What’s the difference between ㅋㅋ and ㅎㅎ?

Both are laughter. ㅋㅋ is an actual laugh, like “lol”. ㅎㅎ is softer, closer to “haha” or a smile.

My Korean reply sounds too stiff.

Translators tend to produce formal sentences. Korean has casual and polite speech levels, so tell the AI who you’re writing to: “casual, to a friend” or “polite, to a client”.

How to translate Korean chat messages and reply in Korean

Dotok teamPublished 2026-10-08

Written by the team that makes Dotok. Free options come first.

In short

Reading — on WhatsApp, press and hold → Translate. On KakaoTalk, use Galaxy AI Chat translation or a translator app.
Consonant-only slang like ㅋㅋ, ㅇㅇ and ㄱㅅ is where translators fail — check the table below.
Replying — Gboard Translate, or an AI that writes Korean from a short note of what you want to say.

Cover image: Korean chat messages, slang included

With Korean messages, the slang stops you before the grammar does. Reading, slang, then replying.

1. Translate a Korean message you received

WhatsApp — press and hold the message → Translate (or under ⋮), if Korean is in your language list.
KakaoTalk on a Galaxy AI phone — the Samsung keyboard’s Galaxy AI icon → Chat translation.
Anywhere else — copy the message into a translator app, or use a translator that floats over the messenger.

WhatsApp on Android supports fewer languages than iPhone, so Korean may be missing from the list.

2. What translators get wrong

After a funny story

실수로 부장님한테 하트 보냈어

ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 미쳤다

Sentence alonekkkk crazy

With the conversationLOL, that’s wild

After an apology

늦어서 미안!

ㄱㅊㄱㅊ 천천히 와

Sentence aloneCome slowly

With the conversationIt’s fine, take your time

After asking about plans

금요일에 저녁 먹을래?

봐서 연락할게

Sentence aloneI’ll see and contact you

With the conversationNot sure yet, I’ll let you know

The same words mean different things after different messages. (Examples)

You see	Short for	Meaning
ㅋㅋ · ㅋㅋㅋㅋ	the sound of laughing	lol · lmao
ㅎㅎ	a softer laugh	haha
ㅇㅇ	응응	yeah, yep
ㄴㄴ	노노	no, nope
ㅇㅋ	오케이	ok
ㄱㅅ	감사	thanks
ㅈㅅ	죄송	sorry
ㄱㅊ	괜찮아	it’s fine, no worries
ㅊㅋ	축하	congrats
ㅠㅠ	crying eyes	sad, or touched

3. Reply in Korean

Turn your sentence into Korean with Gboard Translate (how), or note what you want to say and let AI write it.

Tone words like “casual” are followed too. Tap [Insert], then press Send yourself. (Dotok example screen)

Dotok works on Android 8.0+ over WhatsApp, KakaoTalk and Messenger · 20 free a day.

FAQ

What’s the difference between ㅋㅋ and ㅎㅎ?: Both are laughter. ㅋㅋ is an actual laugh, like “lol”. ㅎㅎ is softer, closer to “haha” or a smile.
My Korean reply sounds too stiff.: Translators tend to produce formal sentences. Korean has casual and polite speech levels, so tell the AI who you’re writing to: “casual, to a friend” or “polite, to a client”.