Definition
To smile or laugh; to show happiness or amusement on your face.
Example
그녀는 항상 밝게 웃어서 기분이 좋아진다.
Show translation
She always smiles brightly, so it lifts my mood.
Etymology
웃다 is a native Korean verb with roots traceable to Old Korean. It is closely related to 웃음 (laughter/smile), the noun form. The stem 웃- appears consistently across the historical Korean corpus with no major Chinese character (한자) equivalent, confirming its pure native (고유어) status.
Cultural note
In Korean culture, smiling and laughing aloud in public is generally seen as warm and approachable, but a very loud laugh in a formal setting can be considered impolite. The phrase "웃으면 복이 와요" (If you laugh/smile, good fortune comes) is a popular folk saying, reflecting the cultural value placed on a cheerful demeanor.