Physical comedy vocabulary
몸개그Physical/slapstick comedy
리액션Over-the-top reaction (the bigger the better)
뿜다To spit-take (laughing while drinking)
빵 터지다To burst out laughing (빵 = sound of explosion)
바닥에 구르다Rolling on the floor (laughing)
데굴데굴Rolling around (onomatopoeia)
주먹으로 때리기 (장난)Play-hitting with fist (between close friends)
머리 때리기Hitting someone's head (comedy staple)
꼬집기Pinching
Textbook그것은 매우 웃겼습니다geu-geot-eun mae-u ut-gyeot-seup-ni-daThat was very funny
Real아 죽겠다 ㅋㅋㅋ 빵 터졌어a juk-get-da k-k-k ppang teo-jyeot-eoI'm dying lol I burst out laughing🏷️ Text only
Korean laughter descriptions are physical: 빵 터지다 (explode laughing), 배 아프다 (stomach hurts from laughing), 죽겠다 (dying laughing), 숨 못 쉬겠다 (can't breathe). The more physical the description, the funnier it was.
Korean comedy reactions
아 웃겨 죽겠다So funny I'm dying
배꼽 빠지겠다My belly button is going to fall out (from laughing)
미쳤나 ㅋㅋㅋAre you crazy? lol (reacting to something absurd)
어이없다Absurd/ridiculous (but funny)
눈물 나와 ㅋㅋI'm tearing up lol
도망가고 싶다I want to run away (from cringe/embarrassment)
Korean comedy culture: 몸개그 (physical comedy) and big 리액션 (reactions) are valued more than dry wit. Variety shows reward expressive, physical humor. The comedian who falls down dramatically gets more laughs than the one with clever wordplay.
Korean physical comedy rule: friends hitting each other (어깨 때리기 = shoulder hit, 머리 꿀밤 = head flick) is a sign of CLOSENESS, not aggression. The 'hitting' in Korean variety shows is always play-hitting. If a Korean friend playfully smacks your arm when laughing, they like you. Don't flinch.
Quick Quiz