Dictionary — Entry No. 0741
대단해
daetan-hae · adjective
대단해
daetan-hae
[DAE-dan-hae]
adjectivebeginner
Meaning
Means ‘impressive,’ ‘amazing,’ or ‘you’re incredible’ — the casual predicative form of 대단하다. It expresses genuine admiration for someone’s skill, achievement, or perseverance. Stronger than 잘했어 (good job), 대단해 conveys real awe for what someone has accomplished.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
BTS’s global rise is a 대단해 story — from a small agency to filling stadiums worldwide. Fans use 대단해 to praise idols’ live vocal performances, language skills, and charitable work. In Sky Castle (SKY 캐슬), parents and students constantly use 대단해 about academic achievements, showing how deeply the admiration for effort runs in Korean culture.
Example Sentences
방탄소년단은 진짜 대단해. 전 세계가 다 알잖아.
Bangtansonyeondan-eun jinjja daetan-hae. Jeon segyega da aljanha.
BTS is genuinely incredible. The whole world knows them. (-잖아 softens the statement, like ‘you know what I mean’)
그렇게 어려운 시험에 합격했어요? 대단해요!
Geureoke eoryeoun siheome hapgyeokhaesseoyo? Daetan-haeyo!
You passed such a difficult exam? That’s amazing! (polite — always add -요 in formal contexts)
혼자서 다 했다고? 야, 너 진짜 대단하다.
Honjaseo da haettago? Ya, neo jinjja daetan-hada.
You did it all by yourself? Wow, you’re seriously impressive. (dictionary form 대단하다 used as a punchy standalone exclamation)
⚠️ Don’t use daetan-hae when…
대단해 is about admiring achievement or ability — don’t use it for physical appearance (use 멋지다 or 예쁘다 instead). In very formal situations such as speeches or business meetings, switch to 대단합니다 rather than 대단해요.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Sky Castle (SKY 캐슬) — a mother gasps 대단해 upon hearing about another child’s perfect exam score, capturing the drama’s suffocating pressure around academic success.
- K-Pop: BTS — DNA
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.