썸
sseom
🇰🇷 Korean slang from Seoul
What does “썸” mean?
a “something”: flirting, not dating yet
Example
“요즘 걔랑 썸 타는 중이야.”
yojeum gyaerang sseom taneun jungiya.
Lately we've got a little something going on.
Good to know
From English “something”. You “ride” it: 썸 타다.
Who you can say it to
With friends, not your boss
❤️ Love
The textbook way to say it: 사귀기 전 단계
Heard in a conversation
The morning after the blind date
Jiwoo 아 그건 노잼이었고! 이번엔 찐이야. 같이 떡볶이도 먹었어.
Ah, that one was boring! This time it's the real deal. We even had tteokbokki together.
Hana 그래서 썸 타는 거야? 연락은 왔어?
So you two have a “something” going? Did he text?
Jiwoo 아직... 밀당하는 건가? 나 지금 멘붕이야.
Not yet... is he playing hard to get? I'm having a meltdown.
More from Seoul
- 비주얼looks; the “visual” (the best-looking member)
- 덕통사고suddenly falling for an idol (a “fandom car crash”)
- 심쿵heart flutter; my heart skipped a beat
- 밀당playing hard to get (push and pull)
- 금사빠someone who falls in love way too fast
- 모쏠never had a partner (“single since birth”)
- 남사친a guy friend (just a friend)
- 커플템couple items (matching things for a couple)
Songs from Seoul
- Spring Day · BTSLevel A2
- Through the Night · IULevel A2
- APT. · ROSÉ, Bruno MarsLevel A2
- Cheer Up · TWICELevel A2
Solang turns songs into lessons: synced lyrics, translation and slang explained, line by line.
Learn it in the songs you love — free