What does 용트림 mean?

ANSWER: "a dragon belch"

The Chinese character 龍 (룡/용) means "dragon," and the pure Korean word 트림 means "burp" or "belch," so 용트림 literally means "dragon belch," conjuring up the image of the belch of a fire-breathing dragon. It is used to refer to a big belch done in a haughty manner, sometimes to impress immature friends.

However, these days the word 용트림 is also being used by some Koreans who smoke electronic cigarettes (vapers) to refer to the blowing out of vaping smoke, which looks very similar to that of a fire-breathing dragon.

Be careful not to confuse 용트림 with 용틀임. Though the two words are pronounced the same and use the same 용 (dragon), they have different meanings. 용틀임 literally means "the twisting of a dragon" and refers to a decorative engraving or picture of a long, twisting serpent-like dragon. It can also refer to fire or smoke spiraling up into the air in a whirlwind-like fashion. The phrase 용틀임을 하다 can also be used to refer to someone ambitiously rising up to achieve some desire or goal.

The following video shows a woman teaching vapers how to do different kinds of "dragon belches" (용트림). I am not posting the video to promote vaping, which doctors are now saying can cause lung damage. I am just posting it to show what vapers mean by "dragon belch." Please do not vape.