Slang
Korean expressions and words about Slang, with examples and translations. Learn Korean with LearnK.
Slang
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웃프다 (utpeuda): The Korean Slang for When Laughter and Tears Hit at Once
Everyone has moments like this. Something is clearly funny, but once you've laughed, some corner of your heart feels a little tender. When a friend who bombed a
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Living Your Best Life, gatsaeng-style: The Korean Buzzword That Turns Every Day Into a Win
Someone who wakes up at 6 a.m., drinks a glass of water, works out, studies, and makes the most of their whole day. When people on Korean social media spot some
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국룰 (gungnyul): The 'National Rule' — That Unwritten Rule Everyone Just Takes for Granted
When you order fried chicken, cola is naturally supposed to come with it; ramen has to have kimchi; and when you get in an elevator, someone always presses the
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존버 (jonbeo): The One Word for People Who Hang On to the Very End
A friend whose stocks got cut in half but who still won't sell and just closes the account; a streamer who survives near-death moments in a game until dawn and
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Today's Korean Slang '칼퇴 (kaltoe)' — Clocking Out Right on the Dot
Picture the face of an office worker at 6 p.m. on a Friday, shutting down their computer and grabbing their bag. No overtime today. That refreshing moment of wa
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킹받다 (kingbatda): When You're Not Just Annoyed — You're 'King'-Level Annoyed
If you spend time browsing Korean online communities, YouTube comments, or game chats, you'll often run into this word: **킹받다 (kingbatda)**. Learners seeing it
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TMI: Meaning and How to Use It — The Slang Koreans Can't Stop Saying
When a friend starts rattling off a story nobody asked for — "Hey, do you know what I ate this morning? Two eggs and some toast, oh, and I couldn't sleep last n
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라떼는 말이야 (latte-neun mariya) — The Best Slang for Mocking "Back in My Day"
Picture a company dinner in Korea. A senior manager, well along in years, lifts his glass of soju and opens with: "Back when I was a new hire…" In that instant,
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오운완 (o-un-wan) — A Little Brag That You Did It Again Today: The Korean One-Liner for Proving You Worked Out
As you scroll through Instagram or X (formerly Twitter), you'll often spot a short hashtag — **#오운완 (#o-un-wan)** — tucked under a sweaty gym selfie. If you're
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"실화냐? (silhwanya?)" — The One-Liner That Bursts Out When You Can't Believe It
Your favorite idol suddenly replied to your comment. Your test score came back a whole 20 points higher than you expected. Or, the other way around, the file yo
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Cutting Your Losses? — A Complete Guide to '손절 (sonjeol),' Essential Slang for Korea's MZ Generation
A word that started with a friend who plays the stock market is now used even for romance and friendship. When a friend keeps breaking promises and won't pay ba
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워라밸 (worabael): The Korean Buzzword for Work-Life Balance
When you watch Korean dramas, you'll sometimes come across a scene where the main character, worn out from working late, sighs and says, "If I keep living like
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The Meaning of 답정너: The Answer's Already Decided — You Just Have to Say It
A friend asks you this: "This outfit doesn't really suit me, right? Right?" But from the look on their face, they've already made up their mind to buy it. If yo
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갑분싸 (gapbunssa): When a Fun Mood Freezes Over in an Instant
You're hanging out with friends, laughing and chatting away. Then someone drops a tactless comment, and the air that was buzzing just a second ago suddenly goes
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소확행 (sohwakhaeng): How to Talk About Small but Certain Happiness
The first sip of a cup of coffee, the moment you slip into freshly washed sheets, a warm 붕어빵 (bungeoppang, fish-shaped pastry) bought on the way home from work.
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아싸 (assa): A Cheer or an Outsider? — The Two-Faced Korean Slang With Opposite Meanings
If you watch Korean variety shows, you've probably seen it at least once: someone wins a game, clenches both fists, and shouts "아싸! (assa!)" But the very same '
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꿀잼 (kkuljaem): 'Fun as Sweet as Honey' — Korean's Ultimate Cry of Delight
Have you ever pulled an all-nighter binge-watching a Korean drama? Or gotten a game recommendation from a friend and fallen so deep into it that you lost all tr
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Learning Real Korean Slang with 인싸 (inssa, "insider") — The Person at the Center of the Group
When you watch Korean variety shows or vlogs, you'll often see subtitles like this: "That person is such an 인싸!" Someone who's already taking photos with friend
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노잼 (nojaem): What It Means and How to Use It — Master the '노잼' Koreans Say Every Day
Ever had a moment where a friend asks about the movie you saw yesterday, and you just want to sum up your rating in a single word? When it's too much of a hassl
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멘붕 (membung): The One Word Koreans Blurt Out When Their Mind Goes Blank
You get your exam results back and the score is way more brutal than you expected. Your laptop dies before your finished report file has been saved. You hear th
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Today's Korean Expression: '대박 (daebak)' — Surprise and Success in One Word
When you watch Korean variety shows or dramas, there's one word characters shout with their eyes wide open. That word is **대박 (daebak)**. When they ace a test,
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Heol! The Exclamation Koreans Shout Several Times a Day
When you watch Korean dramas or text back and forth with a Korean friend, there's one short word that shows up without fail every time some surprising news come
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Mastering the Korean Slang '짱 (jjang)': One Syllable to Shout "The Best!"
K-culture fans around the world — have you ever watched your favorite idol's stage and wanted to burst out with your amazement in just a single syllable? Instea