Korean
10 Korean swear words you'll actually hear
A traveller's shortlist of Korean expletives, insults and exclamations — what they mean, and how strong they are.
Every language swears differently. This guide collects 10 Korean expressions you're genuinely likely to hear — from mild exclamations to properly strong stuff — and explains what each one actually means, not just its dictionary translation.
Burn Ratings are an approximate, cross-language heuristic. Context, region, tone and who's speaking all change how a word lands. Treat these as a guide, not gospel.
- 개새끼 4/5 · Strong
gaesaekki
Literally “dog offspring”. This is a strong personal insult, akin to calling someone a 'son of a bitch.'
Full entry → - 꺼져 3/5 · Vulgar
kkeojyeo
It means 'get lost' as a hostile dismissal. While it literally translates to 'get out,' it's used to tell someone to leave you alone.
Full entry → - 빌어먹을 3/5 · Vulgar
bireomeogeul
This is an exclamation used to express frustration or annoyance, similar to saying 'damn it.'
Full entry → - 개차반 3/5 · Vulgar
gaechaban
This is an insult aimed at someone with terrible manners or behavior. It doesn't refer to an actual animal despite the term's components.
Full entry → - 개소리 3/5 · Vulgar
gaesori
It means bullshit or nonsense, essentially dismissing what someone has said as unworthy of consideration. The literal translation is 'dog sound.'
Full entry → - 닥쳐 3/5 · Vulgar
dakchyeo
It’s a rude command telling someone to shut up. Literally, it means 'shut.'
Full entry → - 개뿔 2/5 · Coarse
gaeppul
This term refers to something worthless and is used to dismiss a claim as nonsense. It literally translates to 'dog horn.'
Full entry → - 보지 4/5 · Strong
boji
This is a vulgar term for vulva, often used in a derogatory sense. It's a direct reference to female genitalia.
Full entry → - 좆 4/5 · Strong
jot
It's a very vulgar term for 'penis' and often used as a swear word. It serves as a root for various other insults in Korean.
Full entry →