Dictionary — Entry No. 0802
설렘
seollem · noun
설렘
seollem
[SUHL-lem]
nounintermediate
Meaning
“Excitement” or “anticipatory nervousness”—the noun form of seolleoda, describing the tangible feeling of nervous anticipation. The physical and emotional sensation of butterflies before a meaningful event.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Used extensively in K-Pop lyrics and K-Drama dialogues—TWICE’s “Likey” dedicates lyrics to expressing seollem. NewJeans and aespa frequently reference this emotion in emotional ballads. Central to K-Pop romantic storytelling.
Example Sentences
그 설렘이 너무 좋아
geu seollem-i neomu joha
That excitement feels so good (enjoyment of the feeling itself)
설렘이 가득 차 있어
seollem-i gadeuk cha isseo
I’m full of excitement (overwhelming nervous anticipation)
오랜 설렘이었어
oraen seollem-ieosseo
It was a long-held excitement (anticipation over extended time)
⚠️ Don’t use seollem when…
Distinct from regular ‘happiness’—seollem is nervous excitement with anticipation, not plain joy. Don’t use interchangeably with simple cheerfulness. Carries romantic or anticipatory emotional weight.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: True Beauty — captures the feeling of developing romantic feelings and anticipatory nervousness throughout the series.
- K-Pop: TWICE — Feel Special
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.