Anxiety & Uncertainty

Words in this collection

• 아슬아슬하다 (a-seul-a-seul-ha-da) — The visual of someone walking on a tightrope. If a glass cup is teetering on the absolute edge of a table, it looks '아슬아슬하다'. If you arrive at the airport 2 minutes before the gate closes, your timing was '아슬아슬하다'.
• 불안하다 (bul-an-ha-da) — The standard word for anxiety. You feel '불안하다' when you hear strange noises outside at night, or when the stock market crashes. It means your 'peace' (안) is 'not there' (불).
• 초조하다 (cho-jo-ha-da) — The physical manifestation of anxiety. You are biting your nails, pacing back and forth, checking the clock every 10 seconds while waiting for the results of an important exam. That specific jittery feeling is '초조하다'.
• 뒤숭숭하다 (dwi-sung-sung-ha-da) — You wake up from a terrifyingly vivid nightmare, and even though you are awake, your heart feels heavy and strange all morning. Your mood is '뒤숭숭하다'. Also used when bad rumors are circulating the office.
• 찝찝하다 (jjip-jjip-ha-da) — Literally describes the feeling of wearing damp socks. Emotionally, it's when you leave the house and can't remember if you locked the door, or when someone accepts your apology but their tone was weird. A lingering, sticky discomfort.
• 조마조마하다 (jo-ma-jo-ma-ha-da) — You are watching a horror movie and the character slowly opens a closet door. Your heart is pounding. You feel '조마조마하다'. Also used when watching your favorite sports team defend a 1-point lead in the final minute.
• 캄캄하다 (kam-kam-ha-da) — Literally means you can't see anything because it's dark. Metaphorically, if you check your bank account and you have $1 but rent is due tomorrow, your future looks '캄캄하다' (pitch black/hopeless).
• 막막하다 (mang-mak-ha-da) — Imagine being dropped in the middle of a vast desert with no map. That feeling of vast, empty panic is '막막하다'. You feel this when you lose your job suddenly or have to solve a massive problem with zero clues.