Taking selfies is a common activity, but sometimes they don’t turn out as expected! This guide covers essential Korean phrases and expressions for when you or a friend takes a terrible selfie and wants to joke about it. Learn how to describe a bad photo, react humorously, and understand the cultural context of selfies and self-deprecating humor among Korean friends.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 어제 찍은 셀카 완전 망했어
Pronunciation: eo-je jji-geun sel-ka wan-jeon mang-hae-sseo
Meaning: The selfie I took yesterday totally failed / is terrible.
Basic Joking Phrases About Bad Photos
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Expression: 이 사진 뭐야?
Pronunciation: i sa-jin mwo-ya?
Meaning: What is this picture? (Implying it’s bad or funny) -
Expression: 진짜 못 나왔다
Pronunciation: jin-jja mot na-wat-da
Meaning: It came out really bad. -
Expression: 웃기게 나왔네
Pronunciation: ut-gi-ge na-wan-ne
Meaning: It came out funny looking. -
Expression: 이거 누구야?
Pronunciation: i-geo nu-gu-ya?
Meaning: Who is this? (Jokingly implying it doesn’t look like the person) -
Expression: 표정 왜 그래?
Pronunciation: pyo-jeong wae geu-rae?
Meaning: What’s with that facial expression? -
Expression: 당장 삭제해!
Pronunciation: dang-jang sak-je-hae!
Meaning: Delete it right now! -
Expression: 다시 찍자
Pronunciation: da-si jjik-ja
Meaning: Let’s take it again. -
Expression: 이건 좀 심하다
Pronunciation: i-geon jom sim-ha-da
Meaning: This is a bit too much / too bad. -
Expression: 나 아닌 것 같아
Pronunciation: na a-nin geot ga-ta
Meaning: It doesn’t look like me. -
Expression: 흑역사 생성
Pronunciation: heuk-yeok-sa saeng-seong
Meaning: Creating a dark history (an embarrassing photo/moment). -
Expression: 이 사진은 봉인하자
Pronunciation: i sa-ji-neun bong-in-ha-ja
Meaning: Let’s seal this photo away (never look at it again). -
Expression: 인생샷은 무슨…
Pronunciation: in-saeng-syat-eun mu-seun…
Meaning: Best photo of my life? Yeah right… (Sarcastic)
Reacting to a Friend’s Bad Selfie
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Expression: 에이, 괜찮은데?
Pronunciation: e-i, gwaen-chan-eun-de?
Meaning: Hey, it looks okay though? (Often said politely even if it’s bad) -
Expression: 왜? 귀여운데?
Pronunciation: wae? gwi-yeo-un-de?
Meaning: Why? It’s cute though? -
Expression: ㅋㅋㅋ 진짜 웃기다
Pronunciation: keu-keu-keu jin-jja ut-gi-da
Meaning: LOL, it’s really funny. -
Expression: 너 원래 이렇게 안 생겼잖아
Pronunciation: neo won-rae i-reo-ke an saeng-gyeot-ja-na
Meaning: You don’t normally look like this. -
Expression: 이 정도면 양호하지
Pronunciation: i jeong-do-myeon yang-ho-ha-ji
Meaning: This is pretty decent / acceptable, isn’t it? -
Expression: 다른 사진 없어?
Pronunciation: da-reun sa-jin eop-seo?
Meaning: Don’t you have another picture? -
Expression: 필터 써 봐
Pronunciation: pil-teo sseo bwa
Meaning: Try using a filter. -
Expression: 각도가 문제였네
Pronunciation: gak-do-ga mun-je-yeon-ne
Meaning: The angle was the problem. -
Expression: 조명이 이상했나 봐
Pronunciation: jo-myeong-i i-sang-haen-na bwa
Meaning: The lighting must have been weird. -
Expression: 그래도 추억이야
Pronunciation: geu-rae-do chu-eo-gi-ya
Meaning: Still, it’s a memory. -
Expression: 지못미… (지켜주지 못해서 미안해)
Pronunciation: ji-mot-mi… (ji-kyeo-ju-ji mo-tae-seo mi-an-hae)
Meaning: Sorry I couldn’t protect you (from looking bad in this photo)… (Slang) -
Expression: 이건 너답지 않아!
Pronunciation: i-geon neo-dap-ji a-na!
Meaning: This isn’t like you! (Doesn’t capture how you really look)
Describing Why the Selfie is Bad
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Expression: 눈 감았어
Pronunciation: nun ga-ma-sseo
Meaning: I closed my eyes / My eyes are closed. -
Expression: 표정이 이상해
Pronunciation: pyo-jeong-i i-sang-hae
Meaning: My facial expression is weird. -
Expression: 사진이 흔들렸어
Pronunciation: sa-jin-i heun-deul-lyeo-sseo
Meaning: The photo is blurry / shaken. -
Expression: 얼굴 빵떡같이 나왔어
Pronunciation: eol-gul ppang-tteok-ga-chi na-wa-sseo
Meaning: My face came out looking like a flat rice cake (puffy/bloated). -
Expression: 머리가 산발이야
Pronunciation: meo-ri-ga san-ba-ri-ya
Meaning: My hair is a mess / disheveled. -
Expression: 초점이 안 맞았어
Pronunciation: cho-jeom-i an ma-ja-sseo
Meaning: It’s out of focus. -
Expression: 그림자 때문에 이상해
Pronunciation: geu-rim-ja ttae-mu-ne i-sang-hae
Meaning: It looks weird because of the shadow. -
Expression: 너무 확대됐어
Pronunciation: neo-mu hwak-dae-dwae-sseo
Meaning: It’s zoomed in too much. -
Expression: 각도가 별로야
Pronunciation: gak-do-ga byeol-lo-ya
Meaning: The angle is bad / not good. -
Expression: 필터 잘못 썼어
Pronunciation: pil-teo jal-mot sseo-sseo
Meaning: I used the wrong filter. -
Expression: 콧구멍만 보여
Pronunciation: kot-gu-meong-man bo-yeo
Meaning: Only my nostrils are showing. (Exaggeration for a bad angle) -
Expression: 이중턱 나왔어
Pronunciation: i-jung-teok na-wa-sseo
Meaning: I have a double chin (in the photo).
Cultural Tips
Selfie culture (셀카 문화 – sel-ka mun-hwa) is incredibly popular in Korea. People often take photos to document daily life, meals, and outings with friends.
Joking about unflattering photos is very common among close friends. Using self-deprecating humor about one’s own appearance in a photo is a way to be relatable and funny, rather than overly concerned with perfection.
Terms like 망했다 (mang-haet-da – it failed/it’s ruined) and 흑역사 (heuk-yeok-sa – dark history/embarrassing past moment) are frequently used slang when talking about bad photos or embarrassing situations.
Photo editing apps and filters are widely used, not just to enhance appearance but sometimes for humorous effects. Friends might tease each other about relying too much on filters (필터발 – pil-teo-bal) or editing (뽀샵 – ppo-syap, from Photoshop).
While joking is common, it’s usually done lightheartedly among friends. Avoid harsh criticism, especially if you don’t know the person well.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Mina shows her friend Jihoon a selfie she took yesterday that she finds embarrassing.
Roles: A = Mina, B = Jihoon
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Expression: A: 지훈아, 나 어제 찍은 셀카 좀 봐봐. 완전 망했어.
Pronunciation: Ji-hun-a, na eo-je jji-geun sel-ka jom bwa-bwa. wan-jeon mang-hae-sseo.
Meaning: Jihoon, look at this selfie I took yesterday. It’s a total disaster. -
Expression: B: 어디? 보여줘 봐. (보고) ㅋㅋㅋ 이게 뭐야? 눈 감았잖아!
Pronunciation: eo-di? bo-yeo-jwo bwa. (bo-go) keu-keu-keu i-ge mwo-ya? nun ga-mat-ja-na!
Meaning: Where? Let me see. (Looks at it) LOL What is this? Your eyes are closed! -
Expression: A: 그러니까! 타이밍 완전 잘못 맞췄어. 표정도 이상하고.
Pronunciation: geu-reo-ni-kka! ta-i-ming wan-jeon jal-mot mat-chwo-sseo. pyo-jeong-do i-sang-ha-go.
Meaning: I know! The timing was completely off. And my expression is weird too. -
Expression: B: ㅋㅋㅋ 진짜 웃기다. 이건 흑역사인데? 당장 삭제해!
Pronunciation: keu-keu-keu jin-jja ut-gi-da. i-geon heuk-yeok-sa-in-de? dang-jang sak-je-hae!
Meaning: LOL, it’s really funny. This is definitely a ‘dark history’ photo, isn’t it? Delete it right now! -
Expression: A: 이미 삭제했지! 근데 너무 웃겨서 너한테 보여주는 거야.
Pronunciation: i-mi sak-je-haet-ji! geun-de neo-mu ut-gyeo-seo neo-han-te bo-yeo-ju-neun geo-ya.
Meaning: I already deleted it! But I’m showing you because it’s so funny. -
Expression: B: 잘했어. 다음에 같이 인생샷 찍자!
Pronunciation: jal-hae-sseo. da-eu-me ga-chi in-saeng-syat jjik-ja!
Meaning: Good job. Let’s take an amazing ‘life shot’ (best photo ever) together next time!
Practice Tips
Try using these phrases next time you or a friend takes a less-than-perfect selfie! It’s a fun way to practice casual Korean conversation~
Look at your own photos and try describing them in Korean, even the funny or slightly embarrassing ones. You could say “이 사진은 머리가 산발이야” (i sa-ji-neun meo-ri-ga san-ba-ri-ya – My hair is a mess in this photo) or “눈 감고 찍혔네” (nun gam-go jji-kyeon-ne – I was snapped with my eyes closed).
Watch Korean variety shows or dramas where friends interact casually. Pay attention to how they joke about appearances or funny situations! You’ll hear natural examples of this kind of banter. Keep practicing and have fun with it!
