Korean slang profile

위쑤시개

wissusigae

A humorous name for food spicy enough to irritate the stomach.

Expanded form: 위(胃) + 이쑤시개에서 떠올린 표현위 (胃, stomach) + an expression evoking 이쑤시개 (toothpick)
Other spellings: —
Earliest source found: Not verified
Documented trend period: Not verified

This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.

01Examples, with English translations

Example by Julimmal
오늘은 위쑤시개라는 말이 어울릴 만큼 매운 떡볶이를 먹었어.
Today’s tteokbokki was spicy enough to deserve the name 위쑤시개.

02Documented history

Publication date pending verificationBravo My Life introduced the meaning and usage of 위쑤시개.[1]

03Origin & word formation

Bravo My Life explains it as linking stomach-irritating spiciness to a name evoking a toothpick. Who first used it and when could not be established.

Evidence for the origin explanationMedium

The explanation was checked in a source we read directly. The circumstances of its earliest use and earlier sources need further comparison. The displayed publication date differs from the publication metadata, so the publication date and earliest-source date were left blank.

04Sources

Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.

[요즘말 사전] 속 쓰려도 찾는다? ‘위쑤시개’ - 브라보마이라이프 (브라보 마이 라이프)Original source checked Nov 12, 2026