OpenHangul
Lesson 3 1-Year Course, Week 34

Texting Like a Korean: ㅋㅋ, ㅎㅎ and Emoticons

Read and write Korean text messages: ㅋㅋ, ㅎㅎ, ㅠㅠ, ㅇㅋ, ㄱㅅ, ^^, and the small but important difference between 네 and 넵.

Narae · Everyday conversation & today's Korean

What you will learn in this lesson

  • Understand consonant-only texting like ㅋㅋ, ㅇㅇ and ㄱㅅ
  • Show laughing, sadness and smiles with ㅋㅋ, ㅎㅎ, ㅠㅠ and ^^
  • Choose the right reply (네, 넵, 넹, ㅇㅇ) for each person
Narae

My phone is full of ㅋㅋㅋ! Korean texting uses lots of single consonants. It looks like a secret code at first, but it's really simple. Let's crack it together!

Why consonants?

A Korean syllable is built from blocks: 크 = ㅋ + ㅡ. When people text fast, they often type only the first consonant. So ㅋㅋ comes from the laughing sound 크크 or 키키, and ㅎㅎ comes from 흐흐 or 하하.

Many other short forms take the first consonant of each syllable of a word: ㄱㅅ comes from 감사 (thanks). Once you know this rule, you can guess many of them.

Remember: these are for chat apps and casual messages. Don't use them in emails, school homework, job applications or messages to your boss.

Laughing and feelings

  • ㅋㅋ
    haha, lol (from 크크/키키)
  • ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
    laughing a lot (more ㅋ = funnier)
  • ㅎㅎ
    hehe, a soft friendly smile (from 흐흐/하하)
  • ㅠㅠ
    crying eyes: sad, touched, or "please"
  • ㅜㅜ
    same as ㅠㅠ, crying eyes
  • ^^
    smiling eyes: kind and polite
  • ^^;
    awkward smile, a little embarrassed

ㅋㅋ vs ㅎㅎ

  • ㅋㅋ
    Funny! I'm laughing. Use for jokes and funny things. Only one ㅋ can look cold or sarcastic, so friends usually type at least two.
  • ㅎㅎ
    Hehe, I'm smiling. Softer and gentler. Many people use ㅎㅎ to sound friendly, even with someone a bit older or not very close.
  • ^^
    Smiling eyes Popular with adults and in polite messages, such as to a teacher or a shop. Some young people think ^^ feels a little old-fashioned or formal.

Consonant short forms

Short formComes fromMeaning
ㅇㅇ응응Yeah, ok
ㄴㄴ노노No no (from English "no")
ㅇㅋ오케이OK
ㄱㄱ고고Let's go! (from English "go go")
ㄱㅅ감사Thanks
ㅊㅋ축하Congrats
ㅈㅅ죄송Sorry

All of these are casual. Use them with friends, not with older people or at work.

Ad

Narae

Be careful with ㄱㅅ and ㅈㅅ! They mean "thanks" and "sorry," but typing only two letters can feel lazy. For a real thank-you or apology, type the full words: 고마워, 미안해, or 감사합니다.

Short forms in real messages

  • 내일 2시에 보자 ㅇㅋ? naeil 2sie boja ㅇㅋ?
    See you tomorrow at 2, ok?
  • ㅇㅇ 좋아 ㅇㅇ joa
    Yep, sounds good.
  • 오늘 못 가? ㅠㅠ [오늘 몯 까? ㅠㅠ] oneul mot ga? ㅠㅠ
    You can't come today? (sad face)
  • ㄴㄴ 괜찮아 ㅋㅋ ㄴㄴ gwaenchana ㅋㅋ
    No no, it's fine haha.
  • 생일 ㅊㅋㅊㅋ! saengil ㅊㅋㅊㅋ!
    Happy birthday, congrats congrats!
  • 늦어서 ㅈㅅ ㅠㅠ neujeoseo ㅈㅅ ㅠㅠ
    Sorry I'm late (crying face).
  • 숙제 보내 줘서 ㄱㅅ sukje bonae jwoseo ㄱㅅ
    Thanks for sending the homework.
  • 다 왔어? 그럼 ㄱㄱ da wasseo? geureom ㄱㄱ
    Everyone here? Then let's go.

네, 넵, 넹, 네네: tiny differences

When you answer "yes" in a message, Koreans notice small details.

네 is the basic polite "yes." It is always correct, but alone in a message it can sometimes feel a little flat or serious.

넵 is a quick, bright "Yes!" Many office workers use it in work chats to sound cheerful and ready. It is polite enough for coworkers and many bosses.

넹 and 네네 sound cute or very soft. They are good with friends or people you are comfortable with, but too playful for a new boss or a formal situation.

ㅇㅇ is the casual "yeah" between friends. Never send ㅇㅇ to someone older or at work; it can feel rude.

Replying to different people

  • 네, 알겠습니다. [네, 알겓씀니다.] ne, algetseumnida.
    Yes, understood. Safe and formal. For a boss or teacher.
  • 넵! 바로 보낼게요. nep! baro bonaelgeyo.
    Yes! I'll send it right away. Cheerful and polite. Common in work chat.
  • 네 ^^ 감사합니다! [네 ^^ 감사함니다!] ne ^^ gamsahamnida!
    Yes, thank you! Polite and warm, for a teacher, a landlord or a shop.
  • 넹 ㅎㅎ neng ㅎㅎ
    Okey-dokey, hehe. Cute. With friends or someone you are comfortable with.
  • ㅇㅇ
    Yeah. Casual. Only with close friends.

A chat between friends

A
뭐 해? mwo hae?What are you doing?
B
그냥 집에 있어 ㅎㅎ geunyang jibe isseo ㅎㅎJust at home, hehe.
A
떡볶이 먹으러 갈래? tteokbokki meogeureo gallae?Want to go eat tteokbokki?
B
ㅇㅋ ㄱㄱ OK, let's go!
A
근데 나 지갑 놓고 왔어 ㅠㅠ geunde na jigap noko wasseo ㅠㅠBut I left my wallet at home (crying).
B
ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 내가 살게 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ naega salgeLOL, I'll pay.
A
고마워!! 다음엔 내가 살게 gomawo!! daeumen naega salgeThank you!! Next time I'll pay.

A message to a teacher

A
선생님, 안녕하세요. 내일 수업에 조금 늦을 것 같아요. 죄송합니다. seonsaengnim, annyeonghaseyo. naeil sueobe jogeum neujeul geot gatayo. joesonghamnida.Hello, teacher. I think I'll be a little late for class tomorrow. I'm sorry.
B
네, 알겠어요. 조심히 오세요 ^^ ne, algesseoyo. josimhi oseyo ^^Okay, I see. Come safely.
A
네, 감사합니다! ne, gamsahamnida!Yes, thank you!

Check quiz

  1. Q1. What does ㄱㅅ mean?

  2. Q2. Which one is softer, more like a gentle smile?

  3. Q3. Your manager asks in a work chat if you can send a file. Which reply is best?

  4. Q4. What does ㅠㅠ show?

  5. Q5. A friend says sorry for being late. You want to say "No no, it's fine." What do you type?

  6. Q6. When should you NOT use consonant short forms?

Narae

Now you can read my messages! Try sending a Korean friend ㅎㅎ or ㅋㅋ today. And remember: for teachers and bosses, full words and 네 or 넵. 수고했어 ㅎㅎ

Key points

  • Many short forms are first consonants: 감사 → ㄱㅅ, 축하 → ㅊㅋ
  • ㅋㅋ = laughing; ㅎㅎ = soft smile; ㅠㅠ = crying; ^^ = polite smile
  • ㅇㅇ, ㄴㄴ, ㅇㅋ, ㄱㄱ are only for close friends
  • 넵 is a bright polite yes, common at work; 넹 is cute and casual
  • For real thanks or apologies, write full words

Recommended official free resources

See your 1-year course progress →

Ad