Dictionary — Entry No. 0569
무서워
museowo · adjective
무서워
museowo
[moo-SUH-wuh]
adjectivebeginner
Meaning
The casual spoken form of 무섭다 (museopda), meaning ‘scary’ or ‘I’m scared.’ Used to describe something frightening or to express personal fear in informal conversation. In K-content it appears in everything from horror dramas to playful idol banter.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
In the zombie thriller Kingdom (킹덤), characters cry out 무서워 as they flee the undead, making it one of the most emotionally charged phrases in K-Drama history. BTS’s Jungkook used the word lightheartedly in a 2021 Weverse live when a fan’s jump-scare prank succeeded, showing how naturally idols reach for it in everyday moments.
Example Sentences
귀신이 무서워요.
Gwisin-i museowo-yo.
I’m scared of ghosts. (polite — adding -요 makes it suitable for people you don’t know well)
이 영화 진짜 무서워!
I yeonghwa jinjja museowo!
This movie is really scary! (casual exclamation — the go-to reaction while watching K-horror)
밤에 혼자 걷기 무서워.
Bam-e honja geotgi museowo.
I’m scared to walk alone at night. (pair with an infinitive to say you fear doing something)
⚠️ Don’t use museowo when…
Don’t confuse 무서워 (museowo, scary) with 미워 (miwo, I hate you) — they sound similar but carry very different emotional weight. Also avoid using the blunt 무서워 with elders or strangers; add -요 (museowoyo) to stay polite.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Kingdom (킹덤, 2019) — soldiers and villagers scream 무서워 as the undead horde descends on the fortress, cementing the word in K-Drama fan vocabulary.
- K-Pop: EXO — Monster (2016). The song’s gothic concept gave fans vocabulary to describe the ‘scary-beautiful’ idol concept that defines dark-concept K-Pop.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.