{"id":3818,"date":"2021-04-22T00:00:32","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T00:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com.au\/blog\/?p=3818"},"modified":"2026-06-15T16:15:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T16:15:54","slug":"korean-slang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.com.au\/blog\/korean-slang\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Korean Slang Expressions That Will Help You Sound Like a Native Speaker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Korean culture is known for the search for group harmony, respect for old people, and the centrality of family and friendship. However, if you really want to make friends and be regarded as an equal by Korean people, it\u2019s crucial to show that you\u2019re interested in learning their language.<\/p>\n

Though they are very polite to people who speak foreign languages, if you really want them to like you, you\u2019ll need to sound like them. And what is the best way to sound like a Korean? Easy: by adding some Korean slang to your conversation.<\/p>\n

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Hand photo created by pressfoto – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Why slang? Because, by learning to use colloquial expressions in the right situational contexts, friends will become closer, jokes much easier to grasp, and art and entertainment much more meaningful. For all these reasons, we have compiled a list of essential Korean slang expressions you need to learn before you travel.<\/p>\n

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Get started for free! Explore our Free Korean Trial Classes.<\/a><\/p>\n

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1. \ub0a8\uc0ac\uce5c\u00a0(namsachin)\u2013\u00a0A man who\u2019s \u201cjust a friend\u201d<\/h2>\n
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People photo created by tirachardz – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Namaschin is a compound noun made from \ub0a8 (nam), short for \ub0a8\uc790 (namja), meaning \u201cman\u201d; \uc0ac (sa), from \uc0ac\ub78c (saram), meaning \u201cperson\u201d, and \uce5c (chin) from\u00a0\uce5c\uad6c (chingu), meaning friend. Put these three together and you get something like \u201ca person who\u2019s not a boyfriend, but a male friend\u201d.<\/p>\n

2. \uafc0\uc7bc\u00a0(kkuljaem)\u2013\u00a0Something that is fun, amusing, or interesting<\/h2>\n
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People photo created by tirachardz – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

This expression comes from \uafc0 (kkul), which means \u2018honey\u2019, and \u00a0\uc7bc (jaem), which means \u2018interesting\u2019. These two terms combine to refer to something that is pleasant, enjoyable, or funny, whether you\u2019re talking about a person, a date, or a film. (You\u2019re also bound to hear this expression in K-pop songs!)<\/p>\n

3. \ub178\uc7bc\u00a0(nojaem)\u2013\u00a0Something that is not <\/em>fun, not <\/em>amusing,\u00a0or uninteresting<\/h2>\n
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Woman photo created by katemangostar – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

In contrast, if you want to talk about something that is dull, unfunny or unpleasant, you can use this Korean slang expression which is formed from \ub178 (no), meaning \u201cno\u201d or \u201cnot\u201d, and \uc7bc (jaem) meaning interesting. So, if you want to refer to something that is as disappointing as an empty jar of jam (or honey!), just say that it\u2019s nojaem<\/i><\/em>.<\/p>\n

4. \uc194\uae4c\ub9d0\u00a0(solkkamal) \u2013 To be open and truthful<\/h2>\n
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People photo created by 8photo – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

\uae4c (kka) and \ub9d0 (mal) come from the expression \uae4c\ub193\uace0 \ub9d0\ud558\ub2e4 (kkanoko malhada), which means something like \u201cspeak your mind\u201d. So if you sense that someone is being untruthful, either because they are full of\u2026 lies, or because they don\u2019t want to be impolite, you can invite them to say things straight by using this Korean slang phrase.<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0\ud488\uc808\ub0a8\u00a0(pumjeollam) | \u00a0\ud488\uc808\ub140\u00a0(pumjeollyeo) \u2013 A man or a woman who has just got married<\/h2>\n
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Background photo created by prostooleh – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

This peculiar phrase is used to warn someone that somebody else is taken. In fact, the words \ud488\uc808\ub0a8 (pumjeollam) and \ud488\uc808\ub140 (pumjeollyeo) literally mean \u2018sold-out man\u2019 and \u2018sold-out woman\u2019, and they serve as a warning that somebody has just got married and is therefore off the dating market.<\/p>\n

6. \u00a0\ubaa8\uc3e0\u00a0(mossol) \u2013 Someone who has never been in a relationship<\/h2>\n
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Woman photo created by jcomp – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

\ubaa8\uc3e0 (mossol) is the short version of the word \ubaa8\ud0dc\uc194\ub85c (motae sollo), which means \u201cmother\u2019s womb\u201d. Combined with the second word \uc194\ub85c (sollo), meaning single, we get something along the lines of \u201csomeone who has been alone since they were born\u201d. In case you\u2019re wondering whether it is as offensive as it sounds, well, it might be, depending on the context. So make sure you use it carefully!<\/p>\n

7. \u00a0\u00a0\uadf9\ud610 (geukyeom) \u2013 Utter disgust<\/h2>\n
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Woman photo created by benzoix – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

A shortened version of \uadf9\ud55c\uc758 \ud610\uc624 (geukanui hyeomo), this slang expression is made from \uadf9\ud55c (geukan) which means \u201cextreme\u201d and \ud610\uc624 (hyeomo) means \u201cloathing, disgust or revulsion”, so join them together and you\u2019ve got a phrase that you can use when you see or experience something disgusting.<\/p>\n

8. \u00a0\ubc00\ub2f9 (mildang) \u2013 Push and pull<\/h2>\n
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Love photo created by master1305 – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

This phrase is the result of combining \ubc00\ub2e4 (mildang | to push) and \ub2f9\uae30\ub2e4 (danggida | to pull). However, it has nothing to do with opening doors. This Korean slang expression refers to the volatile way in which people behave when they start a romantic relationship. It\u2019s the perfect expression to describe those situations in which somebody seems to be really invested in a relationship only to disappear without a trace the following day. Alternatively, you can use this phrase as a verb by saying \ubc00\ub2f9\ud558\ub2e4 (mildanghada).<\/p>\n

9. \u00a0\uc2ec\ucff5\u00a0(simkung) \u2013 Heartthrob (huge crush)<\/h2>\n
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People photo created by tirachardz – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

\uc2ec\ucff5 (simkung) refers to that mild heart attack you seem to have every time you see or think about your significant other! A good way to remember this one is knowing that \uc2ec\uc7a5 (simjang) means \u201cheart\u201d and \ucff5\ucff5 (kungkung) is the ticking, or in this case booming, sound your heartbeat makes!<\/p>\n

10. \uc624\ube60\u00a0(oppa)\u00a0\u2013 \u00a0An\u00a0older\u00a0brother<\/h2>\n
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People photo created by pressfoto – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

This is a word that girls use to call an older brother or somebody who feels like that. So what does oppa mean? For a girl, it means a man she can trust.<\/p>\n

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With this arsenal of slang expressions, we think you will be more than able to get Korean people to like you and feel close to you. After all, isn\u2019t that what we look for when we learn a new language? To connect with others and be accepted into a different culture?<\/p>\n

If you want to delve deeper into this wonderful language, however, you will need to do much more than just memorise colloquial expressions. For those who want to achieve fluency in Korean, the best thing to do is take a course with a native Korean speaker. So,\u00a0explore our Korean courses now<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and start improving your speaking skills as soon as possible!<\/p>\n

Get started for free! Explore our Free Korean Trial Classes.<\/a><\/p>\n

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