What does 웃다 mean?
웃다 (ut-da) means: To laugh / To smile.
Speakers use this verb when someone's face opens up or they make a sound due to happiness, satisfaction, or amusement. It pairs with adverbs and descriptive modifiers like 활짝, 빙그레, 순박한 웃음, and 푸근한 웃음. It appears in contexts ranging from an infant smiling at a mother's face to people continuing to laugh at a lighthearted story, and can take a cognate object construction like 웃음을 웃다.
Depending on the modifier attached, it can convey anything from a soft, gentle smile to a hearty, open laugh.
Depending on the modifier attached, it can convey anything from a soft, gentle smile to a hearty, open laugh.
Other sides of 웃다
◆ coping mechanism — Speakers use this when reacting to an absurd, frustrating, or helpless situation where smiling or laughing is an involuntary response. It often appears in descriptions of awkward moments or when a person faces conditions that provoke disbelief. It combines with modifying expressions that describe bitter, hollow, or forced reactions.
Can convey a sense of helpless resignation or defensive irony, where outward laughter serves to bridge an uncomfortable gap rather than express genuine happiness.
◆ mockery — Speakers use this when someone's behavior or words are unacceptable and viewed with contempt. It combines with particles like 을/를 or adverbs showing mockery such as 무시하며. It appears in situations where people laugh behind someone's back or openly mock their fumbling actions.
This can feel cutting and dismissive to the person targeted, often signaling open disrespect rather than shared amusement.
Can convey a sense of helpless resignation or defensive irony, where outward laughter serves to bridge an uncomfortable gap rather than express genuine happiness.
◆ mockery — Speakers use this when someone's behavior or words are unacceptable and viewed with contempt. It combines with particles like 을/를 or adverbs showing mockery such as 무시하며. It appears in situations where people laugh behind someone's back or openly mock their fumbling actions.
This can feel cutting and dismissive to the person targeted, often signaling open disrespect rather than shared amusement.
🎙️ 웃다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [욷따]로 소리나요 (경음화, 받침규칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 아기가 엄마의 얼굴을 보고 방긋 웃는다.
a-gi-ga eom-ma-eui eol-gul-eul bo-go bang-geut ut-neun-da.
The baby looks at his mother's face and smiles brightly.
💡 Shows an infant smiling at a familiar face. - 우리는 별 것 아닌 이야기에도 즐거워서 계속 웃었다.
u-ri-neun byeol geot an-in i-ya-gi-e-do jeul-geo-wseo gye-sok ut-eot-da.
We kept laughing because we were happy even at a trivial story.
💡 Shows people laughing continuously out of enjoyment. - 지수가 이를 드러내며 환하게 웃으면 얼굴에서 빛이 난다.
ji-su-ga i-reul deureo-nae-myeo hwan-ha-ge ut-eu-myeon eol-gul-e-seo bit-i nan-da.
When Jisoo bares her teeth and smiles brightly, her face glows.
💡 Shows a broad, open smile revealing teeth.