Nuance Dictionary / Complex Emotions
시원섭섭하다 si-won-seop-seop-ha-da
Bittersweet — refreshing relief and sadness at exactly the same time
What does 시원섭섭하다 mean?
시원섭섭하다 (si-won-seop-seop-ha-da) means: Bittersweet — refreshing relief and sadness at exactly the same time.
A compound built from '시원하다' (refreshing/relieved) and '섭섭하다' (sad/disappointed) mashed into one word, because Korean decided this specific mixed feeling deserved its own name. Graduating and never seeing your daily classmates again is the textbook '시원섭섭한' moment.
🎙️ 시원섭섭하다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [시원섭써파다]로 소리나요 (격음화, 경음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 드디어 졸업을 하니까 홀가분하면서도 시원섭섭하네.
deudieo jorobeul hanikka holgabunhamyeonseodo siwonseopseophane.
Now that I'm finally graduating, I feel relieved yet bittersweet at the same time.
💡 Perfect for endings like graduation, moving, or quitting a job. - 회사를 그만두는 날 동료들과 인사를 나누니 시원섭섭한 기분이 들었다.
hoesareul geumanduneun nal dongnyodeulgwa insareul nanuni siwonseopseophan gibuni deureotda.
When saying goodbye to colleagues on my last day at work, I felt a mix of relief and sadness.
💡 Can be shortened to '시원섭섭해' in casual conversation. - 매일 가던 학원을 오늘 끝내려니 홀가분하면서도 시원섭섭하네요.
maeil gadeon hagwoneul oneul kkeunnaeryeoni holgapamyeonseodo siwonseopseunghaneyo.
Finishing the academy I went to every day feels a mix of relieving and bittersweet today.
💡 Use when closing a familiar chapter in life.
Related words in Complex Emotions
애매하다 ae-mae-ha-da만감이 교차하다 man-gam-i gyo-cha-ha-da착잡하다 chak-jap-ha-da얼떨떨하다 eol-tteol-tteol-ha-da심란하다 sim-nan-ha-da