Squid Game Season 3 drops June 27, 2025, and if the trailers are any indication, we're in for the most brutal finale yet. Gi-hun's at his lowest point, the games are deadlier than ever, and characters are going to be screaming their lungs out in pure terror.
But here's what most viewers miss: if you're watching with English subtitles, you're only getting half the emotional impact. The Korean phrases that characters scream when their lives hang in the balance carry a raw intensity that simply can't be captured in translation.
So in this post, let me share with you 10 must-know Korean phrases you’ll definitely hear (and maybe shout yourself) while watching Squid Game. Whether you're learning Korean or just want to experience the show on a deeper level, these phrases will help you feel every moment! Let's begin!
- 11+ Best Shows On Netflix To Learn Korean
- Best Way To Learn Korean: A Guide For Beginners
- 15+ Korean Insults That Won’t Get You Slapped (Probably)
What To Expect In Squid Game Season 3
Season 2 left us with one hell of a cliffhanger. Gi-hun's rebellion failed spectacularly, his best friend Jung-bae got murdered by the Front Man, and the biggest twist? The Front Man was actually In-ho, the guy who'd been posing as Player 001 all along.
Now Season 3 picks up with Gi-hun completely broken. Netflix's synopsis promises that "surviving players' choices will lead to graver consequences with each round," which basically means we're about to watch people get pushed to their absolute breaking points. And when that happens, you're going to hear a lot of desperate Korean being screamed.
Must-Know Korean Phrases From Squid Game's Most Desperate Moments
1. 도와주세요! (dowajuseyo!) - "Help me!"
This is the most common emergency phrase in Korean, and you'll hear it constantly throughout Squid Game. When someone screams this, they're not politely asking for assistance—they're begging for their life.
2. 살려 주세요! (sallyeo juseyo!) - "Please save me!"
Even more desperate than asking for help, this phrase is what you scream when you're staring death in the face. You'll hear this right before someone gets eliminated.
3. 죽지 마! (jukji ma!) - "Don't die!"
Nothing hits harder than watching a character scream this while their friend is slipping away. It's pure desperation wrapped in three syllables.
4. 안 돼! (an dwae!) - "No!" / "Don't!"
Short, sharp, and absolutely devastating when delivered with the right emotion. This is what characters scream when they see something horrible about to happen and they can't stop it.
5. 어떻게?! (eotteoke?!) - "How?!" / "What do I do?!"
You'll hear this when characters are completely overwhelmed and panicking. It's the sound of someone's world falling apart in real time.
6. 미안해! (mianhae!) - "I'm sorry!"
In normal conversation, this is just a casual apology, but in Squid Game's most intense moments, it becomes a desperate plea for forgiveness. Often the last thing someone says.
7. 그만해! (geumanhae!) - "Stop it!"
Whether it's trying to stop violence or begging someone to reconsider a deadly choice, this phrase captures that moment when things have gone too far.
8. 왜 이래?! (wae irae?!) - "Why are you doing this?!"
This gets screamed when characters can't understand the cruelty they're witnessing. It's a desperate cry for answers in a senseless situation.
9. 조심해! (josimhae!) - "Be careful!"
Usually the last warning someone gives before everything goes to hell. Characters say this when they know danger is coming but can't prevent it.
10. 버려! (beoryeo!) - "Let go!" / "Drop it!"
Sometimes survival means sacrificing everything you care about. This phrase captures those impossible moments when characters have to choose between holding on and staying alive.
Milena Quaresma
How To Use Squid Game To Learn Korean
Learning Korean through intense emotional scenes like these actually makes the language stick better than any textbook ever could. When you see Gi-hun screaming in desperation, your brain connects the Korean sounds with genuine human emotion, which creates stronger memory formation.
Here's how to maximize your learning:
Toggle bilingual subtitles
Watch once with English subs for plot, then switch to Korean subs to connect spoken sounds with Hangul spellings. This helps you see how Korean words are actually written while hearing native pronunciation.
Shadow the actors
Pause after short lines like "안 돼!" and echo them at the same speed and tone. This builds muscle memory for proper Korean intonation, which is crucial for sounding natural.
Mine emergency phrases
Keep a running list of cries, curses, and commands you hear throughout episodes. These emotionally-charged expressions stick in your memory faster than neutral textbook sentences because your brain associates them with intense scenes.
Replay key scenes
Repetition cements vocabulary in your long-term memory. Plus, hearing different characters deliver the same phrase reveals important nuances of formality and social hierarchy that are central to Korean culture.
Focus on character relationships
Notice how Gi-hun speaks differently to older characters versus younger ones. Korean has complex honorific systems that change based on age, status, and closeness—Squid Game showcases these naturally.
Write down new words immediately
When you hear a phrase that hits hard emotionally, pause and jot it down with the scene context. Your brain will remember "도와주세요" better when you associate it with a specific character's desperate moment.
What if there's one tool that could combine all these learning techniques? Lingopie does exactly that—seamless subtitle switching, instant word translations, vocabulary saving, scene replay controls, and progress tracking, all built into your viewing experience.
Jonathan Del Prado
Learn Korean With Lingopie
If Squid Game has you wanting to understand Korean without constantly reading subtitles, Lingopie makes it incredibly easy to learn through the shows you're already obsessed with.
The platform lets you click on any word in the Korean dual subtitles to get instant translations and cultural context. So when a character screams "살려 주세요!" in absolute terror, you’ll understand not just the literal meaning but the full emotional weight behind those words.
With Lingopie, you can also slow down difficult scenes, replay phrases you want to practice, and gradually build up your understanding until you’re naturally catching useful expressions.
Trust me, learning Korean through the shows you love means you’re picking up the language as it’s actually spoken! Curious? Give Lingopie a try with our FREE 7-day trial!
![7 International Films Debuting At Tribeca Film Festival [2025]](/blog/content/images/size/w300/2025/06/tribeca-film-festival.jpg)
