Lesson 2

Text Messages & SNS

Understand Korean texting slang, abbreviations, and emoji expressions.

Korean texting is its own dialect. KakaoTalk dominates messaging in Korea, and Koreans of all ages use a rich vocabulary of abbreviations and expressive forms that you won't find in textbooks. The basics: ㅋㅋ (laughter, more ㅋ for louder laugh), ㅎㅎ (softer laugh / smile), ㅠㅠ or ㅜㅜ (crying), ㅇㅇ (yes, casual), ㄴㄴ (no, casual), ㄱㄱ ('go go' / let's do it).

Word abbreviations are common: 멘붕 (from 멘탈 붕괴, 'mental collapse' / overwhelmed), 어케 (어떻게, how), 뭐해 (without -요, casual 'what are you doing'). Korean teens and twenty-somethings have invented an additional layer of internet slang (covered in Lesson 6-9), but the basics in this lesson are used by everyone. Note that the texting style varies dramatically by speech level — using ㅋㅋ with your boss is informal and only acceptable in already-casual relationships.

Korean Text Abbreviations

Koreans shorten words in texts: 감사합니다 → ㄱㅅ, 괜찮아 → ㄱㅊ, 축하해 → ㅊㅋ, 사랑해 → ㅅㄹㅎ. Only consonant initials are typed. Used in very casual texting between close friends.

생일 ㅊㅋ! (= 축하!)saengil chk! (= chukha!)Happy birthday! (abbreviated)

ㄱㅅ! 잘 받았어. (= 감사!)gs! jal badasseo (= gamsa!)Thanks! I got it well. (abbreviated)

Emoticon Letters: ㅋ, ㅎ, ㅠ, ㅜ

ㅋ = laugh (more ㅋ's = funnier). ㅎ = soft/shy laugh. ㅠ or ㅜ = tears/sadness (the shape looks like tears). ㅠㅠ = crying. ^^= smiling eyes. These can be combined freely.

완전 웃기다 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋwanjeon utgida kkkkkSo funny LOL

보고 싶어 ㅠㅠbogo sipeo yooyooI miss you (crying)

ㅋㅋㅋkkkhahaha (laughter)

Examples진짜 웃겨 ㅋㅋㅋjinjja utgyeo kkkThat's really funny lol

ㅎㅎhhhehe (soft laugh)

Examples고마워 ㅎㅎgomawo hhThanks hehe

ㄱㄱgggo go (let's go)

Examples밥 먹으러 ㄱㄱbap meogeureo ggLet's go eat

ㅇㅇoo (eung eung)yeah / okay

Examples내일 만날까? — ㅇㅇnaeil mannalkka? — ooShall we meet tomorrow? — Yeah

ㄴㄴnn (no no)no no

Examples화났어? — ㄴㄴ 괜찮아hwanasseo? — nn gwaenchanaAre you mad? — No no, I'm fine

ㅠㅠyooyoocrying face (sad)

Examples시험 망했어 ㅠㅠsiheom manghaesseo yooyooI failed the exam (crying)

Cultural & Language Note

Korean texting abbreviations are built from initial consonants alone, which is only possible because Hangul separates consonants visually within each block. ㅇㅇ stands for 응응 and ㄱㄱ for 고고. This is a structural affordance of the writing system — Japanese kana cannot be decomposed the same way, so Japanese net slang evolved along completely different lines.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

ㅋㅋ and ㅎㅎ are not interchangeable: ㅋㅋ is sharper laughter, ㅎㅎ is a softer, warmer smile, and length signals intensity. Using ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ in a message to a boss or professor is inappropriate in the same way emoji spam would be. These forms belong to peer conversation only.