Look up the words and cultural ideas that keep appearing in Korean entertainment and everyday conversations.
Korean culture, language and social terms A–Z
Aegyo
애교Pronounced: ae-gyo
Deliberately cute or charming behaviour used to express affection or playfulness.
Read the full explainerChaebol
재벌Pronounced: chae-bol
A large South Korean business conglomerate typically associated with family control across generations.
Read the full explainerDaebak
대박Pronounced: dae-bak
An exclamation that can mean something like “awesome”, “amazing” or “a big hit”, depending on context.
Read the full explainerHallyu
한류Pronounced: hal-lyu
The “Korean Wave”: the international spread and popularity of South Korean popular culture.
Read the full explainerPronounced: hwa-i-ting
An expression of encouragement roughly equivalent to “you can do it” or “let’s go”.
Read the full explainerThe feeling of rooting strongly for a secondary romantic lead rather than the primary pairing.
Read the full explainerNo matching entries yet.
A practical dictionary, not a substitute for context
Words such as oppa, sunbae, nunchi and jeong can carry social meaning that changes with relationship, age, setting and tone. The short definitions are designed to help you follow what you are watching; the linked entries provide more room for nuance.
What we include
The dictionary focuses on terms readers regularly encounter in dramas, variety shows, K-pop coverage and discussions of contemporary Korean culture. Entries can be expanded with examples, history and usage notes as the library grows.