What does daebak mean? 9 reactions you hear in every K-drama

No way. / Amazing.

Literally: Big gourd (a jackpot).

Originally a huge hit, as in a film or a business, 대박 became the all-purpose reaction to anything big, good or bad. 대박이다 is what you say to yourself; 대박이에요 to someone you speak politely with. The tone of voice tells you whether it is delight or disaster.

Whoa. / Seriously?

A sharp intake of breath written down. It is casual by nature, so it belongs among friends and in text messages, not in a meeting. Drama characters say it when a secret lands.

Really?

진짜 is 'real', and as a question it is the most common reaction in Korean conversation. Add 요 (진짜요?) for anyone you are not close to. 정말 means the same thing and sounds a touch softer and more adult.

That makes no sense. / No way.

Literally: It doesn't even become words.

For news too absurd to accept: the fiancé is the long-lost brother. Casual as written; 말도 안 돼요 is the polite version, and both are said to the news rather than to the person.

Don't tell me... / Surely not.

The word that comes just before the character guesses the terrible truth. On its own it is a complete reaction; 설마 아니겠지 (surely it isn't) is the fuller line. It works at any speech level because it is a thought spoken aloud.

Oh no. / What do I do?

Literally: How (do I) do it?

A contraction of 어떻게 해 that has become its own word, and the sound of panic in every drama. Said to oneself it is 어떡해; to someone else politely it is 어떡해요; spelling it 어떻게 is a common mistake even among Koreans.

Are you crazy?

Casual speech (반말), only for close friends or siblings, and in dramas usually followed by a thrown cushion. The same word has flipped into praise: 미쳤다 said about a performance means it was unbelievably good.

Oh dear. / Oof.

The sigh of grandmothers, tired mothers, and anyone sitting down after a long day. It covers aches, exasperation, sympathy, and bad news, and is one of the few reactions here that sounds natural at any age. 아이고 참 adds a layer of 'honestly'.

As expected. / Of course.

Praise that says 'I knew you would'. 역시 우리 딸 (that's my girl) from a parent, 역시 is the correct reply when a friend's cooking turns out well. Also used darkly when a villain does exactly what everyone predicted.