Dictionary — Entry No. 0964
코
ko · noun
코
ko
[KO]
nounbeginner
Meaning
The nose; the nasal organ. Also appears in phrases about character or personality, and in traditional medicine concepts of bodily health.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Nose bridge height is major Korean beauty standard—high bridges are favored. Rhinoplasty is extremely common cosmetic surgery. Historically, ‘good nose’ indicated good character in physiognomy beliefs.
Example Sentences
코가 높으면 자신감 있어 보여
ko-ga nop-eu-myeon jasingam iss-eo bo-yeo
A high nose bridge looks confident (beauty standard = personality projection)
코를 고르는 데 400만원을 썼어
ko-reul goreuneun de 4 million won-eul sseoss-eo
She spent $3,000 on nose surgery (common procedure cost)
그 사람 코를 봤니? 다 티나
geu saram ko-reul bwass-ni? da tinah
Did you see that person’s nose? It’s obvious [they got surgery] (gossip undertone)
⚠️ Don’t use ko when…
Very common gossip topic regarding cosmetic surgery in Korea—commenting on someone’s ko can be perceived as insulting. Short word, easy to confuse with ‘go’ (가다 – to go).
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Boys Over Flowers — Geum Jan-di’s plain appearance (including ko) contrasts with the wealthy protagonists’ refined features
- K-Pop: aespa ‘Spicy’ — members’ high nose bridges highlighted in makeup and angle choices during performances
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.