[Korean Culture & Language] Picky with faces


Hello, this is Uptempo Marketers!


Some people are more extroverted and comfortable around strangers than others. Many people who were shy as children ‘grow out of it’ and become more social as they become older. However, others prefer to remain shy. 

‘낯을 가린다 (picky with faces)’ means ‘shy or afraid of strangers’ in Korean. ‘낯’ means ‘face’, ‘가린다’ means to ‘hide’ or ‘picky’. Since these people are picky about who they are shy around (usually, strangers), the expression ‘낯을 가린다’ makes sense.

Ex) 저희 아이는 낯을 안 가려서 모든 사람에게 잘 웃어요.
My baby isn’t picky with faces (isn’t afraid of strangers), so she smiles at everyone.

Ex) 제가 처음 보는 사람과는 낯을 가려서, 죄송합니다.
I’m sorry, I’m picky with faces (I’m shy around strangers/ I’m introverted)


가리다 can also be used for food.

Ex) 음식 가리지 말고 다 잘 먹어야지
You shouldn’t be picky about food. 

Ex) 나는 음식을 가리지 않아
I’m not picky about food

Below video illustrates ‘낯 가리는 사람 특징 (The traits of the people who are introverts/shy around strangers)’

It starts out with a guy asking the main character, “우영이라고? 몇 년 생이야? (You said your name was Woo-young? When were you born?”

Woo-young replies, “공공 (공공 means 00, which means that he was born in 2000)”.

The guy says, “별것도 아닌데 뭐 그렇게 수줍게 얘기해? (That’s not a special thing to say. Why are you so shy?)”

Another guy asks “혹시 우영아, 기분 안 좋아? 내가 재밌는 얘기 해 줄까? (Are you not in a good mood, Woo-young? Should I tell you a funny story?)”

야 진지한 사람 앞에서 이상한 얘기 하지 마.
The first guy says again, “Hey, don’t joke around the guy who’s serious”.

Then finally Woo-young answer “아, 그게 아니고 (I mean, no.)”


Can you relate to ‘Woo-Young’?  

The girl in the video states at the end that ‘there’s nothing wrong with being an introvert or picky with faces (shy around strangers)’. Many studies have shown that talking with strangers can us happier, more connected to our communities, psychologically sharper, healthier, less lonely, and more trusting and hopeful. Everyone is different, though, and it’s perfectly OK to feel shy around strangers.


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