Dictionary — Entry No. 0740
신기해
singi-hae · adjective
신기해
singi-hae
[shin-GEE-hae]
adjectivebeginner
Meaning
Means ‘how fascinating,’ ‘amazing,’ or ‘I can’t believe it’ — the casual predicative form of 신기하다. It expresses wide-eyed wonder at something unexpected, unusual, or hard to believe. Unlike 대단해 (impressive for effort), 신기해 leans into curiosity and novelty.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
aespa’s whole concept — AI avatars existing in a digital world called the KWANGYA — is the kind of thing that makes fans say 신기해. The word captures the feeling of encountering Korean culture for the first time: the elaborate gift-giving customs, the 빨리빨리 fast-paced lifestyle, the skincare routines. In Extraordinary Attorney Woo, attorney Woo Young-woo’s literal sense of wonder at everyday things is pure 신기해 energy.
Example Sentences
한국어는 정말 신기해. 글자가 그림 같아.
Hangugeo-neun jeongmal singi-hae. Geulja-ga geurim gata.
Korean is so fascinating. The letters look like drawings. (a common first impression of Hangul among new learners)
이렇게 맛있는 음식이 이렇게 싸다니 신기해요!
Ireoke masitneun eumsigi ireoke ssadani singi-haeyo!
It’s amazing that such delicious food is this cheap! (polite form — add -요 with strangers or service staff)
K-Pop 댄스를 이렇게 잘 추다니 진짜 신기해.
K-Pop daenseu-reul ireoke jal chudani jinjja singi-hae.
It’s genuinely incredible that you can dance K-Pop so well. (진짜 adds emphasis, similar to ‘literally’ in English)
⚠️ Don’t use singi-hae when…
신기해 expresses fascination with something novel — don’t use it to praise someone’s hard work or talent (use 대단해 instead). Also, 신기해 is informal; always add -요 (신기해요) when speaking to people you’re not close to.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Extraordinary Attorney Woo (이상한 변호사 우영우) — Woo Young-woo pauses mid-conversation to marvel at the palindrome in her own name, perfectly embodying 신기해.
- K-Pop: aespa — Black Mamba
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.