악동
akdong
The Korean word for 'rascal' is 악동 (akdong).
악동 is used to describe a mischievous child or a young person with a playful, naughty streak rather than a malicious person.
Meaning: cheeky person (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters for 'bad' (악) and 'child' (동).
How do you pronounce it?
akdong
Did you know?
- If you want to call an adult a 'rascal' in a more slangy way, you might use 망나니 (mangnani), which originally referred to a public executioner.
- The character 악 in 악동 is the same character used in 악마 for 'devil', showing how the concept of 'bad' scales from a cheeky child to a supernatural entity.
- In modern Korean pop culture, the term 악동 is frequently used in group names, such as the K-pop group AKMU, to project a 'rebellious' or 'cheeky' artistic image.
Examples in context
- 그는 정말 귀여운 악동이에요.geuneun jeongmal gwiyeoun akdong-ieyo.He is such a cute rascal.
- 우리 집 강아지는 작은 악동 같아요.uri jip gang-ajineun jageun akdong gatayo.My puppy is like a little rascal.
- 그 악동 때문에 정말 힘들어요.geu akdong ttaemune jeongmal himdeureoyo.That rascal is really making things difficult for me.
Example conversation
Dohyun and Subin are talking about Dohyun's younger brother.
- 도현 Do-hyeon제 남동생은 정말 못 말리는 악동이에요.je nam-dong-saeng-eun jeong-mal mot mal-li-neun ak-dong-i-e-yo.My younger brother is an unstoppable rascal.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말요? 어떤 장난을 주로 치나요?jeong-mal-yo? eo-tteon jang-nan-eul ju-ro chi-na-yo?Really? What kind of pranks does he usually play?
- 도현 Do-hyeon집안의 모든 물건을 숨겨버려요.jib-an-ui mo-deun mul-geon-eul sum-gye-beo-ryeo-yo.He hides everything in the house.
- 수빈 Su-bin정말 장난꾸러기네요!jeong-mal jang-nan-kku-reo-gi-ne-yo!He really is a prankster!
