Nuance Dictionary / Culture & Language
불안 bul-an
Anxiety or insecurity that drives indirect questioning
What does 불안 mean?
불안 (bul-an) means: Anxiety or insecurity that drives indirect questioning.
The hidden engine behind rhetorical questions. When someone asks 'Do I look weird?', they are not asking about their appearance; they are asking 'Do you still accept and care for me?'
🎙️ 불안은 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [부란]로 소리나요 (연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 내일 발표 생각만 하면 마음이 너무 불안해서 잠이 안 와.
naeil balpyo saenggakman hamyeon maeumi neomu buranhaeseo jami an wa.
Just thinking about tomorrow's presentation makes me so anxious I can't sleep.
💡 Used to express anticipatory anxiety. - 요즘 경제가 안 좋아서 미래에 대한 불안이 커지고 있어.
yojeum gyeongjega an joseo miraee daehan burani keojigo isseo.
The economy is bad lately, so anxiety about the future is growing.
💡 Used when discussing societal or economic worries. - 혼자 밤길을 걷는데 뒤에서 자꾸 발소리가 나서 불안했어요.
honja bamgireul geonneunde dwieseo jakku balsorigasa naseo buranhaesseoyo.
I was walking alone at night and kept hearing footsteps behind me, which made me feel uneasy.
💡 Used to describe situational insecurity or fear.
Related words in Culture & Language
동의 dong-ui미안하다 mi-an-ha-da죄송하다 joe-song-ha-da괜찮다 gwaen-chan-ta송구하다 song-gu-ha-da