Dictionary — Entry No. 0570
슬퍼워
seulpeowo · adjective
슬퍼워
seulpeowo
[seul-PUH-wuh]
adjectivebeginner
Meaning
An informal, emotionally expressive form meaning ‘I’m sad’ or ‘it’s sad,’ derived from the base adjective 슬프다 (seulpeuda). Koreans use it to voice genuine sorrow, wistful longing, or heartbreak in casual conversation. It appears constantly in sad K-Drama moments and tearful idol fan interactions.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
IU, whose discography centres on melancholic storytelling, released ‘Lilac’ (라일락, 2021) as a bittersweet farewell to her twenties, and fans across the world typed 슬퍼워 in comment sections as the final note faded. BLACKPINK fan communities are flooded with the word around member enlistment announcements and end-of-era moments, making it one of the most universally understood emotional cues in K-Pop stan culture.
Example Sentences
이별 노래를 들으면 슬퍼워.
Ibyeol noraereul deureumyeon seulpeowo.
When I listen to break-up songs, I feel sad. (a very relatable K-Pop fan sentiment)
왜 그렇게 슬퍼워 보여?
Wae geureoke seulpeowo boyeo?
Why do you look so sad? (asking someone whose face shows visible sadness)
드라마 결말이 너무 슬퍼워.
Deurama gyeolmal-i neomu seulpeowo.
The drama ending is so sad. (the typical reaction to a tragic K-Drama finale)
⚠️ Don’t use seulpeowo when…
The standard written form is 슬퍼 (seulpeo) — 슬퍼워 is a colloquial extension common in online fan writing, so use 슬퍼 in formal contexts. Also don’t mix up 슬퍼 (sad) with 슬림해 (slimhae, slim/thin), which trips up new learners mishearing fast song lyrics.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Reply 1988 (응답하라 1988, 2015) — the finale’s nostalgic farewell scenes had Korean and international audiences alike typing 슬퍼워 in comment sections, making it the drama that taught a generation the word.
- K-Pop: IU — Lilac (라일락, 2021). The delicate bittersweet ballad captures exactly the quiet, tender sadness that 슬퍼워 conveys at its most heartfelt.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.