[Korean Culture & Language] Thirty different ways to say 넵

 

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The highly competitive and hierarchical nature of Korean society expects people to do a good 사회생활.

사회생활 is literally translated as “social life,” but it actually means to ingratiate oneself with someone to be accepted by (or get approval from) them. People who are good at 사회생활 usually have 눈치. 눈치 is the ability to read between the lines. Since Korea is an extremely high-context culture, reading between the lines is important, especially when dealing with someone above you. 

If 눈치 is too hard, 상명하복(https://uptempom.blogspot.com/2021/11/korean-culture-language_75.html) may be an easier way to become a 사회생활-master.

There are even different ways to write ‘yes’ to your boss. “네” is usually the most common and polite way to say “yes”. However, many younger people use “넵” at work today in order to show their determination and commitment.

The below meme explains 30 different ways to use “넵”.

The first ‘넵’ is a regular ‘넵’. You can use it to someone who is close to you but is still above you. The second ‘넵!” with an exclamation mark is the most enthusiastic way to write “yes”. This is usually for an important client or your boss. The third “네엡” is used when you’ve already written “넵” so many times that it’s too repetitive to use again. It is a more carefully crafted word since it needs a little more effort to write “네엡” than “넵”. The fourth “넵~” is like the third one but with a symbol. 

’네?’ is like “What?” It can be used if you’re ready to fight your boss. Someone who uses ‘네!’ is likely to be fresh out of college since she/he doesn’t have a “넵” syndrome. “넵.” shows determination.

“넵.. ”with two dots is used when you’re disappointed or the boss asked you to submit the work again. “넵…” with three dots is used when something you’re asked of is impossible or affects your personal life too much.

One of my favorites is the 24th “네뷰”. It’s a typo from typing “넵ㅠ,” which is a “yes” with a crying emoji(ㅠ). Because when you’re busy, you’re likely to type something fast. If you type 넵ㅠ quickly in Korean it comes out as “네뷰”. It shows that you’re putting forth effort in both your work and your responses to your boss’s messages.

This meme is funny because many people can relate to it. 

You can use the word ‘눈치’ and ‘사회생활’ outside work, too. If someone is good at flattering others to be accepted, you say “너 사회생활 잘 한다 (You’re good at 사회생활)”. If someone is good at reading the room or reading between the lines, you say “우와, 너 눈치가 빠르다 (Wow, you’re good at reading between the lines)”. 

It’s not always a good thing to be good at 사회생활 or have a good 눈치 though. It means you try too hard to be accepted instead of being yourself. 

Finding a balance in life is always important.