What does 애교 (aegyo) mean?
- 애교aegyo
Acting cute and charming
Fine in most situations
애교 (aegyo) means acting cute and charming, often with a baby-like voice, pouting, or sweet gestures. K-pop idols are often asked to show 애교 on variety shows.
Where it comes from
애교 comes from Chinese characters: 愛 (love) and 嬌 (charming, lovely).
How to use 애교
People show 애교 to a partner, to parents, or to fans, usually to be endearing or to get their way. It can be playful and sweet, but too much can seem fake or childish.
The usual verb is 애교를 부리다, "to act cute." To say someone is naturally charming, Koreans say 애교가 많다, literally "has a lot of aegyo."
Both men and women do it. A parent might also say a young child has a lot of 애교.
Examples
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Teasing your partner
A mom talking about her daughter
Reacting to a friend being sweet
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 애교 부리다 | to act cute | The standard verb phrase. |
| 애교가 많다 | to be very charming | Describes someone who is naturally cute. |
| 애교쟁이 | a cutie, someone full of aegyo | Affectionate nickname. |
| 애교살 | puffy under-eye area | Considered cute; literally "aegyo flesh". |
Questions learners ask
Is aegyo only for girls?
No. Men and boys do 애교 too, and male idols are often asked to show it.
How do you do aegyo?
Common moves are a cute, high-pitched voice, stretching words, pouting, and small hand gestures like finger hearts. The goal is to seem sweet and endearing.