Korean · Emotions & Descriptions
"Ugly" in Korean: 못생기다
못생기다motsaenggida
Ugly in Korean is 못생기다 (motsaenggida). 못생기다 commonly appears as 못생겼어요 for a current appearance; describing people this way can be hurtful.
Ugly: an everyday statement
그렇게 그리면 얼굴이 못생겨요.geureoke geurimyeon eolguri motsaenggyeoyo.
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How to pronounce 못생기다
Say it
motsaenggida
/mot̚s͈ɛŋkita/
Read 못생기다 as motsaenggida. The spoken form 못생겨요 is motsaenggyeoyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"Ugly" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 못생기다motsaenggida | Ugly Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 못생겨요motsaenggyeoyo | Ugly (polite present) Use 못생겨요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 못생겨요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 못생겼어요motsaenggyeosseoyo | Ugly (polite past) Use 못생겼어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 못생겼어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 못생기다 in real life
- 1Ugly: an everyday statement
그렇게 그리면 얼굴이 못생겨요.
geureoke geurimyeon eolguri motsaenggyeoyo.
If you draw it that way the face comes out ugly.
못생겨요 is the present form of 못생기다.
- 2Ugly: a different situation
이 괴물은 못생겼어요.
i goemureun motsaenggyeosseoyo.
This monster is ugly.
못생겼어요 is the past form of 못생기다.
- 3Ugly: a question or request
사진에서는 더 못생겨요?
sajineseoneun deo motsaenggyeoyo?
Does it look uglier in photos?
못생겨요 is the present form of 못생기다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 못생기다
Incorrect: 못생기다.
Correct: 못생겨요.
When practicing ugly, 못생기다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 못생겨요.
Incorrect: 어제 못생겨요.
Correct: 어제 못생겼어요.
When practicing ugly, for a completed event yesterday, use 못생겼어요; the present form 못생겨요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
못생기다 commonly appears as 못생겼어요 for a current appearance; describing people this way can be hurtful. 못생겨요 is the polite conversational form of 못생기다; 못생겼어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led emotions and descriptions study exercise: two sentences with 못생기다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
그렇게 그리면 얼굴이 못생겨요.
geureoke geurimyeon eolguri motsaenggyeoyo.
If you draw it that way the face comes out ugly.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
이 괴물은 못생겼어요.
i goemureun motsaenggyeosseoyo.
This monster is ugly.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Ugly" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Ugly" in Korean
How do I use 못생기다 in polite speech?
못생겨요 is the polite conversational form of 못생기다; 못생겼어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 못생기다 in a past-tense sentence?
못생겼어요 is the polite past form. 못생기다 commonly appears as 못생겼어요 for a current appearance; describing people this way can be hurtful.
What does 못생겨요 mean here?
못생겨요 is used for ugly. For example, 그렇게 그리면 얼굴이 못생겨요. means “If you draw it that way the face comes out ugly.”
What should I remember about 못생기다?
못생기다 commonly appears as 못생겼어요 for a current appearance; describing people this way can be hurtful.
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