How to say “I'm angry” in Korean
- 화났어요hwanasseoyo
I'm angry
"I'm angry" in Korean is 화났어 (hwanasseo), or 화났어요 (hwanasseoyo) to be polite. Koreans use this past-tense form because it means "I got angry and still am."
Ways to say it
| Korean | Level | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 화났어 hwanasseo | Casual | "I'm angry" or "I'm mad." To friends, family or a partner. |
| 화났어요 hwanasseoyo | Polite | Polite. Also common as a question: 화났어요? "Are you angry?" |
| 화가 납니다 hwaga namnida | Formal | Formal. Sounds stiff, used in speeches or written statements. |
| 짜증나 jjajeungna | Casual | "I'm annoyed" or "this is so annoying." Mild irritation, used all the time. |
| 열받아 yeolbada | Casual | Slang, close to "I'm so pissed off." Literally "I'm getting heated." Only with close friends. |
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
A friend is late again
Stuck in traffic
Checking on a partner
Tips
화 means anger and 나다 means to arise. 화났어 is the most natural way to say you are angry now.
짜증나 is much lighter than 화났어. Use it for small annoyances like slow Wi-Fi, a long line or a bad day.
Be careful with 열받아 and similar slang. They are fine with close friends but rude toward anyone older or in a polite setting.
More on 짜증나 in our Korean phrase guides.
Questions learners ask
How do you say "Don't be angry" in Korean?
Say 화내지 마 (hwanaeji ma) casually, or 화내지 마세요 (hwanaeji maseyo) politely.
Why is "I'm angry" in the past tense in Korean?
화났어 literally means "I got angry." Korean uses this form to describe the state you are in now, so it is the natural way to say "I'm angry."