It’s always difficult to wait for the subtitles to be out as avid K-drama fans. Here, we have 13 Korean slang words that are commonly used in Korean dramas to help you understand the drama better!
1. 남사친 (namsachin)/ 여사친 (yeosachin) – A male friend/ A female friend
남 is short for “남자”, and that means “male.” / 여 is short for “여자”, and that means “female.”
사 is short for “사람”, and that means “person.”
친 is short for “친구”, and that means “friend.”
This is usually used in dramas when someone is trying to explain that they are nothing more than friends. This is often referring to close friends who of the opposite sex and don’t stand a chance getting into a relationship.
2. 꿀잼 (kkuljaem) – Something that is really interesting
“꿀” means honey, but it can also mean “very” in this context.
“잼” is short for “재미있어요” (jaemiisseoyo) which means “interesting.”
Put together, “꿀잼” means “very interesting/fun.”
3. 노잼 (nojaem) – Something that is boring
“노” simply means “no” or “not.”
Similarly, “잼” is short for “재미있어요” (jaemiisseoyo).
Putting them together, it means “boring/not fun”
4. 혼밥 (honbap)/ 혼술 (honsul)/ 혼놀 (honnul) – Doing things alone
“혼” is short for “혼자”, which means “alone.”
“밥” means “rice” or just food in general.
“술” means alcohol.
“놀” means play/have fun.
There is a growing culture in Korea where people do activities alone and these three terms are formed because of that. “혼밥” (honbap) means eating alone, “혼술” (honsul) means drinking alone, and “혼놀” (honnul) means spending time alone/engaging in leisure activities alone.
5. 모쏠 (mossol) – Someone who has never dated
“모쏠” (mossol) is the shortened form for “모태솔로” (motaesolo) which means someone who has never dated since birth. This is usually said only in a joking manner.
6. 밀당 (mildang) – Push-pull
The term comes from two verbs, 밀다 (milda), which means “push” and 당기다 (danggida), which means “pull.” When put together, “밀당” is referring to push-pull relationships where the couple goes into a pursue-withdraw cycle. One moment, they seek more intimacy, and the next, they withdraw themselves and pretend to be uninterested.
7. 어장관리 (eojanggwanlee) – lit. “Managing the fish tank”
“어장” means “fish tank”, and “관리” means “to manage” so it literally means “managing the fish tank”! But the real meaning of this term is far from anything to do with fishes or fish tank.
This term is used to describe people who keep multiple people interested in them at the same time but do not go into a relationship with them. This person would confuse the other party by acting as if they are interested in them but they aren’t. You can also say that these people are “playing the field.”
8. 썸타다 (sseomtada) – Something special going on between two people
When two people who are not in a relationship but there seems to be something between them, there is “썸” between the two. In other words, it can also be said that the two are having a fling!
9. 심쿵 (simkung) – Heart skipping a beat
“심쿵” is a combination of two words, “심장” (simjang) which means “heart” and “쿵” (koong) which is an onomatopoeia for the sound of the heart throbbing. It’s used to describe people who experience their heart skipping a beat when they see someone they like.
10. 그린라이트 (geurillaiteu) – lit. “Green light”
This is referring to relationships! “그린라이트” is used when someone gave the green light to pursue. It means that the person shows interest in forming a relationship.
11. 라면 먹고 갈래? (ramyeon meoggo gallae) – “Would you like to have ramyeon?”
In English, it means “Netflix and chill.”
When someone asks a question like that, it means that the person is inviting another person to stay over at his or her house. It’s not used in a serious manner but as a joke because of how famous this phrase is.
12. 꼰대 (kkondae)
“꼰대” refers to an old superior who would insist on his or her old ways stubbornly. They can be referred to as a “condescending old person.” They like saying, “Back in my days…” and “Young people these days…”
Is there a Korean slang that you would like to share? Learn more by subscribing to KOCOWA!
[maxbutton id=”707″] [maxbutton id=”708″]
