If you want to learn more about South Korean culture, you need to know more about its history, delicious cuisine, and especially its slang. After all, the Koreans decided to resort to abbreviations in their native language, which they are still proud of. And Hangeul which is a Korean alphabet played a significant role.
I agree that a basic level of the Korean language can open the door to a dream, allowing you to find foreign friends from South Korea not just in your city but even abroad. However, the Korean language is not just a formal and informal communication style. It is a complete collection of puns and idioms, so make sure you read the article carefully and summarize the information.
Model: Viktoriia Holovach
This is the most common slang in correspondence:
- 열공 (열심히공부) — study hard
- 고고싱 (고고씽) — let’s go (고 «go» ; 씽 — move on a high speed — from 씽씽)
- 대박 — no way!
- 얼짱 (얼굴+짱) — pretty
- 정말 — really?
- 화이팅/파이팅! — good luck!
- 안돼 — you can’t!
- 어떡해 — what to do?
- 심쿵 — heart racing
- 뭥미 — what..?
- 엄마야 — Oh my God!
- 우와 — wow!
- 진짜 — really?
- 그래요 — right, exactly
- 아이고 — oops..
- 아 — ..aaa
- ㅎㅇ (하이) — hi
- ㅋㅋ/ㅎㅎ — ‘laughing’
- ㄱㅅ (감사(하다) — thanks
- ㅇㅋ (오케이) — okay
- ㅊㅊ, ㅊㅋ (추카) — (축하) — congratulations on
- ㅇㅇ (응 / 어) — hmm, yep
- ㅇㅈ — 인정(하다) — recognize, acknowledge
- ㅠㅠ / ㅜㅜ — ‘crying’
- ㅃㅇ / ㅃㅃ (빠이) — bye
- ㄴ / ㄴㄴ (노 / 노노) — no
- ㅈㅅ — 죄송(하다) — sorry
- ㄱㄱ (고고) — let’s go
- ㅅㄱ (수고) — good job
There are some swear words to use in everyday situations:
- ㅗ (엿먹어) — fuck you
- ㄷㅊ (닥쳐) — shut up
- ㅁㅊ (미친) — crazy
- ㅅㅂ (씨발) — fuck, shit
- ㅈㄴ (존나) — fucking, damn, shit
- ㅂㅅ (븅신 / 병신) — wuss
Model: Viktoriia Holovach
Let’s move on to the most exciting part!
- 베프 (베스트프렌드) — best friends
- 치맥 (치킨+맥주) — chicken with beer
- 콜 — sure
- 아싸 — gorgeous
- 비번 (비밀번호) — password
- 멘붕 (멘탈봉괴) — mental breakdown
- 꿀잼 — it’s so much fun!
- 불금 (불타는금요일) — Fire Friday
- 썸 — fling
- 행쇼 (행복하십) — be happy
- 밀당 (밀다+당기다) — push and pull relationship cycle
- 맛점 (맛있는점심) — enjoy lunch
- 현웃 (현실에서웃음) — laughter in real life (lol)
- 헐 — OMG
- 레알 (Korean 진짜) — Really?
- 짤 (사진) — photo
- 웃프다 (웃기다+슬프다) — it’s funny but sad
- 쩐다 — super/cool
- 셀카 (셀프+카메라) — selfie
- 안물 (안물어봤어) — didn’t ask
- 안궁 (안궁금해) — whatever/not interested
- 노답 — don’t have an answer
Can I give you a piece of advice? I highly recommend you to look through all the new words and write them down. As soon as you master them, you should use them daily. Don’t forget one thing! Slang is simultaneously necessary and dangerous, so it’s better to use it only with close friends and not with management.
As you have noticed, there is no transcription in the materials, as I am completely against it. So, first, we learn Hangul, then grammar, vocabulary, and slang.
그래서한국어를열심히공부하세요! — That’s why study Korean hard!
Journalist Viktoriia Holovach, English translation by Anastasiia Malakhova
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