감탄사 (gamtansa) is the Korean word for interjection.
Interjections can be used to express strong feelings, like happiness, surprise, anger or disgust:
아싸 (assa) – Yay
와 (wa) – Wow
쯧 (jjeut) – Tsk / Tch
야 (ya) – Hey
흥 (heung) – Huh / Hah / Hmph
어 (eo) – Ah / Oh / Uh-huh
They can also be reactive / responsive phrases.
아이고/아이구 (aigo / aigoo) – Oh my / Uh-oh
에이 (e-i) – Oh really? / Come on
어머나 (eomeona) – Oh my / My goodness
아야 (aya) – Ouch
만세 (mansae) – Hurray
참 (cham) – Jeez / really
Some may be used to express reflection, thought or understanding.
흠 (heum) – Hmm
음 (eum) – Umm
아하 (aha) – Aha
Interjections can be written by themselves and exist as stand-alone phrases. Because they’re often exclamatory, they’re frequently followed by an exclamation point. Interjections may also be separated by an ellipses or comma within sentences.
아싸! 학교 끝났다! (Assa! Haggyo ggeutnatda!) - Yay! School is over!
와...힘들겠다. (Wa... himdeulgetda.) - Wow…it must be tough.
야, 너 뭐 해? (Ya, neo mwo hae?) - Hey, what are you doing?
흥, 나 너한테 화났어! (Heung, na neohante hwanasseo!) - Hmph, I’m mad at you!
에이, 너 거짓말이지? (E-i, neo geojitmaliji?) - Come on, you’re lying, right?
우리 팀이 이겼다! 만세! (Woori timi igyeotda! Mansae!) - Our team won! Hurray!
흠, 어떻게 생각하세요? (Heum, eotteotge saenggaghaseyo?) - Hmm, what do you think?
