'The Korean wave', became popular in China recently, makes the Chinese, especially young netizens, borrow Korean into Chinese. This happens most actively through Online media including Weibo. On the assumption of this fact, in this research divided the 'Korean borrowing phenomenon' into three parts-the lexicon, grammatical morpheme '-seupnida'-, and the sentences, examing the method and functions. The summary of detailed analysis results are as follows.
First, the borrowing of Korean vocabulary is proceeding actively.
Nouns are borrowed most widely. The borrowing pronouns, interjections, adjectives, and adverbs are also being observed. Among nouns, the borrowing Relative terms-oppa, eonni, nuna, hyeong, ajeossi, ajumma-were most frequent.
Chinese netizens are borrowing these Korean relative terms after the Korean celebrities they love in order to close the distance with them.
Besides the relative terms, common nouns such as 'nim', 'chingu', 'idol', 'leader' and newly coined terms are also being borrowed.
Like relative terms, 'uri', the pronoun, was used in relations with Korean celebrities at the beginning, but nowadays its usage has been broadened. Among interjections, 'eomeo', 'aigo' are being frequently borrowed. And 'yeppeuda', 'meositda', 'masitda' are the most popular adjectives. As cases of borring adverb, 'neomu', 'jinjja', 'ppalli' are being observed. But their frequencies were less than that of noun.
Second, another Korean borrowing case in Weibo is the borrowing of grammatical morpheme '-seupnida'. Chinese netizens usually use '-seupnida' when they mention Korea, Korean, Koreans, and the things related to Korea. At the beginning they used it when they degrade Korea, but nowadays they rarely do it. In Weibo, also there are cases which Chineses use '-seupnida' after the noun, verb, and a sentence.
Beside the purpose of implying the things that was related to Korea, they use it for intention of respect function which Chinese language does not have.
Third, Chinese netizens are borrowing simple Korean sentences such as 'Saranghaeyo', 'Gamsahapnida', 'Chukhahapnida'. These sentences are being used similar to native usages. But influenced by '-seupnida', expressions such as 'gamsaseupnida', 'chukhaseupnida' are often observed.
Borrowed Korean seems to be used not only on online space but also on daily life without the internet. It is not affirmable, but as long as impact of 'Korean wave' is consistent, the Korean borrowing phenomenon can be intensified in the future.