Koreanemotion-sfx

Korean Manhwa Emotion Sound Effects (SFX) Glossary

Korean manhwa, like its Japanese and Chinese counterparts, heavily relies on sound effects, known as '의성어' (uiseongeo) for onomatopoeia and '의태어' (uitaeeo) for mimetic words, to convey character emotions and atmosphere. Understanding these unique sound effects is crucial for both readers to fully grasp the nuances of a scene and for translators to accurately localize the emotional impact. This glossary provides a comprehensive guide to common Korean emotion SFX, offering insights into their literal meanings, contextual usage, and professional translation approaches.

28 Terms

Korean

Term	Romanization	Literal Meaning	Usage	Example	Translation Note
두근두근	dugeun dugeun	thump-thump	A beating heart sound, often signifying excitement, nervousness, or romantic anticipation.	A character waiting for a confession from their crush, or before opening important test results, with their hand over their chest.	Commonly translated as 'thump-thump,' 'lub-dub,' 'ba-dump,' 'pit-pat,' or sometimes simply 'heartbeat' depending on the intensity. May also be rendered as 'flutter' for romantic contexts.
울먹울먹	ulmeok ulmeok	about to cry, on the verge of tears	The sound or state of someone holding back tears or about to burst into tears.	A child being scolded, their lip trembling and eyes welling up, or a character receiving sad news and trying to compose themselves.	Often translated as 'sniffle,' 'sob,' 'whimper,' or a descriptive phrase like 'tears welling up' or 'on the verge of tears.' Sometimes rendered as 'hic' or 'gulp' if they are trying to hold it in.
엉엉	eongeong	wail, boohoo	The sound of loud, unrestrained crying or sobbing.	A character breaking down into tears after a major loss, or a toddler throwing a dramatic tantrum.	Typically translated as 'boo hoo,' 'wail,' 'sob sob,' or 'bawl.' The intensity of the English equivalent should match the Korean.
흑흑	heuk heuk	sniff sniff, sob sob	The sound of quiet or suppressed sobbing, often accompanied by sniffling.	A character crying silently, perhaps hiding their tears, or a more subdued form of sadness.	Translated as 'sniff sniff,' 'sob sob' (softer than 'eongeong'), or simply 'crying quietly.' Sometimes 'hic' if they are trying to hold back.
훌쩍	huljjeok	sniff (once)	The sound of a single sniff or a quick, sudden sob.	A character quickly sniffling back tears, or a brief expression of sadness or a cold.	Often 'sniff,' 'hic,' or 'sniffle.' Can also be 'gasp' if it's a sudden intake of breath due to emotion.
싱글벙글	singgeul beonggeul	smile broadly, grin	The sound or state of a person smiling widely and happily, often radiating joy.	A character beaming with happiness after receiving good news, or greeting someone with a big, warm smile.	Translated as 'grin,' 'smile,' 'beam,' or 'chuckle.' Sometimes expressed through visual cues rather than a direct sound effect in English.
방긋	banggeut	sweet smile	The sound or look of a gentle, sweet, or innocent smile.	A baby smiling sweetly, or a shy character giving a small, heartwarming smile.	Often 'smile,' 'sweet smile,' or 'soft smile.' Less intense than 'singgeul beonggeul'.
씩씩	ssik ssik	puff puff, huff huff	The sound of someone breathing heavily due to anger, exasperation, or determination.	A character fuming after an argument, or someone trying to control their temper while glaring.	Translated as 'huff,' 'puff,' 'grr,' 'steam,' or sometimes 'fume' for anger. Can also be 'pant' if it's exertion.
덜덜	deol deol	tremble, shiver	The sound or action of trembling or shivering from fear, cold, or nervousness.	A character visibly shaking in fear when confronted by a monster, or shivering in a cold environment.	Commonly 'tremble,' 'shiver,' 'shake,' or 'quiver.' Sometimes 'chatter' for teeth.
흠칫	heumchit	flinch, startle	The sound or action of being suddenly startled or flinching in surprise or fear.	A character jumping slightly when someone taps them on the shoulder unexpectedly, or recoiling from a sudden loud noise.	Translated as 'flinch,' 'startle,' 'wince,' or 'eep.' Sometimes 'jolt' or 'gasp' if it's a vocal reaction.
깜짝	kkamjjak	surprise	The sound or feeling of sudden surprise or shock.	A character widening their eyes in shock after hearing unexpected news, or gasping when a surprise party is revealed.	Often 'gasp,' 'shock,' 'surprise,' 'eek,' or 'whoa.' Can be used for a sudden, sharp intake of breath.
아차	acha	oops, oh no	An exclamation of sudden realization of a mistake or forgetting something.	A character slapping their forehead after forgetting an important appointment, or realizing they made a crucial error.	Typically translated as 'oops,' 'uh oh,' 'darn it,' 'oh no,' or 'shoot.' Often accompanies a physical gesture.
휴우	hyuu	sigh of relief	The sound of a sigh, usually indicating relief, exhaustion, or resignation.	A character sighing deeply after a dangerous situation is over, or after finishing a difficult task.	Translated as 'sigh,' 'phew,' 'whew,' or 'breathe out.' The context usually clarifies relief vs. exhaustion.
하하/호호/헤헤	haha/hoho/hehe	hahaha/hohoho/hehehe (laughter)	Various sounds of laughter, differing slightly in nuance (하하: bold, 호호: gentle/feminine, 헤헤: shy/awkward).	하하: A boisterous male character laughing heartily. 호호: A polite female character giggling gently. 헤헤: A character laughing awkwardly after a mistake.	Translated as 'haha,' 'hoho,' 'hehe,' 'chuckle,' 'giggle,' or 'teehee.' The specific nuance is often conveyed by character art and dialogue.
피식	pisik	chuckle, snicker	The sound of a suppressed laugh or a cynical/sarcastic chuckle.	A character letting out a small, quiet laugh at someone else's misfortune, or a snicker of disdain.	Commonly 'chuckle,' 'snicker,' 'pfft,' or 'scoff.' Implies a subtle, often sarcastic or amused, reaction.
으윽	eueuk	ugh, groan	An exclamation of pain, discomfort, or disgust.	A character groaning after being hit, or making a sound of disgust when seeing something unpleasant.	Translated as 'ugh,' 'oof,' 'argh,' 'groan,' or 'hnngh.' The context determines if it's pain, effort, or disgust.
끙	kkeung	grunt, groan	A sound made when exerting effort, experiencing slight pain, or expressing annoyance.	A character grunting as they lift something heavy, or a small groan of frustration.	Often 'grunt,' 'hnngh,' 'oof,' 'uurgh,' or 'ugh.' Similar to '으윽' but can also indicate effort.
후들후들	hudeul hudeul	trembling, quivering	More intense trembling or shaking than '덜덜', often due to extreme fear, weakness, or exhaustion.	A character's legs giving out from fear, or their entire body shaking uncontrollably after a traumatic event.	Translated as 'tremble violently,' 'quiver,' 'shake,' or 'wobble.' Emphasizes a more pronounced physical reaction.
찌릿	jjirit	zap, sting, tingle	A sudden sharp sensation, often pain, an electric shock, or a sudden emotional jolt (e.g., a romantic spark).	A character feeling a sudden sharp pain, or an unexpected 'spark' when their eyes meet their love interest's.	Can be 'zap,' 'zing,' 'tingle,' 'shiver,' 'jolt,' or 'spark.' The context is crucial for distinguishing physical pain from emotional reaction.
헤롱헤롱	herong herong	dizzy, woozy	The feeling or sound of being dizzy, lightheaded, or disoriented, often from sickness, drunkenness, or exhaustion.	A character stumbling and seeing stars after a head injury, or feeling woozy from drinking too much.	Translated as 'dizzy,' 'woozy,' 'spinning,' or 'lightheaded.' Visually represented with spirals or stars.
푸념푸념	punyeom punyeom	grumble, complain	The sound or act of grumbling, complaining, or whining to oneself or others.	A character muttering complaints under their breath about a difficult task or unfair situation.	Often 'grumble,' 'mutter,' 'complain,' or 'whine.' Can be rendered as speech rather than a direct SFX.
아련아련	aryeon aryeon	faint, hazy, wistful	A feeling of wistfulness, nostalgia, or a distant, hazy memory. Not a direct sound, but an emotional descriptor.	A character looking out a window, lost in thought about a past love, with a soft, melancholic expression.	Translators often convey this with descriptive text like 'wistfully,' 'faintly,' 'a distant memory,' or a melancholic tone in dialogue. Rarely a direct SFX in English.
흐뭇	heumut	satisfied, pleased	The feeling or expression of quiet satisfaction, contentment, or a gentle smile of approval.	A parent watching their child succeed, or a character feeling pleased with their own accomplishment.	Translated as 'satisfied smile,' 'pleased,' 'content,' or 'warmly.' Often indicated by a subtle smile or relaxed posture.
시무룩	simuruk	gloomy, sullen	The state of being gloomy, sulky, or dispirited, often expressed through posture or a downcast expression.	A character sitting alone with shoulders slumped, looking downcast after being rejected or feeling sad.	Conveyed descriptively as 'gloomy,' 'sullen,' 'dejected,' 'downcast,' or 'pout.' Not typically a direct SFX.
발그레	balgeure	blush	The subtle appearance of a blush on the cheeks, indicating embarrassment, shyness, or romantic feelings.	A character's cheeks turning slightly red after receiving a compliment from their crush.	Translated as 'blush,' 'flush,' 'tint,' or visually represented with blushing cheeks. Often paired with '두근두근'.
으스스	euseuseu	eerie, creepy, chilling	The feeling or sound of an eerie, chilling, or creepy atmosphere, causing goosebumps.	A character getting goosebumps when entering a haunted house, or feeling a cold shiver down their spine.	Translated as 'shiver,' 'chill,' 'creepy,' 'eerie,' or 'spooky.' Visuals often include goosebumps or shadows.
멍	meong	blank, dazed	The state of being blank-faced, dazed, or zoning out, often due to shock, confusion, or deep thought.	A character staring blankly into space, completely lost in thought or stunned speechless by an event.	Translated as 'blank,' 'daze,' 'zoned out,' 'stare,' or 'lost in thought.' Visuals often show a character with empty eyes.
찡긋	jjinggeut	wink	The quick closing and opening of one eye, often indicating playfulness, flirtation, or a shared secret.	A character winking at another to signal mischief, encouragement, or affection.	Translated as 'wink.' Sometimes rendered with an accompanying sound effect like 'blip' or 'zzwip' if particularly emphasized.

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