B1 adverb intermediate

괜히

[gwaenhi]

Meaning: for no reason, needlessly

What does 괜히 mean?

괜히 [gwaenhi] is an adverb meaning "for no reason, needlessly". It is rated B1 on the CEFR scale, which means intermediate — used in social and travel situations. This word appears across 1 Lexibeom card pack, making it a high-utility vocabulary item for everyday Korean.

Example Sentences (1)

Here are real-life sentences where 괜히 [gwaenhi] appears naturally. Each example is taken from a Lexibeom learning card and reviewed by our AI pipeline.

아까 진수한테 괜히 심한 말을 했어요.

I said harsh words to Jinsu for no reason earlier.

📚 From 속담, 관용어

How to Use 괜히 in Conversation

괜히 is a adverb. Listen to how native speakers use it in context — Korean meaning depends heavily on the surrounding particles and politeness markers. The examples above show its natural placement in real conversation.

From the Lexibeom Card Packs

You can learn 괜히 in context with these curated packs:

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