We hope this Korean emoticon list helps you all out a lot. These emoticons are used frequently among friends and family in text messages. However recently, Kakaotalk has taken over with their popular emoticons (like Ryan and A-Peach…the one that looks like a butt)
The abbreviations can also be considered slang and more like these (shortened words) are being created by the younger generation frequently).
Hope this helps! And for more materials to supplement your Korean vocab, check out our ebooks over at the Dom & Hyo Store. We also have posters, t-shirts, and more related to Korea.
List of Emoticons & Abbreviations used in this graphic:
^^ ^_^ ^0^ = Happy
^_~ = Winking
-_- – – = Serious
ㅜㅜ ㅠㅠ ㅠ_ㅠ = Crying
^^; ^_^; = Sweating
+_+ = Surprised
@_@ = Confused
ㅗ = Middle finger
OTL = Disappointment (looks like someone with their head down on their knees)
=_= = Sleepiness
~_~ = Boredom
-_-a = Scratching head
0ㅠ0 = Vomiting
*^^* = Blushing
^3^ = Kissing
(>.<) >_< = Embarassed
ㅇㅇ = 응 (Yes/Agreement)
ㅇㅋ = 오케이 (OK in English)
ㄷㅊ = 닥쳐 (Shutup/Shut your trap)
ㅊㅋ = 축아해요 (Congratulations)
ㄱㅅ = 감사합니다 (Thank you)
ㅎㅎ = 하하 (Laughing)
샘 = 선생님 (Teacher)
ㅂㅂ = bye bye
ㄴㄴ = no no
ㅅㄱ = 수고하세요 (Keep up the good work)
방가 = 방가워요 (Nice to meet you)
ㄷㄷ = 덜덜 (Shivering)
ㅎㅇ = 하이 (“Hi” in Konglish)
쩐다 = Awesome/Terrible (Kind of like “damn!” but not too bad)
짐 = 지금 (Now)
어케 = 어떻게 (How)