What does 어떡해 mean?
어떡해 (eo-tteo-kae) means: what should I do / oh no (contracted exclamation).
A contraction of 어떻게 해 that stands alone as an emotional reaction.
◆ Shared helplessness — Distinct from '어떻게' (how). This is a helpless shared panic. It signals that the listener is paralyzed by the bad news too, refusing to stand above the situation as an objective advisor.
◆ Shared helplessness — Distinct from '어떻게' (how). This is a helpless shared panic. It signals that the listener is paralyzed by the bad news too, refusing to stand above the situation as an objective advisor.
🔊 From the story above
어떡해 — Eotteoke vs Eotteokhae
있다가 만나요 — *it-da-ga man-na-yo*
어떻게 — *eo-tteo-ke*, "how"
어떻게 해 — *eo-tteo-ke hae*, "what do I do with this"
있다가 — *it-da-ga*, "while staying / and then leaving"
있다 — *it-da*, "to be / to stay somewhere"
이따가 — *i-tta-ga*, "later, in a bit"
나중에 — *na-jung-e*, "later"
🔊 From part 2’s story
위로 — Wi-ro
세상에 — Se-sang-e
어떡해 — Eot-teok-hae
어떻게 — eot-teo-ke, "how"
진짜 속상하겠다 — Jin-jja Sok-sang-ha-get-da
속상하다 — sok-sang-ha-da, "to feel hurt / upset deep inside"
그 마음 어쩌냐 — Geu Ma-eum Eo-jjeo-nya
마음 — ma-eum
Read the full story → · More on this word (part 2) →
🎙️ 어떡해는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [어떠캐]로 소리나요 (격음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 지갑을 지하철에 두고 내렸어, 어떡해?
jigabeul jihachereul dugo naeryeosseo, eotteokhae?
I left my wallet on the subway, what should I do?
💡 Used immediately after realizing a sudden mistake or trouble. - 시간이 벌써 이렇게 됐어? 어떡해, 약속 늦겠다.
sigani beolsseo ireoke dwaesseo? eotteokhae, yaksok neutgetda.
Has it gotten this late already? Oh no, I'm going to be late for my appointment.
💡 Expresses panic upon noticing running out of time. - 내일 시험인데 하나도 안 읽었어, 어떡해.
naeil siheomingende hanado an ilgeosseo, eotteokhae.
I have an exam tomorrow and I haven't read a single thing, what am I going to do?
💡 Expresses anxiety about an impending deadline or test.