What does 어떡해 (eotteokhae) mean?
- 어떡해eotteokhae
What do I do? / Oh no!
Casual: friends and people younger than you
어떡해 (eotteokhae) means "What do I do?" or "Oh no!" in Korean. People say it when they are worried, panicking, or so overwhelmed (even by cuteness) that they don't know what to do.
Where it comes from
어떡해 is a shortened form of 어떻게 해, literally "how (do I) do (it)?" The dictionary verb is 어떡하다.
How to use 어떡해
Use 어떡해 when something goes wrong, like being late or breaking something. It also shows sympathy when a friend tells you bad news, like "Oh no, what are you going to do?"
It is also used for happy overload. Seeing something adorable, people squeal 어떡해 너무 귀여워! (Oh my gosh, it's too cute!)
A very common spelling mistake is writing 어떻해 or using 어떻게 at the end of a sentence. 어떻게 means "how"; 어떡해 means "what do I do". Add 요 for the polite form: 어떡해요.
Examples
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Waking up after your alarm didn't go off
Seeing a tiny puppy
Missing the last train with a coworker
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 어떡해요 | What do I do? | Polite form. |
| 어떡하지? | What should I do? | Thinking out loud. |
| 어떻게 해 | What do I do? | The full, unshortened form. |
Hear it in songs
Real lines from songs broken down on Hanbok. Open a song to see every line explained.
- 두근대 (So bad) 어떡해 (Oh yeah) 내 맘이 달아, 달아올라 어떡해My heart is pounding (So bad), what should I do? (Oh yeah) My heart is sweet, it's heating up, what should I do?Hi High · LOONA
- 뒤죽박죽 소란한 내 마음 어떡해야 해요My mind is a jumbled mess, chaotic and loud. What should I do?NEMONEMO · YENA
- 어떡해 난 ye ye ye ye yeWhat do I do? Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.Love Untold · Hyunjin
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between eotteokhae and eotteoke?
어떡해 means "What do I do?" and ends a sentence. 어떻게 means "how" and goes before a verb, as in 어떻게 가요? (How do I get there?)
Is eotteokhae sad or cute?
Both. It can express panic or sympathy, and it can also be a squeal when something is overwhelmingly cute.
How do you say it politely?
Add 요: 어떡해요?