[Korean Culture & Language] Acting Cute

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Yumi's Cells is a popular Korean drama that portrays the daily life of an ordinary office worker through the eyes of her brain cells, which regulate every thought, sensation, and action she has.

source: http://tvn.tving.com/tvn

Yumi, the main character, is an average woman, except that her ‘사랑세포(love-cell)’ has been in a coma for a while as a result of her traumatic relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who cheated on her. Yumi’s 사랑세포, however, gets healed once she meets a guy named Goo Woong. She rediscovers how to love again.


One of the famous scenes from the drama is where Ruby teaches Yumi how to ‘애교(act cute)’ toward a guy she likes. ‘애교’ literally translates to ‘behaving in a flirty, coquette-like manner,’ and usually, both male and female K-pop idols are expected to perform it. 

The first ‘애교’ skill Ruby has suggested Yumi was ‘내 어깨에 스파이크(a whack on his shoulder)’. Ruby told Yumi to laugh and give a playful whack on his shoulder.

She continued and said ‘애교는 타고 나는게 아닌 노력의 산물이에요 (‘애교’ is not something you are born with; you must work hard to get it)’.

The second ‘애교’ skill recommended by Ruby was ‘패트병 따기(Opening a bottle)’. Ruby advised Yumi to act as though she couldn’t open a bottle of soda. While Yumi tried to apply this skill, the bottle exploded instead because she forgot that she had shaken the bottle. Even though she failed the skill that Ruby had taught her, Goo Woong still thought that she was cute.

Some 애교s can be more natural than others. What do you think of an 애교? Do K-pop idols’ 애교 annoy you or do you think they are cute?




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