대박
- Romanization
- daebak
- Really means
- “Wow! / Amazing! / No way!”
One word, many meanings
대박 started out meaning a huge success — a jackpot. Today it’s the reaction Koreans reach for when something is surprising:
- Amazing news: 대박! 합격했어? — “Wow, you passed?!”
- Something shocking or bad: said flatly, 대박… can mean “that’s a disaster.”
- Wishing success: 대박 나세요! — “Hope you hit it big!” (to someone opening a shop or starting a project)
The meaning comes from your tone and the situation, so listen to how people say it in K-dramas and variety shows.
In a real conversation
A:나 콘서트 티켓 구했어!I got the concert tickets!
B:대박! 진짜?No way! Really?
A:근데 자리가 맨 뒤야.But the seats are in the very back.
B:아… 그건 좀 대박이다.Oh… that's kind of a disaster.