“Sajangnim” (사장님) — boss, shop owner, and anyone behind a counter
사장님 means company president. It also means the owner of the corner shop, the taxi driver, and, in a market, you — because sellers call their customers 사장님 too.
“Jeogiyo” (저기요) — “excuse me,” literally “over there”
저기요 is how you get a stranger’s or a waiter’s attention in Korea. Literally it means “over there.” Said softly, 저기… also means “um, so…” — the start of something hard to say.
“Simsimhae” (심심해) — bored, bland, and the apology that went viral
심심해 means “I’m bored.” It also means food is lightly seasoned. And a different, formal 심심하다 means “profound” — which caused a very public misunderstanding.
When they suddenly use your full name — the alarm subtitles can’t ring
Close Koreans call each other by given name plus 아/야. When a parent or partner switches to your full name, something is wrong. Subtitles print the same name and lose the alarm.
“Mianhae” and “Joesonghamnida” (미안해·죄송합니다) — two sorrys, and which one you owe
Korean has two main apologies. 미안해 is between equals or downward; 죄송합니다 is upward and heavier. Using the wrong one is noticeable — and 미안한데 often isn’t an apology at all.
“Jagiya” (자기야) — how “self” became “honey”
자기 means “oneself,” yet 자기야 is one of the most common things Korean couples call each other. Here is how it’s used, who else uses it, and how it compares with 여보.
“Aish” (아이씨) — the half-swear subtitles turn into “Dammit”
The sound fans spell “aish” is 아이씨 or 아씨: a frustrated mutter somewhere between a sigh and a curse. Whether it counts as swearing depends on who hears it.
“Bogo sipeo” (보고 싶어) — “I miss you” is really “I want to see you”
보고 싶어 is how Korean says “I miss you,” but it literally means “I want to see you.” That makes the feeling active rather than a lack — and it’s why it also works for movies.
“Sokssanghae” (속상해) — upset, from the inside
속상해 is being upset in a specific, inward way — hurt and frustrated by something you can’t fix. Parents say it about their children constantly. Here is how it differs from anger and 서운해.
“Assa” and “Inssa” (아싸·인싸) — outsider, insider, and a cheer that sounds the same
아싸 can be a victory cheer or short for “outsider,” and 인싸 is its opposite, the insider. Here is how Korean slang turned an English loanword into a social map.
합니다 vs 해요 — the two polite Koreans, and why subtitles merge them
Korean has two everyday polite styles: the crisp, formal -습니다 and the warm, polite -요. A character switching between them tells you a lot. Subtitles show neither.
“Chingu” (친구) — a friend has to be your age
In Korean, 친구 usually means someone born in the same year as you. An older friend is 형, 누나, 오빠 or 언니; a younger one is 동생. That changes how friendship is talked about.