Sibling relationships often involve playful banter, and teasing each other about slow text replies is a common scenario worldwide, including in Korea. This guide provides various Korean expressions you can use to jokingly call out your sibling’s slow texting habits, ranging from simple jabs to more humorous exaggerations.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 답장 왜 이렇게 느려?
Pronunciation: dap-jang wae i-reo-ke neu-ryeo?
Meaning: Why is your reply so slow? (Informal)
Basic Teasing Phrases
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Expression: 답장 좀 빨리 해.
Pronunciation: dap-jang jom ppal-li hae.
Meaning: Reply a bit faster. (Informal) -
Expression: 너 카톡 확인 안 해?
Pronunciation: neo ka-tok hwa-gin an hae?
Meaning: Don’t you check KakaoTalk? (Informal) -
Expression: 뭐 하느라 답장이 없어?
Pronunciation: mwo ha-neu-ra dap-jang-i eop-seo?
Meaning: What are you doing that you’re not replying? (Informal) -
Expression: 내 카톡 씹는 거야?
Pronunciation: nae ka-tok ssip-neun geo-ya?
Meaning: Are you ignoring my KakaoTalk message? (Slang, informal) -
Expression: 살아는 있니?
Pronunciation: sa-ra-neun in-ni?
Meaning: Are you even alive? (Playful exaggeration, informal) -
Expression: 답장 기다리다 목 빠지겠다.
Pronunciation: dap-jang gi-da-ri-da mok ppa-ji-get-da.
Meaning: My neck is going to fall off waiting for your reply. (Idiomatic, informal) -
Expression: 지금 봤어?
Pronunciation: ji-geum bwa-sseo?
Meaning: Did you just see it now? (Implies they took a long time, informal) -
Expression: 알림 꺼놨어?
Pronunciation: al-lim kkeo-nwa-sseo?
Meaning: Did you turn off notifications? (Informal) -
Expression: 핸드폰 멀리 뒀어?
Pronunciation: haen-deu-pon meol-li dwo-sseo?
Meaning: Did you put your phone far away? (Informal) -
Expression: 바쁜 척 하지마.
Pronunciation: ba-ppeun cheok ha-ji-ma.
Meaning: Don’t pretend to be busy. (Informal)
More Playful Teasing
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Expression: 너 완전 거북이네.
Pronunciation: neo wan-jeon geo-bu-gi-ne.
Meaning: You’re totally a turtle. (Comparing slowness to a turtle, informal) -
Expression: 손가락 괜찮아? 왜 이렇게 느려?
Pronunciation: son-ga-rak gwaen-cha-na? wae i-reo-ke neu-ryeo?
Meaning: Are your fingers okay? Why are you so slow? (Sarcastic, informal) -
Expression: 타자 연습 좀 해야겠다.
Pronunciation: ta-ja yeon-seup jom hae-ya-get-da.
Meaning: You should practice typing more. (Implying they type slowly, informal) -
Expression: 혹시 2G 폰 써?
Pronunciation: hok-si tu-ji pon sseo?
Meaning: Are you perhaps using a 2G phone? (Joking about old technology, informal) -
Expression: 답장하는데 한 세월이네.
Pronunciation: dap-jang-ha-neun-de han se-wo-ri-ne.
Meaning: It takes ages for you to reply. (Exaggeration, informal) -
Expression: 내가 보낸 거 까먹었지?
Pronunciation: nae-ga bo-naen geo kka-meo-geot-ji?
Meaning: You forgot what I sent, didn’t you? (Informal) -
Expression: 읽고 답장 안 하는 건 어디서 배웠어?
Pronunciation: il-go dap-jang an ha-neun geon eo-di-seo bae-wo-sseo?
Meaning: Where did you learn to read messages and not reply? (Playfully accusatory, informal) -
Expression: 내 메시지 중요도 최하위?
Pronunciation: nae me-si-ji jung-yo-do choe-ha-wi?
Meaning: Is my message the lowest priority? (Playfully hurt, informal) -
Expression: 답장 속도 실화냐?
Pronunciation: dap-jang sok-do sil-hwa-nya?
Meaning: Is this reply speed for real? (Using internet slang ‘실화냐’, informal) -
Expression: 다른 사람이랑 톡하느라 바빠?
Pronunciation: da-reun sa-ram-i-rang tok-ha-neu-ra ba-ppa?
Meaning: Are you busy chatting with someone else? (Slightly jealous teasing, informal)
Exaggerated Teasing
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Expression: 내년에 답장할 거야?
Pronunciation: nae-nyeon-e dap-jang-hal geo-ya?
Meaning: Are you going to reply next year? (Hyperbole, informal) -
Expression: 답장 기다리다 화석 되겠다.
Pronunciation: dap-jang gi-da-ri-da hwa-seok doe-get-da.
Meaning: I’m going to become a fossil waiting for your reply. (Hyperbole, informal) -
Expression: 혹시 지금 편지 써서 보내는 중?
Pronunciation: hok-si ji-geum pyeon-ji sseo-seo bo-nae-neun jung?
Meaning: Are you perhaps writing a letter and sending it right now? (Comparing texting speed to mail, informal) -
Expression: 와, 거의 1시간 만에 답장하네. 신기록이다!
Pronunciation: wa, geo-ui han-si-gan man-e dap-jang-ha-ne. sin-gi-ro-gi-da!
Meaning: Wow, you replied in almost an hour. That’s a new record! (Sarcastic praise, informal) -
Expression: 답장 속도가 거의 나무늘보 수준인데?
Pronunciation: dap-jang sok-do-ga geo-ui na-mu-neul-bo su-jun-in-de?
Meaning: Your reply speed is almost at sloth level? (Comparing to a sloth, informal) -
Expression: 카톡 서버 터진 줄 알았잖아.
Pronunciation: ka-tok seo-beo teo-jin jul a-rat-ja-na.
Meaning: I thought the KakaoTalk server crashed. (Blaming the server for their slowness, informal) -
Expression: 로딩 중이야? 왜 이렇게 오래 걸려?
Pronunciation: ro-ding jung-i-ya? wae i-reo-ke o-rae geol-lyeo?
Meaning: Are you loading? Why is it taking so long? (Comparing to computer loading, informal) -
Expression: 답장하는데 무슨 심사숙고를 그렇게 해?
Pronunciation: dap-jang-ha-neun-de mu-seun sim-sa-suk-go-reul geu-reo-ke hae?
Meaning: What deep consideration are you giving to replying? (Sarcastic, informal) -
Expression: 삐삐 치는 게 더 빠르겠다.
Pronunciation: ppi-ppi chi-neun ge deo ppa-reu-get-da.
Meaning: It would be faster to use a pager. (Referencing old technology, informal) -
Expression: 전생에 거북이였어?
Pronunciation: jeon-saeng-e geo-bu-gi-yeo-sseo?
Meaning: Were you a turtle in your past life? (Playful exaggeration, informal)
Korean Culture Notes
Informal Language (반말 – Banmal): Notice that almost all these expressions use informal language (반말 – ban-mal). This is typical between siblings and close friends in Korea. Using formal language (존댓말 – jon-daen-mal) would sound very distant and unnatural in this context.
Playful Teasing Culture: Lighthearted teasing (장난 – jang-nan) is a common way siblings interact in Korea. It’s usually understood as a sign of closeness rather than genuine criticism, especially when the tone is humorous.
KakaoTalk Dominance: KakaoTalk (카카오톡 or 카톡 – ka-tok) is the overwhelmingly dominant messaging app in South Korea. Therefore, teasing about slow replies almost always refers to responses on KakaoTalk.
“Ignoring” Slang (씹다 – ssip-da): The verb 씹다 (ssip-da), which literally means “to chew,” is commonly used as slang for “to ignore” messages (e.g., 카톡 씹다 – ka-tok ssip-da). Another related term is 읽씹 (il-ssip), meaning to read a message but not reply.
Context is Key: While these phrases are common for teasing, ensure your relationship with your sibling allows for this kind of banter. The tone of voice or accompanying emojis in a text message are crucial to convey that you’re joking and not actually angry.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Older sister (A) texts her younger brother (B) asking about dinner plans, but he takes a long time to reply.
Roles:
* A: Older Sister (누나 – nu-na)
* B: Younger Brother (남동생 – nam-dong-saeng)
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Expression: A: 야, 오늘 저녁 뭐 먹을래?
Pronunciation: ya, o-neul jeo-nyeok mwo meo-geul-lae?
Meaning: Hey, what do you want to eat for dinner tonight? -
Expression: A: (30 minutes later) 야! 답장 왜 이렇게 느려?
Pronunciation: (sam-sip bun hu) ya! dap-jang wae i-reo-ke neu-ryeo?
Meaning: (30 minutes later) Hey! Why is your reply so slow? -
Expression: A: 살아있냐? 거북이 동생아?
Pronunciation: sa-ra-in-nya? geo-bu-gi dong-saeng-a?
Meaning: Are you alive? My turtle brother? -
Expression: B: 아 미안 미안, 게임하고 있었어. 치킨?
Pronunciation: a mi-an mi-an, ge-im-ha-go i-sseo-sseo. chi-kin?
Meaning: Ah sorry sorry, I was playing a game. Chicken? -
Expression: A: 치킨 좋지. 근데 다음부턴 답장 좀 빨리 해라. 기다리다 목 빠지는 줄.
Pronunciation: chi-kin jo-chi. geun-de da-eum-bu-teon dap-jang jom ppal-li hae-ra. gi-da-ri-da mok ppa-ji-neun jul.
Meaning: Chicken sounds good. But reply faster next time. Thought my neck would fall off waiting. -
Expression: B: 알았어 누나 ㅋㅋ
Pronunciation: a-ra-sseo nu-na kekeke
Meaning: Okay, sis haha
Practice Tips
Ready to playfully tease your Korean-speaking sibling or friend? Try using these phrases the next time they leave you waiting for a text reply! Remember to keep the tone light and humorous~ Start with the simpler phrases like 답장 왜 이렇게 느려? (dap-jang wae i-reo-ke neu-ryeo?) or 답장 좀 빨리 해 (dap-jang jom ppal-li hae). Pay attention to their reaction; usually, close siblings or friends will understand it’s just a joke! Using emojis like ㅋㅋ or ㅎㅎ can also help convey the playful intent. Have fun practicing this common aspect of casual Korean conversation!
