Nuance Dictionary / Emotions & Feelings
수줍다 sujubda
The heart-fluttering, breathless hesitation and blushing modesty experienced around someone you're romantically drawn to.
What does 수줍다 mean?
수줍다 (sujubda) means: The heart-fluttering, breathless hesitation and blushing modesty experienced around someone you're romantically drawn to.
Textbooks often translate this flatly as 'shy,' but native speakers use it to capture that specific, electrifying vulnerability when your crush makes eye contact. It’s not about general social anxiety or being introverted; it’s the physical and emotional stammering caused by sudden romantic butterflies. Learners often overuse it for general timidity, missing the intimate, soft-focus romantic warmth it actually projects.
Other sides of 수줍다
◆ Innocent modesty — When a Korean person receives a compliment and their face softens while they look down or wave their hand dismissively, they are exhibiting 'sujubda'. It is the social art of downplaying one’s own shine to appear approachable and modest rather than arrogant. Learners often mistake this for a lack of confidence, but it is actually a social lubricant used to maintain harmony and endear oneself to others.
🎙️ 수줍다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [수줍따]로 소리나요 (경음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 그 사람이 고백했을 때, 수줍은 미소만 지었어요.
geu sarami gobaekhaesseul ttae, sujeubeun misoman jieosseoyo.
When they confessed their feelings, I could only manage a shy, fluttering smile.
💡 Reveals how the word paints the classic physical reaction to sudden romantic affection. - 네가 그렇게 쳐다보면 나 너무 수줍단 말이야.
nega geureoke chyeodabomyeon na neomu sujeubdan mariya.
When you look at me like that, I get all shy and flustered.
💡 Shows the playful, slightly teasing way modern couples use it to acknowledge mutual attraction. - 수줍게 건네는 손길에 마음이 확 녹아버렸어.
sujubge geonneneun songire maeumi hwak nogabeoryeosseo.
My heart completely melted at the bashfully hesitant touch they offered.
💡 Connects the physical hesitation of the word directly to a moment of intense romantic melting.
Related words in Emotions & Feelings
웃프다 ut-peu-da아이고 aigo아이구 Aigu아이고 참 Aigu cham안달나다 An-dal-na-da