You find a funny video, think of a friend, and tap “send.” No long explanation needed. The video itself says, “This reminded me of you.”
That everyday moment is a useful doorway into Korean internet culture—and a handful of expressions you might not find in a beginner textbook.
Today’s phrase is 디엠 보내! (Diem bonae!), meaning “Send me a DM!”
Why talk about DMs now?
KakaoTalk has long been closely associated with messaging in Korea, but it is not the whole picture. Somako’s October 2 trend report highlights teenagers’ use of DMs as a recent topic.
There is also a fresh connection to how people share content. Opensurvey’s September 21 Social Media Trend Report identifies DM sharing as a notable response to content on Instagram. Its summary contrasts this with likes and reactions on TikTok and watching without further action on YouTube.
Sharing a Reel is a conversation starter
You do not need an elaborate message when you send someone a video. A short sentence can explain why it caught your attention.
이거 보고 네 생각났어.
Igeo bogo ne saenggangnasseo.
“This made me think of you.”
Literally, you saw this and thought of the other person. Use this casual form with someone close to you.
이거 완전 우리 얘기잖아!
Igeo wanjeon uri yaegijana!
“This is totally us!”
This works for a video that captures a shared habit or familiar situation. 완전 adds the feeling of “totally,” while -잖아 appeals to something the other person can recognize: “You know!” or “Isn’t it?”
A tiny conversation to practice
This original dialogue uses casual speech between friends.
민지: 내가 보낸 릴스 봤어?
“Did you see the Reel I sent?”
준호: 아직! 알림 꺼 놨어.
“Not yet! I’ve turned notifications off.”
민지: 이거 완전 우리 얘기잖아.
“This is totally us.”
준호: 지금 봤어. 너무 웃겨!
“I just watched it. It’s so funny!”
Notice 알림 꺼 놨어. It comes from 알림을 꺼 놓다, “to turn notifications off and leave them off.” In relaxed conversation, the object marker 을 is often omitted.
One small habit for learning Korean
The next time you share a funny video with a Korean-speaking friend, add one short Korean sentence instead of only an emoji:
너도 이거 좋아할 것 같아.
Neodo igeo joahal geot gata.
“I think you’ll like this too.”
The pattern -을/ㄹ 것 같아 expresses a guess or expectation. Here, 좋아하다, “to like,” becomes 좋아할 것 같아: “I think [you] will like it.”
One shared video, one small sentence, one real interaction. That is a manageable way to make Korean part of your everyday online life.
여러분은 친구와 어떤 앱으로 연락해요?
“Which app do you use to keep in touch with friends?”
Why talk about DMs now?
KakaoTalk has long been closely associated with messaging in Korea, but it is not the whole picture. Somako’s October 2 trend report highlights teenagers’ use of DMs as a recent topic. (소마코 마케팅 트렌드 리포트 – Somako is a popular marketing and business insights publication. L)
There is also a fresh connection to how people share content. Opensurvey’s September 21 Social Media Trend Report identifies DM sharing as a notable response to content on Instagram. Its summary contrasts this with likes and reactions on TikTok and watching without further action on YouTube.
This does not mean every young Korean has abandoned KakaoTalk. Instead, it offers a timely reason to learn the language of a conversation that starts with a shared Reel rather than a typed greeting.
디엠: English initials, Korean conversation
DM stands for “direct message.” In Korean, it is often written 디엠. Instagram is commonly shortened to 인스타 (inseuta).
Add a familiar Korean verb and you have an everyday expression:
디엠 보내 주세요.
Diem bonae juseyo.
“Please send me a DM.”
보내다 means “to send.” You can send a message, a photograph, or a link with the same verb.
With a close friend, you might say:
인스타로 보내 줘.
Inseutaro bonae jwo.
“Send it to me on Instagram.”
Here, -로 identifies the channel or means you are using. 카톡으로 보내 줘 similarly means “Send it to me on KakaoTalk.”
Eight words for your Korean online life
These are established expressions—not words that were all invented this month. The current trend gives us a reason to revisit them.
맞팔: “Let’s follow each other”
맞팔 is short for 맞팔로우, referring to following each other.
우리 맞팔할까?
Uri matpalhalkka?
“Shall we follow each other?”
This is casual speech, appropriate with a friend or someone you have agreed to speak casually with.
읽씹 and 안읽씹: two kinds of silence
읽씹 combines 읽다, “to read,” with slang from 씹다, which can mean ignoring someone in this context. The message is read, but no reply follows.
안읽씹 adds 안, “not”: the message remains unread and unanswered.
Both expressions can sound accusatory. They describe how silence feels to the sender; they do not prove someone deliberately ignored a message. A person may simply be busy or have notifications turned off.
For a gentler follow-up, try:
혹시 제 메시지 봤어요?
Hoksi je mesiji bwasseoyo?
“Did you happen to see my message?”
Sharing a Reel is a conversation starter
You do not need an elaborate message when you send someone a video. A short sentence can explain why it caught your attention.
이거 보고 네 생각났어.
Igeo bogo ne saenggangnasseo.
“This made me think of you.”
Literally, you saw this and thought of the other person. Use this casual form with someone close to you.
이거 완전 우리 얘기잖아!
Igeo wanjeon uri yaegijana!
“This is totally us!”
This works for a video that captures a shared habit or familiar situation. 완전 adds the feeling of “totally,” while -잖아 appeals to something the other person can recognize: “You know!” or “Isn’t it?”
A tiny conversation to practice
This original dialogue uses casual speech between friends.
민지: 내가 보낸 릴스 봤어?
“Did you see the Reel I sent?”
준호: 아직! 알림 꺼 놨어.
“Not yet! I’ve turned notifications off.”
민지: 이거 완전 우리 얘기잖아.
“This is totally us.”
준호: 지금 봤어. 너무 웃겨!
“I just watched it. It’s so funny!”
Notice 알림 꺼 놨어. It comes from 알림을 꺼 놓다, “to turn notifications off and leave them off.” In relaxed conversation, the object marker 을 is often omitted.
One small habit for learning Korean
The next time you share a funny video with a Korean-speaking friend, add one short Korean sentence instead of only an emoji:
너도 이거 좋아할 것 같아.
Neodo igeo joahal geot gata.
“I think you’ll like this too.”
The pattern -을/ㄹ 것 같아 expresses a guess or expectation. Here, 좋아하다, “to like,” becomes 좋아할 것 같아: “I think [you] will like it.”
One shared video, one small sentence, one real interaction. That is a manageable way to make Korean part of your everyday online life.
여러분은 친구와 어떤 앱으로 연락해요?
“Which app do you use to keep in touch with friends?”
