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TL;DR – Korean words that trip up even natives.
This post clarifies look-alike pairs and common misspellings learners constantly meet—many of which confuse native speakers, too. You’ll see what’s both acceptable (가엾다/가엽다, 서먹서먹하다/서먹하다, 소름 끼치다/소름 돋다) vs. what has only one standard form (얻다 not *엇다*, 덮이다 not *덮히다*, 뒤처지다 not *뒤쳐지다* when you mean “fall behind”).
It also separates look-alike meanings—벌이다 (start/run an event) vs. 벌리다 (widen a gap); 머지않다 (“soon”) vs. 멀지 않다 (“not far”); 한편 (“on the other hand/meanwhile”) vs. 한 편 (“one episode/part”).
Keep an eye on adverbs in -히 (e.g., 꼼꼼히), idioms like 염치 불고 (“regardless of shame”), and frequently mixed verbs such as 되뇌다, 헤매다. Each entry gives meaning + clean examples so you can use them with confidence.
Continuing from the previous post, we explore more Korean expressions and spellings that even native speakers find confusing.
3. Confusing Pronunciations and Spellings
가엾다(O) =가엽다(O)
가엾다, 가엽다
l 의미: 불쌍하고 안타깝다.
l Meaning: To feel pity or sympathy for someone.
l 예문1: 길가에서 추위에 떨고 있는 강아지가 정말 가엾었다.
l 예문2: 길가에서 추위에 떨고 있는 강아지가 정말 가엽었다.
l Example: I felt so sorry for the puppy shivering in the cold by the roadside.
얻다(O) /엇다(X) → 얻다
l 의미: 어떤 물건이나 결과를 손에 넣다.
l Meaning: To obtain or acquire something.
l 예문: 그는 노력 끝에 원하는 결과를 얻었다.
l Example: He achieved the desired result after much effort.
염치 불고(O) /염치 불구(X) → 염치 불고
l 의미: 부끄러움을 무릅쓰고 일을 강행함.
l Meaning: Acting boldly despite feeling shame or embarrassment.
l 예문: 그는 염치 불고하고 도움을 요청했다.
l Example: He asked for help without regard for shame.
내로라하다(O) /내노라하다(X) → 내로라하다
l 의미: 스스로 자랑할 만한 뛰어난 존재임을 나타냄.
l Meaning: To be outstanding or worthy of pride.
l 예문: 이곳에는 내로라하는 요리사들이 모여 있다.
l Example: The best chefs are gathered here.
덮이다(O) /덮히다(X) → 덮이다
l 의미: 어떤 것이 다른 물건 위를 감싸거나 가리게 되다.
l Meaning: To be covered or concealed by something.
l 예문: 산 전체가 눈으로 덮였다.
l Example: The entire mountain was covered in snow.
벌이다(행사 시작) /벌리다(간격)
벌이다
l 의미: 어떤 일을 계획하여 시작하거나 펼치다.
l Meaning: To start or carry out an event or plan.
l 예문: 그는 친구들과 함께 큰 축제를 벌였다.
l Example: He organized a grand festival with his friends.
벌리다
l 의미: 간격을 넓히거나 거리나 틈을 크게 하다.
l Meaning: To widen a gap or increase the distance or space between things.
l 예문: 그는 두 팔을 벌려 환영의 표시를 했다.
l Example: He spread his arms wide to show a gesture of welcome.
흉측하다(O) /흉칙하다(X) → 흉측하다
l 의미: 모양이나 모습이 흉하고 보기 싫다.
l Meaning: To be ugly or hideous in appearance.
l 예문: 폐허가 된 집은 흉측하게 보였다.
l Example: The ruined house looked hideous.
되뇌다(O) /되뇌이다(X) → 되뇌다
l 의미: 같은 말을 반복하여 말하다.
l Meaning: To repeat something over and over again.
l 예문: 그는 중요한 부분을 계속 되뇌며 기억하려 했다.
l Example: He kept repeating the important part to remember it.
헤매다(O) /헤메다(X) → 헤매다
l 의미: 길이나 방향을 잃고 이리저리 돌아다니다.
l Meaning: To wander around aimlessly or lose one’s way.
l 예문: 그는 낯선 도시에 와서 한참을 헤맸다.
l Example: He wandered around for a while in the unfamiliar city.
4. Easily Confused Expressions
깨나(O) /께나(X) → 깨나
l 의미: 꽤나, 적지 않게.
l Meaning: Quite or considerably.
l 예문: 그는 돈을 깨나 벌었다고 자랑했다.
l Example: He boasted that he had earned quite a bit of money.
등잔 밑(O) /등잔밑(X) → 등잔 밑
l 의미: 가까운 곳에 있는 것을 알아차리지 못함을 비유적으로 표현.
l Meaning: A metaphor for failing to notice something nearby.
l 예문: 등잔 밑이 어둡다고, 범인이 바로 옆에 있었다.
l Example: As the saying goes, “The darkest place is under the lamp,” the culprit was right next to us.
한편/ 한 편
한편 (Noun)
l 의미: 어떤 일이 진행되는 동안 다른 한 측면
l Meaning: Another side or perspective.
l 예문: 한편으로는 그의 말이 옳다고 생각했다.
l Example: On the other hand, I thought his argument was valid.
한 편 (Determiner + Noun)
l 의미: 하나의 편
l Meaning: One episode or one part, depending on the context.
l 예문: 이 영화는 한 편, 즉 하나의 편으로 완결된 이야기입니다. 시리즈물이 아닙니다.
l Example: This movie is a single episode, a complete story in itself. It is not part of a series.
지지리(O) /지질이(X) → 지지리
l 의미: 매우나 아주, 보통 부정적인 상황에 사용됨.
l Meaning: Extremely or very, often in a negative context.
l 예문: 그는 지지리도 운이 없다.
l Example: He is unbelievably unlucky.
애타다= 애달다
애타다
l 의미: 몹시 걱정되거나 속상하다.
l Meaning: To be extremely worried or upset.
l 예문: 아이가 늦게 들어와서 부모 마음이 애탔다.
l Example: The parents were worried sick because their child came home late.
애달다
l 의미: 마음이 안타깝거나 슬퍼서 매우 괴롭다.
l Meaning: To feel deeply sorrowful or distressed in the heart.
l 예문: 그는 떠난 가족을 생각하며 애달은 마음을 감출 수 없었다.
l Example: He couldn’t hide his sorrow as he thought of his departed family.
머지않다/ 멀지 않다
머지않다
l 의미: 시간이 오래 걸리지 않을 것을 뜻함.
l Meaning: Referring to something that will happen soon.
l 예문: 머지않아 좋은 소식이 들릴 거야.
l Example: You’ll hear good news soon.
멀지 않다
l 의미: 거리가 그리 멀지 않다
l Meaning: The distance is not that far.
l 예문: 우리 집에서 학교까지는 멀지 않아 걸어서 다닐 수 있어.
l Example: The school is near my house, so I can walk there.
꼼꼼히(O) /꼼꼼이(X) → 꼼꼼히
l 의미: 빈틈없이 세심하게 하는 태도.
l Meaning: A meticulous and thorough approach to doing something.
l 예문: 문서를 꼼꼼히 검토하세요.
l Example: Please review the document thoroughly.
눈감아주다(O) /눈감겨주다(X) → 눈감아주다
l 의미: 잘못이나 실수를 알고도 모른 척 넘어가 주다.
l Meaning: To overlook or forgive someone’s mistake knowingly.
l 예문: 이번 한 번만 눈감아줄 테니 다음부터는 조심해.
l Example: I’ll let it slide this time, but be careful next time.
서먹서먹하다= 서먹하다
서먹서먹하다, 서먹하다
l 의미: 낯설거나 어색해서 편하지 않은 상태.
l Meaning: To feel awkward or uncomfortable due to unfamiliarity.
l 예문: 오랜만에 만난 친구와 처음에는 서먹서먹했지만 곧 분위기가 풀렸다.
l Example: It felt awkward with my friend initially since we hadn’t met in a while, but the atmosphere soon lightened up.
l 예문: 처음 가는 모임에서 서먹한 기분이 들었다.
l Example: I felt uneasy at the gathering since it was my first time there.
소름 끼치다= 소름 돋다
소름 끼치다, 소름 돋다
l 의미: 무섭거나 놀라서 몸에 소름이 돋는 상태.
l Meaning: To get goosebumps from fear or surprise.
l 예문: 무서운 이야기를 듣고 온몸에 소름이 끼쳤다.
l Example: I got goosebumps all over my body after hearing the scary story.
l 예문: 그 영화는 정말 소름 돋을 정도로 무서웠다.
l Example: That movie was so scary it gave me goosebumps.
뒤처지다(O) /뒤쳐지다(X) → 뒤처지다
l 의미: 발전이나 수준에서 남보다 뒤떨어지는 상태.
l Meaning: To lag behind in development or level compared to others.
l 예문: 그는 기술 변화에 뒤처지지 않기 위해 계속 공부한다.
l Example: He keeps studying to stay ahead and not fall behind in technology.
마지못하다(O) /마지 못하다(X) → 마지못하다
l 의미: 어쩔 수 없는 상황에서 억지로 행동하는 상태.
l Meaning: To do something reluctantly or unwillingly because of the circumstances.
l 예문: 그는 마지못해 친구의 부탁을 들어줬다.
l Example: He unwillingly agreed to his friend’s request.
📌🔖 If you haven’t read the first part, check out the previous post.
❓ FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1. Is “뒤처지다” the only correct way to say “to fall behind”?
Yes. Use 뒤처지다 for “to lag/fall behind.” 뒤쳐지다 exists but means “to be flipped or turned up” (rare). The National Institute of Korean Language (NIKL) clarifies the difference, and KBS World’s language column gives parallel examples. See also a typical learner Q&A thread in r/Korean discussing 뒤처지다 via “낙후되다(=fall behind).” (NIKL, Reddit, KBS World)
Q2. Why is it “염치 불고(不顧)” and not “염치 불구”?
Because 불고 is the Sino-Korean noun “not looking back; disregarding,” which collocates with 염치 (“a sense of shame”). 불구 is the verb stem of 불구하다 (“not to be constrained/ despite”), used in patterns like “~에도 불구하고.” NIKL’s official guidance states 염치 불고(하고) is the correct idiom. (formerly Twitter)
Q3. “한편” vs “한 편”—how do I space them?
Write 한편 as one word when it’s a conjunctive/nominal meaning “on the other hand/meanwhile/one side.” Use the spaced 한 편 when it counts “one piece/one episode/one part.” For spacing rules on compounds/determiner + noun patterns, see standard spacing tips.
Q4. Which is right—“꼼꼼히” or “꼼꼼이”?
꼼꼼히. Many adverbs formed from adjectives take -히 (e.g., 조용히, 정확히, 똑똑히). This follows the general adverb-formation/orthography rules in the Hangul Orthography standard. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
Q5. “덮이다” vs “덮히다”—why is 덮히다 marked wrong?
The passive of 덮다 is 덮이다 with the passive suffix -이-; 덮히다 is a common nonstandard misspelling. (Authoritative dictionaries and NIKL materials list 덮이다 as the passive form.) (표준국어대사전)
Q6. Are both “서먹서먹하다” and “서먹하다” standard? What about “소름 끼치다/돋다”?
Yes—both pairs are standard and natural; they differ slightly in tone/nuance but are interchangeable in many contexts. You’ll encounter both forms in contemporary usage noted across standard references. (표준국어대사전)
Q7. Any quick trick to remember “머지않다” vs “멀지 않다”?
Think time vs distance: 머지않다 = “soon” (time is short). 멀지 않다 = “not far” (distance is short). This time/distance split aligns with dictionary usage norms. (표준국어대사전)
Q8. Is “가엾다” = “가엽다”?
Yes—both are standard, same meaning (“pitiful”), with slightly different forms. Major dictionaries list both. (표준국어대사전)
📍 Want More Like This?
Keep sharpening your accuracy with these tightly related guides from our library.
- 🔖 Korean Verb Endings Explained: Essential Guide for Fluency
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- 🔖 Mastering Korean Homonyms and Synonyms: A Learner’s Guide
- 🔖 Korean Abbreviations Explained: A Guide to Modern Slang and Trends
- 🔖 Beyond Grammar: The Art of Omission in Korean
Appendix: Audio Files for Overcoming Common Korean Language Mistakes 2
5) Overcome Common Korean Language Mistakes 5
6) Overcome Common Korean Language Mistakes 6
