Dictionary — Entry No. 0051
어떡해
ottoke · interjection
어떡해
ottoke
[uh-TTUK-heh]
Interjection
Beginner
Meaning
어떡해 is a contracted, spoken form of 어떻게 해 (eotteoke hae), literally meaning “What do (I/we) do?” or “How do I handle this?” It is used as an exclamation when someone feels panicked, helpless, flustered, or completely at a loss. Depending on context, it can also express being overwhelmed by something positive — like a crush doing something sweet or a favorite idol looking too good.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
어떡해 is practically a K-drama staple — you will hear it in nearly every show, from a character discovering a misunderstanding to the classic moment a lead realizes they have fallen in love. In K-pop fan culture, it is everywhere: fans drop “ottoke” in comment sections and live chat when an idol does something unexpectedly charming or handsome, essentially meaning “I can’t cope.” The word also appears in numerous idol song titles and lyrics, making it one of the first Korean words many fans naturally pick up.
Example Sentences
어떡해, 지갑을 버스에 놓고 내렸어!
Eotteokae, jigapeul beoseu-e nokko naeryeosseo!
Oh no, I left my wallet on the bus!
어떡해, 오빠가 나한테 윙크했어. 심장이 멎는 줄 알았어.
Eotteokae, oppaga nahante winkeu-haesseo. Simjangi meojneun jul arasseo.
What do I do — oppa winked at me. I thought my heart stopped.
이제 어떡해야 할지 정말 모르겠어.
Ije eotteokaeya halji jeongmal moreugesseo.
I really don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.
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.