Can I say 귀여워요 to my Korean boss or teacher?

No. 귀엽다 puts the speaker above the person described, so calling a boss, a teacher or anyone senior 귀여워요 sounds patronising even in the polite form. To compliment an adult, use 사랑스러워요 (endearing), 멋있어요 (cool, for men and women) or 예뻐요 / 잘생겼어요. 귀엽다 is safe for children, pets, objects, and friends your age or younger.

What is the difference between 귀엽다, 깜찍하다 and 앙증맞다?

귀엽다 is the general 'cute' and works for anything. 깜찍하다 adds playfulness or cleverness — a pixie haircut, a cheeky kid, a smart little gadget. 앙증맞다 is about small size: a tiny cup, a doll-sized chair, a miniature dessert. Koreans rarely use 앙증맞다 about an adult unless they are joking about someone's small hands or a tiny outfit.

Why is 댕댕이 spelled that way instead of 멍멍이?

It comes from 야민정음, an internet game of swapping Hangul blocks that look alike. 멍 and 댕 resemble each other at small font sizes, so 멍멍이 (doggy) became 댕댕이. The same logic gives 커엽다 from 귀엽다 (귀 ≈ 커) and 롬곡 from 눈물 turned upside down. These spellings belong in comments, memes and texts between friends — never in an email or a report.

Is 애교 only for women?

No. 애교 is most associated with women and with idol fan culture, but Korean men use it constantly with partners, parents and pets, and 우쭈쭈, 오구오구 and 아잉 are gender-neutral in practice. The relationship matters more than gender: 애교 is 반말 territory. Using these sounds with a stranger, a client or anyone clearly senior to you reads as either flirting or mockery.

Cute Korean Words and Slang: 30 Aegyo Phrases

🇰🇷 Korean · 30 cards · B1 · by Jiho Park

Cute language is everywhere in Korean — in texts, in cafés, in the way people talk to dogs — and almost none of it is in a textbook. These are thirty words I actually hear and use in Seoul: the core adjectives (귀엽다, 깜찍하다, 앙증맞다) and how they differ, the sound-and-feel words that make Korean cute in the first place (말랑말랑, 꼬물꼬물, 토닥토닥), baby-talk noises like 우쭈쭈 and 아잉, and internet respellings like 댕댕이 and 커엽다. I mark the politeness level on every card, because most of this is 반말 only — 귀여워요 to your boss is not a compliment. Say the sound words out loud; the rhythm is half the meaning.

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How to use this deck

Flip through the cards, then switch to Quiz. Tap the play button on any row to hear it. The full table below is there to read, print or copy into your own flashcard app.

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All 30 cards

#	Korean	Pronunciation	English	Example
1	귀엽다 The base word for everything in this deck. Casual 귀여워, polite 귀여워요. Do not use it about someone older or senior to you — it sounds condescending.	gwiyeopda	to be cute	옆집 강아지 진짜 귀엽다. The neighbour's puppy is so cute.
2	귀요미 Noun formed from 귀엽다. Casual only; used for kids, pets, close friends or a partner.	gwiyomi	cutie, cutie-pie	우리 조카는 완전 귀요미야. My nephew is a total cutie-pie.
3	애교 Neutral noun, fine in polite speech. Collocations: 애교가 많다 (has lots of charm), 애교를 부리다 (to act cute).	aegyo	cutesy charm, acting adorable	우리 고양이는 애교가 많아요. Our cat is really affectionate and cutesy.
4	뽀뽀 Childlike, affectionate word for a light kiss; 키스 is the romantic one. Casual — with family, kids, pets, partners.	ppoppo	peck, little kiss	자기 전에 뽀뽀해 줘. Give me a kiss before bed.
5	애기 Colloquial softening of 아기; also used as a pet name for a partner. Casual speech and texting only — write 아기 in anything formal.	aegi	baby (cutesy spelling of 아기)	왜 애기처럼 그래, 진짜. Why are you acting like a baby?
6	깜찍하다 Cuter and more playful than 귀엽다, often about a look or a small clever thing. Safe in polite speech: 깜찍해요.	kkamjjikhada	to be adorable, cutely clever	머리 자르니까 더 깜찍하네요. That haircut looks even more adorable on you.
7	앙증맞다 Used for small objects far more than for people. Polite-friendly: 앙증맞아요.	angjeungmatda	to be tiny and adorable	컵이 앙증맞게 작아요. The cup is adorably tiny.
8	사랑스럽다 Warmer and more sincere than 귀엽다; works as a compliment to an adult in polite speech.	sarangseureopda	to be lovely, endearing	웃는 모습이 참 사랑스러워요. Your smile is really lovely.
9	말랑말랑 Sound-and-feel word, used with 하다. Register-neutral, but the doubled form itself sounds affectionate.	mallangmallang	soft and squishy	아기 볼이 말랑말랑해. The baby's cheeks are all squishy.
10	보들보들 For fabric, fur, skin. 말랑말랑 is squishy; 보들보들 is smooth-soft. Neutral register.	bodeulbodeul	soft to the touch, silky	이 담요 진짜 보들보들하다. This blanket is so soft.
11	포동포동 Affectionate for babies and animals. Said about an adult it can still sting, so use it carefully.	podongpodong	plump, chubby (in a cute way)	겨울 되니까 고양이가 포동포동해졌어. The cat got nice and chubby now that it's winter.
12	아장아장 Adverb for an unsteady baby walk; also used jokingly about penguins and ducks. Neutral.	ajangajang	toddling, waddling	아기가 아장아장 걸어와요. The baby is toddling over here.
13	꼬물꼬물 For babies, puppies, small animals. Neutral register, but always fond in tone.	kkomulkkomul	wriggling, squirming (tiny movements)	햄스터가 꼬물꼬물 움직여. The hamster is wriggling around.
14	배시시 Adverb, almost always with 웃다. Neutral; common in writing and storytelling.	baesisi	with a shy little grin	칭찬 듣더니 배시시 웃더라. She broke into a shy little smile when I complimented her.
15	두근두근 Works for both excitement and nerves. Used with 하다; fine at any politeness level.	dugeundugeun	heart pounding, fluttering	결과 발표 기다리면서 두근두근했어요. My heart was pounding while I waited for the results to be announced.
16	심쿵 Slang shortening of 심장이 쿵 (heart goes thump). Casual only; verb 심쿵하다, joke form 심쿵사.	simkung	heart-skip from cuteness, swooning	그 눈웃음에 완전 심쿵했어. That smiling-eyes look totally made my heart skip.
17	토닥토닥 Often typed on its own in messages as a virtual pat on the back. Casual with friends; the verb 토닥이다 is neutral.	todaktodak	pat-pat (comforting)	울지 마, 토닥토닥. Don't cry — there, there.
18	우쭈쭈 Baby-talk noise for pets and infants. Said to an adult it is teasing — 우쭈쭈 해줘? means 'you want to be babied?'	ujjujju	coochie-coo, there there	우쭈쭈, 우리 강아지 잘했어. Coochie-coo, good boy!
19	오구오구 Softer and more sympathetic than 우쭈쭈. Casual only — never to someone senior, it sounds patronising.	oguogu	aww, poor thing (soothing)	오구오구, 많이 힘들었구나. Aww, you've had a rough time.
20	알콩달콩 Adverb for couples and families living happily. Warm but respectable — common in wedding messages.	alkongdalkong	sweetly, happily together	두 분 알콩달콩 잘 지내세요. Wishing you two all the sweetest times together.
21	꽁냥꽁냥 Internet-born slang, built on the cat sound 냥. Casual; slightly teasing when said about other people.	kkongnyangkkongnyang	cuddly and flirty (of a couple)	카페에서 꽁냥꽁냥하는 커플 봤어. I saw a couple being all lovey-dovey at the café.
22	삐지다 Light, almost cute sulking, not real anger. 삐치다 is the older form; both are standard now. Casual.	ppijida	to sulk, get pouty	야, 너 삐졌어? Hey, are you sulking?
23	힝 Whimper of disappointment, mostly in texts. Very casual and deliberately childish.	hing	aww man (written whimper)	힝, 나만 두고 갔어? Aww, you left without me?
24	아잉 The classic aegyo sound. Casual and unmistakably cutesy — using it ironically among friends is very common.	aing	aegyo whine (pleading noise)	아잉, 한 번만 봐줘. Aww come on, let me off just this once.
25	댕댕이 Internet respelling of 멍멍이 (야민정음 style — 멍 looks like 댕). Casual, very common online.	daengdaengi	doggo	우리 댕댕이 산책 갔다 왔어. I just took my doggo out for a walk.
26	냥이 From 고양이 crossed with the meow sound 냥. Casual; 길냥이 means a stray cat.	nyang-i	kitty	옆집 냥이가 창문에 앉아 있어. The neighbour's kitty is sitting in the window.
27	존귀 From 존나 (vulgar intensifier) + 귀엽다, so crude in origin — friends and online only, never at work or with elders. In standard Korean 존귀하다 means 'noble, honourable'; context makes the slang obvious.	jon-gwi	insanely cute	이 아기 사진 진짜 존귀하다. This baby photo is insanely cute.
28	커엽다 Deliberate misspelling of 귀엽다 (귀 looks like 커) from 야민정음 internet writing. Typed, not spoken; casual only.	keoyeopda	cute (typo-style spelling)	아기 영상 봤는데 진짜 커엽더라. I watched a video of the baby — so cute.
29	애교살 The small roll of fat under the eyes, seen as cute in Korea. Neutral noun, safe as a compliment.	aegyosal	under-eye puff, 'aegyo fat'	애교살 있으니까 웃을 때 더 예뻐요. The little puff under your eyes makes your smile even prettier.
30	깨물어주고 싶다 Korean 'cute aggression'. Casual, and only about babies, pets or your partner — to anyone else it is creepy.	kkaemureojugo sipda	so cute I could bite you	볼이 통통해서 깨물어주고 싶어. Those chubby cheeks make me want to nibble on them.

Jiho Park

Native Korean · Speaks English, Japanese

Seoul native. I mark every phrase with its politeness level, because that is the part textbooks skip and the part that gets you in trouble.

Published 17 Sept 2026

Questions about this deck

Can I say 귀여워요 to my Korean boss or teacher?: No. 귀엽다 puts the speaker above the person described, so calling a boss, a teacher or anyone senior 귀여워요 sounds patronising even in the polite form. To compliment an adult, use 사랑스러워요 (endearing), 멋있어요 (cool, for men and women) or 예뻐요 / 잘생겼어요. 귀엽다 is safe for children, pets, objects, and friends your age or younger.
What is the difference between 귀엽다, 깜찍하다 and 앙증맞다?: 귀엽다 is the general 'cute' and works for anything. 깜찍하다 adds playfulness or cleverness — a pixie haircut, a cheeky kid, a smart little gadget. 앙증맞다 is about small size: a tiny cup, a doll-sized chair, a miniature dessert. Koreans rarely use 앙증맞다 about an adult unless they are joking about someone's small hands or a tiny outfit.
Why is 댕댕이 spelled that way instead of 멍멍이?: It comes from 야민정음, an internet game of swapping Hangul blocks that look alike. 멍 and 댕 resemble each other at small font sizes, so 멍멍이 (doggy) became 댕댕이. The same logic gives 커엽다 from 귀엽다 (귀 ≈ 커) and 롬곡 from 눈물 turned upside down. These spellings belong in comments, memes and texts between friends — never in an email or a report.
Is 애교 only for women?: No. 애교 is most associated with women and with idol fan culture, but Korean men use it constantly with partners, parents and pets, and 우쭈쭈, 오구오구 and 아잉 are gender-neutral in practice. The relationship matters more than gender: 애교 is 반말 territory. Using these sounds with a stranger, a client or anyone clearly senior to you reads as either flirting or mockery.

Cute Korean Words and Slang: 30 Aegyo Phrases

All 30 cards

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