hakhak

Hakhak is an onomatopoeic representation used in writing to convey loud laughter. It is most commonly associated with the romanization of the Korean syllables 하하하 (ha-ha-ha). In English-language media, fan translations, memes, and social media, hakhak and its variants are used to indicate a hearty laugh, sometimes with sarcasm or derision depending on context.

Variations such as khakhak, hak-hak, or khak khak appear when authors attempt different transliteration schemes or to reflect spacing or emphasis. The choice of spelling can influence perceived tone, with longer strings or more k and h characters suggesting greater intensity.

In Korean usage, 하하하 is a neutral expression of laughter, while the meaning in non-Korean contexts depends on surrounding text and punctuation. As a romanized onomatopoeia, hakhak has no formal dictionary definition but is widely recognized in internet and fan-sub cultures as a representation of loud laughter.

See also: laughter, onomatopoeia, ha-ha; Korean onomatopoeia; romanization.