갑분싸 (gapbunssa) — The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.
Lesson 77 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 갑분싸 means
A joke that lands badly can make a lively room fall silent. 갑분싸 condenses 갑자기 분위기 싸해짐 into a quick comment on that sharp mood change. The situation and tone help determine how natural the expression sounds.
A short conversation
A: 내가 농담하자 다 조용해졌어.
B: 좀 갑분싸였지.
A: Everyone went quiet after my joke.
B: Yes, it got awkward suddenly.
Use it with care
It can embarrass the person blamed for the silence. It is usually better to recognize the situation quietly than announce it in front of everyone.
A neutral or polite alternative: 분위기가 갑자기 어색해졌어요. — The mood suddenly turned awkward.
Try it yourself
Does 갑분싸 describe a steadily cheerful mood?
Answer: No. It is a sudden awkward shift. 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.
