Nuance Dictionary / Social Awkwardness
민망하다 min-mang-ha-da
Embarrassed to the point of not knowing where to look; secondhand embarrassment
What does 민망하다 mean?
민망하다 (min-mang-ha-da) means: Embarrassed to the point of not knowing where to look; secondhand embarrassment.
You can feel this for yourself, but often for others. If your friend sings terribly in public and everyone is staring, you don't feel guilty, you feel '민망하다'—so embarrassed you want to hide your face.
How it's actually used
- 친구 혼자서 노래 부르는 걸 보는데 내가 다 민망했다.
chingu honjaseo norae bureuneun geol boneunde naega da minmanghaetda.
Watching my friend sing alone like that gave me secondhand embarrassment.
💡 Often used for secondhand embarrassment. - 너무 칭찬을 거하게 받으니까 좀 민망하네요.
neomu chingchaneul geohage badeunikka jom minmanghaneyo.
Getting such huge compliments makes me a bit bashful.
💡 Used when feeling shy or awkward from too much attention. - 친구가 카페에서 뜬금없이 사랑고백을 하는 바람에 내가 다 민망해서 고개를 들 수가 없었다.
chingu-ga kape-seo tteum-eop-si sarang-gobaek-eul haneun baram-e nae-ga da minmang-haeseo gogae-eul deul suga eop-seot-da.
My friend suddenly confessed their love at a café, and I felt so second-hand embarrassed I couldn't even raise my head.
💡 Use this when you feel embarrassed simply by witnessing someone else's awkward or over-the-top behavior.