Worry” is 걱정, romanized as geokjeong.
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 걱정.
Pronunciation Guide
걱 (geok) sounds like 'guck' in 'guck-guck' (like a duck sound), with the 'eo' similar to the 'u' in 'but'. 정 (jeong) sounds like 'jung' in 'jungle', again with the 'eo' like 'u' in 'but'. Put it together as 'guck-jung', with fairly even stress.
More Example Sentences
A student feeling stressed about an upcoming test.
시험 때문에 걱정이 많아.
I have a lot of worries because of the exam.
Comforting a friend who is anxious.
너무 걱정하지 마세요. 다 잘 될 거예요.
Don't worry too much. Everything will be fine.
Observing the nature of parental love.
부모님은 항상 자식 걱정뿐이시죠.
Parents are always only worried about their children.
Cultural Context
걱정 (geokjeong) is a very common word in daily Korean life, often heard in conversations about family, work, or future plans. Koreans frequently express concern for others, and '걱정하지 마' (Don't worry) is a common comforting phrase. However, there's also a cultural tendency to internalize worries, sometimes leading to the '화병' (Hwabyung) syndrome, a culture-bound syndrome characterized by anger and frustration due to suppressed emotions.
Editorial note
We review entries like 걱정 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
걱정 마.
Don't worry. (Casual)
걱정하다.
To worry. (Verb form)
걱정이 태산이다.
My worries are like a mountain. (Idiom for having many worries)
Related Expressions
염려
yeomnyeo
concern, apprehension (slightly more formal)
불안
buran
anxiety, uneasiness
근심
geunsim
worry, concern (often deeper, more persistent)
안심
ansim
relief, peace of mind (antonym)
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