The fifty-fifth set of K-pop Deep-dive Dictionary continues to introduce the daily K-pop words and expressions.

 

 

까리하다 [kkarihada]

Cool

 

kkarihada is a dialect of Gyeongsang Province meaning ‘cool.’ It is currently a frequently used term around the country. When an idol's particular theme, outfit, or performance is cool, K-pop fans use the word kkarihada.

 

Ex)

Jihyeon: CRAVTY’s performance was really kkarihada.

Minjoo: You're right. The uniform outfit and the school set were so cool.

 

 

케미 [kemi]

Combinations of group members that create synergy

 

kemi is an abbreviation of the English word ‘chemistry,’ which means chemical reaction, and it refers to the synergy effect that occurs when certain group members are together. It's used in phrases like ‘great kemi’ and ‘kemi explosion.’ When specific members of a group get together and have a lot of fun, it might be said that their 'kemi is good.'

 

Ex)

Seohee: I like the combination of A and B these days.

Eun-A: Those two’s kemi is good.

 

 

볼콕 [bolkok]

Poking the cheek using a finger

 

The term bolkok refers to the act of poking one's cheek with one's finger. It is one of the charms of idols and is frequently used as a pose in photos. Photocards that are taken in the pose of bolkok, which is the most popular aegyo among K-pop fans, increase fans' desire to keep the photocards.

 

Ex)

Soojin: Hyojung’s bolkok selfie is so cute!

Kahyeon: I know right. I hope that comes out as a photocard~

 

 

볼하트 [bolhateu]

Making a half-heart with a hand and putting it next to the cheek

 

bolhateu refers to the act of making a half-heart with one's hand and placing it near to the cheek. This gesture is also one of the charms of idols and has just recently gained popularity. The most plausible explanation is that it was termed as bolhateu because the hands and cheeks combine together to form a heart.

 

Ex)

Hayeon: Seungkwan’s bolhateu is so cute the more I look at it.

Junseok: I hope my bias also does the bolhateu.

 

 

부심 [busim]
Pride

 

busim is short for '자부심' ([jabusim]), which means pride. It is most commonly used by adding busim after factors that make one proud. For example, the expression ‘visual-busim’ describes pride in an idol's visuals, while ‘stage-busim’ describes pride in an idol's stage performance skills.

 

Ex)

Seoyong: How come NMIXX is so good at stage performance? I feel proud as an NSWER.

Hyejin: That’s true. I got the stage-busim.

 

 

 

 

※ K-pop Culture Lab at Hanteo Global aims to set the standard of K-pop and make the K-pop experience more accessible and enjoyable to all K-pop fans worldwide. As part of the initiative, we started the ‘K-pop Deep-dive Dictionary’ series that introduces new fans to the terms and expressions that only true K-pop fans know and use. We hope that this series will help international K-pop fans and the public to better understand the unique culture of Korean K-pop fans and use the words to communicate with them.