Seounhada (서운하다) Meaning: Hurt, but Only a Little
Not sad, not angry. The small hurt when someone you care about doesn't do what you hoped.
4 min read
What 서운하다 means
서운하다 (seounhada) is the hurt of being let down by someone close: a friend forgets your birthday, your partner makes plans without you, a colleague you helped doesn't say thanks. It is milder than anger and more personal than disappointment, and it nearly always involves a relationship.
Koreans often say it out loud, gently: 좀 서운하네 ("I'm a bit hurt"). In English that can sound heavy, which is part of why the word is hard to translate.
서운하다 vs. similar words
| Korean | Feeling | Natural English |
|---|---|---|
| 서운하다 | let down by someone close | hurt, a little hurt, feel left out |
| 섭섭하다 | almost the same; also sad to part | sorry, sad to see you go |
| 아쉽다 | wishing for more (not about a person) | what a shame, if only |
| 슬프다 | plain sadness | sad |
| 속상하다 | upset, frustrated inside | upset, gutted |
서운하다 in real stories
Real lines from our library, with the Korean our readers see.
- The Analects: The Joy of Learning (B2): "And is he not a true gentleman who does not feel hurt when others fail to recognise him?" — 남이 알아주지 않아도 서운해하지 않으면 또한 군자가 아니겠는가?
- The Country of the Pointed Firs (B2): "Mrs. Todd was a little hurt at first, but she soon understood…" — 토드 부인은 처음에는 조금 서운해했지만…
- Frankenstein: The Lonely Island (B2): "'Come back soon,' he said sadly." — "빨리 돌아오게." 클레르발이 서운해하며 말했어요.
- Jane Eyre (B2): "Jane was not sorry to be sent away." — 제인은 쫓겨나도 서운하지 않았어요.
Confucius knew the word
The Analects line is famous in Korea: 남이 알아주지 않아도 서운해하지 않으면 군자. Being overlooked and not minding is the mark of a gentleman. Notice how naturally 서운하다 fits: it is precisely the hurt of not being recognised by others.
The other three lines show the English shifting again: "a little hurt", "sadly", "not sorry". When you meet 서운 in Korean, ask who let whom down.
Read it in context
Our philosophy shelf has Confucius, Laozi and others in clear English with full Korean translations, so you can read either side. For Korean-first stories, start with the Korean folktales and our guide on how to read Korean.
Put it into practice