Want to read Korean chats without getting lost? Today we’ll unlock texting slang and abbreviations you’ll see everywhere: ㅋㅋ, ㅠㅠ, ㅇㅇ, ㄱㄱ, ㅊㅋ, and more. You’ll learn what they mean, how they’re formed, and when they’re appropriate—plus quick exercises to make them stick.

Why Korean texting looks “short”

In casual chats, Koreans compress words, keep only key consonants, and use emotive symbols. Think of it like English “lol,” “brb,” and emoji, but in Hangul.

We’ll cover:

• Emotions: laughing (ㅋㅋ/ㅎㅎ), crying (ㅠㅠ/ㅜㅜ)
• Quick yes/no: ㅇㅇ, ㄴㄴ
• Actions and reactions: ㄱㄱ (go), ㅊㅋ (congrats), ㄳ/ㄱㅅ (thanks), ㄱㅊ (it’s okay)
• Numbers and symbols: 8282 (빨리빨리)

Emotions you’ll see first: ㅋㅋ / ㅎㅎ and ㅠㅠ / ㅜㅜ

• ㅋㅋ / ㅎㅎ = laughter (ㅋㅋ often feels stronger; ㅎㅎ is softer or shy)
• ㅠㅠ / ㅜㅜ = tears/crying (sad or frustrated)

Use these alone or with a sentence.

Tip: One ㅋㅋ is mild, multiple ㅋㅋㅋㅋ means big laughter. Similarly, ㅠㅠㅠ intensifies the feeling.

Yes/no and quick reactions

In fast chats, you’ll see:

• ㅇㅇ = yes / yeah
• ㄴㄴ = no / nope
• ㄱㄱ = go / let’s go
• ㅊㅋ = congrats

They’re short and casual—use them with friends.

Building your texting toolkit

Let’s add a few more handy items and practice reading them in context.

• ㄳ / ㄱㅅ = thanks (from 감사)
• ㄱㅊ = it’s okay
• ㅇㄷ = where
• ㅁㄹ = don’t know

Try saying the full word aloud, then grab the first consonants.

합격했대! !

Putting it into a chat

Read the shuffled chat, then put the lines in a natural order. Notice tone and abbreviations.

Expected flow:

1. “I’m on the way.”
2. “You’re late ㅠㅠ.”
3. “Sorry! The bus was late.”
4. “It’s okay; message me when you arrive.”
5. “Yep, let’s go!”

Numbers and symbols: 8282

8282 is a playful way to say “빨리빨리 (quickly).” The sound of 8 (팔 pal) + 2 (이 i) makes 팔이팔이, which resembles 빨리빨리.

Tone and politeness

Texting slang is casual. Use it with friends, peers, or in gaming/online communities. Avoid in professional emails or messages to professors/managers. In mixed-age chat groups, check the vibe first.

• ㅋㅋ in a formal apology? Too casual.
• ㄱㄱ to a supervisor? Usually inappropriate—say “가시죠” or “가겠습니다.”

Match the slang to the relationship and context.

회의에 ㅋㅋ 늦었어요. → 회의에 늦어서 죄송합니다. Use a polite apology in professional contexts; avoid laughter markers.

Mini cheat-sheet (with context)

• ㅋㅋ/ㅎㅎ = laughter; one or many depending on intensity
• ㅠㅠ/ㅜㅜ = tears (sad/frustrated)
• ㅇㅇ = yes (informal); ㄴㄴ = no (informal)
• ㄱㄱ = go / let’s go; ㄱㅊ = it’s okay
• ㅊㅋ = congrats; ㄳ/ㄱㅅ = thanks
• ㅇㄷ = where?; ㅁㄹ = don’t know
• 8282 = quickly

Try mixing one or two per message—don’t overload.

Your turn: write two lines

• Line 1: Congratulate a friend who got a job offer.
• Line 2: Suggest going out to celebrate.

Example answer idea: “오퍼 받았어? ㅊㅋ! 오늘 저녁에 ㄱㄱ?”

Wrap-up

You now recognize the most common Korean texting shortcuts and how they’re formed. Keep an eye on tone: slang for friends, full words for formal settings. Practice by reading group chats or comments, and sprinkle in a couple of abbreviations where they fit.

You’ve got this—ㅇㅇ, ㄱㄱ!