Which 8 Korean words made it to the Oxford Dictionary? 🧠

There was some exciting news this last week from Oxford English Dictionary: 8 new Korean words have been added! You can take a look at the full list here, if you’re curious.

So, I suppose today is more of an English newsletter then 😂

We’ll take a look at the words today (which you probably already know), but add some nuance to them that the definition doesn’t quite capture. Also, you can feel the the influence that 케데헌 (케이팝 데몬 헌터스) and 폭싹 속았수다 (When Life Gives You Tangerines) had on this year’s list.

Let’s get started!

Ajumma (noun) = 아줌마

This word, according to Oxford English Dictionary means: a middle-aged or older woman, esp. one who is married. Also used as a form of address.

This is is very precarious to use. Almost 100% of the time, it is safer to use 이모 instead of 아줌마 since 아줌마 can have the connotation of “old woman” or “old lady”.

For an unmarried woman, the word is 아가씨 — but again, just don’t use it. It’s closer to saying something like “hey missy!”. So, unless you’re angling for some boomer energy, don’t do it. Stick to 이모, or 사장님 if you are in 식당.

But for older men, 아저씨 is totally fine. But how come that didn’t get included in the list?

아저씨 is sad he is not on the list (btw, 성동일 is great and you should watch Reply 1988 if you haven't already)

Bingsu (noun) = 빙수

According to Oxford English Dictionary: A Korean dessert of shaved ice with various sweet toppings such as condensed milk, red beans, chopped fruit, fruit syrup, etc.

If that is a bit hard to visualize, it looks like this:

인절미 (sweet rice cake) 빙수 is our favorite

It’s a delicious and refreshing treat that you can find all over Korea, especially in the summer.

Haenyo (noun) = 해녀

Ah, brings us back to when I couldn’t stop crying for a few days after the finale of 폭싹 속았수다 (When Life Gives You Tangerines) 😭 You probably already know that 해녀 are the woman who dive for a living to bring up abalone and other shell fish.

According to Oxford English Dictionary: a female free-diver who harvests seafood as a means of livelihood. Yeah, I guess, but it doesn’t capture the cultural permanence that 해녀 have in Jeju.

They are a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and just simply badass. They dived up to 7 hours a day in risky, rocky waters to support their families. There are 3 different classes of 해녀:

1. 하군 = beginners (하 = low/bottom + 군 = class)
2. 중군 = intermediate (중 = middle/in-between + 군 = class)
3. 상군 = advanced (상 = top / high + 군 = class)

The 상군 often help the lower classes and teach them how to navigate certain areas and depths. A lot has to deal with lung capacity as the divers gain experience.

Jjimjilbang (noun) = 찜질방

Nothing quite like going to a 찜질방 (찜질 (applying heat to the body for therapeutic purposes) + 방 (room)), having a 삶은계란 (boiled egg) and some cold 식혜 (sweet rice drink).

According to Oxford English Dictionary: a bathhouse providing facilities for cleansing or relaxing such as hot and cold baths, traditional Korean kiln saunas, showers, and massage tables, as well as other amenities such as lounges, snack bars, exercise rooms, and sleeping areas with bunk beds or mats.

One of the quotes on the page for the Oxford English Dictionary really resonates with the vibe of a 찜질방:

The joy of a jimjilbang is that there is no specific order to follow; it is designed for people to take their time.

L. Bo (Thermal)

Which is totally true — you can do hot then cold, then warm, then back to hot, then cold, then just hang for a bit, take a nap. It’s really just to take your time.

There truly is something unique about 찜질방 because calling it a sauna or bath house doesn’t really fit right for what it is. Although, there are some 찜질방 out there that get incredibly hot — they are called 불가마 = 불(fire) + 가마 (kiln). We tried to go into one that was wood-fired, but our faces burned immediately and we needed to run out 🥵

But for relaxing, there are so many different kinds of rooms in 찜질방. Below is a list that covers pretty much all of the kinds you might come across in your next 찜질방 visit!

Korean Barbecue (really? that’s just two words put together…)

In Korean, no one really says “Hey, let’s go to Korean barbecue”. Instead, it’s more about what you will eat, and the grilling via barbecue is a given. So, it’s more common to say something like:

“고기 먹으러 갈까?” = Shall we go eat meat?

I suppose this was added to the dictionary because it is different than a regular barbecue (since you grill it yourself at a table), but still. Isn’t it a bit strange to add two words to a dictionary like this?

Officetel (noun) = 오피스텔

Officetel is a portmanteau of office and hotel. Because it really isn’t English, this is a classic example of a Konglish word. These buildings, according to Oxford English Dictionary are buildings with commercial as well as residential units. Also: a flat in such a building, typically a furnished studio apartment.

So, they are mixed business and residential units. These are pretty common for people to want to live closer to downtown and near the office as an 아파트 could be a little further away.

Ramyeon (noun) = 라면

And for these last two, we are attributing 케데헌 (케이팝 데몬 헌터스) for bringing them into the common enough realm.

If you’re reading this newsletter, you know what 라면 is — it’s everywhere now. Especially the 케데헌 신라면 (along with the variety of other snacks they offer to cash-in on the craze). There was a single scene that sent the world into a 라면 frenzy, and you probably already know which one…

Sunbae (noun) = 선배

This word, which according to Oxford English Dictionary, means a member of a group or organization considered senior on account of age or experience, who can give guidance or assistance to a junior member. Also as a respectful title or form of address. Now spec. an older and more experienced K-pop performer or group. Also in extended use: a person one admires.

Okay, so that was a lot — but it generally comes down to someone you admire, look up, and is generally more senior to you. Because saying “senior” doesn’t fully capture the meaning of 선배, even in 케데헌, it wasn’t translated!

Which words do you think will be added next year?