썸 (sseom)
What 썸 means
Something romantic, not yet official.
When Koreans use it
Talk about mutual romantic interest before the relationship has a clear label.
A short conversation
Korean
A: 둘이 요즘 자주 만나네.
B: 아직 썸 타는 중이야.
English
A: You two meet a lot lately.
B: There's something going on, but it's not official.
Use it with care
From English something. 썸 does not imply exclusivity or consent.
From Korean Your Teacher Doesn’t Teach You by Injin Hwang. The meaning, usage, dialogue, and notes above follow the author’s book.
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