Dictionary — Entry No. 0688
웃기다
utkkinda · adjective
웃기다
utkkinda
[ut-GI-da]
adjectivebeginner
Meaning
웃기다 (utkkinda) means ‘funny,’ ‘ridiculous,’ or ‘absurd’ in Korean, functioning as a descriptive verb. It can express genuine amusement (‘that’s hilarious’) or sarcastic dismissal (‘that’s laughable/ridiculous’), so context and tone of delivery are everything when interpreting it.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
웃기다 is beloved in idol fandom culture — Stray Kids’ Bang Chan and Felix frequently call each other 웃겨 (the conjugated form) during Chan’s Room livestreams, and fans have compiled viral clip compilations around the word. In Strong Woman Do Bong-soon, the male lead’s over-the-top reactions are described by fans as 웃기다 for their perfect comedic timing. BLACKPINK’s members use it in unscripted variety moments to react to absurd situations with expressive honesty.
Example Sentences
야, 너 진짜 웃기다!
Ya, neo jinjja utkkida!
Hey, you’re seriously funny! (Genuine compliment about someone’s humor to a close friend)
그 상황이 너무 웃겼어.
Geu sanghwangi neomu utkkyeosseo.
That situation was so funny. (Recounting a hilarious moment — 웃겼어 is the past tense form you’ll actually hear)
웃기지 마. 그게 말이 돼?
Utkkyji ma. Geuge mari dwae?
Don’t be ridiculous. Does that even make sense? (Sarcastic use — dismissing an absurd claim with sharp disbelief)
⚠️ Don’t use utkkinda when…
웃기다 has two very different vibes — genuine (‘so funny!’) and sarcastic (‘that’s ridiculous’) — and tone of voice is the only clue. Non-native speakers risk being misread in both directions. Also, the conjugated form 웃겨 (utkkyo) is far more common in actual speech and drama dialogue than the dictionary form 웃기다, so train your ear to recognize both.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Strong Woman Do Bong-soon — Ahn Min-hyuk’s over-the-top comedic reactions prompted endless 웃기다 comparisons from viewers and remain some of fandom’s most-gifted moments.
- K-Pop: Stray Kids — God’s Menu
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.