Ways to say it better

Get​ ​Swept​ ​Away​ ​By​ ​The​ ​Korean​ ​Words​ ​Streaming​ ​Into​ ​English​

 

The​ ​"​Korean​ ​Wave​"

 

In​ ​the​ ​last​ ​decade​ ​or​ ​so,​ ​a​ ​wave​ ​has​ ​swept​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Korean​ ​peninsula​ ​and​ ​spread​ ​anywhere​ ​and​ ​everywhere.​ ​But​ ​don​’​t​ ​worry.​ ​This​ ​wave​ ​isn​’​t​ ​made​ ​of​ ​water.​ ​No,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​made​ ​of​ ​…​ ​pop​ ​culture​!

 

The​ ​word​ ​Hallyu,​ ​which​ ​literally​ ​means​ ​“​Korean​ ​Current​”​ ​or​ ​“​Korean​ ​Wave,​”​ ​has​ ​been​ ​used​ ​to​ ​refer​ ​to​ ​the​ ​wave​ ​of​ ​Korean​ ​pop​ ​culture​ ​that​ ​has​ ​swept​ ​across​ ​the​ ​globe​ ​and​ ​led​ ​to​ ​a​ ​rapid​ ​explosion​ ​in​ ​popularity​ ​of​ ​Korean​ ​music,​ ​movies,​ ​food,​ ​television​ ​shows,​ ​and​ ​video​ ​games.​ ​Hallyu​ ​has​ ​exposed​ ​us​ ​to​ ​K-pop,​ ​K-dramas,​ ​and​ ​K-beauty.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​hooked​ ​on​ ​the​ ​TV​ ​series​ ​Squid​ ​Game​ ​or​ ​have​ ​been​ ​enlisted​ ​into​ ​the​ ​BTS​ ​ARMY,​ ​you​’​ve​ ​already​ ​been​ ​caught​ ​up​ ​in​ ​Hallyu.

 

Hallyu​ ​isn​’​t​ ​just​ ​about​ ​learning​ ​names​ ​of​ ​popular​ ​K-pop​ ​stars,​ ​though.​ ​It​ ​has​ ​led​ ​to​ ​a​ ​wider​ ​awareness​ ​of​ ​Korean​ ​culture​ ​and​ ​words​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Korean​ ​language.​ ​We​’​ve​ ​gathered​ ​up​ ​some​ ​of​ ​these​ ​words​ ​to​ ​help​ ​explain​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​things​ ​that​ ​have​ ​fueled​ ​the​ ​momentum​ ​of​ ​Hallyu.

 

Note:​ ​We​ ​often​ ​use​ ​the​ ​words​ ​Korea​ ​and​ ​Korean​ ​to​ ​refer​ ​specifically​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Republic​ ​of​ ​Korea,​ ​commonly​ ​known​ ​as​ ​South​ ​Korea.

 

 

Hangul​ ​(한​글)

 

First,​ ​you​ ​should​ ​know​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Korean​ ​language​ ​uses​ ​an​ ​entirely​ ​different​ ​writing​ ​system​ ​from​ ​English.​ ​Korean​ ​uses​ ​a​ ​24-letter​ ​alphabet​ ​consisting​ ​of​ ​14​ ​consonants​ ​and​ ​10​ ​vowels.​ ​The​ ​name​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Korean​ ​alphabet​ ​is​ ​Hangul,​ ​which​ ​would​ ​be​ ​written​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Korean​ ​alphabet​ ​as​ 한​글 ​and​ ​translates​ ​to​ ​“​great​ ​script.​”

 

Because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​different​ ​alphabets,​ ​the​ ​English​ ​spellings​ ​of​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​words​ ​we​ ​will​ ​look​ ​at​ ​are​ ​merely​ ​renderings​ ​of​ ​how​ ​these​ ​Korean​ ​words​ ​would​ ​roughly​ ​be​ ​transliterated​ ​in​ ​written​ ​English.​ ​This​ ​means​ ​that​ ​you​ ​may​ ​come​ ​across​ ​alternate​ ​spellings​ ​of​ ​many​ ​of​ ​these​ ​words.

 

 

Some​ ​important​ ​words​

Moving​ ​on,​ ​let​’​s​ ​look​ ​at​ ​some​ ​words​ ​that​ ​are​ ​useful​ ​for​ ​getting​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​of​ ​understanding​ ​into​ ​Korean​ ​history​ ​and​ ​culture.

 

 

Korea:​ ​The​ ​English​ ​word​ ​Korea​ ​comes​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Goryeo/Koryo​ ​dynasty​ ​that​ ​ruled​ ​the​ ​Korean​ ​peninsula​ ​for​ ​several​ ​hundred​ ​years.​ ​South​ ​Koreans​ ​often​ ​refer​ ​to​ ​South​ ​Korea​ ​or​ ​the​ ​Korean​ ​peninsula​ ​as​ ​Hanguk​ ​(한​국).​ ​The​ ​word​ ​Korea​ ​is​ ​often​ ​used​ ​to​ ​refer​ ​both​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Korean​ ​peninsula​ ​and​ ​specifically​ ​to​ ​the​ ​nation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Republic​ ​of​ ​Korea​ ​(​South​ ​Korea)​ ​located​ ​on​ ​the​ ​southern​ ​half​ ​of​ ​the​ ​peninsula.

 

Won:​ ​Won​ ​(원)​ ​refers​ ​to​ ​Korean​ ​currency.​ ​Won​ ​comes​ ​in​ ​both​ ​coins​ ​and​ ​dollar​ ​bills.​ ​Roughly​ ​speaking,​ ​a​ ​US​ ​dollar​ ​is​ ​worth​ ​around​ ​1100​ ​Won,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​value​ ​frequently​ ​changes​ ​based​ ​on​ ​global​ ​economics.

 

hanbok:​ ​Hanbok​ ​(한​복)​ ​is​ ​the​ ​traditional​ ​Korean​ ​attire.​ ​The​ ​top​ ​piece,​ ​called​ ​a​ ​jeogori,​ ​resembles​ ​a​ ​sleeved​ ​jacket​ ​and​ ​is​ ​worn​ ​by​ ​both​ ​men​ ​and​ ​women.​ ​To​ ​complete​ ​hanbok,​ ​men​ ​wear​ ​a​ ​vest​ ​and​ ​pants​ ​while​ ​women​ ​wear​ ​a​ ​skirt​ ​and​ ​pantaloons.​ ​Typically,​ ​hanbok​ ​is​ ​not​ ​worn​ ​on​ ​a​ ​daily​ ​basis​ ​and​ ​is​ ​reserved​ ​for​ ​special​ ​occasions.

 

sijo:​ ​Sijo​ ​(시​조)​ ​is​ ​a​ ​Korean​ ​poetic​ ​form.​ ​Similar​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Japanese​ ​haiku,​ ​sijo​ ​typically​ ​follows​ ​certain​ ​guidelines​ ​based​ ​on​ ​numbers​ ​of​ ​syllables​ ​and​ ​lines.​ ​In​ ​general,​ ​sijo​ ​is​ ​intended​ ​to​ ​be​ ​used​ ​to​ ​compose​ ​songs​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​written​ ​poems.

 

 

Siblings​ ​and​ ​friends

In​ ​Korean,​ ​different​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​address​ ​are​ ​used​ ​to​ ​show​ ​respect​ ​to​ ​people​ ​older​ ​than​ ​you.​ ​Some​ ​of​ ​these​ ​terms​ ​can​ ​also​ ​be​ ​used​ ​among​ ​friends​ ​or​ ​siblings​ ​to​ ​affectionately​ ​refer​ ​to​ ​one​ ​another.​ ​Depending​ ​on​ ​your​ ​gender​ ​and​ ​the​ ​gender​ ​of​ ​the​ ​person​ ​you​’​re​ ​speaking​ ​to,​ ​you​’​ll​ ​need​ ​to​ ​pick​ ​out​ ​the​ ​right​ ​word​ ​for​ ​the​ ​job:

 

Oppa​ ​(오​빠)​ ​=​ ​Older​ ​brother​ ​(​used​ ​by​ ​girls/women)

Noona​ ​(누​나)​ ​=​ ​Older​ ​sister​ ​(​used​ ​by​ ​boys/men)

Unnie​ ​(언​니)​ ​=​ ​Older​ ​sister​ ​(​used​ ​by​ ​girls/women)

Hyung​ ​(형)​ ​=​ ​Older​ ​brother​ ​(​used​ ​by​ ​boys/men)

 

In​ ​2012,​ ​many​ ​people​ ​may​ ​have​ ​encountered​ ​the​ ​word​ ​oppa​ ​thanks​ ​to​ ​its​ ​repeated​ ​use​ ​in​ ​the​ ​massive​ ​viral​ ​hit​ ​song​ ​“​Gangnam​ ​Style​”​ ​by​ ​Korean​ ​artist​ ​PSY.​

 

 

kimchi​ ​(김​치)

 

Kimchi​ ​was​ ​a​ ​popular​ ​dish​ ​even​ ​before​ ​everyone​ ​was​ ​swept​ ​up​ ​in​ ​Hallyu.​ ​Kimchi​ ​is​ ​a​ ​traditional​ ​Korean​ ​dish​ ​that​ ​involves​ ​a​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​some​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​fermented​ ​vegetable​ ​with​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​seasonings.​ ​Some​ ​popular​ ​picks​ ​for​ ​the​ ​vegetable​ ​include​ ​cabbage,​ ​radish,​ ​or​ ​cucumber.​ ​You​ ​have​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​number​ ​of​ ​seasonings​ ​to​ ​pick​ ​from,​ ​but​ ​some​ ​common​ ​choices​ ​include​ ​garlic,​ ​ginger,​ ​salt,​ ​chili​ ​pepper,​ ​and​ ​fish​ ​sauce.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​hundreds​ ​of​ ​kimchi​ ​recipes​ ​out​ ​there,​ ​and​ ​all​ ​that​ ​variety​ ​might​ ​explain​ ​its​ ​popularity​!​

 

 

Other​ ​food

If​ ​you​’​re​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​something​ ​to​ ​go​ ​with​ ​your​ ​kimchi,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​plenty​ ​of​ ​other​ ​Korean​ ​dishes​ ​available.​ ​Some​ ​other​ ​Korean​ ​foods​ ​that​ ​make​ ​good​ ​additions​ ​to​ ​the​ ​menu​ ​include:

 

banchan​ ​(반​찬):​ ​Literally​ ​“​side​ ​dishes,​”​ ​banchan​ ​refers​ ​to​ ​small​ ​plates​ ​of​ ​food​ ​served​ ​alongside​ ​a​ ​main​ ​meal.​ ​Banchan​ ​can​ ​include​ ​any​ ​number​ ​of​ ​small​ ​morsels​ ​of​ ​food,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​seaweed,​ ​potato​ ​salad,​ ​or​ ​pickled​ ​radishes.

 

bulgogi​ ​(불​고​기):​ ​This​ ​dish,​ ​which​ ​translates​ ​to​ ​“​fire​ ​meat,​”​ ​is​ ​Korean-style​ ​barbeque​ ​beef.

 

dongchimi​ ​(동​치​미):​ ​Dongchimi​ ​is​ ​a​ ​specific​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​kimchi​ ​that​ ​uses​ ​radishes​ ​and​ ​hot​ ​water.

 

galbi​ ​(갈​비):​ ​Galbi​ ​means​ ​“​ribs,​”​ ​and​ ​this​ ​dish​ ​refers​ ​to​ ​Korean-style​ ​BBQ​ ​short​ ​ribs.

 

japchae​ ​(잡​채):​ ​Japchae​ ​is​ ​a​ ​popular​ ​festive​ ​dish​ ​made​ ​of​ ​stir-fried​ ​noodles,​ ​meat,​ ​and​ ​vegetables.

 

kimbap​ ​(김​밥):​ ​Kimbap​ ​or​ ​gimbap​ ​is​ ​a​ ​Korean​ ​snack​ ​that​ ​is​ ​made​ ​of​ ​a​ ​seaweed​ ​roll​ ​(​gim),​ ​rice​ ​(​bap),​ ​and​ ​whatever​ ​else​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​stuff​ ​inside​!

 

samgyeopsal​ ​(삼​겹​살):​ ​This​ ​dish​ ​refers​ ​to​ ​Korean​ ​grilled​ ​pork​ ​belly.

 

chimaek​ ​(치​맥):​ ​Chimaek​ ​is​ ​a​ ​fun​ ​word​ ​that​ ​is​ ​used​ ​in​ ​Korean​ ​slang​ ​to​ ​refer​ ​to​ ​a​ ​meal​ ​reserved​ ​only​ ​for​ ​the​ ​most​ ​posh​ ​of​ ​gourmets:​ ​fried​ ​chicken​ ​and​ ​beer​!​ ​Chimeak​ ​is​ ​a​ ​mashup​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Korean​ ​words​ ​chikin​ ​(​chicken)​ ​and​ ​maekju​ ​(​beer).

 

If​ ​food​ ​speaks​ ​to​ ​your​ ​soul,​ ​you​’​ll​ ​want​ ​to​ ​read​ ​about​ ​the​ ​different​ ​dishes​ ​that​ ​comprise​ ​soul​ ​food.

 

 

mukbang​ ​(먹​방)

 

Mukbang​ ​is​ ​a​ ​livestream​ ​of​ ​a​ ​person​ ​socializing​ ​with​ ​an​ ​audience​ ​while​ ​eating​ ​a​ ​large​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​food.​ ​Mukbang​ ​broadcasts​ ​were​ ​popularized​ ​by​ ​Korean​ ​variety​ ​shows​ ​in​ ​the​ ​early​ ​2000s.​ ​They​’​ve​ ​become​ ​even​ ​more​ ​popular​ ​with​ ​the​ ​rise​ ​of​ ​live​ ​streaming​ ​services,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​YouTube​ ​or​ ​Twitch,​ ​that​ ​allow​ ​mukbang​ ​streams​ ​to​ ​reach​ ​international​ ​audiences.​ ​If​ ​your​ ​mouth​ ​is​ ​watering​ ​for​ ​more​ ​information​ ​about​ ​mukbang​ ​streams,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​check​ ​out​ ​our​ ​in-depth​ ​profile​ ​on​ ​this​ ​tantalizing​ ​trend.​

 

 

aegyo​ ​(애​교)

 

The​ ​term​ ​aegyo,​ ​often​ ​translated​ ​into​ ​English​ ​as​ ​meaning​ ​“​cuteness,​”​ ​refers​ ​to​ ​the​ ​act​ ​of​ ​acting​ ​cute​ ​and​ ​charming​ ​everyone​ ​around​ ​you​ ​with​ ​cuteness.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​at​ ​all​ ​familiar​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Japanese​ ​kawaii,​ ​you​ ​should​ ​already​ ​have​ ​a​ ​good​ ​idea​ ​about​ ​what​ ​aegyo​ ​entails.​ ​The​ ​word​ ​aegyo​ ​is​ ​often​ ​used​ ​to​ ​refer​ ​to​ ​K-pop​ ​idols​ ​or​ ​other​ ​Korean​ ​celebrities​ ​and​ ​entertainers​ ​that​ ​are​ ​expected​ ​to​ ​use​ ​their​ ​charms​ ​to​ ​entrance​ ​an​ ​audience.​ ​Mastering​ ​aegyo​ ​is​ ​key​ ​to​ ​succeeding​ ​in​ ​these​ ​fields,​ ​and​ ​you​’​ll​ ​often​ ​see​ ​both​ ​male​ ​and​ ​female​ ​K-pop​ ​idols​ ​making​ ​hearts​ ​with​ ​their​ ​hands,​ ​puffing​ ​their​ ​cheeks,​ ​and​ ​using​ ​cutesy​ ​dance​ ​moves​ ​to​ ​enhance​ ​their​ ​aegyo​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​remain​ ​popular​ ​with​ ​fans.​

 

 

daebak​!​ ​(대​박)

 

Daebak​ ​literally​ ​translates​ ​to​ ​“​jackpot​”​ ​or​ ​“​big​ ​hit.​”​ ​In​ ​practice,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​used​ ​as​ ​an​ ​exclamation​ ​to​ ​express​ ​excitement,​ ​joy,​ ​or​ ​surprise.​ ​Basically,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​used​ ​in​ ​much​ ​the​ ​same​ ​way​ ​as​ ​the​ ​English​ ​“​Wow​!​”​ ​or​ ​“​Amazing​!​”

 

We​ ​think​ ​you​’​ll​ ​be​ ​equally​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​English​ ​words​ ​that​ ​originate​ ​from​ ​Mandarin​ ​and​ ​Cantonese.​

 

 

manhwa​ ​(만​화)

 

Manhwa​ ​refers​ ​to​ ​comic​ ​books,​ ​cartoons,​ ​and​ ​animation​ ​from​ ​Korea.​ ​The​ ​word​ ​manhwa​ ​could​ ​be​ ​easily​ ​confused​ ​with​ ​the​ ​word​ ​manga,​ ​which​ ​refers​ ​to​ ​comic​ ​books​ ​and​ ​graphic​ ​novels​ ​made​ ​in​ ​Japan.​ ​Both​ ​of​ ​these​ ​words​ ​are​ ​said​ ​to​ ​have​ ​the​ ​same​ ​Chinese​ ​origin,​ ​so​ ​there​ ​is​ ​some​ ​etymological​ ​reason​ ​for​ ​the​ ​mixup.

 

Manwha​ ​and​ ​manga​ ​often​ ​look​ ​similar​ ​and​ ​may​ ​be​ ​sold​ ​in​ ​the​ ​same​ ​sections​ ​of​ ​bookstores.​ ​Unlike​ ​Japanese​ ​manga,​ ​though,​ ​Korean​ ​manwha​ ​is​ ​read​ ​from​ ​left​ ​to​ ​right​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​right​ ​to​ ​left.

 

 

Blend​ ​words

 

In​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​Korean​ ​loanwords,​ ​Hallyu​ ​has​ ​also​ ​increased​ ​awareness​ ​of​ ​some​ ​words​ ​that​ ​blend​ ​English​ ​and​ ​Korean​ ​together.​ ​These​ ​words​ ​are​ ​sometimes​ ​used​ ​as​ ​examples​ ​of​ ​Konglish,​ ​a​ ​language​ ​phenomenon​ ​that​ ​mixes​ ​English​ ​and​ ​Korean​ ​together​ ​and​ ​sometimes​ ​changing​ ​the​ ​original​ ​English​ ​loanword​ ​and​ ​its​ ​meaning.

 

Fighting​!​:​ ​Written​ ​in​ ​Hangul​ ​as​ ​either​ 화​이​팅(​hwaiting)​ ​or​ 파​이​팅 ​(​paiting),​ ​fighting​ ​is​ ​used​ ​as​ ​an​ ​encouraging​ ​word​ ​to​ ​spur​ ​someone​ ​on​ ​to​ ​success.​ ​Spectators​ ​might​ ​shout​ ​fighting​ ​at​ ​sporting​ ​events​ ​while​ ​cheering​ ​on​ ​their​ ​favorite​ ​team,​ ​for​ ​example.

 

PC​ ​bang:​ ​A​ ​PC​ ​bang​ ​(​PC방)​ ​is​ ​a​ ​Korean​ ​internet​ ​cafe​ ​that​ ​rents​ ​out​ ​computers​ ​with​ ​internet​ ​access​ ​to​ ​customers.​ ​Bang​ ​is​ ​Korean​ ​for​ ​room​ ​and,​ ​as​ ​you​ ​probably​ ​know,​ ​PC​ ​is​ ​a​ ​commonly​ ​used​ ​acronym​ ​for​ ​“​personal​ ​computer.​”​ ​PC​ ​bangs​ ​are​ ​most​ ​often​ ​used​ ​by​ ​customers​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​somewhere​ ​to​ ​play​ ​online​ ​gaming.

 

skinship:​ ​Written​ ​in​ ​Hangul​ ​as​ 스​킨​십(​seukinsip),​ ​skinship​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​blend​ ​of​ ​the​ ​words​ ​skin​ ​and​ ​friendship.​ ​Skinship​ ​refers​ ​to​ ​the​ ​types​ ​of​ ​intimate​ ​contact​ ​used​ ​by​ ​close​ ​friends​ ​or​ ​family​ ​members,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​hand-holding,​ ​hugging,​ ​and​ ​kissing​ ​cheeks.​ ​Skinship​ ​is​ ​not​ ​intended​ ​to​ ​be​ ​romantic,​ ​however​ ​it​ ​may​ ​be​ ​used​ ​in​ ​fiction​ ​and​ ​by​ ​K-pop​ ​stars​ ​to​ ​tease​ ​the​ ​audience​ ​into​ ​believing​ ​two​ ​people​ ​might​ ​be​ ​in​ ​a​ ​romantic​ ​relationship.​