[Korean Culture & Language] An Axe Syndrome


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In Korea, someone who is too conceited is called to have ‘princess syndrome (공주병)’ or an ‘axe syndrome (도끼병)’. People with 공주병 or 도끼병 usually believe that everyone has a crush on them.

Koreans use the expression ‘병 (disease)’ to describe not only actual illnesses but also when someone is acting excessively in a certain way, generally leading to unpleasant consequences. “~것도 병이다” means “That has to be some kind of illness”. 

Ex) 

A: 걔 생일에 뭐 사줬어?
What did you get her for her birthday?

B: 루이비통 가방
Louis Vuitton purse
A: 뭐? 걔 아직 네 여친도 아닌데 그런 비싼 걸 사줘?
What? You buy her expensive stuff like that when she’s not even your girlfriend yet?

B: 걔가 생일 선물로 갖고 싶다고 하는데 어떡해
She specifically said that she wanted it for her birthday. So, she should have it.

A: 내가 말 했잖아. 걔가 돈 보고 너 이용 하는거라고
I told you she’s taking advantage of you for money.

B: 아니야, 걔 착하고 좋은 아이야
No, she isn’t. She’s a sweet girl.

A: 착한 것도 병이다
“Being overly nice must be some kind of illness (You’re being too nice to the point that it even seems like you have some kind of illness)”


The following YouTube video is from the famous Korean TV show ‘연애의참견(Love Naggers)’. The title reads “A girlfriend with an axe syndrome (도끼병), who thinks everyone (including a married man) has a crush on her.

She interrogates everyone’s behavior in a way that makes it appear as though they had a crush on her.

Even the most insignificant acts of kindness performed for her triggers her to assume that someone had a crush on her. “왜 단골 카페 오빠는 내 커피에만 빨대를 꽂아주는 걸까? (Why would the café staff give me straws when he doesn’t give anyone else straws?)”. She wrote on her Instagram  She also texted his boyfriend that a guy brought her hot coffee while he bought cold coffee for everyone else. “내가 아까 춥다고 한 거 듣고 그런듯? ㅠㅠ (I’m sure he heard me say I’m cold)”

It was found later that the friend who gave her hot coffee only did so because the others preferred iced coffee. 

Do you know of anyone who has a 도끼병, or any other type of 병?

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