What Does 짱 (Jjang) Mean in Korean?
10-Second Answer
짱 (jjang) means "the best" or "awesome" — a short, punchy slang word of praise. It works alone as an exclamation, attaches to nouns to mean "best [noun]" (얼짱, "best face"), and pairs with a popular hand gesture (fists together, thumbs up) that shares its name.
Quick Examples
이 라면 완전 짱이야.
i ramyeon wanjeon jjangiya.
This ramyeon is the best.
너 진짜 짱이다!
neo jinjja jjangida!
You're seriously the best!
짱!
jjang!
Awesome! / The best!
Often said while making the 짱 hand gesture.
짱 as a Combining Prefix
| Combo | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 얼짱 (eoljjang) | "Best face" — someone known for good looks, originally an internet-fame term |
| 몸짱 (momjjang) | "Best body" — someone known for a great physique |
| 반짱 (banjjang) | The top student/most popular kid in a class (반 = class) |
| 엄친아/엄친딸 + 짱-adjacent usage | Related "the best" bragging-comparison slang, though built differently |
The 짱 Hand Gesture
짱 is also the name of a popular hand gesture: hold both fists together, thumbs up, side by side — a playful, emphatic way to say "the best!" without words, common in photos and variety shows alongside the peace sign and finger heart.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Using 짱 in formal contexts
It's casual slang throughout — 최고 (choego, "the best") is the more neutral/formal equivalent when you need one.
Mistake #2 — Missing the compound forms
얼짱 and 몸짱 aren't obvious from 짱 alone — recognizing 짱 as a suffix helps decode new compound slang you'll encounter.
Mini Quiz
1. What does 짱 mean?
2. What does 얼짱 mean?
3. What's a more neutral/formal alternative to 짱 for 'the best'?
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Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-10 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.