좋댓구알 (jotdaetgual) — The Four Syllables Every YouTube Creator Shouts Every Day
좋댓구알
Picture the music video for a K-pop idol’s new single, a vlog from your favorite YouTuber, or the closing moments of a live stream. As the video wraps up, the creator looks into the camera, breaks into a big smile, and says: “좋댓구알 잊지 마세요! (jotdaetgual itji maseyo!)” If you’re learning Korean, you’ve probably been baffled — no matter how hard you searched the dictionary, you couldn’t find this word. And that makes sense: 좋댓구알 (jotdaetgual) isn’t an official dictionary entry. It’s a fresh new bit of slang (an abbreviation) coined by the YouTube and social-media generation.
Meaning and Nuance
좋댓구알 (jotdaetgual) is made by taking just the first syllable from each of four words and sticking them together.
- 좋아요 (joayo) — the “like” button you press on a video
- 댓글 (daetgeul) — leaving a comment
- 구독 (gudok) — subscribing to a channel
- 알림설정 (allim seoljeong) — turning on notifications for new videos
In other words, it’s the long request “please hit like, leave a comment, subscribe, and even turn on notifications” compressed into four syllables. Creators use it to ask viewers for support and engagement in a way that’s polite yet friendly. It’s not a command but a request with a touch of playful charm, so it comes across as light and cheerful rather than stiff.
Example Sentences by Situation
Situation 1 — A YouTuber wrapping up a video
오늘 영상 재미있게 보셨다면 좋댓구알 부탁드려요! (oneul yeongsang jaemiitge bosyeotdamyeon jotdaetgual butakdeuryeoyo!) (If you enjoyed today’s video, please do 좋댓구알!)
This is the most typical use — prompting a reaction from viewers at the end of a video. Adding ‘부탁드려요 (butakdeuryeoyo)’ keeps it polite.
Situation 2 — Fans cheering each other on
우리 최애 컴백했다! 다들 좋댓구알 필수야~ (uri choeae keombaekhaetda! dadeul jotdaetgual pilsuya~) (Our fave made a comeback! 좋댓구알 is a must for everyone~)
When a beloved idol (‘최애’, choeae) makes a comeback, fans urge each other to boost views and engagement. You can feel the fan devotion in the word ‘필수야 (pilsuya, the casual form of 필수다)’.
Situation 3 — Asking a friend casually
나 채널 새로 팠어. 좋댓구알 좀 해 줘! (na chaeneol saero passeo. jotdaetgual jom hae jwo!) (I just started a new channel. Do me a 좋댓구알!)
Among close friends, you can make the request lightly in casual speech like this. Adding ‘좀 (jom)’ gives it the soft, coaxing feel of a gentle nudge.
Comparing Polite vs. Casual Speech and Similar Expressions
Even with the same 좋댓구알, whether it’s polite or casual depends on the words that follow.
- Polite: 좋댓구알 해 주세요 (jotdaetgual hae juseyo) — to viewers and subscribers
- Casual: 좋댓구알 해 줘 (jotdaetgual hae jwo) — among friends and fellow fans
It’s also good to know some similar abbreviations. 구독과 좋아요 (gudokgwa joayo) is the fuller, more formal expression, and people sometimes shorten it to just two syllables, as in 구좋 (gujot). But the phrase that best captures today’s mood — where you also make sure to set up notifications — is still 좋댓구알.
Cultural Background — An Era of Asking for the ‘Algorithm’
좋댓구알 captures one facet of Korea’s online culture. Likes, comments, subscriptions, and notifications are all signals that help the YouTube 알고리즘 (algorijeum) recommend a video to more people. That’s why these four things are directly tied to a creator’s survival. K-pop fandoms in particular treat 좋댓구알 as a kind of ‘firepower support,’ organizing to hit likes and post comments en masse on comeback day. It’s a way of expressing their support with just a few clicks. Though it’s a request, it never feels like a burden — it’s closer to a warm greeting that affirms the bond between creators and fans.
Closing Quiz
Which of the following is not included in 좋댓구알?
- 좋아요 (joayo)
- 댓글 (daetgeul)
- 공유 (gongyu)
- 알림설정 (allim seoljeong)
The answer is number 3, 공유 (gongyu, sharing). 좋댓구알 is made up of four things: likes, comments, subscriptions, and notification settings. If this post was helpful… I hope you’ll give me a 좋댓구알 in your heart too! 😊