[Korean Culture & Language] 심쿵, 썸, 여사친, 남사친


Hello, this is Uptempo Marketers!


Have you ever had a 심쿵 moment?

Have you ever had a Korean 여친, 남친, or 썸 before, or want to have one?
Some of them might ask you to cut ties with your 여사친s or 남사친s.
Some of them might be 엄친아 or 넘사벽.


How many sentences did you understand?

심쿵 사진, 이미지, 일러스트, 캘리그라피 - 크라우드픽

심쿵 is a commonly used word for a crush or between 썸.
심쿵 is short for “심장이 쿵했다”. 심장 means “heart,” and 쿵 means “thud”.
It is a stronger and cuter way of expressing “My heart skipped a beat”. 

Ex) 은우랑 아까 눈 마주쳤는데, 심쿵 했잖아!
When Eun-woo gazed into my eyes earlier, my heart skipped a beat!” 


Then what is 썸?
썸(some) came from an English word “something”. It refers to a relationship between two people who are dating, flirting, or romantically interested in each other, but not officially in a relationship. It basically means “there’s something going on between them/us” You can also use it as “썸남” or “썸녀”. 

Ex) 너네 썸이야? Are you guys romantically interested in each other?”

Many popular Korean singers sing about 썸, since it’s so common in Korea!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwuWNLX3jsM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyyPsaRcF1o

Not all, but many Koreans believe that straight men and women can’t be close friends without their relationship turning into something else. So when you get into a romantic relationship with a Korean, you might have to cut off some of your 이성친구(friendships with the opposite sex) like “여사친” or “남사친”s.


여사친 is short for “여자 사람 친구,” which literally translates as “female human friend,” and 남사친 literally translates as “male human friend”. This is a funny expression. It’s made to emphasizes that someone is just a “human” to you, and nothing more. 

Ex)
A: 어제 카페에 같이 있던 사람 네 여자친구야? (Is the girl whom I saw you with at the café yesterday your girlfriend?)
B: 아니 그냥 여사친이야. (No, she is just my female friend)


Below are some popular Korean celebrities who are known to be close 남사친s and 여사친s:

아이돌 남사친 여사친 | 인스티즈

G-Dragon & CL (https://www.instiz.net/pt/2830040)

아이돌 남사친 여사친 | 인스티즈

Zico & Hyuna (https://www.instiz.net/pt/2830040)


IU & Lee Hyun-Woo (https://www.wikitree.co.kr/articles/292683)


Do you believe that straight men and women can be close 남사친 and 여사친?

And what are some portmanteaus or slang words to call someone who is already your girlfriend or boyfriend? Please keep reading find out!

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