What does 어쩔티비 (eojjeol tv) mean?
- 어쩔티비eojjeol tv
So what? / Whatever
Casual: friends and people younger than you
어쩔티비 (eojjeol tv) is Korean slang meaning "So what?" or "Whatever, I don't care." It became hugely popular with middle and high school students in the early 2020s. It is a teasing, very casual comeback, usually said with a smirk to win a silly argument.
Where it comes from
어쩔 comes from 어쩌라고 (eojjeorago), "So what do you want me to do about it?" 티비 is simply "TV". The TV part adds no real meaning; it mostly makes the word sound catchy and childish.
How to use 어쩔티비
Kids and teens toss 어쩔티비 back and forth when they are bickering or teasing each other. It is not meant to be deeply hurtful, but it is dismissive, so it only works between friends or siblings who are joking around.
It started a whole word game. The other person might answer 저쩔티비 (jeojjeol tv), a rhyming comeback, and others chain on more words like 안물티비 ("didn't ask"). Whoever runs out of comebacks loses.
Never say it to parents, teachers, older people or anyone at work. It sounds rude and immature. Many adults know it as "kid slang", so using it as an adult is usually a joke in itself.
Examples
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Your little brother ignores your complaint
A friend keeps asking about your test score
Two siblings teasing each other back and forth
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 어쩌라고 | So what? / What do you want me to do? | The original phrase. Casual and blunt. |
| 어쩔 | Whatever | Shortened form. |
| 저쩔티비 | Whatever back at you | A rhyming comeback to 어쩔티비. |
| 안물티비 | Didn't ask | Another word from the same game, from 안 물어봤어 ("I didn't ask"). |
Questions learners ask
Is eojjeol tv rude?
It is teasing and dismissive, so it is rude if you say it to the wrong person. Between friends or siblings who are joking around it is playful.
How do you reply to eojjeol tv?
The classic comeback is 저쩔티비 (jeojjeol tv), which just rhymes and throws it back. People keep chaining words until someone gives up.
Do adults say eojjeol tv?
Mostly as a joke. It is seen as school-kid slang from the early 2020s, so adults use it ironically, if at all.