Learn Korean from K-dramas

112 Korean words and expressions commonly heard in K-dramas and Korean films. Each entry includes romanization, an English meaning, and an example sentence.

• 밥 먹었어? (bap meogeosseo?) — Have you eaten?. Category: Daily Life & Greetings. Example: 밥 먹었어? 같이 먹자. — Have you eaten? Let's eat together.
• 다녀올게 (danyeoolge) — I'm heading out. Category: Daily Life & Greetings. Example: 다녀올게요! — I'm heading out!
• 다녀왔습니다 (danyeowasseumnida) — I'm home. Category: Daily Life & Greetings. Example: 다녀왔습니다! — I'm home!
• 잘 자 (jal ja) — good night / sleep well. Category: Daily Life & Greetings. Example: 잘 자, 좋은 꿈 꿔. — Good night, sweet dreams.
• 수고했어 (sugohaesseo) — good job / you worked hard. Category: Daily Life & Greetings. Example: 오늘도 수고했어. — Good job today too.
• 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgesseumnida) — I will eat well (before eating). Category: Daily Life & Greetings. Example: 잘 먹겠습니다! — Thank you for the meal!
• 조심해 (josimhae) — be careful. Category: Daily Life & Greetings. Example: 밖에 조심해. — Be careful outside.
• 배고파 (baegopa) — I'm hungry. Category: Daily Life & Greetings. Example: 너무 배고파! — I'm so hungry!
• 사귈래? (sagwillae?) — Will you go out with me?. Category: Romance. Example: 나랑 사귈래? — Will you date me?
• 나만 봐 (naman bwa) — look only at me. Category: Romance. Example: 나만 봐, 알겠지? — Look only at me, okay?
• 썸 (sseom) — flirtation stage (pre-dating). Category: Romance. Example: 우리 지금 썸 타는 거야? — Are we in a flirtation?
• 밀당 (mildang) — push-pull flirting. Category: Romance. Example: 밀당 그만하자. — Let's stop the push-pull.
• 이혼 (ihon) — divorce. Category: Romance. Example: 이혼하고 싶어. — I want a divorce.
• 기념일 (ginyeomil) — anniversary. Category: Romance. Example: 오늘 100일 기념일이야. — Today is our 100-day anniversary.
• 짝사랑 (jjaksarang) — unrequited / one-sided love. Category: Romance. Example: 3년째 짝사랑 중이야. — I've had a crush for 3 years.
• 선배 (seonbae) — senior (at work/school). Category: Workplace & School. Example: 선배, 도와주세요. — Senior, please help me.
• 후배 (hubae) — junior (at work/school). Category: Workplace & School. Example: 후배한테 잘 해줘. — Be nice to your juniors.
• 회식 (hoesik) — company dinner / work outing. Category: Workplace & School. Example: 오늘 회식이야. — There's a company dinner today.
• 야근 (yageun) — overtime work. Category: Workplace & School. Example: 또 야근이야. — Overtime again.
• 사표 (sapyo) — resignation letter. Category: Workplace & School. Example: 사표 내고 싶어. — I want to submit my resignation.
• 승진 (seungjin) — promotion. Category: Workplace & School. Example: 승진 축하해! — Congratulations on the promotion!
• 창업 (changeop) — founding a business. Category: Workplace & School. Example: 창업하고 싶어. — I want to start a business.
• 마감 (magam) — deadline. Category: Workplace & School. Example: 마감이 내일이야! — The deadline is tomorrow!
• 명함 (myeongham) — business card. Category: Workplace & School. Example: 명함 교환합시다. — Let's exchange business cards.
• 세상에 (sesange) — oh my god / good heavens. Category: Emotional Reactions. Example: 세상에, 이게 뭐야! — Oh my god, what is this!
• 말도 안 돼 (maldo an dwae) — no way / impossible. Category: Emotional Reactions. Example: 말도 안 돼! — No way!
• 걱정 마 (geokjeong ma) — don't worry. Category: Emotional Reactions. Example: 걱정 마, 내가 있잖아. — Don't worry, I'm here.
• 하지 마 (haji ma) — don't do it / stop. Category: Emotional Reactions. Example: 제발 하지 마! — Please don't do it!
• 왜 그래? (wae geurae?) — what's wrong?. Category: Emotional Reactions. Example: 왜 그래? 무슨 일이야? — What's wrong? What happened?
• 죽을래? (jugeullae?) — you wanna die?. Category: Emotional Reactions. Example: 야, 죽을래? — Hey, you wanna die?
• 억울하다 (eogulhada) — to feel wronged / unjustly treated. Category: Emotional Reactions. Example: 너무 억울해. — I feel so wronged.
• 답답하다 (dapdaphada) — frustrating / suffocating. Category: Emotional Reactions. Example: 답답해 죽겠어. — It's so frustrating I could die.
• 위로 (wiro) — comfort / consolation. Category: Emotional Reactions. Example: 위로가 필요해. — I need comfort.
• 용서 (yongseo) — forgiveness. Category: Emotional Reactions. Example: 용서해 줘. — Please forgive me.
• 전하 (jeonha) — Your Majesty (to the King). Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 전하, 명을 따르겠습니다. — Your Majesty, I will follow your command.
• 폐하 (pyeha) — Your Imperial Majesty. Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 폐하를 뵙습니다. — I greet Your Majesty.
• 세자 (seja) — Crown Prince. Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 세자 저하. — Your Highness, Crown Prince.
• 대비 (daebi) — Queen Dowager. Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 대비마마 전. — Before the Queen Dowager.
• 대감 (daegam) — Your Excellency. Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 대감, 급한 소식입니다. — Your Excellency, urgent news.
• 소인 (soin) — I / me (humble). Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 소인은 아무것도 모릅니다. — I know nothing, my lord.
• 역적 (yeokjeok) — traitor / rebel. Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 역적을 잡아라! — Capture the traitor!
• 만세 (manse) — long live! / hurrah!. Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 만세! 만세! 만만세! — Long live! Long live!
• 양반 (yangban) — nobleman. Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 양반 행세를 하다. — Pretending to be a nobleman.
• 상궁 (sanggung) — chief court lady. Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 상궁, 차를 가져오라. — Court lady, bring tea.
• 사약 (sayak) — poison (royal execution). Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 사약을 내리다. — To bestow the poison (execute).
• 하옵니다 (haopnida) — (archaic polite verb ending). Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 아뢰옵니다. — I humbly report.
• 오라버니 (orabeoni) — older brother (archaic). Category: Historical / Sageuk. Example: 오라버니! — Brother!
• 형사 (hyeongsa) — detective. Category: Crime & Action. Example: 형사님, 범인을 잡았어요. — Detective, we caught the criminal.
• 조폭 (jopok) — gangster / mobster. Category: Crime & Action. Example: 조폭 두목을 잡아라. — Catch the mob boss.
• 범인 (beomin) — criminal / culprit. Category: Crime & Action. Example: 범인은 누구야? — Who is the culprit?
• 체포 (chepo) — arrest. Category: Crime & Action. Example: 체포합니다! — You're under arrest!
• 증거 (jeunggeo) — evidence. Category: Crime & Action. Example: 증거가 필요해. — We need evidence.
• 배신 (baesin) — betrayal. Category: Crime & Action. Example: 배신은 용서 못 해. — I can't forgive betrayal.
• 복수 (boksu) — revenge. Category: Crime & Action. Example: 복수하겠어. — I'll get my revenge.
• 비밀 (bimil) — secret. Category: Crime & Action. Example: 이건 비밀이야. — This is a secret.
• 수사 (susa) — investigation. Category: Crime & Action. Example: 수사를 시작합시다. — Let's begin the investigation.
• 오해 (ohae) — misunderstanding. Category: Crime & Action. Example: 오해하지 마. — Don't misunderstand.
• 변호사 (byeonhosa) — lawyer / attorney. Category: Legal / Courtroom. Example: 변호사를 불러주세요. — Please call a lawyer.
• 검사 (geomsa) — prosecutor. Category: Legal / Courtroom. Example: 검사가 기소했어. — The prosecutor filed charges.
• 판사 (pansa) — judge. Category: Legal / Courtroom. Example: 판사님, 이의 있습니다! — Your Honor, I object!
• 재판 (jaepan) — trial. Category: Legal / Courtroom. Example: 재판이 시작됩니다. — The trial begins.
• 무죄 (mujoe) — not guilty / innocent. Category: Legal / Courtroom. Example: 무죄를 주장합니다. — I plead not guilty.
• 유죄 (yujoe) — guilty. Category: Legal / Courtroom. Example: 유죄 판결. — Guilty verdict.
• 이의 (iui) — objection. Category: Legal / Courtroom. Example: 이의 있습니다! — Objection!
• 군대 (gundae) — military / army. Category: Military. Example: 군대 갔다 왔어. — I came back from the military.
• 입대 (ipdae) — enlistment. Category: Military. Example: 다음 달에 입대해. — I enlist next month.
• 전역 (jeonyeok) — discharge (from service). Category: Military. Example: 전역 축하해! — Congrats on your discharge!
• 탈영 (talyeong) — desertion / AWOL. Category: Military. Example: 탈영병을 찾아라. — Find the deserter.
• 훈련 (hullyeon) — training. Category: Military. Example: 오늘 훈련이 힘들었어. — Today's training was tough.
• 선임 (seonim) — senior soldier. Category: Military. Example: 선임한테 혼났어. — I got scolded by a senior soldier.
• 무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다 (mugunghwa kkochi pieosseumnida) — The hibiscus flower has bloomed. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다! — Red light, green light!
• 탈락 (tallak) — elimination. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 탈락입니다. — You're eliminated.
• 상금 (sanggeum) — prize money. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 상금이 456억이야. — The prize is 45.6 billion won.
• 규칙 (gyuchik) — rule. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 규칙을 따라야 해. — You must follow the rules.
• 생존 (saengjon) — survival. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 생존이 목표야. — Survival is the goal.
• 탈출 (talchul) — escape. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 탈출할 방법을 찾아. — Find a way to escape.
• 대피 (daepi) — evacuation. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 지금 대피하세요! — Evacuate now!
• 살려줘 (sallyeojwo) — save me / help me. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 살려줘! — Save me!
• 도망쳐! (domangchyeo!) — run away!. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 빨리 도망쳐! — Run away quickly!
• 달고나 (dalgona) — sugar honeycomb candy. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 달고나 뽑기. — Dalgona candy cutting.
• 빚 (bit) — debt. Category: Survival & Games. Example: 빚이 많아서 참가했어. — I joined because of debt.
• 도깨비 (dokkaebi) — goblin / dokkaebi. Category: Supernatural & Fantasy. Example: 도깨비가 나타났어! — A goblin appeared!
• 저승 (jeoseung) — the afterlife. Category: Supernatural & Fantasy. Example: 저승으로 가는 길. — The path to the afterlife.
• 저승사자 (jeoseungsaja) — grim reaper. Category: Supernatural & Fantasy. Example: 저승사자가 찾아왔다. — The grim reaper came.
• 귀신 (gwisin) — ghost / spirit. Category: Supernatural & Fantasy. Example: 귀신이 보여! — I can see a ghost!
• 불멸 (bulmyeol) — immortality. Category: Supernatural & Fantasy. Example: 불멸의 존재. — An immortal being.
• 무당 (mudang) — shaman. Category: Supernatural & Fantasy. Example: 무당에게 물어보자. — Let's ask the shaman.
• 굿 (gut) — shamanistic ritual. Category: Supernatural & Fantasy. Example: 굿을 해야 해. — We need to perform a ritual.
• 부적 (bujeok) — talisman / charm. Category: Supernatural & Fantasy. Example: 부적을 붙여. — Put up the talisman.
• 저주 (jeoju) — curse. Category: Supernatural & Fantasy. Example: 저주를 풀어야 해. — We must break the curse.
• 건배 (geonbae) — cheers! (empty glass). Category: Food & Drinking. Example: 건배! — Cheers!
• 짠 (jjan) — cheers! (casual). Category: Food & Drinking. Example: 짠! — Cheers!
• 소맥 (somaek) — soju + beer mix. Category: Food & Drinking. Example: 소맥 한잔하자. — Let's have a somaek.
• 안주 (anju) — drinking snacks. Category: Food & Drinking. Example: 안주 뭐 시킬까? — What snacks should we order?
• 치맥 (chimaek) — chicken + beer. Category: Food & Drinking. Example: 오늘 치맥 가자! — Let's go for chicken and beer!
• 맛있다 (masitda) — delicious. Category: Food & Drinking. Example: 이거 진짜 맛있다! — This is really delicious!
• 한잔하자 (hanjanhaja) — let's have a drink. Category: Food & Drinking. Example: 퇴근 후에 한잔하자. — Let's have a drink after work.
• 취했어 (chwihasseo) — I'm drunk. Category: Food & Drinking. Example: 나 취했어. — I'm drunk.
• 반지하 (banjiha) — semi-basement apartment. Category: Social Class. Example: 반지하에 살고 있어. — I live in a semi-basement.
• 재벌 (jaebeol) — chaebol / conglomerate family. Category: Social Class. Example: 재벌집 며느리. — A chaebol family's daughter-in-law.
• 회장님 (hoejangnim) — chairman (honorific). Category: Social Class. Example: 회장님이 오십니다. — The chairman is arriving.
• 상속 (sangsok) — inheritance / succession. Category: Social Class. Example: 상속 문제로 싸운다. — They're fighting over inheritance.
• 계획 (gyehoek) — plan. Category: Social Class. Example: 계획이 다 있구나. — You had it all planned.
• 냄새 (naemsae) — smell / odor. Category: Social Class. Example: 이 냄새 뭐야? — What is this smell?
• 시어머니 (sieomeoni) — mother-in-law (husband's). Category: Family. Example: 시어머니가 무서워. — My mother-in-law is scary.
• 며느리 (myeoneuri) — daughter-in-law. Category: Family. Example: 며느리 노릇이 힘들어. — Being a daughter-in-law is hard.
• 동생 (dongsaeng) — younger sibling. Category: Family. Example: 동생을 데리고 가. — Take your younger sibling.
• 엄마 / 아빠 (eomma / appa) — mom / dad. Category: Family. Example: 엄마, 배고파. — Mom, I'm hungry.
• 동갑 (donggap) — same age. Category: Family. Example: 우리 동갑이네! — We're the same age!
• 사이다 전개 (saida jeongae) — satisfying payoff. Category: Drama Slang. Example: 이 드라마 사이다 전개야. — This drama has a satisfying payoff.
• 쪽팔리다 (jjokpallida) — embarrassing. Category: Drama Slang. Example: 진짜 쪽팔려. — That's so embarrassing.
• 어쩌라고 (eojjeorago) — so what / what about it. Category: Drama Slang. Example: 그래서 어쩌라고? — So what about it?