eotteokhae

Also written: ottoke; otteokhae; 어떻게 해

A Korean expression meaning “What should I do?”, “What are we going to do?”, or “Oh no,” usually said when the speaker is worried, overwhelmed, or confronted with a problem.

Literal meaning

what should I do; how can this be handled

Cultural context

Eotteokhae is a contracted expression related to 어떻게 해, “how do [I/we] do it?” In fast emotional dialogue, it may function as a full reaction rather than a literal request for instructions.

How dramas use it

Characters say it after losing something important, discovering a secret, arriving late, facing an emergency, causing a mistake, or realizing that a relationship problem has become unavoidable.

Usage & formality

Do not confuse 어떡해, “what should I do?”, with 어떻게, “how.” They are related but serve different grammatical roles.