Ouch! How to Say You’re Hurt in Korean (Emergency Phrases!)
Hello! This is [Maeil Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Today, we’re going to learn some very important phrases for a situation we hope you’re never in, but should always be prepared for: saying you’re hurt. Lately in Korea, with the beautiful weather, so many people are going hiking or enjoying outdoor activities. It’s a lot of fun, but accidents can happen! Knowing how to ask for help is a true language superpower. Let’s learn how to say “I’m hurt!” and get the help you need.
Core Expressions You Must Know
Here are three essential expressions for when you’re injured.
1. 아파요 (Apayo)
- Pronunciation [A-pa-yo]
- English Meaning: It hurts. / I’m in pain.
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most basic and common way to express that you are feeling pain somewhere on your body. You can use it for anything from a headache to a serious injury. You can also point to a part of your body and say it. For example, if your arm hurts, point to your arm and say, “아파요!”
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The ‘ㅍ’ (p) sound in ‘파’ is an aspirated ‘p’. This means you should release a strong puff of air when you say it, like the ‘p’ in the English word “pie”. It’s stronger than the ‘p’ in “spy”.
2. 다쳤어요 (Dachyeosseoyo)
- Pronunciation [Da-cheos-seo-yo]
- English Meaning: I got hurt. / I’m injured.
- Detailed Explanation: While ‘아파요’ describes the feeling of pain, ‘다쳤어요’ describes the event of getting injured. You use this to explain that an accident happened. For example, if you fell down, you would say “다쳤어요.”
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: This one has a tricky sound change! The letters are ‘다쳤어요 (dat-hyeoss-eo-yo)’, but we pronounce it as [다쳤어요 (dacheosseoyo)]. The 받침 (final consonant) ‘ㅌ(t)’ before the ‘ㅣ’ sound (in ‘혔’) changes to a ‘ㅊ(ch)’ sound. This is another example of palatalization, just like we saw with ‘같이 [gachi]’. So instead of “dat-hyuss,” think “da-chyuss”!
3. 도와주세요 (Dowajuseyo)
- Pronunciation [Do-wa-ju-se-yo]
- English Meaning: Please help me.
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most important phrase in any emergency. It’s a polite but direct way to ask for help from anyone around you. If you can only remember one phrase from today’s lesson, make it this one!
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: This phrase is a combination of ‘돕다 (dopda – to help)’ and ‘주세요 (juseyo – please give)’. When they combine, it becomes ‘도와주세요’. The pronunciation is quite straightforward, just say each syllable clearly: Do-wa-ju-se-yo.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these phrases work in a real-life conversation. Imagine two friends, A (Alex) and B (Sujin), are hiking on Bukhansan, a famous mountain in Seoul.
A: (Trips and falls) 악!
(Ak!)
(Ouch!)
B: 알렉스, 괜찮아?
(Allex, gwaenchana?)
(Alex, are you okay?)
A: 아니, 발목이 너무 아파요. 넘어져서 다쳤어요.
(Ani, balmogi neomu apayo. Neomeojyeoseo dachyeosseoyo.)
(No, my ankle really hurts. I fell and got injured.)
B: 어떡해! 내가 도와줄게.
(Eotteokae! Naega dowajulge.)
(Oh no! I’ll help you.)
A: 사람들이 안 보여요… 저기요! 도와주세요!
(Saramdeuri an boyeoyo… Jeogiyo! Dowajuseyo!)
(I don’t see anyone… Excuse me! Please help me!)
🚑 Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In Korea, people are generally very quick to help others in an emergency. If you shout “도와주세요!“, people will almost certainly stop to help you.
The Magic Number: 119
The emergency number in Korea for both the ambulance and the fire department is 119. If you are seriously hurt, you or someone else should call this number. You can say: “구급차 좀 불러주세요 (Gugeupcha jom bulleojuseyo) – Please call an ambulance.” This phrase is a bit advanced, but it could be a lifesaver!
K-Drama Action Scenes
You’ll hear today’s phrases ALL the time in K-dramas, especially in action or medical dramas! The next time you watch a character get into a fight or a car accident, listen closely. You’ll almost certainly hear a dramatic “다쳤어요!” or a desperate “도와주세요!”. Now you’ll understand exactly what they’re saying!
Let’s Review & Practice!
Great job today! We learned how to say that you’re in pain (아파요), you got injured (다쳤어요), and how to ask for help (도와주세요).
Now, let’s test your knowledge!
Practice Question:
You are walking in Myeongdong and you accidentally twist your ankle. It really hurts! You need help from a stranger passing by. What two phrases could you use?
- Point to your ankle and say: “___________!”
- To get the person’s attention and ask for help, you say: “저기요! ___________!”
Think you know the answers?
Leave your answers and try making a sentence with today’s phrases in the comments below! Stay safe, and see you in the next lesson
