Is there annihilation Thousand-dramas can't teach us? Afterwards throwing our fists in the air and constantly screaming to the high heavens someday our favourite leads say joahaeyo  or saranghae , nosotros can't help only pick up some Korean endearment terms and affectionate words they utilize.

After breezing through our introduction to Korean bones phrases and expressions, y'all might want to accept your vocabulary to the next level. Here are a few Korean terms of endearment that we've learned from binge-watching our favourite K-dramas. And h ey, you never know. They might come up in handy someday.

Also read: xv Piece of cake Korean Words & Phrases Every G-Drama Fan Should Know! [Function 1]

Korean endearment words and phrases you volition oft hear in K-dramas

1. Aein – "Sweetheart" / "Lover"

For our first lesson in Korean terms of endearment, aein ("sweetheart" or "lover") is a pretty slap-up place to first! It happens to exist a gender-neutral term likewise, so you tin can utilise it to address men also as women. Here'due south i way to employ this word in a sentence: Aein isseoyo?  ("Practise you take a sweetheart?")

2. Jagi / Jagiya – "Honey" / "Darling"

Another gender-neutral nickname that Korean couples similar to utilize is jagi , which means "beloved" or "darling." Often in K-dramas, y'all might also hear jagiya  with a ya  suffix added, usually to call someone or get their attention in a loving manner.

3. Aegiya – "Infant" / "Babe"

If calling someone "sweetheart" or "lover" sounds a footling old-fashioned, y'all tin utilise aegi or aegiya to call someone "babe" or "babe." This Korean term of endearment suggests an intimate and less formal human relationship when referring to your significant other.

4. Oppa – An older blood brother to a younger woman

One of the virtually pop Korean terms of endearment for men, oppa  is typically used by Korean women to address an older human being they experience shut to — be it a brother, a platonic male friend, a boyfriend, or a hubby.

If you've seen K-dramas like What'due south Wrong With Secretarial assistant Kim? then you lot know that oppa tin accept a romantic undertone as well. That being said, you might encounter this Korean word when a female atomic number 82 teases an older male graphic symbol in a friendly way. However, information technology tin also exist used with increasing hints of amour, equally the human relationship develops from a purely blood brother-sis bond into a romantic one.

Also read: Arctic With Park Seo-joon: Here Are All His Netflix Shows!

5. Nae sarang – "My beloved"

To smoothly call someone "my love" in Korean, simply utilize the phrase nae sarang . Pretty easy, isn't it?

vi. Yeobo – "Darling" / "Honey" (for married couples)

Near K-dramas don't outset out with established relationships between the protagonists. Simply if your favourite couple managed to walk downward the aisle,  so this Korean term of endearment might ring a bell to you lot! Taking a pace higher from jagi , the word yeobo  is used by married couples whenever they want to call each other "honey" or "darling." (Again, only married couples. Nosotros're looking at y'all, Lee Tae-oh !)

Permit's combine some of our previous Korean language lessons, shall we? To ask if your hubby or married woman is okay, yous tin can say, Yeobo, gwenchana? ("Are you okay, honey?") For extra points on commitment, make sure to say it in that caring, ever-so-worried tone that all the leading men in 1000-dramas seem to have.

seven. Naekkeo – "Mine"

If you have sharp ears, then you might recognise this coincidental term of endearment in Korean pop music as well as television shows. Many K-pop artists similar to tackle themes of romance and yearning in their songwriting, which means that you lot've probably heard a great deal of naekkeo  already. It translates to "mine."

Here's an case of a song that uses naekkeo  in its lyrics, while churning out an incredibly catchy earworm to kicking. Start playing the video to a higher place at the 0:55 marking, where Junggigo sings, Naekkeoin deut naekkeo anin naekkeo gateun neo.  By repeating naekkeo  hither, the singer is wondering, " Information technology feels like you lot're mine, it seems like yous're mine, but non …" You lot're welcome for the bop, past the way!

viii. Gwiyomi – "Cutie"

Does this give-and-take band a bell? You've probably heard it repeatedly from the Gwiyomi Song by S Korean singer Hari. Every bit you can tell by the song'south chipper tone and wholesome vibe, gwiyomi refers to a cute person — or to exist more precise, a young girl who looks adorable and innocent.

The Gwiyomi Vocal exploded into a viral phenomenon all over Asia, where famous celebrities performed their own versions of the song and replicated the beautiful hand movements from the music video.

ix. Yeojachingu – "Girlfriend"

To refer to a woman every bit your girlfriend, say yeojachingu . If you break down this discussion into two parts, it's really simply a combination of yeoja  ("adult female") and chingu  ("friend"). Simple, right?

x. Namjachingu – "Boyfriend"

Song Joong-ki, Kang Ha-neul, Jung Hae-in, Hyun Bin, Park Seo-joon… Sorry, are nosotros still talking well-nigh words? Right, okay, so! To call someone your boyfriend, you can use namjachingu . Similar to the previous example, this term of endearment comprises two Korean words: namja  ("human") and chingu  ("friend").

At present all y'all have to exercise is slide into Kim Soo-hyun 's and Ji Chang-wook's DMs. (Merely kidding. Please don't do that.)

11. Gonjunim – "Princess"

Whatever historical K-drama fans out at that place? Gonjunim  is a Korean term of endearment that ways "princess." Yes, it ways referring to your girlfriend every bit if she were royalty; hence, the honorific suffix nim  is added to convey reverence. When used humorously and with someone'south approval, this can be a flattering way to treat your daughter with respect and let her know who's boss. (It's her. She's the boss.)

Merely simply promise u.s.a. that you lot won't use this knowledge to accost women in a creepy or patronising way. Nobody needs that in their life!

12. Wangjanim – "Prince"

Post-obit the example in a higher place, wangjanim  ("prince") is a term of endearment that some women might use to compliment their absurd, dashing, and gentlemanly boyfriends. In a more than literal sense, this might sound a picayune out-of-place when applied outside the context of period K-drama like 100 Days My Prince,  just there y'all have information technology.

13. Uri gangaji – "Our puppy" or "My puppy"

 Typically, boyfriends will use this Korean term of endearment when addressing their girlfriends. It is a pet name to call your special person or loved ane. As a matter of fact, it's quite common for parents to use this phrase to refer to their children equally well. Quite adorable, isn't it?

fourteen. Bepeu – "Best friend"

Not all terms of endearment have to exist for couples or romantic relationships. There are a few fun and cute Korean words that you can use to accost friends and family, likewise. T his next one is not a Korean term of endearment per se, just it still shares the same sentiment and intention.

Bepeu is a Korean slang discussion and the shortened version of the Konglish (Korean-style English) phrase beseuteu peurendeu or best friend. If you and your bestie share a mutual interest for hallyu or Korean civilization, so give bepeu a try.

fifteen. Bu bu – "Married couple"

Bu bu translates to "husband and wife" or "married couple." Couples don't really utilize this term of endearment to address each other, but people will refer to another couple as such. T his Korean give-and-take is specifically used for couples in marital relationships. It's quite cute and mannerly, nonetheless.

Also read: 10 Romantic Phrases in Chiliad-Dramas and What They Mean

It turns out that we owe both our sleepless nights and our polyglot dreams to Chiliad-dramas. All joking aside, we promise you enjoyed this crash course on Korean terms of endearment. If there are any topics you'd like united states to cover next in our Korean language series , let united states of america know.

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Tiffany Conde

Tiffany Conde

Tiffany wrote articles on travel, food, and popular culture for TripZilla. As she plans her next adventure, she enjoys writing about the coolest places to stay effectually the globe and where to detect them.

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Andrea Larice Yap

Andrea Larice Yap

Andrea is a writer and creative individual based in Manila. This tiny human runs on iced coffee, music and films. You lot'll probably grab her daydreaming in a park or jotting down random words to to put in a song. Otherwise, expect her taking a dive in the pool of uncertainty called "life."

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