💎 What you'll learn in this post
📌 Heads up before you read
In today’s world where smartphones and messaging are a huge part of life, quick and simple communication is key. That’s why new chat languages have popped up!
Today, we’re going to learn about four special Korean letters that are used all the time: ㅜ (u), ㅠ (yu), ㅋ (k), and ㅎ (h). Once you know these four, you’ll be able to express everything from sadness to happiness with just a few letters.
For example, instead of saying "I’m really, super happy right now" in a long sentence, you can just type ㅋㅋㅋ, and everyone will understand how happy you are! On the other hand, ㅜㅜ or ㅠㅠ is all you need to show that you're sad.
These letters are must-knows when chatting with Koreans, and guess what? Everyone uses them, from teens to adults, and even at work! So, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅋ, and ㅎ are going to be your go-to tools for chatting in Korean from now on!
💬 Real Korean Expressions in Conversation
This is a real chat, just like how Koreans actually talk! Seriously, they really communicate like this!
In this short conversation, packed with punctuation marks and simple letters, you’ll find all kinds of emotions—sadness, surprise, comfort, encouragement, and even appreciation for a friend. Can you believe it? And sometimes, it gets even shorter, with conversations using only ㅋ, ㅜ or ㅠ. So, what you're about to learn today is pure gold!
All right, let's enjoy today's post that will help you improve your Korean skills! Ready to up your chat game?
ㅜ or ㅠ
😭
The Korean vowels ㅜ and ㅠ look like tears falling from eyes, so these letters are used to express sadness or crying.
If you can’t quite picture it, take a look at the image below, and it will make sense right away!
ㅜ represents a tear falling from one eye
ㅠ represents tears falling from both eyes
That’s why ㅠ feels a bit sadder than ㅜ.
You can think of the levels of sadness like this: ㅜ < ㅜㅜ < ㅠ < ㅠㅠ.
You can even mix them up, like ㅠㅜ or ㅜㅠ. And to express even stronger emotions, Korean will use them repeatedly, like ㅜㅜㅜㅜ or ㅠㅠㅠㅠ.
So, if someone uses lots of ㅜ and ㅠ, they’re basically saying, “I’m really sad right now 😭😭😭😭😭.” When that happens, it’s probably a good time to show some empathy and comfort them! ^^ (← remember what ^^ means in Korean from a previous post?)
📌 Here’s how you can use it
If your friend says, "I didn't do well on my test today," here's how you can respond:
✅ ㅜ : Oh no
✅ ㅜㅜ : Oh no, that’s tough, you must be sad
✅ ㅠㅠ: So sad, I’m crying
✅ ㅜㅜㅜㅜ (=ㅠㅠㅠㅠ) : I’m so sad, I can’t even speak, totally heartbroken
🖐️Using a lot of ㅜ or ㅠ means they’re really sad, so there’s no big difference between ㅜㅜㅜㅜ and ㅠㅠㅠㅠ in meaning.
🖐️ Some people don’t make a distinction between ㅜ and ㅠ, and just prefer using one. You can figure out which they prefer by paying attention to how they express sadness!
Now, instead of saying, "I’m so sad," try using ㅜㅜ, ㅠㅠ, or ㅠㅜ to quickly express your emotions! It’ll make communication smoother and faster.
ㅋ
😀
In Korean, one of the most common ways to show laughter is through the onomatopoeia 크크크[keu-keu-keu]. By dropping the vowels, you’re left with ㅋ, which is used to show laughter when something is funny. But did you know that the number of ㅋs changes the meaning?
📌 Here’s a breakdown
ⓐ ㅋ x 1
A light laugh, not too serious, or sometimes even a sarcastic chuckle.
It’s often used to brush off a conversation or lightly laugh at something.
When you’re close with someone, you might use just one ㅋ to subtly tease them.
🖐️ People who don’t talk much or keep their replies short often use just one ㅋ.
ⓑ ㅋ x 2 or 3
Used when something is moderately funny. It's not super funny, but it's enough to make you laugh.
🖐️ Using just one ㅋ can seem insincere, so most people use 2 or 3 to show they're really amused.
ⓒ ㅋ x 4개 이상
If you see ㅋ four or more times, it means something is really funny, and the person is laughing hard. The more ㅋs you see, like ㅋㅋㅋㅋ, the funnier the situation is. The number of ㅋs shows how much they’re enjoying it.
📌 Here’s how you can use it
If your friend says, "I went to the SEVENTEEN concert today!!!", here’s how you can respond:
✅ ㅋ
A light response such as "Oh, really?" It's a bit casual or detached, but still shows you understand that they had fun. You could also use this if you're being slightly sarcastic, like "(So what?) ㅋ".
✅ ㅋㅋ
A moderate reaction, such as "Oh, that must have been fun. It shows empathy with a smile.
✅ ㅋㅋㅋ
"Wow, that must have been really fun!" This is a more enthusiastic response that shows more interest in their experience.
🖐️Three ㅋs is a pretty common way to express laughter.
✅ ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
"Wow, I'm so jealous! That must have been amazing!" This is used when you're genuinely happy for them and want to react with excitement.
If you find yourself needing to use ㅋ, don’t go overboard with ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ, as it might come off as excessive. It’s better to stick to around ㅋㅋㅋ or ㅋㅋㅋㅋ for a balanced reaction. The right amount of laughter will keep the conversation natural!
BONUS
Let's learn another expression
ㅎ
😀
Another onomatopoeia in Korean that represents laughter is 흐흐흐[heu-heu-heu]. By dropping the vowels, we’re left with ㅎ, which conveys a sense of enjoyment, but it’s more about a pleasant feeling rather than something being really funny, like with ㅋ.
Just like ㅋ, the number of times you use ㅎ can change the meaning. However, ㅎ can feel a bit less empathetic than ㅋ, so you should be careful when using just one ㅎ.
📌 Here’s a breakdown
ⓐ ㅎ x 1
A light response that shows you're being casual or not too invested. It can sometimes feel like you don’t really care, but you’re responding because you have to.
🖐️ People who don’t talk much or prefer short replies tend to use just one ㅎ.
ⓑ ㅎ x 2~3
Used when you feel good or pleased by what the other person said. It shows a light, happy response without being over the top.
ⓒ ㅎ x 4
While ㅋ shows you're laughing at something funny, ㅎ expresses laughter in an enjoyable situation.
When you use ㅎ four or more times, it means the situation is really pleasant or enjoyable.
If someone says something funny and you respond with ㅎㅎㅎㅎ, it means you're enjoying what they said, even if it’s not side-splittingly hilarious.
📌 Here’s how you can use it
If your friend says, "Cheer up!" you can respond like this:
✅ 그래 ㅎ (Sure ㅎ)
You’re giving a reply because you have to, but you’re not fully engaged.
🖐️ Be cautious when using just one ㅎ, as it might make the other person feel hurt or think you’re dismissive or uninterested.
✅ 그래 ㅎㅎㅎ (Sure ㅎㅎㅎ)
You’re showing a positive and friendly laugh, indicating that you appreciate their words.
✅ 그래 ㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎ(Sure ㅎㅎㅎㅎ)
🖐️ "Cheer up!" isn’t something funny, so if you use a lot of ㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎ, your friend might think their words made you really happy. On the other hand, they could also be confused because you’re laughing when the situation isn’t funny.
🎁 Now, Let’s Practice 🎁
Here’s a real example of a conversation between two Koreans, translated into English. Take a look and try to understand the flow!
🖐️ If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or DM us on KONOGRAM's Instagram, X, or Facebook!
Must-know Korean chat symbols: ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅋ, ㅎ!
These letters are essential when chatting with Koreans. Mastering them will make expressing emotions so much more natural. Once you understand the meaning and how to use each one, you’ll also be able to pick up on the emotions behind your friend’s messages. Now, use these letters to connect with your Korean friends on a deeper level!
Get ready to become a pro at emotion-packed Korean chats!
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