KMK: Essential Korean – Emoticons

Culture Lifestyle
 

I’m surprised that after being in Korea for three years I haven’t had a post like this. I think I’ve taken the Korean Emoticons (smileys for us North Americans) for granted.

The emoticons that you use are like your children. You just get used to them and kind of treasure them like old cartoons from your childhood. Still, with that in mind the Korean emotes are so wonderfully quirky that it’s hard not slip a few in a text message.

The Korean Emoticons use Hangul, of course, and have a distinct look all their own.  Here are a few that I know about courtesy of Ian!

T. T               crying

0ㅠ0          vomit

-_-;;             absurd

OTL             disappointed

;;                speechless

^0^           happy

^^            smile

ㅜ.ㅠ      crying 2

^3^           kiss

^.^ V       Victory

>.<          embarassed

\(^0^/      Yay!!

(-(-(-.-)-)-)    hey I have lots of friends

~m^0^m~     superman

^.~                 wink

If you know of any more please leave a comment and let us know all about it!

Tagged
Brian Dye
I’m a blogger, writer, and urban explorer. I worked in South Korea’s ESL field for the 15 years. My one year contract turned, unexpectedly, into a journey!
https://kissmykimchi.com

29 thoughts on “KMK: Essential Korean – Emoticons

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  2. Shouldn’t the “Yay!!” emoticon have another bracket? Like this I mean:
    \(^0^)/
    instead of
    \(^0^/
    It looks kind off unfinished.

  3. I’ve seen this somewhere, but I don’t know what it means exactly. Can anyone tell me??
    ㅎㅅㅎ
    To me it looks like a sad teddy bear…but i know thats not what it means. lol

  4. I’m Korean. And I can’t English..
    So, I speak to Korean language.

    최근 한국인들이 많이 사용하는 이모티콘들 입니다.
    위에 소개 된 것들은 요즘 들어와서는 많이 안쓰구요.
    밑에 적어놓은 걸 많이 씁니다.

    많은 한국인들은 Face book이나 Twitter를 사용하면서 차츰 격식을 많이 차리는 추세 입니다.

    – 일상적으로 많이 사용하는 이모티콘들 –

    ㅋㅋ, ㅎㅎ, ^^, ^ㅇ^, >ㅇ□<)乃 = very good(최고).

    ETC : http://kin.naver.com/qna/detail.nhn?d1id=13&dirId=1302&docId=135458230&qb=7J2066qo7Yuw7L2YIOu9gOu9gA==&enc=utf8&section=kin&rank=1&search_sort=0&spq=0&pid=gr7T1c5Y7vKssbTqehVssc–146095&sid=TrLQgnOssk4AAEGLIWY

  5. I’m Korean. And I can’t English..
    So, I speak to Korean language.

    최근 한국인들이 많이 사용하는 이모티콘들 입니다.
    위에 소개 된 것들은 요즘 들어와서는 많이 안쓰구요.
    밑에 적어놓은 걸 많이 씁니다.

    많은 한국인들은 Face book이나 Twitter를 사용하면서 차츰 격식을 많이 차리는 추세 입니다.

    – 일상적으로 많이 사용하는 이모티콘들 –

    ㅋㅋ, ㅎㅎ, ^^, ^ㅇ^, >ㅇ□<)乃 = very good(최고).

    1. Actually my friend explained it means just the opposite. Almost like your so happy or gleeful or surprised that your eyes are squinting.

      Does anyone else have any explanations?

    1. this one i have no idea.
      The L is like a nose and its supposed to resemble a bodybuilder
      I think the equal signs are like your eyes when they\’re closed and the O is laughing so hard your moth is open…maybe

  6. Here's some more that I came up with. Still working on a few others!

    [..] = Nosey! -or-

    /.. = Nosey!

    >(-,-)< = I’m not listening or I can’t hear you!

  7. I have a few to share. Here they are:

    (*o*) = wow

    (+_+) = sleepy or hungover

    (#_# = cramming or stayed up too late

    *_~ = keep an eye on you

    ~_~ = sleeping or bored

  8. That picture is adorable. I want them. I have so many emoticons on my phone and have no idea what they mean. They really like them in Korea.

    The embarrassed one, looks more pissed off to me.

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