Loanwords slang

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

Borrowed from Japanese. Usually describes a fictional hero with extraordinary powers, distinct from "yongsa" (a soldier honored for real accomplishments). In Korean internet use, it can also mean someone who does something reckless that most people wouldn't dare.

From English "fake" — a trick or deception. Also written "peiikeu."

Means "this feels so good" in an excited, thrilled sense. Its use is controversial because it originates from a stock line in Japanese adult videos.

Clipped from Japanese "arigatō gozaimasu" — a casual "thanks" used among friends and online.

"Prim and aloof." A character-personality trope in Japanese manga, anime and bishoujo games. Blends the Japanese for a standoffish, curt demeanor ("tsuntsun") with "bashful/lovestruck" ("dere").

A character-personality trope common in anime and bishoujo games — someone with an obsessive, unhealthy attachment to one person. Blends the Japanese words for "sick/ill" (yamu) and "bashful/lovestruck" (dere).

From English "delulu" (delusional) — near-delusional optimism that everything will work out, embraced as a coping strategy.

From English "come back" — an artist or performer returning to the stage/scene after time away, especially a K-pop group's new release/promotion cycle.

A speech tic derived from a stilted Japanese-to-Korean translation pattern. E.g. "This post isn't that interesting, but it's pretty helpful-neung~"

A game monster/enemy — from English "mob." Also used as a suffix, e.g. "boss-mob."

Originally a Japanese word for "the real thing," but in Korean subculture communities it's used for someone who causes real harm or trouble to others.

A Japanese-accented pronunciation of the word "sex," used on forums where the direct word is banned or where saying it plainly feels too blunt.

The initial consonant of the Korean pronunciation of English "No" — shorthand for "no."

From English "shield." Used when someone defends a person or group being criticized on a forum, deflecting the attacks — commonly as the verb phrase "shield-chida" (to put up a shield).

"Not" (English) + "ningen" (Japanese for human) — "not human," usually meaning someone is superhuman/godlike. The opposite is "ningen" (an ordinary human).

Describes great chemistry, rapport, or compatibility between people — from English "chemistry."

From "otaku," rendered in Korean as "odeoku," with an intensifying prefix once used to describe someone even more obsessed than a typical otaku (as in "5x otaku," "10x otaku"). Now mostly used, often affectionately, alongside idol fandom.

A forced waiting period before you can use an ability or action again — from English "cool time" (cooldown).

From English "generate" — when a monster spawns in a game's field or dungeon (e.g. "mob-jen," "boss-jen").

Rooted in Japanese, popularized as a coined phrase by Korean YouTuber/streamer BJ Bo Gyeom.

A term derived from the Japanese word *Ieunji*, meaning "mania," modified to resemble a Sino-Korean word. It refers to a person who focuses intensely on a particular field. The term "odeokhu" was first used in the Animation Gallery on DC Inside in 2005. The activities performed by an odeokhu are called *deokjil*.

From English "even" — evenly, uniformly. Took off from judging comments on the cooking show Culinary Class Wars.

From Japanese "otaku" (enthusiast/nerd), used pejoratively for someone obsessively attached to Japanese culture, and more broadly for anyone with an intense fixation on a hobby or interest. In Korea it's commonly used to mock fans of Japanese anime/culture specifically. A harsher version is "sipdeokhu" ("10x otaku").

Japanese for "as expected," used in place of the Korean equivalent.

"Overpowered/broken character" (shortened from "scam character") — originally a gaming term for an unfairly strong character, now also used offline for someone with outstanding talent or looks. (Unrelated to the Japanese rice wine "sake," despite the similar sound.)

"Black history" — used for a period of someone's past they now find embarrassing or cringeworthy. Borrowed from Japanese; softer renderings like "a past best forgotten" are the recommended translation.

From English "class," in the sense of "tier/level" — usually used to describe how impressive someone or something is.

Means "human," from the Japanese pronunciation of the word. The opposite is "not-ningen" (superhuman).

From Japanese internet slang ("mental health" + -er) — someone, or a character type, who is emotionally unstable and clingy.

"Ningen by ningen" — "ningen" is Japanese for "human," so this means "it varies from person to person."

"There's no getting out of it/denying it, can't" (mixing Korean with English "can't") — you're stuck, no way around it.

The meaning of emphasizing indigenous pro-North Korean forces as more vicious "Reds" than indigenous Japanese collaborators.

From English "hip" — cool in an of-the-moment, slightly alternative way.

From English "holy moly" — an exclamation of surprise.

A playful, flipped version of the Japanese "gomen gomen" (sorry, sorry) — a light, joking apology.

From English "vibe coding" — building software by describing what you want to an AI and accepting the code it writes, rather than writing or fully understanding the code yourself.

From English "sped up" — a fan-made version of a song played roughly 1.3–1.5× faster, popular as short-form video background music.

From English "slop" — low-quality, mass-produced AI-generated content flooding feeds; also called "AI slop."

"Six-seven" — a near-meaningless Gen Alpha meme said with a see-saw hand gesture, roughly "meh, so-so"; it came from a Skrilla song and spread from US teens to Korean kids.

From English "dupe" — an affordable lookalike of a luxury or pricey product (not a counterfeit), as in "dupe shopping."

A viral catchphrase from a K-pop idol's gyaru-style skit, pairing the Japanese casual greeting "yaho" (hi!) with the city name Geoje. Shouted as a random, upbeat greeting or cheer; people swap in other place names too.

From English "sober curious" — a lifestyle of questioning why you drink and skipping alcohol when you don't need it, without formally quitting. Often used to describe young Koreans' shift away from heavy drinking culture.

Borrowed from livestreamers addressing their viewers, now used to address any group of people, even friends in real life — "Chat, is this real?"

"Native-born Japanese pirates" — a derogatory label for Koreans seen as glorifying Japanese colonial rule or siding with Japan. Mostly used by progressives against conservatives; critics say it is applied too loosely.

Jokey internet slang, borrowed from the stress hormone, for someone or something calm and unbothered; it isn't a medical claim — "Morning walks with no phone are so low cortisol."

Jokey internet slang, borrowed from the stress hormone, for something stressful, cringey or rattling; it isn't a medical claim — "Group projects are so high cortisol."

A derogatory word for a socially awkward or ostracized person, roughly "loser." It's commonly traced to a Japanese word for someone with a limp (ちんば), though that origin isn't proven, and it's considered offensive.

A joking insult meaning roughly "suspicious fool" — "You ate my fries, you sussy baka." It combines "sussy," from the Among Us slang "sus," with the Japanese word baka (idiot).

The number of people someone has slept with — "She asked about my body count on the second date." Borrowed from the older sense of a tally of the dead, and often loaded with a gendered double standard.