Korean word

썸

Pronunciation

Romanizationsseom

Meaning

  • nountalking stage

Example

요즘 그와 썸을 타고 있어요.yo jeum keu wa sseo meul ta go i sseo yo

I'm in the talking stage with him these days.

Illustration for 썸 (talking stage)

More examples

썸이 생긴 지 얼마 안 됐어요.sseo mi saeng gin chi eol ma an twae sseo yo

The talking stage began only recently.

Core concept

An in-between romantic connection where mutual interest is clear but the relationship still has no settled label.

Common phrases

  • 썸이 생기다sseo mi saeng gi da

    develop a talking stage

  • 썸을 유지하다sseo meul yu ji ha da

    maintain a talking stage

Similar words

호감hogam: A positive feeling that makes someone view a person or thing favorably.
관심kwansim: Attention or curiosity directed toward a person, subject, or thing.

Definition in Korean

두 사람 사이에 호감이나 기류는 존재하지만 관계를 확정하지 않은, 연인으로 발전할 가능성이 남아 있는 애매한 상태를 뜻하는 명사.tu sa ram sa i e ho ga mi na ki ryu neun chon jae ha ji man kwan gye reul hwak jjeong ha ji a neun yeo ni neu ro pal jjeon hal kka neung seong i na ma in neun ae mae han sang tae reul tteu ta neun myeong sa

Word origin

The slang noun is commonly linked to English some or something, expressing that there is something between two people without naming a relationship.

Usage tips

  • It describes a stage rather than a promise, so it does not by itself mean that the two people are exclusive or officially dating.

Other meanings

  • romantic vibenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word