극혐
geukhyeom
The Korean word for gross is 극혐 (geukhyeom).
극혐 is used to express extreme disgust or a reaction to something that is visually or conceptually repulsive. It is most commonly found in online comments, texting or during conversations among close friends.
Meaning: causing disgust (adj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
극혐 is highly informal slang and should not be used in formal writing or polite conversation. If you need to express that something is disgusting or repulsive in a formal situation, you can use 역겨워요 for 'disgusting or repulsive' or 혐오스러워요 for 'disgusting or revolting'. If you are speaking informally about food that is unappetizing, you might say 못 먹겠어 to mean 'can't eat'.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a noun-based slang contraction, 극혐 can be used as a standalone exclamation or as a noun in phrases like 극혐이다 (it is gross).
How do you pronounce it?
geukhyeom
Did you know?
- The word 극혐 is a contraction of 극한 혐오, which literally means 'extreme hatred'.
- 극혐 is a Sino-Korean word derived from the Chinese characters 極 for 'extreme' and 嫌 for 'detest'.
- While it literally means 'extreme disgust', many young Koreans use 극혐 to react to things that are merely 'cringe' or socially awkward rather than truly revolting.
Examples in context
- 이 음식 정말 역겨워요.This food is really gross.
- 그 영화는 정말로 혐오스러워요.That movie is really gross.
- 오늘 학교 급식 정말 못 먹겠어.I really can't eat the cafeteria food today, it's so gross.
- 그 음식 진짜 극혐이야.geu eumsik jinja geuk-hyeom-iya.That food is seriously gross.
- 벌레가 나오는 건 극혐이야.beol-re-ga na-o-neun geon geuk-hyeom-iya.Bugs coming out is gross.
- 그 영화 너무 극혐이라 못 보겠어.geu yeong-hwa neo-mu geuk-hyeom-i-ra mot bo-ges-seo.That movie is so gross I can't watch it.
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are looking at a scary horror movie clip.
- 민준 Min-jun이 장면 진짜 극혐이다.i jang-myeon jin-ja geuk-hyeom-i-da.This scene is seriously gross.
- 민지 Min-ji맞아, 너무 징그러워.ma-ja, neo-mu jing-geu-reo-wo.Right, it's so creepy.
- 민준 Min-jun민지야, 너도 극혐이지?Min-ji-ya, neo-do geuk-hyeom-i-ji?Minji, you find it gross too, right?
- 민지 Min-ji응, 진짜 못 보겠어.eung, jin-ja mot bo-ges-seo.Yeah, I really can't watch it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 극혐, CC BY-SA 4.0.
