Nuance Dictionary / Top N Listicles
세상에 se-sang-e
Good grief / Oh my goodness — an instinctive exclamation of shock
What does 세상에 mean?
세상에 (se-sang-e) means: Good grief / Oh my goodness — an instinctive exclamation of shock.
Literally invoking the whole world. It's not a question; it's a gasped boundary-marker that says 'the reality I thought I knew just shattered for a second, right alongside yours.'
🔊 From the story above
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
How it's actually used
- 세상에, 이 옷이 아직도 맞네?
Sesange, i osi ajikdo matne?
Good grief, this outfit still fits me?
💡 Used in pleasant disbelief or shock. - 세상에, 그 사람이 그런 짓을 했다고?
Sesange, geu sarami geureon jiseul haetdago?
Oh my goodness, that person actually did something like that?
💡 Used to express sheer astonishment at gossip or news. - 아이고 세상에, 다친 데는 없어요?
Aigo sesange, dachin deneun eopseoyo?
Oh my word, are you hurt anywhere?
💡 Used immediately upon witnessing an accident or fall.
Related words in Top N Listicles
진짜 속상하겠다 jin-jja sok-sang-ha-get-da그 마음 어쩌냐 geu ma-eum eo-jjeo-nya일단 내 말 들어 il-dan nae mal deureo그리다 geu-ri-da진짜? jin-jja?