aegyo

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Korean 애교(愛嬌) (aegyo).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɛɡ.joʊ/, /ˈeɪɡ.joʊ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

aegyo (uncountable)

1. (South Korean idol fandom) Cuteness, adorableness, charm.
   • 2014, Nagyon Kim, "Broadcasting companies impose stricter rules on K-pop choreography", Tiger Times (Seoul International School), March 2014, page 8:

     A few years ago, the trend for girl groups was to show innocence and aegyo, a Korean term meaning acting cute.

   • 2019 August, Helen Rodgers, “NCT 127: Live In London”, in UKP Magazine, page 12:

     The members performed 'Touch' and 'Good Thing' with copious amounts of aegyo which made it impossible not to grin.

   • 2020 May, Brianna Reason, “SuperM: Live In London”, in UKP Magazine, page 17:

     The chemistry and friendship between the members was obvious as they joked and teased with one another, embarrassing each other with aegyo.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:aegyo.

See also

• kawaii
• moe