Nuance Dictionary / Deep Sorrow

먹먹하다 meok-meok-ha-da

Feeling choked up with heavy emotion, unable to speak

This refers to the physical sensation of your chest tightening and your ears feeling blocked (like when you're in an airplane). Emotionally, it's used when a sad movie or a tragic news story hits you so hard that you are stunned into heavy silence.

← Back to the full Nuance Dictionary