Nuance Dictionary / Luck, Fate, & Superstition
업보 eop-bo
Karma; facing the unavoidable consequences of one's past bad actions
What does 업보 mean?
업보 (eop-bo) means: Karma; facing the unavoidable consequences of one's past bad actions.
Used heavily in dramas when a villain finally meets their downfall.
🎙️ 업보는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [업뽀]로 소리나요 (경음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 남을 그렇게 괴롭히더니 결국 이런 업보를 받네.
nam-eul geureoke goerop-hideoni gyeolguk ireon eopboreul batne.
After tormenting others like that, they're finally facing this kind of karma.
💡 Often used when someone's bad actions finally catch up to them. - 이거 다 네가 전에 한 짓에 대한 업보야.
igeo da nega jeone han jise daehan eopboya.
This is all karma for what you did before.
💡 Directly links a current misfortune to past misbehavior. - 남에게 그렇게 상처를 주더니 결국 그게 다 자기 업보로 돌아오는구나.
Namege geureoke sangcheoreul judeoni gyeolguk geuge da jagi eopboro doraoneunguna.
He hurt others so much, and in the end, it's all coming back to him as karma.
💡 Used when someone faces inevitable negative consequences for their past misdeeds.
Related words in Luck, Fate, & Superstition
인연 in-yeon악연 ak-yeon팔자 pal-jja터(를) 잡다 teo-reul-jap-da액땜(하다) aek-ttaem-ha-da