Tag: Korean Idioms

English, Korean, Lexis Activity

Korean Slang: 땡땡이/농땡이

lexiskorea

땡땡이

땡땡이 as cute as it sounds as a slang expression, is a term used to refer to the action of skipping school or work to play and muck around instead. For example, Student A has a class to attend but he doesn’t feel like going. Instead Student A just wants to play truant and go to the PC 방 (internet cafe) to play with his friends. So he would say to Student B, “오늘 땡땡이 칠래?” which carries the meaning of “Shall we just skip school today and chill/hangout instead?”

땡땡이는 해야 하는 일을 하지 않고 게으름을 피우는 것이에요. 수업이 있는데 학교에 가고 싶지 않거나 회사 업무 시간에 밖에서 놀고 싶을 때 사용할 수 있어요. ‘땡땡이’는 ‘치다’ 동사와 만나서 ‘오늘 땡땡이 칠래?’, ‘땡땡이 치지 마세요!’라고 말할 수 있어요.

3- 농땡이

농땡이 on the other hand, is a term often used for those who are present at work or school, but aren’t focused on either their work or studies. The closest English terms to best explain this slang expression are ‘slack off’ and ‘laze around’.

In Korean we would say in casual speech, “농땡이 피우지 마!” which translates to “Don’t slack off!”. If you’re undertaking the Korean language program with us, please make sure that you don’t “농땡이” or muck around. Of course, we hope our students would play hard and enjoy their stay in Seoul, but also study just as hard. No pressure. 😉

‘농땡이’는 ‘땡땡이’와 의미가 비슷하지만 조금 달라요. 땡땡이는 학교나 회사에 아예 가지 않는 것이고 농땡이는 그 장소에 있지만 일을 제대로 하지 않는 것이에요. 둘 다 조금 귀여운 느낌을 슬랭이에요.

 

English, Korean

Korean Slang: 얼짱

lexiskorea

얼짱

If someday, someone uses the slang 얼짱 on you, be sure to give them a sweet smile and thank them, for this term is often used to describe a ‘beautiful face’ which applies to both men and women.

얼 is derived from the word 얼굴 which means face and 짱 is an exclamation that means “the best”. 얼짱 literally means you’ve got the best face. So, do take it as a huge compliment!

여러분 혹시 ‘얼짱’이라는 말을 들어본 적 있나요? 얼짱은 ‘얼’굴이 ‘짱’ 예쁘거나 잘생겼다는 의미예요. 남자나 여자 누구에게든 사용할 수 있고 보통 학교에서 얼굴이 제일 예쁘고 잘생긴 친구들에게 많이 사용해요. 기분 좋은 칭찬이니까 언제 어디서든 많이 사용해도 괜찮아요! 여러분 주변에 혹시 얼짱이 있나요?

English, Korean

Korean Idioms: 닭살 커플

lexiskorea

닭살커플

닭 (dag) as you may know means chicken, and 살 (sal) translates to flesh.

닭 + 살 = chicken flesh, but no, please do not order “닭살” at the restaurant and here’s why: 닭살 actually means goosebump.

On the other hand, we have 커플 (keo-peul) which is the Konglish word for couple. I’m sure you’ll be able to guess by now what 닭살 커플 means, right?

닭살 커플 is an idiomatic expression often used on couples who are not embarrassed or shy with publicly displaying their affection for one another, giving others around them goose bumps. I am sure many of you can relate as I am sure we all know of that one couple who are so happily in love that they cannot take their hands off each other.

Whilst one may usually go, “Ahh, you lovebirds! Go get a room!”.

Now you may try “Ahh, you 닭살 커플, please take your affection somewhere else!” or you can just walk away and pretend they aren’t your friends. 😉

여러분은 ‘닭살 커플’을 들어 봤어요? 닭살 커플은 사람들 앞에서 애정표현을 하는 것을 부끄러워하지 않는 커플에게 사용하는 말이에요. 닭살 커플이 여러분 앞에서 애정표현을 한다면 “으~ 닭살 돋아!”라고 말하면 돼요. 여러분 친구들 중에도 닭살 커플이 있나요? 아니면 여러분이 닭살 커플인가요?

English, Korean

Korean Slang: 백수,백조

lexiskorea

This week we’re sharing a slang expression. Just a heads up though, be sure to be careful with the use of these slang expressions with those around you as these expressions can sometimes be deemed as inappropriate as they are usually formed in what we call 반말 (ban-mal) or informal language that is used for casual speech only. 

Baeksu Baekjo

The slang 백수 refers to someone (of both genders) who is currently unemployed. The word 백수 is actually derived from 白手, a Chinese term which literally translates to “white hand” indicating that if you don’t do any work, your hands will be kept very clean, and thus white. There’s also the term 백조 which carries a similar meaning but applies specifically to females only. This is because 백조 means ‘swan’ and it goes to suggest that women are more graceful about her situation. Regardless of how graceful one can be about their unemployment, I am sure none of us want to be called a jobless bum. So, make sure you work hard so you don’t end up being labeled either a 백수 or a 백조. Fighting!

여러분은 ‘백수’라는 말을 알고 있나요? ‘백수’란, ‘아무 것도 하고 있지 않은 사람’, ‘직업이 없는 사람’이고 ‘백조’는 같은 뜻으로 여자를 칭하는 단어입니다. 내가 나를 소개할 때 ‘백수, 백조’라고 말하는 것은 상관 없지만 다른 사람에게 직접적으로 ‘백수, 백조’라는 말을 하는 것은 실례가 될 수 있으니 조심해야 합니다.