Messaging apps such as Kakao and Facebook Messenger allow users to use colorful animated emojis. In the midst of these entertaining pixels, many still embrace writing keyboard-based emoticons and text expressions. In America we love LOL, WTF and :). How do Koreans laugh and communicate through texting? Scroll through the list and watch this week's episode of Korean Culture Corner (ㅋㅋㅋ) for more details!

Laughing
ㅋㅋㅋ = the Korean LOL, written as KKK yet pronounced as "keu-keu-keu" (크크크). Use as many ㅋ's the funnier something is!
ㅎㅎㅎ = the Korean hahaha, written as HHH yet pronounced as "hahaha" (하하하). Korean keyboard, use H consonant.
ㅍㅎㅎ = the Korean puhaha, written as PHH yet pronounced as "puhahaha" (프하하). Korean keyboard, use the P and H consonants.
ㅋㄷ = another Korean laugh, written as KD yet pronounced as "kee-deuk" (키득). Korean keyboard, use the K and D consonants.

Crying
ㅜㅜ = tears streaming down. Korean keyboard, use OOH vowel.
ㅜ.ㅜ / ㅜ_ㅜ = variations of the ㅜㅜ emoticon
ㅠㅠ = tears streaming down times two. Korean keyboard, use YU vowel.
ㅠ.ㅠ / ㅠ_ㅠ = variations of the ㅠㅠ emoticon
T.T = tears. American keyboard, type T consonant.
Y.Y = tears. American keyboard, type Y consonant.
OTL = person crying on the ground. American keyboard.
ㅇㅈㄴ = variation of OTL, but using the Korean keyboard.
요TL = person vomiting on the ground. American and Korean keyboard.

Smiling Faces
^^
^_^
^.^
^o^

Not-So-Smiley Faces
-_- = speechless, use after someone says something weird/dumb/offensive
-_-;; = sweating/embarrassed
;;;;;; = sweat marks. The more semi-colons, the more embarrassed you are!
ㅇㅁㅇ = shocked (Korean keyboard, use the silent consonant and M consonant)
^^a = head and finger scratching the head
@.@ = confused

Abbreviations
ㅇㅋ = the first consonants taken from these two characters 오키 (oh-kee). 오키 is the shortened version of 오케이 (oh-keh-ee), which is the Koreanization of the American word "okay."
ㅇㅇ = abbreviation of 응/으응, which means "yes" in Korean. It has a cutesy, aegyo vibe, so use it towards your sweetheart and friends.
ㄴ / ㄴㄴ = abbreviation of 노노 (no-no), which means "no" in Korean.
ㅂㅂ / ㅃ = abbreviation of 바이바이 (ba-ee-ba-ee), which is "bye-bye" in Korean. Korean keyboard, use the B consonant.
ㄱㅅ = abbreviation of 감사합니다 (gam-sa-hap-ni-da), which is "thank you" in Korean. Press the G and S consonant on the Korean keyboard.
ㄷㄷ / ㄸ = abbreviate of 덜덜 (duhl-duhl), which indicates shivering due to amazement or fear
ㄱㄱ / ㄲ = abbreviation of 고고 (go-go), which mean "let's go!"

Offensive. Please try not to use.
ㅗ = FU! Sticking up the middle finger. Korean keyboard, use the OH vowel.
ㅗㅗ = FUx2!! Sticking up two middle fingers. Korean keyboard, use two OH vowels.
ㄷㅊ = abbreviation of 닥쳐 (dak-chyeo), which means "shut up." Korean keyboard, use the D and CH consonant.

Bonus
~ = can be used after writing pretty much anything. Some people use this symbol after nearly every sentence. Others use it sparingly. It can have a cutesy, aegyo vibe. (ie: Hello~ How are you~ I'm doing awesome~ I miss you~ Where are you~ Let's hang out~ I'm hungry~ Let's eat kimchi jjigae~)

ㅇㅋ, hope you all enjoyed this post! ^.^ Don't forget to watch my YouTube channel! ㅂㅂ~

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