대박
daebak
The English word 'awesome' can be translated into Korean as 대박 (daebak).
대박 is a colloquial expression used to describe anything incredible, amazing or astonishing. It can function as an interjection to express surprise or admiration, or as a noun or adjective to describe something great.
Meaning: excellent, exciting (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 대 (big) and 박 (hit or jackpot), literally meaning a big hit or a jackpot.
Which one should you use?
While 대박 is used for something incredible or amazing, 짱 is another informal expression used to convey that something is 'the best' or 'amazing'. For a more formal way to describe something as excellent, splendid or superb, use 훌륭하다.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
대박 is highly informal and is primarily used in casual speech among friends or peers. In contrast, 훌륭하다 is used when you want to maintain a formal tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the expression in a complete sentence meaning 'It is awesome,' you add the verb 이다 (to be) to form 대박이다. In casual conversation, the phrase is often used in the form 대박이야 to mean 'It's awesome'.
How do you pronounce it?
daebak
Did you know?
- In Korean text messaging, you might see people write ㄷㅂ instead of the full word 대박 to save time and convey a sense of casual coolness.
- The related term 짱 (the best) is thought to have evolved from the word for 'head' or 'leader', reflecting a hierarchy where the top person is the best.
- While 대박 is often used to express positive awe, it can also be used sarcastically to react to a terrible situation, similar to how an English speaker might say 'awesome' when something goes wrong.
Examples in context
- 오늘 콘서트 정말 멋있었어!Today's concert was really awesome!
- 네, 맞아! 진짜 대박이었어!Yeah, you're right! It was truly amazing!
- 고생한 만큼 결과도 짱이야!The results are awesome as much as the effort put into it!
- 그 영화 진짜 대박이야.geu yeonghwa jincha daebak-iya.That movie is truly awesome.
- 와, 대박!wa, daebak!Wow, awesome!
- 이번 콘서트 정말 대박이었어.ibeon konseoteu jeongmal daebak-ieosseo.This concert was really awesome.
Example conversation
Seoyeon shows Jihoon a photo of her new puppy.
- 서연 Seo-yeon지훈, 내 강아지 사진 봐!Jihoon, nae gang-aji sajin bwa!Jihoon, look at my puppy's photo!
- 지훈 Ji-hun와, 진짜 대박 귀엽다!wa, jinjja daebak gwiyeopda!Wow, it's awesomely cute!
- 서연 Seo-yeon그치? 너무 사랑스러워.geuchi? neomu sarangseureowo.Right? It's so lovely.
- 지훈 Ji-hun나도 한 번 만나보고 싶어.nado han beon mann-abogo sipeo.I want to meet it too.
