Dating slang

It is the subtle emotion exchanged before dating someone you have feelings for.

Originally short for "you won't get a girlfriend" (an-saenggyeoyo). On the far-right forum Ilbe, it took on a mocking tone, sometimes paired with a faux-dialect phrase implying "things weren't like this in the old days."

From the American idiom for a green traffic signal meaning "go ahead/permission granted." Caught on in Korean online communities specifically for signaling romantic interest or receptiveness between two people.

"Fishpond management" — keeping several people on a string with just enough attention to keep them interested, usually in the context of romantic prospects.

An abbreviation of 'push and pull,' it usually refers to the psychological game of pushing and pulling in a romantic relationship.

It is a trending term that originated from Girlfriend's Umji saying to fans at the filming of the 2017 Lunar New Year Idol Star Athletics Championships, "Anyone who received two packets of ketchup! Confession of conscience!", meaning a confession about a trivial matter.

"Guy/girl friend" who's just a friend (shortened from "male/female person friend") — someone of the opposite sex you're friends with, with zero romantic feelings involved.

"Girlfriend," shortened.

Shortened way of saying "the girl I have a crush on."

"Boyfriend," shortened.

"Campus Couple," shortened — a couple who are both students at the same university.

It is an abbreviation for "male friend." It refers to a friend who is simply male, without any romantic feelings. Sometimes, this is interpreted the other way around and used to tease someone by calling them a "friend who loves men."

Shortened way of saying "the guy I have a crush on."

She is simply a female friend, without any romantic feelings for her.

"When I do it, it's romance; when you do it, it's cheating" (shortened) — a double standard, judging the same behavior differently depending on who's doing it.

An abbreviation for 'Romance Fantasy,' a genre of novels or comics.

The generation that has given up on N things — dating, marriage, children and more. Grew out of the earlier "three-give-up generation."

Breaking up while already lined up with the next partner — like transferring to another train without waiting.

A joke word for the stage just before dating: closer than a crush, not official yet. "Sa-" (four) in "dating" dropped to "sam-" (three).

From "flirting" — signalling interest in someone, lightly and on purpose.

Going straight at it: showing your feelings openly instead of playing games.

The perfect moment to confess your feelings. The "-gak" suffix marks a good opening for anything.

"Dating" + "slump" — the stale, going-through-the-motions phase of a long relationship.

Short for "solo since the womb" — someone who has never been in a relationship.