Korean words in the Oxford English DictionaryLanguage
Chimaek (치맥) — chicken and beer
Chimaek joins 치킨 (chikin, fried chicken) and 맥주 (maekju, beer). It is a pairing, and the OED update included it among its Korean food words.
OED update: September 2021Korean: 치맥 (chimaek)치킨 + 맥주Updated Oct 20, 2026
Study Korean
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A thermometer for checking oil temperature when you fry chicken at home.
What it means
Chimaek (치맥) is fried chicken eaten with beer. It is a popular way to relax with friends in Korea.
In the OED
A JoongAng Daily article on the September 2021 OED update lists “chimaek” among the new Korean food words. The OED entry itself needs a subscription and I could not open it, so see the OED for its exact wording.
How it's used in Korea
In Korea, chimaek is often ordered as delivery or eaten at a chicken shop, especially while watching a match.
Example
“오늘 치맥 어때요?” (How about chimaek tonight?)
More on K for All
LanguageWord of the DayKorean cooking toolsOED entry: chimaek