How should the English word excited be expressed in Korean?
Depending on the context, translation tools may suggest 신나다, 기대하다, or 설레다.
All three expressions can be related to positive feelings, but they do not mean exactly the same thing.
- 신나다 describes feeling happy, energetic, and excited right now because something good has happened.
- 기대하다 describes looking forward to something good that will happen in the future.
- 설레다 describes the feeling of your heart fluttering when you think about a special moment.
Even in the same situation, the expression you use can change depending on which part of the emotion you are focusing on.
The Differences at a Glance
| Expression | Core meaning | Emotional focus | How visible it is to others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 신나다 | To feel happy, excited, and energetic | The happiness and energy you feel now | Relatively easy to notice |
| 기대하다 | To look forward to something good | A future event or experience | May not be visible to others |
| 설레다 | To feel your heart flutter | The feeling created by imagining a special moment | May appear as a small smile or a brighter expression |
The simplest way to understand the difference is:
좋은 일이 생겨 지금 즐겁고 들뜬다.
You feel happy and excited now because something good has happened.
→ 신나다
앞으로 있을 좋은 일을 기다린다.
You are looking forward to something good that will happen in the future.
→ 기대하다
특별한 순간을 생각하면 마음이 두근거린다.
Your heart flutters when you think about a special moment.
→ 설레다
A Fan Meeting with Your Favorite Singer or Actor
Imagine that you have successfully gotten a ticket to a fan meeting with your favorite singer or actor.
Although all three feelings are related to the same fan meeting, you can use 신나다, 기대하다, and 설레다 differently depending on the situation.
Right After Getting the Ticket: 신나다
와, 나 진짜 팬미팅에 가는 거야?
Wow, am I really going to the fan meeting?
아싸! 티켓팅 성공했다!
Yes! I got a ticket!
너무 신나!
I’m so excited!
Right after successfully getting a ticket to the fan meeting, your happiness and excitement may be very strong.
You might laugh or shout, contact your friends immediately, or keep checking the ticket confirmation screen.
In this situation, 신나다 describes feeling happy, energetic, and excited because something good has happened. The feeling may be relatively clear through your facial expression, voice, and behavior.
Even if people around you do not know the exact reason, they may notice that you are excited and ask:
무슨 좋은 일 있어요?
Did something good happen?
오늘 기분이 정말 좋아 보여요.
You look really happy today.
왜 그렇게 신났어요?
Why are you so excited?
뭐가 그렇게 즐거워요?
What are you so happy about?
Of course, a quiet person may not express their excitement openly. However, in general, 신나다 is more likely to be noticed by other people than 기대하다 or 설레다.
While Waiting for the Fan Meeting: 기대하다
팬미팅 D-30!
Thirty days until the fan meeting!
정말 기대하고 있어요.
I’m really looking forward to it.
어떤 이야기를 들을 수 있을지 궁금해요.
I wonder what kinds of stories I will hear.
재미있을 것 같아요.
I think it will be fun.
Even after the strong excitement of getting the ticket has settled down a little, you can continue waiting for the fan meeting with positive feelings.
In this situation, 기대하다 is natural.
기대하다 describes waiting for a future event or experience while thinking positively about it.
Someone who is looking forward to a fan meeting may count the days, search for related news, or wonder what kinds of stories they will hear at the event.
However, the feeling of 기대하다 does not always appear clearly through facial expressions or behavior. Someone may look completely normal while quietly looking forward to the fan meeting.
When Imagining the Moment You Meet Them: 설레다
팬미팅에서 가까이서 만나면 어떡하지?
What am I going to do if I get to meet them up close at the fan meeting?
직접 만나면 무슨 말을 하지?
What will I say when I meet them in person?
눈을 마주치면 너무 떨릴 것 같아.
I think I’ll be so nervous if we make eye contact.
생각만 해도 심장이 두근거려. 너무 설레!
Just thinking about it makes my heart race. My heart is fluttering!
You may go beyond simply waiting for the fan meeting and begin imagining in detail the moment when you meet your favorite singer or actor in person.
When imagining that special moment makes your heart flutter, 설레다 is natural.
Someone who feels 설레다 may keep thinking about what to say at the fan meeting or smile while looking at photos of their favorite singer or actor.
However, you can feel 설레다 without shouting or becoming visibly energetic as you might when you feel 신나다. Other people may only notice a small smile or a slightly brighter expression. You may also look completely normal on the outside.
In this way, 설레다 is closer to an inner feeling of your heart fluttering when you think about a special moment.
The Fan Meeting Situation in One Sentence
티켓팅에 성공한 직후에는 신나고,
팬미팅 날짜를 기다리면서는 팬미팅을 기대하고,
실제로 만날 순간을 상상하면 설렐 수 있습니다.Right after getting the ticket, you may feel 신나다.
While waiting for the date of the fan meeting, you may 기대하다 the event.
When imagining the moment you meet them in person, you may feel 설레다.
Getting into the University or Company You Wanted
The same differences can be seen in a more everyday situation.
Imagine that you have been accepted into the university you wanted or have gotten a job at the company you wanted to work for.
Right After Hearing the Good News: 신나다
원하던 대학에 합격해서 너무 신나요.
I’m so excited because I got into the university I wanted.
정말 가고 싶었던 회사에 합격했어요. 너무 신나요!
I got a job at the company I really wanted to work for. I’m so excited!
You have actually been accepted into the university or company you wanted, so you feel happy and excited at that moment.
You may laugh, shout, or immediately tell your family and friends the good news.
In this situation, 신나다 is natural.
While Waiting to Start University or Work: 기대하다
대학에 입학할 날을 기대하고 있어요.
I’m looking forward to starting university.
새로운 회사에서 일하게 될 날을 기대하고 있어요.
I’m looking forward to the day I start working at my new company.
Even after the strong excitement of receiving the acceptance has settled down a little, you can continue looking forward to your new university or working life.
In this situation, 기대하다 is natural.
Someone preparing to enter university may wonder what classes they will take. Someone preparing to start a new job may look forward to the work they will do at the company.
They may look calm on the outside while quietly waiting for the day they start university or work.
When Thinking About Meeting New People: 설레다
새로운 동기들을 만날 생각을 하니 설레요.
Thinking about meeting my new classmates makes my heart flutter.
어떤 사람들과 함께 공부하게 될지 생각하면 설레요.
Thinking about the people I will study with makes my heart flutter.
새로운 직장 동료들을 만날 생각을 하니 설레요.
Thinking about meeting my new coworkers makes my heart flutter.
You may go beyond simply waiting to start university or work and begin imagining in detail what it will be like to meet and spend time with new people.
When imagining those scenes makes your heart flutter, 설레다 is natural.
A new meeting can involve not only positive anticipation but also a small amount of nervousness.
새로운 동기들과 잘 지낼 수 있을지 조금 떨려요.
I’m a little nervous about whether I’ll get along well with my new classmates.
긴장되기도 하지만 정말 설레요.
I’m nervous too, but my heart is really fluttering.
This nervousness is different from anxiety caused by disliking or fearing the situation. It is a positive fluttering feeling that comes from looking forward to a new life with new people.
The Acceptance Situation in One Sentence
원하는 대학이나 회사에 합격해서 신나고,
입학하거나 입사할 날을 기대하고,
새로운 동기나 동료를 만날 생각을 하면 설렐 수 있습니다.You may feel 신나다 after getting into the university or company you wanted.
You may 기대하다 the day you begin university or your new job.
You may feel 설레다 when thinking about meeting your new classmates or coworkers.
Do These Feelings Always Appear in This Order?
In the fan meeting and acceptance examples, the three expressions were compared according to the flow of time.
However, the three feelings do not always appear in a fixed order.
Right after getting a ticket, you may already feel 설레다 while imagining meeting your favorite singer or actor. You may also continue to feel 신나다 while waiting for the fan meeting.
Right after receiving an acceptance, you may feel 설레다 while imagining meeting your new classmates or coworkers. You may also continue to feel 신나다 while waiting to start university or work.
The important point is not the time itself, but which part of the emotion the speaker is focusing on.
지금 즐겁고 들떠 있는가?
Are you feeling happy, energetic, and excited now?
→ 신나다
앞으로 있을 좋은 일을 기다리는가?
Are you looking forward to something good that will happen in the future?
→ 기대하다
특별한 순간을 상상하며 마음이 두근거리는가?
Does your heart flutter as you imagine a special moment?
→ 설레다
How Much Do These Feelings Show on the Outside?
The three expressions also differ in how visibly the feelings may appear.
신나다
The feeling of 신나다 is relatively likely to be visible through facial expressions and behavior.
- Your expression may become brighter.
- Your voice may become louder.
- You may talk more than usual.
- You may become more active, such as laughing or jumping.
- Other people may notice the feeling relatively easily.
무슨 좋은 일 있어요? 오늘 정말 신나 보여요.
Did something good happen? You look really excited today.
기대하다
The feeling of 기대하다 may not be clearly visible on the outside.
- You may behave as usual.
- You may quietly wait for a date or result.
- You may search for information about what you will do in the future.
- Other people may not know unless you tell them.
팬미팅을 정말 기대하고 있지만 겉으로는 차분해 보여요.
They are really looking forward to the fan meeting, but they look calm on the outside.
설레다
설렘 is mainly an inner feeling of your heart fluttering.
- You may smile quietly to yourself.
- Your expression may become slightly brighter.
- You may continue imagining a special scene.
- Your behavior may not change as much as it does when you feel 신나다.
새로운 동기들을 만날 생각을 하니 자꾸 미소가 나고 설레요.
Thinking about meeting my new classmates keeps making me smile, and my heart flutters.
Of course, the way people express their emotions depends on their personality and the situation.
A quiet person may not openly express feeling 신나다. Someone who expresses emotions strongly may also show 기대하다 or 설레다 clearly through their behavior.
Therefore, these differences in outward expression are not absolute rules. They are general tendencies.
Common Mistakes
1. Treating 신나다, 기대하다, and 설레다 as the Same Feeling
All three expressions can be used in positive situations, but their emotional focus is different.
팬미팅 티켓팅에 성공해서 신나요.
I’m excited because I got a ticket to the fan meeting.
→ Something good has happened, so the speaker feels happy and excited now.
팬미팅을 기대하고 있어요.
I’m looking forward to the fan meeting.
→ The speaker is positively waiting for the future fan meeting.
좋아하는 가수나 배우를 직접 만날 생각에 설레요.
Thinking about meeting my favorite singer or actor in person makes my heart flutter.
→ The speaker’s heart flutters while imagining a special moment.
English can use excited in all three situations, but in Korean, it is more natural to choose the expression according to the speaker’s emotional focus.
2. Writing ‘설레이다’ or ‘설레여요’
In everyday writing, you may often see 설레이다 or 설레여요, but the correct basic form is 설레다.
설레이다 ×
설레다 ○
마음이 설레여요. ×
마음이 설레요. ○
My heart is fluttering.
팬미팅을 생각하면 설레이네요. ×
팬미팅을 생각하면 설레네요. ○
Thinking about the fan meeting makes my heart flutter.
설레이는 마음 ×
설레는 마음 ○
A fluttering heart
The past tense is also written as follows.
정말 설레였어요. ×
정말 설렜어요. ○
My heart was really fluttering.
3. Confusing ‘설레임’ and ‘설렘’
The noun form of 설레다 is 설렘.
팬미팅을 앞둔 설레임 ×
팬미팅을 앞둔 설렘 ○
The excitement before a fan meeting
첫 만남의 설레임 ×
첫 만남의 설렘 ○
The thrill of a first meeting
There is an ice cream product in Korea called 설레임.
The official product name is 설레임, but the correct general Korean noun for the feeling of your heart fluttering is 설렘.
아이스크림의 제품명: 설레임
Ice cream product name: 설레임
올바른 일반 명사: 설렘
Correct general noun: 설렘
When referring to the product, you should write 설레임 because that is its official name. However, when referring to the emotion as a general noun, you should write 설렘.
If you visit a convenience store in Korea, try looking for 설레임 ice cream in the freezer. The product name can also help you remember that the correct Korean word for the emotion is 설렘.
Key Takeaways
신나다, 기대하다, and 설레다 can all be used in relation to something positive, but they focus on different parts of the emotion.
신나다 describes feeling happy, energetic, and excited right now because something good has happened.
기대하다 describes positively looking forward to something good that will happen in the future.
설레다 describes the feeling of your heart fluttering when you think about a special moment.
They also differ in how the feelings may appear on the outside.
신나다 may be relatively visible through facial expressions, tone of voice, and behavior.
기대하다 may not be noticeable to other people unless the speaker talks about it.
설레다 is mainly an inner fluttering feeling, although it may appear as a small smile or a brighter expression.
The way people express emotions depends on their personality and the situation, so these are not absolute rules. They are general tendencies.
When expressing the English word excited in Korean, it is better to consider which part of the emotion the speaker is focusing on rather than matching the English word with one fixed Korean expression.
