By Jae-Ha Kim
KOCOWA
December 8, 2021

Aigoo! Is there anything more frustrating than watching a K-drama and not understanding what’s going on, even when you have the subtitles turned on?! Well, yes, there probably are a few things. But we’re going to concentrate on this issue for now. Why? Because it’s fun!

Aigoo or Aegyo?

My son wanted to know why the characters are saying aigoo (아이구) but the subtitle says something like, oh no or darn it. It’s because that’s what the translation means. It’s kind of like how Americans might say sheesh or tsk tsk.

Aigoo is not to be confused with aegyo (애교), which sounds similar. But the latter basically refers to when adults act cute for attention or to get their way by being babyish. The above video shows over-the top aegyo examples from “Fight For My Way” and “School 2017,” as well as a more subdued version from “Descendants of The Sun.”

Sunbae vs. Hoobae?

When Koreans ask how old you are, they’re not just being nosy. It’s so we know how to address you. Honorifics are a huge deal in Korea and if you don’t address a person properly, it would be considered rude. Here’s a good example: if you are a freshman in college, you are a hoobae(후배) to a senior, who is your sunbae(선배). But the titles aren’t just age based. Experience counts, too.

It can get confusing when you work together with someone older than you, but with less seniority on the job. For instance, “Running Man” star Yoo Jae Seok is 49 years old, while Ji Seok Jin is 55. But because Jae Seok debuted in entertainment a few years earlier than Seok Jin, Jae Seok is Seok Jin’s sunbae. And Seok Jin is Jae Seok’s hoobae.

In the case of Kim Jong Kook and Song Ji Hyo, he is her sunbae because he’s both older and debuted earlier than her. And at times, Ji Hyo — who has always hated resorting to cute antics — uses aegyo to get her way on the series.

Shi vs. Ssi

If you’re watching any K-drama that features babies or pre-schoolers, you’ll hear parents asking their kids if they have to shi (쉬) — or urinate. It sounds a lot like they’re saying she. In more dramatic situations, you’ll hear characters say ssi (씨 ), which sounds similar, but it has a very different meaning. It’s a swear word that people say when they’re angry and frustrated.

Viewers aren’t quite sure what Jeon So Min was saying on this episode of “Running Man,” but since it was bleeped out, we can guess! Ha!

One more thing: If you hear a character angrily say something that sounds like jebal (제발) — which means please — or chaebol (재벌) —  which is a conglomerate that’s operated by a wealthy family — and it starts with the ssi sound, they are saying one of the rudest Korean swear words. And I’ll just leave it at that.

Call vs. Heol

As a bonus, here are two words you’ll hear in almost every current K-drama: call (콜) sounds exactly like it looks with a little bit of cool mixed in. It’s the equivalent of enthusiastically agreeing to something. Heol (헐) is used to note surprise or disbelief. To be honest, I never heard either of these words growing up, but languages — especially slang— evolve within generations. And K-dramas are usually on top of the latest vernacular.

Are there any other words that you hear in K-dramas that confuse you? Let me know and I’ll try to address them in a future post!