25 Korean Words You Hear in Every K-Drama (and What They Mean)
What do daebak, aigoo, oppa and eotteokhae actually mean? The 25 Korean words and phrases that show up in every K-drama, with when people use them and one-tap saving to your flashcards.
Beginner9 min readTap any Korean word to see it explained
Quick answer
대박 = awesome / no way, 아이고 = oh my, 오빠 = older brother (said by women), 어떡해 = what do I do, 보고 싶어 = I miss you. All 25 are below, each with a Save button for your flashcards.
Watch enough K-dramas and you start hearing the same handful of words in every episode. Here they are, grouped by when people use them. Most are casual speech (반말), so they’re for friends, family and people younger than you. Where a polite form exists, it’s in the note.
Reactions and feelings
- 대박daebak
Awesome! / No way!
For anything surprisingly great, or just surprising.
- 헐heol
OMG / What?!
Shocked disbelief. Very casual, often typed in texts.
- 아이고aigo (aigoo)
Oh my / Ugh
A sigh for tiredness, pain, pity or mild frustration. Grandmas say it a lot.
- 진짜jinjja
Really / For real
As a question (진짜?) it means "Seriously?"
- 뭐야mwoya
What is this? / What the...
Casual. Annoyed or confused, depending on tone.
- 미쳤어michyeosseo
Are you crazy? / Have you lost it?
Strong and casual; only between close people.
- 짜증나jjajeungna
It's so annoying / I'm annoyed
From 짜증 (irritation) + 나다 (to arise).
- 어떡해eotteokhae
What do I do?! / Oh no
Panic or sympathy. Short for 어떻게 해.
What people call each other
Koreans rarely call someone older by their name alone. These family words get used for friends, coworkers and couples too, and which one you use depends on your gender as well as theirs.
- 오빠oppa
older brother (said by women)
Also used for an older male friend or a boyfriend.
- 언니eonni (unnie)
older sister (said by women)
Also for an older female friend.
- 형hyeong (hyung)
older brother (said by men)
Also for an older male friend.
- 누나nuna (noona)
older sister (said by men)
Also for an older female friend.
- 선배seonbae (sunbae)
senior (at school or work)
Someone who started before you. The opposite is 후배 (hubae).
- 아저씨ajeossi (ahjussi)
mister / middle-aged man
Polite enough for strangers, but nobody young wants to be called it.
Everyday lines
- 괜찮아gwaenchana
It's okay / Are you okay?
Casual. Polite form: 괜찮아요.
- 미안해mianhae
I'm sorry
Casual. Polite form: 미안해요; very formal: 죄송합니다.
- 고마워gomawo
Thanks
Casual. Polite form: 고마워요.
- 사랑해saranghae
I love you
From 사랑하다 (to love).
- 보고 싶어bogo sipeo
I miss you
Literally "I want to see (you)".
- 잠깐만jamkkanman
Wait a second
Said while grabbing someone's wrist, in at least one episode of every drama.
- 가자gaja
Let's go
From 가다 (to go) + -자 ("let's").
- 화이팅hwaiting (fighting)
You can do it! / Good luck!
From English "fighting", used as a cheer.
- 배고파baegopa
I'm hungry
From 배 (stomach) + 고프다 (to be empty).
- 맛있다masitda
It's delicious
Often 맛있어 or 맛있어요 when talking to someone.
- 왜wae
Why? / What?
Alone, it can also mean "What do you want?"
Hear them in a sentence
Tap a word to see how each line is built.
-어 죽겠다 is how Koreans exaggerate: 배고파 죽겠다 is "so hungry I could die."
Keep going
Dramas switch between polite and casual speech all the time, and the particles carry a lot of the meaning. Start with 은/는 vs 이/가, or practice with real lines in Hanbok Lyrics.
Check yourself
Quick check · 1 of 4A woman talking to her older brother calls him...
Questions learners ask
What does daebak mean in Korean?
대박 (daebak) means something like "awesome!" or "no way!". People say it when something is surprisingly great, or just surprising.
Can a man say oppa?
No. 오빠 is what women call an older man. Men call an older man 형 (hyeong). Similarly, women say 언니 for an older woman and men say 누나.
Is it rude to use these words?
Most of these are casual (반말), fine with friends, family and people younger than you. With strangers or anyone older, add 요 where there is a polite form, like 괜찮아요 or 고마워요.