심멎 (simmeot) — My heart stopped, figuratively.
Lesson 85 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 심멎 means
An adorable pet or astonishing moment may feel so overwhelming that someone writes 심멎. It is shortened from 심장이 멎다. The situation and tone help determine how natural the expression sounds.
A short conversation
A: 저 고양이 눈 좀 봐.
B: 너무 귀여워서 심멎!
A: Look at that cat’s eyes.
B: So cute, my heart stopped!
Use it with care
This is hyperbole. Use literal and precise language when discussing an actual medical emergency; never confuse a caption with health advice.
A neutral or polite alternative: 너무 귀여워서 놀랐어요. — I was stunned by how cute it was.
Try it yourself
Does 심멎 describe a real cardiac event here?
Answer: No. It is a figurative reaction. 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.
