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Abbreviations you cannot guess — Korean slang (33 entries)

· 4 min read

This is part 2 of 3, covering abbreviations you cannot guess, everyday slang that shows up in variety shows — 33 entries.

The format and the FAQ are on part 1; this page is the entries themselves.

Abbreviations you cannot guess

Korean compounds aggressively, and the result is usually unguessable from the parts. Each entry below lists the phrase it was cut down from, which is the fastest way to make it stick.

The mechanism is almost always the same: take the first syllable of each word in a phrase and glue them together. That is why the short form looks like a normal two-syllable word while meaning something completely unrelated to either syllable on its own.

This also means the abbreviations are productive — new ones appear constantly, built the same way. Learning the mechanism is more useful long term than memorizing any particular set of them.

  • 공방 (gongbang) — attending a music show recording as an audience member. Literally: short for open broadcast.
  • 직캠 (jikcam) — a fancam that stays on one member for the whole song. Literally: camera pointed directly.
  • 총공 (chonggong) — a coordinated fandom push on streaming, voting or hashtags. Literally: all-out attack.
  • ⚠️ You'll hear fans use this for coordinated streaming/voting pushes. Fine to recognize — don't pressure other fans into joining, that crosses into harassment.
  • 스밍 (seuming) — repeat streaming done to move charts and view counts. Literally: shortened from streaming.
  • ⚠️ Common word for repeat streaming to boost charts. Safe to use casually about your own habits — don't use it to guilt other fans into participating.
  • 취켓팅 (chwiketting) — hunting for cancelled tickets after a sellout. Literally: cancellation plus ticketing.
  • 첫콘 (cheotkon) — the first show of a multi-date run. Literally: first plus concert.
  • 중콘 (jungkon) — a middle show of a multi-date run. Literally: middle plus concert.
  • 막콘 (makkon) — the final show of a tour or a run of dates. Literally: last plus concert.
  • 출첵 (chulchek) — the fan roll call before entry to a music show recording. Literally: short for attendance check.
  • 포카 (poka) — a collectible photocard that comes inside an album. Literally: short for photocard.
  • 생카 (saengka) — a cafe event fans throw for an idol's birthday. Literally: short for birthday cafe.
  • ㅇㅈ (injeong) — agreed, that's right. Literally: the initial consonants of the word for acknowledge.
  • ㄱㅇㅇ (gwiyeowo) — so cute. Literally: the initial consonants of the word for cute.

Everyday slang that shows up in variety shows

Unscripted content is where casual vocabulary actually lives. These terms rarely appear in textbooks and constantly appear on screen, usually as an on-screen caption emphasizing something a cast member just said.

Variety captions are worth treating as their own genre. Editors add them for comedic timing rather than for accuracy, so a caption may exaggerate, repeat, or spell out something the speaker only half-said. That makes them excellent vocabulary exposure and unreliable pronunciation exposure.

If you watch variety regularly, this section will pay off faster than any other on the page.

  • 어쩔티비 (eojjeoltibi) — so what, go watch TV — a taunt for shutting someone down. Literally: so what plus TV.
  • ⚠️ A dismissive meme phrase ("so what, go watch TV") kids use to shut down criticism. Fun to recognize, but rude if you say it back to someone, especially an idol.
  • 보라해 (borahae) — the BTS and ARMY promise to trust and love each other to the end. Literally: to purple you.
  • 신기방기뿡뿡방기 (singibanggi ppungppungbanggi) — a SEVENTEEN catchphrase for something amazing, padded with nonsense rhyme. Literally: amazing plus nonsense rhyme.
  • 무한아나스 (muhan anaseu) — the endless encore loop of Very Nice at a SEVENTEEN show. Literally: infinite Very Nice.
  • 다들어때 (dadeureottae) — a SEVENTEEN in-joke that pretends to ask everyone's opinion in order to tease a member. Literally: how about it, everyone?
  • ⚠️ A SEVENTEEN fandom in-joke used to tease members. Recognize it in fan content — it's an insider quote, not a phrase to say to the idols yourself.
  • 아싸 (assa) — someone who stays outside the group, the opposite of 인싸. Literally: outsider.
  • ⚠️ Means someone who doesn't fit in with the group. Fine to say about yourself — calling someone else this, especially to their face, can be hurtful.
  • 인싸 (inssa) — someone at the social centre of a group. Literally: insider.
  • ⚠️ Means someone very sociable and popular. Usually harmless, but labeling someone this uninvited can come across as judging their social standing.
  • 눈치 (nunchi) — the read-the-room sense — 눈치가 없다 means someone does not have it. Literally: eye measure.
  • 노노 (daetcheu-nono) — a light no. Literally: no no.
  • 맛집 (matjip) — a place worth eating at — also used figuratively, as in a group that is a stage 맛집. Literally: tasty house.
  • 만렙 (mallep) — someone who has maxed out at something. Literally: max level.
  • 모태솔로 (motae sollo) — someone who has never dated anyone. Literally: single from the womb.
  • ⚠️ Means someone who's never dated, ever. Fine to say about yourself — calling someone else this uninvited can embarrass them.
  • 회식 (hoesik) — a company dinner your team is expected to attend. Literally: company meal.

The rest of this set

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