One Verb, Over 9 Meanings! What a Deal!

Hello, everyone!

I'm Hoorimi, your Korean teacher :)

Today, we will learn about the very useful Korean word '나다'!

Korean Verb : 나다

1️⃣ 사건·사고·문제 등이 “나다”

➡️ happen / occur / take place / break out / arise

한국어	영어
사고가 났어요	There was an accident. / An accident occurred.
불이 났어요	A fire broke out.
싸움이 났어요	A fight broke out.
문제가 났어요	A problem occurred. / There was a problem.
사건이 났어요	An incident happened.
전쟁이 났어요	A war broke out.

2️⃣ 감정·기분이 “나다”

➡️ feel / get / be + 감정 형용사

한국어	영어
화가 났어요	I’m angry. / I got angry.
질투가 났어요	I got jealous.

Understanding '나다' in English

In English, '나다' is often expressed using the verbs be or get. When it comes to expressing a change of state or the emergence of an emotion, the structure get + adjective is commonly used.

3️⃣ 냄새·소리·빛 등이 “나다”

➡️ come out / smell / sound / shine / give off / make

한국어	영어
냄새가 나요	It smells. / There’s a smell.
좋은 냄새가 나요	It smells good.
이상한 냄새가 나요	It smells weird.
소리가 나요	I hear a sound. / It makes a sound.
빛이 나요	It shines. / It’s glowing.
연기가 나요	Smoke is coming out.

4️⃣ 상처·병·흔적 등이 “나다”

➡️ get / have / develop / appear

한국어	영어
상처가 났어요	I got a cut.
멍이 났어요	I got a bruise.
여드름이 났어요	I got a pimple.
병이 났어요	I got sick.

5️⃣ 생각·기억·아이디어 등이 “나다”

➡️ come up / think of / remember

한국어	영어
생각이 났어요	I thought of it. / It came to mind.
기억이 났어요	I remembered. / It came back to me.
이름이 생각이 안 나요	I can’t remember the name.

6️⃣ 냉기·열기·땀 등이 “나다”

➡️ get / feel / sweat / be + 형용사

한국어	영어
열이 나요	I have a fever.
땀이 나요	I’m sweating.
소름이 나요	I got goosebumps.
눈물이 나요	Tears came to my eyes.

7️⃣ 결과나 성과가 “나다”

➡️ turn out / result / come out

한국어	영어
결과가 나왔어요	The results came out.
좋은 결과가 나왔어요	It turned out well.
성과가 났어요	We achieved results. / It paid off.

8️⃣ (이름·소문·소식 등) 퍼지거나 알려지다

➡️ spread / get out / be known / leak

한국어	영어
소문이 났어요	The rumor spread.
그 배우는 이름이 났어요.	The actor became famous.

9️⃣ 맛이나 느낌이 나다

➡️ taste / feel / have a flavor of

한국어	영어
달콤한 맛이 나요	It tastes sweet.
커피 맛이 나요	It tastes like coffee.
매운맛이 나요	It tastes spicy.

In summary, 👇

“나다” = happen / occur / get / have / come out / break out / appear / smell / taste / shine / feel / be / turn out ...

There are indeed many meanings, right?

Try to memorize just one word and use it in various contexts! 👍🏻