심쿵 (simkung) — A sudden flutter of affection.
Lesson 72 in our Korean Slang series, adapted from Korean Your Teacher Doesn’t Teach You by Injin Hwang. This expression appears in the book’s shortened expressions section.
What 심쿵 means
A puppy’s tiny wave, a kind smile, or a romantic moment may make you say 심쿵. It compresses the feeling of your heart giving a little thump. The situation and tone help determine how natural the expression sounds.
A short conversation
A: 강아지가 손을 내밀었어.
B: 너무 귀여워, 심쿵했어!
A: The puppy offered its paw.
B: So cute, my heart melted!
Use it with care
Playful and figurative. It is not language for a genuine medical symptom. A friendly message or caption is a more natural home for it than a formal report.
A neutral or polite alternative: 마음이 설렜어요. — My heart fluttered.
Try it yourself
Does 심쿵 necessarily describe fear?
Answer: No. It often reacts to charm or cuteness. Read the Korean exchange aloud, then replace one detail with something from your own life.
Learn the rest of the series in Basic Korean Grammar. Find more expressions in the Korean slang book on Amazon.
