What Does 대박 (Daebak) Mean in Korean?
Written and reviewed by Jun and Jin, native Korean speakers
Published · How we write & review
After this page, you can react with 대박 (daebak) to big news, good or bad, and know where it's too casual to say.
10-second answer
What does Daebak mean?
대박 (daebak) literally means a "jackpot" or "huge hit," but in everyday speech it's an exclamation: "Awesome!", "No way!", "Unbelievable!" It works for good news and shocking news alike — context decides the flavor.
Quick check — did that land?
1. Your friend says "나 시험 떨어졌어" (I failed the exam) and you reply "대박...". What are you expressing?
Why do Koreans suddenly say 대박?
Quick Examples
대박! 콘서트 티켓 구했어!
daebak! konseoteu tiket guhaesseo!
No way! I got concert tickets!
그 영화 대박 났어요.
geu yeonghwa daebak nasseoyo.
That movie became a huge hit.
대박(이) 나다 = to hit the jackpot / become a big success.
헐, 대박... 진짜야?
heol, daebak... jinjjaya?
What... unbelievable... is that real?
Shocked-negative usage — not everything 대박 is good news.
Not sure whether to react with 헐 or 대박? See 헐 vs 대박.
See also: 진짜 (jinjja) — really?
The Three Faces of 대박
| Use | Feels like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Amazed exclamation | "Awesome!" / "No way!" | 대박! 진짜 잘됐다! |
| Shocked exclamation | "Oh my god…" | 대박… 어떡해. |
| Noun: a big hit | "jackpot / smash hit" | 이 가게 대박 났어. |
Young speakers also use 대박 as an intensifier before adjectives — 대박 맛있어 ("insanely delicious") — very casual, very common.
Register: When Can You Say It?
대박 is casual slang. Perfect with friends, fine in variety shows and social media, out of place in a business meeting or with people you must speak formally to. There is no polite form — in formal settings people just describe the situation instead.
Opposite concept: 쪽박 (jjokbak) — going bust, a total flop. 대박 나다 ↔ 쪽박 차다.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — "대박 only means awesome"
It's an all-purpose shock word. 대박 at bad news means "I can't believe this" — the tone carries the meaning.
Mistake #2 — Using it in formal speech
It's slang. Saying 대박 to your professor or in a job interview sounds off.
Mini Quiz
2. What does 대박 나다 mean?
3. Where is 대박 appropriate?
Related Knowledge
Learn Next
대박 and 헐 are the two shock exclamations you'll hear constantly — and they stack: 헐 대박.
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