Bukkeureopda Conjugation: 부끄럽다 Meaning, Forms & Examples

Key Facts

• Hangul: 부끄럽다 (bukkeureopda)
• Meaning: shy/ashamed
• Part of speech: adjective (형용사)
• Level: B1
• Stem: 부끄럽
• Class: ㅂ-irregular
• Dictionary-form sound: [부끄럽따]

What Does 부끄럽다 Mean?

부끄럽다 is shyness and shame in one word. 부끄러워서 말을 못 했어요 means "I was too shy to speak", while 부끄러운 일은 아니에요 means "it is nothing to be ashamed of". The feeling person takes 은/는 and the cause takes 이/가, as in 제 실수가 부끄러워요. It can be an inner, moral feeling, which sets it apart from a more social embarrassment.

How Do You Pronounce 부끄럽다?

The dictionary form is said [부끄럽따], with 다 tensed after ㅂ. The ㄲ is part of the spelling, so it is already strong. The formal 부끄럽습니다 is [부끄럽씀니다], and the past 부끄러웠어요 is [부끄러워써요].

How Do You Use 부끄럽다 in a Sentence?

발표가 is the thing that makes the speaker shy. 저는 sets up the contrast with other people who are not.

The because-form 부끄러워서 links shyness to a visible reaction: the face turned red, 얼굴이 빨개졌어요.

The modifier 부끄러운 sits before 일 and, with 아니에요, makes the reassurance that nothing shameful happened.

Usage Notes for 부끄럽다

Set phrases such as 부끄럽지 않게 살다 use the negative to talk about living without shame. The verb 부끄러워하다 is for acting shy, as in a boy blushing. 부끄럽다 describes the feeling and is the safer choice when you speak about yourself. The word also suits quiet situations, such as a first speech or a compliment that is too big.

How Does Bukkeureopda Conjugation Work?

Is 부끄럽다 Regular or Irregular?

부끄럽다 is ㅂ-irregular. The ㅂ of 부끄럽 turns into 우 before a vowel and merges with 어 into 워: 부끄러워요, 부끄러워서, 부끄러운. Before consonants the ㅂ stays: 부끄럽습니다, 부끄럽지 않아요 and 부끄럽겠어요. This is a long adjective, but the rule only touches the last letter. The ㅂ-irregular rule is explained step by step in its own lesson.

Common Mistake with 부끄럽다

Wrong: ✗ 부끄럽어요

Correct: ✓ 부끄러워요

Why: Keeping the ㅂ before 어 gives a form that does not exist. The rule turns ㅂ into 워, so the polite present is 부끄러워요.

부끄럽다 Versus 창피하다 and 부끄러워하다

After a First Class Presentation

Jisu has just spoken in front of a class for the first time. Minho asks about the experience after the lesson.

Minho

Jisu

Minho

The first two lines describe an uncomfortable feeling about being the center of attention. The final line uses 부끄러운 before 일 to reassure Jisu that presenting was not shameful. English needs different wording for the two senses, even though Korean uses the same adjective.

Phrases from Compliments to Matters of Conscience

부끄러운 일 means “something shameful” or “an embarrassing thing”. 일 is a matter or event here, rather than a job. The phrase evaluates what happened. In the existing example 부끄러운 일은 아니에요, the negative rejects that evaluation and can comfort someone who feels embarrassed.

부끄러워서 말을 못 했어요 means “I was too shy to speak”. Literally, the speaker could not speak because they were shy. The reason ending links the feeling to silence; it does not mean the speaker lacked language ability. Context tells you whether a compliment, attention or an unfamiliar social situation caused the feeling.

부끄럽지 않게 살다 means “to live without shame”, with the sense of living in a way you can stand behind. It concerns conscience and conduct. It does not promise a life without blushing or awkward introductions. This is a useful example of how the same word reaches beyond everyday shyness.

Where Will You Hear 부끄럽다?

In conversations and dramas, people may say 부끄러워요 after receiving praise or attention. The feeling can be pleasant and shy at the same time. Translating it as “I am ashamed” in every scene makes an innocent compliment sound like an accusation or confession.

In an apology or a discussion of dishonest conduct, the shame meaning becomes more likely. Look for the cause of the emotion: attention suggests self-consciousness; a regretted action suggests shame. Neither the polite ending nor the past tense chooses the English meaning for you.

The adjective is neutral enough for daily speech. 부끄러워 is casual, while 부끄러워요 suits a polite conversation. The formal 부끄럽습니다 can appear in a serious admission. A formal ending changes the delivery, but the surrounding situation still determines how serious the feeling is.

Which Forms Need Extra Attention?

The modifier is 부끄러운, with 우, rather than the 워 of 부끄러워요. Both come from the same ㅂ change, but the following ending differs. Practice the pair as two useful pieces: 부끄러운 before a noun and 부끄러워요 at the end of a polite statement.

The conditional is 부끄러우면. The formal present keeps the original consonant in 부끄럽습니다. This means you cannot replace every written 부끄럽 with 부끄러워. Choose the ending first, then apply the matching pattern from the table.

When describing another person's visible reaction, 부끄러워하다 helps report their behavior. 부끄럽다 often gives the speaker's own feeling directly. This is a useful distinction, rather than an absolute ban on describing someone else's emotions with an adjective.

Use the emotions vocabulary lesson to connect feelings with their causes and choose between shyness, embarrassment and pride.

Mini Drill

1. Finish “an embarrassing thing”: ____ 일.
2. Give the polite past after a presentation.
3. Make the conditional “if you feel shy”.
4. Choose the formal present: keep ㅂ or replace it with 워?

Quick Self-Test

1. After a sincere compliment, does 부끄러워요 imply wrongdoing?
2. What does 일 mean in 부끄러운 일?
3. Does 부끄럽지 않게 살다 describe avoiding all social awkwardness?

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Say I Am Shy about Presenting?

Say 저는 발표가 부끄러워요. The thing that makes you shy takes 가.

Why Is It 부끄러워요 and Not 부끄럽어요?

The ㅂ turns into 우 before a vowel and merges with 어 to make 워.

How Do I Say It Is Nothing to Be Ashamed Of?

Say 부끄러운 일은 아니에요, which uses the modifier 부끄러운.

Is the Formal Form Irregular?

No. The ㅂ stays before a consonant, so it is 부끄럽습니다.

Which Words Are Related to 부끄럽다?

• 창피하다
• 부끄러워하다
• 자랑스럽다
• 무섭다
• Korean verb dictionary

What Should You Learn Next?

Next read 창피하다 and then 자랑스럽다, its opposite in spirit, and 무섭다 for fear. Test other stems in the Korean verb conjugator, or browse the Korean verb dictionary.