Korean slang and the phrases you hear in K-dramas
Most of the Korean in dramas is casual speech between people who are close. It is great for understanding — and the part you should copy last.
K-dramas and variety shows are mostly 반말, casual speech: friends, siblings, couples. That is why 뭐 해? (mwo hae?) on screen is 뭐 해? and not 뭐 하세요?. Learn to recognise it, but use the polite version with anyone you have just met — the speech-level gap is the most common way learners accidentally sound rude.
Slang moves fast. 대박 (daebak) has survived twenty years and is safe anywhere; 솔까말, from the 솔직히 (soljiki) section, was everywhere in the 2010s and now sounds dated. 진짜 (jinjja) and 완전 꽂혔어 (wanjeon kkochyeosseo) are the kind of current, harmless intensifiers fans use in comments.
오빠 (oppa) explains the word you hear most: 오빠, 언니, 형, 누나. They mean older brother or sister, but are used for any older friend — and which one you use depends on your own gender as well as theirs. A man calls an older man 형, not 오빠.
When you watch, listen to the last syllable of each line. -요 means polite; -야, -어 or -지 on its own usually means casual. Tracking that one sound tells you a lot about how two characters feel about each other — it is often the first thing that changes when they fall in love or fall out.
The 10 phrases on this page
Hear it in a real conversation
Two friends on the phone. Press play on any line to hear it.
- A 너 뭐 해?neo mwo hae?What are you doing?
- B 드라마 보는 중. 솔직히 완전 꽂혔어.deurama boneun jung. soljiki wanjeon kkochyeosseo.Watching a drama. Not gonna lie, I'm totally hooked.
- A 대박, 나도 그거 봐! 오늘 같이 보자.daebak, nado geugeo bwa! oneul gachi boja.No way, I watch that too! Let's watch it together tonight.
- B 좋아, 빨리 와!joa, ppalli wa!Okay, hurry up and come over!
- A 아, 망했다… 지하철 놓쳤어.a, manghaetda… jihacheol nochyeosseo.Ugh, I messed up… I missed the subway.
- B 괜찮아, 기다릴게. 천천히 와.gwaenchana, gidarilge. cheoncheonhi wa.It's fine, I'll wait. Take your time.
How to say “Awesome / no way” in Korean
대박
daebak
Literally: Jackpot.
A reaction, not a description. It covers amazement in both directions - a huge win and a spectacular disaster get the same word.
Polite form
- 대박이네요daebagineyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 대박이다daebagida= That's incredibleThe full sentence form. 대박 on its own is what people usually say.
- 쩐다jjeonda= Insane / sickYounger and rougher. Use with close friends only.
In a sentence
- 대박! 진짜야?daebak! jinjjaya?No way! Seriously?
- 이 집 진짜 대박이다.i jip jinjja daebagida.This place is seriously amazing.
How to say “Not gonna lie” in Korean
솔직히
soljiki
Literally: Honestly.
Put it at the very start of your sentence, exactly like the English. It signals that what follows is your blunt, unfiltered opinion.
Polite form
- 솔직히 말씀드리면soljiki malsseumdeurimyeonUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 까놓고 말해서kkanoko malhaeseo= To put it bluntlyStronger. Literally 'opening it up and saying it.'
- 솔까말solkkamal= NGL (abbreviated)An abbreviation of 까놓고 말해서 that trended in the 2010s. You'll still be understood, but it sounds dated — use 솔직히 instead.
In a sentence
- 솔직히 풀 맛 날 것 같아.soljiki pul mat nal geot gata.Not gonna lie, I think it's going to taste like grass.
- 솔직히 별로였어.soljiki byeollo-yeosseo.Not gonna lie, it wasn't great.
How to say “Literally” in Korean
진짜
jinjja
Literally: Real.
English uses literally as an intensifier that usually is not literal. Korean uses 진짜 in exactly the same loose way, and it goes in the same place in the sentence.
Polite form
- 진짜요jinjjayoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 완전wanjeon= TotallyStronger. Literally complete. Young speakers use it constantly.
- 말 그대로mal geudaero= Literally, in the actual senseWhen you really do mean literally. Rare in speech, which tells you how little anyone means it.
In a sentence
- 진짜 트레이닝복 같다.jinjja teureiningbok gatda.They literally feel like sweatpants.
- 완전 트레이닝복 같아요.wanjeon teureiningbok gatayo.They totally feel like sweatpants.
How to say “I'm obsessed” in Korean
완전 꽂혔어
wanjeon kkochyeosseo
Literally: It's completely stuck into me.
For a thing you just discovered and can't get enough of — a song, a product, a show. 꽂히다 means 'to get stuck into', like a pin.
Polite form
- 완전 꽂혔어요wanjeon kkochyeosseoyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 이거 완전 내 스타일이야igeo wanjeon nae seutairiya= This is so my styleSofter, and very common.
- 요즘 이것만 봐yojeum igeotman bwa= It's all I watch these daysHow Koreans often express obsession — by describing the behaviour.
In a sentence
- 이 블러셔에 완전 꽂혔어.i beulleosyeoe wanjeon kkochyeosseo.I'm obsessed with this blush.
- 그 노래에 꽂혀서 백 번은 들었어.geu noraee kkochyeoseo baek beoneun deureosseo.I got obsessed with that song and listened to it a hundred times.
How to say “Oppa, unnie, hyung, noona” in Korean
오빠
oppa
Literally: Older brother (said by a woman).
Four words for older sibling, and which one you use depends on YOUR gender as much as theirs. This is the single most-asked question from K-drama and K-pop fans.
Polite form
- 오빠oppaUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 언니eonni= Older sister - said by a womanA woman calls an older woman 언니. Also used for shop staff and friendly strangers.
- 형hyeong= Older brother - said by a manA man calls an older man 형. Never 오빠.
- 누나nuna= Older sister - said by a manA man calls an older woman 누나.
In a sentence
- 오빠, 이거 먹어 봤어?oppa, igeo meogeo bwasseo?Oppa, have you tried this?
- 형, 같이 가요.hyeong, gachi gayo.Hyung, let's go together.
How to say “What are you doing?” in Korean
뭐 해?
mwo hae?
Literally: What do?
The most common text message in Korea. Two syllables, and it opens a conversation.
Polite form
- 뭐 하세요?mwo haseyo?Use this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 뭐 하고 있어?mwo hago isseo?= What are you up to right now?Progressive form - emphasises this exact moment.
- 지금 바빠?jigeum bappa?= Are you busy right now?What you send before asking for something.
In a sentence
- 자기 전에 뭐 해?jagi jeone mwo hae?What do you do before bed?
- 주말에 뭐 해?jumare mwo hae?What are you doing this weekend?
How people answer
- 그냥 쉬고 있어.geunyang swigo isseo.= Just resting.그냥 = just, nothing special.
How to say “Let us go” in Korean
가자
gaja
Literally: Let us go.
The 자 ending turns any verb into let us ___. Learn the pattern once and you get dozens of phrases free.
Polite form
- 가요gayoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 먹자meokja= Let us eatSame 자 ending.
- 하자haja= Let us do itSame 자 ending.
- 갑시다gapsida= Let us go (formal)For a group of adults.
In a sentence
- 배고파. 밥 먹자.baegopa. bap meokja.I am hungry. Let us eat.
- 늦었어, 빨리 가자.neujeosseo, ppalli gaja.We are late, let us go quickly.
How people answer
- 그래, 가자.geurae, gaja.= Okay, let's go.그래 = okay, sure.
How to say “Hurry up” in Korean
빨리
ppalli
Literally: Quickly.
One word, said twice when you mean it. Koreans use 빨리빨리 so much it is a running joke about the culture.
Polite form
- 빨리 오세요ppalli oseyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 빨리빨리ppallippalli= Hurry hurryDoubling it adds urgency. You will hear this everywhere.
- 서둘러seodulleo= Make hasteProper verb form. Less common in speech than plain 빨리.
- 늦었어neujeosseo= We are lateOften what you actually shout instead.
In a sentence
- 빨리! 버스 온다.ppalli! beoseu onda.Hurry! The bus is coming.
- 늦었어, 빨리 가자.neujeosseo, ppalli gaja.We are late, let us hurry.
How to say “I messed up” in Korean
망했다
manghaetda
Literally: It is ruined.
One verb covers every scale of disaster: a burnt dish, a failed exam, a coffee order given wrong. Said to yourself as much as to anyone else, usually with 아 in front of it.
Polite form
- 망했어요manghaesseoyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 망할 것 같다manghal geot gatda= I am going to mess this upBefore it happens. 것 같다 is the I think ending.
- 제가 망쳤어요jega mangchyeosseoyo= I ruined it망치다 is the active form — you ruined a specific thing, and you are owning it. This is the one to use in an apology.
In a sentence
- 아, 망했다.a, manghaetda.Oh no, I messed up.
- 시험 망한 것 같아요.siheom manghan geot gatayo.I think I messed up the exam.
How people answer
- 괜찮아, 다시 하면 돼.gwaenchana, dasi hamyeon dwae.= It's fine, just do it again.
How to say “I'm pretty good at it” in Korean
좀 해요
jom haeyo
Literally: I do it a bit.
좀 almost always means a little, or please — it softens whatever follows. Put it with 하다 about a skill and it flips to the opposite: quite good, actually. Learners hear 영어 좀 해요 and read it as 'a little English'. It is not. It is how Koreans claim a skill without sounding boastful — the modest word does the bragging.
Where you hear it
My Mister (나의 아저씨) · tvN D ENT
영어 좀 하지 않았어?
Weren't you pretty good at English?
Asked about someone who is being modest. If 좀 meant 'a little' here the question would make no sense.
Polite form
- 좀 해요jom haeyoUse this with strangers, anyone older than you, and at work.
Other ways to say it
- 노래 좀 하세요?norae jom haseyo?= Are you good at singing?A compliment in the shape of a question.
- 제가 요리 좀 합니다.jega yori jom hamnida.= I can cook, actuallyFormal, and slightly playful.
- 좀 도와주세요.jom dowajuseyo.= Please help me a bitThe ordinary 좀 — softening a request. Same word, opposite job.
In a sentence
- 운동 좀 하시나 봐요.undong jom hasina bwayo.Looks like you work out.
- 저 그림 좀 그려요.jeo geurim jom geuryeoyo.I can draw, actually.
- 춤 좀 추네요!chum jom chuneyo!You can really dance!
Mistakes learners make
- Copying drama 반말 with strangersCharacters speak casually because they are close. 뭐 해? to a shop assistant or an older stranger sounds rude, however natural it sounds on screen.
- 오빠 when you are a manMen call older men 형 and older women 누나. 오빠 and 언니 are what women say.
- Dated slangSlang ages quickly, and old slang sounds older than no slang. 대박 and 진짜 are safe; check anything else on a recent show first.
Practise these. Every phrase here is in the phrase quiz — five rounds, no sign-up. Not reading Hangul yet? Start with the alphabet in 20 minutes, and see the speech levels guide for when to use the polite forms.