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Korean · Insults & Asymmetries

개소리

gaesori

geh-soh-REE · /kɛ.so.ɾi/

Bullshit / utter nonsense — what a dog says, which is to say nothing.

3/5 Watch your audience

genuinely rude; friends only, never at work

Literally

"dog noise / dog sound"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

The dog's third job in Korean cursing: after building insults (개새끼) and intensifiers (개맛있어), it supplies the word for nonsense — 개소리 is speech with the informational content of barking. "개소리 하지 마" (quit the bullshit) is the standard shutdown for excuses, conspiracy theories, and the friend explaining why he definitely could have gone pro; "뭔 개소리야?" (what IS this dog noise?) adds incredulity. A solid 3: coarse, friends-only, and pointed — calling someone's words 개소리 to their face dismisses the speaker along with the speech. The polite-company detour is 말도 안 되는 소리 ("talk that isn't even speech"), which does the same demolition in a suit.

Heard in the wild

지각한 게 지하철 때문이라고? 개소리 하지 마.

You're late because of the subway? Don't give me that bullshit.

Where it lands

South Korea (universal)

Quick answers

What does "개소리" mean?
In Korean, "개소리" means "Bullshit / utter nonsense — what a dog says, which is to say nothing.". Literally it's "dog noise / dog sound". The dog's third job in Korean cursing: after building insults (개새끼) and intensifiers (개맛있어), it supplies the word for nonsense — 개소리 is speech with the informational content of barking. "개소리 하지 마" (quit the bullshit) is the standard shutdown for excuses, conspiracy theories, and the friend explaining why he definitely could have gone pro; "뭔 개소리야?" (what IS this dog noise?) adds incredulity. A solid 3: coarse, friends-only, and pointed — calling someone's words 개소리 to their face dismisses the speaker along with the speech. The polite-company detour is 말도 안 되는 소리 ("talk that isn't even speech"), which does the same demolition in a suit.
Is "개소리" offensive?
It's genuinely rude — a 3/5 (Watch your audience) on the Punch-o-Meter. Fine among friends, never at work or with people you've just met.
How do you pronounce "개소리"?
Say it "geh-soh-REE" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: kɛ.so.ɾi.

Related in Korean

씨발 ssibal sshee-BAHL Fuck / fucking hell — the load-bearing Korean curse. 개새끼 gaesaekki geh-SEH-kkee Son of a bitch / bastard — a real insult with no soft reading. 놈 nom nohm Guy / bastard — the male half of Korean's asymmetric insult pair. 년 nyeon nyun Bitch — the female counterpart of 놈, and far, far harsher. 지랄 jiral jee-RAHL Bullshit / drama / throwing a fit — 'quit your nonsense.' 닥쳐 dakchyeo dahk-CHYUH Shut up! — blunt, banmal, and aimed.

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