Korean slang and colloquial expressions are a crucial part of mastering the language and understanding everyday conversations among native speakers. In this article, we will explore some popular Korean slang terms and expressions that will spice up your language skills and help you sound more like a local.
대박 (daebak)
Meaning: Awesome or amazing. It is often used to express excitement or admiration towards something impressive.
이 영화 정말 대박이야!
짱 (jjang)
Meaning: Best or awesome. It is used to compliment someone or something that is considered the best.
너 진짜 짱이다!
꿀잼 (kkuljaem)
Meaning: Extremely fun or enjoyable. It combines the words ‘꿀’ (honey) and ‘잼’ (fun), implying something is as sweet as honey.
이 게임 꿀잼이야!
노잼 (nojaem)
Meaning: Boring or not fun. This is the opposite of ‘꿀잼’.
이 영화 노잼이다, 다른 거 볼까?
삼귀다 (samgwida)
Meaning: A slang expression used when you agree strongly with what someone has said, similar to saying “Exactly!” or “I agree!”
A: 이 음식 맛있어요! B: 삼귀다!
야밤 (yabam)
Meaning: Refers to late night. It is often used to describe activities done during late hours.
야밤에 공부하는 게 제일 좋아.
헐 (heol)
Meaning: An expression of shock or disbelief, similar to “OMG” or “Wow”.
헐, 진짜 그랬어?
어쩔티비 (eojjeoltibi)
Meaning: A playful way of saying “What can you do about it?” or “It is what it is.”
비가 오는데, 어쩔티비!
존맛탱 (jonmattaeng)
Meaning: Super delicious. It is a combination of ‘존’ (very), ‘맛’ (taste) and ‘탱’ (a cute suffix).
이 치킨 존맛탱이다!
멘붕 (menbung)
Meaning: Mental breakdown. It is often used to describe a state of confusion or frustration.
시험 본 후에 멘붕 왔어.
인싸 (insa)
Meaning: An insider, someone who is very social and popular within a group.
그는 정말 인싸야, 파티에서 모두가 그와 얘기하고 싶어해.
아싸 (assa)
Meaning: An outsider, someone who is not very social or popular.
저는 좀 아싸인 것 같아요, 친구가 별로 없어요.
오지다 (ojida)
Meaning: To be extremely good or cool.
너의 새 자전거 진짜 오지다!
킹받다 (kingbadak)
Meaning: To be extremely annoyed or angry. It’s a slang term derived from English.
지하철에서 밀치는 사람 때문에 킹받았어.
썸타다 (sseomtada)
Meaning: To have a flirty or ambiguous relationship with someone where it is not clear if you are just friends or something more.
우리 둘이 썸타는 것 같아.
웃프다 (utpeuda)
Meaning: Something that is funny yet sad at the same time, a portmanteau of ‘웃다’ (to laugh) and ‘슬프다’ (to be sad).
그 영화는 웃프다, 웃기지만 슬퍼.
Understanding and using these Korean slang and colloquial expressions can greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively and immerse yourself in Korean culture. As you continue to learn Korean, try incorporating these expressions into your conversations to sound more natural and fluent.
