꿀꺽 (kkulkkeok)

What it means

The sound of swallowing — gulping a drink, or swallowing hard when you're nervous.

When you'll see it

You'll see it two ways in manhwa: someone chugging an ice-cold drink (꿀꺽꿀꺽), or someone swallowing hard because they're nervous — the panel right before facing a scary senior or confessing to a crush. It's also the gulp you make staring at a photo of really good food.

Where it shows up in manhwa

• Downing a cold drink in one go
• Swallowing nervously before something scary
• Staring hungrily at food

Examples

1. A: 너 왜 그렇게 긴장했어? B: 팀장님이 나만 따로 부르셨어… (꿀꺽)

   A: Why are you so tense? B: The boss called just me into his office… (gulp — 꿀꺽)

2. 운동 끝나고 이온음료 한 병을 꿀꺽꿀꺽 다 마셨어.

   After my workout I chugged (꿀꺽꿀꺽) a whole bottle of sports drink.

3. 그는 마른침을 꿀꺽 삼키고 문을 두드렸다.

   He swallowed hard (꿀꺽) and knocked on the door.