What does 심쿵 (simkung) mean?
- 심쿵simkung
Heart flutter
Casual: friends and people younger than you
심쿵 (simkung) is Korean slang for the moment your heart skips a beat, usually because someone is cute, attractive or sweet. Fans use it about idols, and people use it about a crush's smile or a romantic drama scene.
Where it comes from
It is short for 심장이 쿵, from 심장 (simjang), "heart," and 쿵 (kung), a "thud" sound. So it is literally "heart goes thud."
How to use 심쿵
It is playful internet and spoken slang, popular with young people. Use it with friends, in fan comments and in texts, not in formal settings.
Add 하다 to make it a verb: 심쿵했어, "my heart skipped a beat." 심쿵사 is a joke word meaning "died from heart-flutter."
A related, more standard word is 설레다, to feel a flutter of excitement, as in 설레 ("I'm all fluttery").
Examples
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After a crush smiles at you
Commenting on an idol's photo
Telling a friend about your idol
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 심쿵하다 | To have your heart skip a beat | Verb form. |
| 심쿵했어 | My heart skipped a beat | Casual past tense. |
| 심쿵사 | Death by heart-flutter | Joking exaggeration. |
| 설레 | I'm excited, fluttery | Standard word for a similar feeling. |
Questions learners ask
Is simkung a real Korean word?
It is slang, not a dictionary word, but almost every young Korean knows it. It comes from 심장 (heart) and 쿵 (thud).
Can I say simkung to my crush?
Yes, in a playful way, like 방금 심쿵했어. It is light and flirty, not heavy.