What Does "ㅋㅋㅋ" Mean? How Koreans Laugh in Text Messages
ㅋㅋㅋ (kkk) is the Korean way to type LOL. Learn what ㅋㅋ, ㅋㅋㅋㅋ, ㅎㅎ and ㅠㅠ mean in Korean texts, how many ㅋ to use, and other common chat shortcuts.
By a native Korean teacher · · 2 min read
ㅋㅋㅋ is how Koreans type laughter, like "lol" or "hahaha." ㅋ is the Korean letter for a k sound, and repeating it imitates the sound "kekeke" or "keukeukeu." The more ㅋ you type, the harder you are laughing.
Word at a glance
ㅋㅋㅋkekeke
- Literally
- the consonant ㅋ (k) repeated
- In natural English
- lol, haha
Why ㅋ means laughing
ㅋ is a consonant, pronounced like a strong k. Written alone, it is short for 크크 (keukeu) or 킥킥 (kikkik), sounds Koreans use for a giggle. Typing just the consonant is faster, and over time ㅋㅋㅋ became the default way to laugh online.
When Korean fans write in English, they sometimes type "kkk" or "kekeke" to mean the same thing.
진짜 웃기다 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Jinjja utgida kekekeke
That's so funny lol
How many ㅋ should you type?
- ㅋ: a single ㅋ can read as dry or sarcastic, so many people avoid it
- ㅋㅋ: a light, polite laugh, like "haha"
- ㅋㅋㅋ: genuinely amused, the everyday default
- ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ and longer: laughing hard, like "LMAO"
- ㅋㅋㅋ followed by random letters: "I'm crying laughing"
ㅋㅋ vs ㅎㅎ
ㅎㅎ comes from 하하 or 히히 and sounds softer, like "hehe" or a smile. People often use it with coworkers or people they don't know well, because it feels warm but calm. ㅋㅋ is louder and more playful.
알겠어 ㅎㅎ
Algesseo hehe
Got it :)
Other Korean texting shortcuts
Korean chat uses a lot of single consonants and vowels as shortcuts. Here are the ones you will see most in fan chats and comments.
- ㅠㅠ or ㅜㅜ: crying eyes, used for sad, moved or "so cute I could cry"
- ㅇㅇ: yes, short for 응응 (eung-eung)
- ㄴㄴ: no, short for 노노 (no-no)
- ㅇㅋ: okay
- ㄱㄱ: let's go, short for 고고 (go-go)
- ㄷㄷ: trembling, "that's scary" or "wow," from 덜덜 (deoldeol)
보고 싶어 ㅠㅠ
Bogo sipeo (crying face)
I miss you T_T
When not to use ㅋㅋㅋ
Laughter shortcuts are casual. In a formal email, a work report or a message to someone much older that you don't know well, leave them out or use a gentle ㅎㅎ at most.
Questions people ask
How do you pronounce ㅋㅋㅋ?+
Roughly "keu-keu-keu" or "kekeke." Most people don't read it aloud, though; it simply means laughing.
Is ㅋㅋㅋ rude?+
No, but it is casual. A single ㅋ can feel cold or sarcastic, so use at least ㅋㅋ.
What does ㅠㅠ mean?+
It is a crying face. The vertical lines look like tears, and it shows sadness, being touched, or being overwhelmed by cuteness.
Which is softer, ㅋㅋ or ㅎㅎ?+
ㅎㅎ is softer and calmer, like a smile. ㅋㅋ is more of an actual laugh.