[Korean Culture & Language] Foxes and bears

Hello, this is Uptempo!


In Korea there is a saying ‘여우 같은 여자랑은 살아도 곰 같은 여자랑은 못산다’. 


It means ‘You can live with a fox-like girl, but not with a bear-like girl’. The word ‘fox’ in Western countries has qualities like cleverness and attractiveness. If you call someone a ‘silver fox’ it refers to ‘a handsome middle-aged guy with gray or white hair’. 


Photo by Yuriy Chemerys on Unsplash

Likewise, calling someone a ‘여우(fox)’ in Korea means they are charming, usually with a lot of ‘애교(acting adorable, especially to get their way or something they want)’.

애교 includes babyish behaviors, voice, hand gestures, and facial expressions. Even though those behaviors are frowned upon in many Western cultures, Korean men love ‘애교’. So, having a lot of ‘애교’ or being a ‘여우’ implies that they are likely to attract men’s attention. 


Since ‘애교’ is often done to get what they want, however, calling someone a ‘여우’ can also mean that someone is cunning and manipulative. 


Ex) 너 완전 여우야. 이번엔 뭘 했길래 사귀지도 않는데 저렇게 만날 때 마다 선물 공세를 해?

You’re such a fox. What have you done to him this time that he buys you presents every time you see each other? You guys are not even a couple yet.




‘곰 같은 여자 (bear-like girls)’, on the other hand, refer to those who are down to earth but terrible at flirting. They also often lack ‘눈치 (the ability to read the room)’.


Ex) 이 곰탱아, 나 너 3년 넘게 좋아했는데 아직도 눈치 못 챘어? 

You are such a bear. I’ve had a crush on you for the last three years. You really had no idea?


Which one do you think you are? Are you more of a bear or a fox?

 

댓글

댓글 쓰기

이 블로그의 인기 게시물

[Korean Culture & Language] Impulsiveness and MBTI

이미지
Hello, this is Uptempo! The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) has become increasingly popular in Korea in 2020, owing to people’s boredom due to the COVID-19 quarantine. Since the spring, MBTI feeds have been readily available on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms.   Below is a popular meme titled ‘ #MBTI 충동 (MBTI Impulsiveness) ’. This meme jokingly illustrates how ‘ 충동적인 (impulsive)’ each MBTI types are.   https://ddnews.co.kr/mbti-%EC%A7%A4-%EB%B0%88/ It reads: 전혀 충동적이지 않음 (Not impulsive at all): ENTJ, ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTJ 평균적으로 충동적임 (Average impulsivity): INTJ, INFJ, ENFJ, ESFJ 너무 충동적 (Very impulsive): INTP, INFP, ISTP, ISFP 엄청나게 충동적 (Extremely impulsive): ENTP, ENFP, ESTP, ESFP 전혀 means ‘ not at all ,’ 평균적으로 means ‘ to an average level ,’ 너무 means ‘ very , ’ 엄청나게 means ‘ extremely ’.   The above meme is another illustration of impulsiveness by MBTI types. ENFP says “ 요즘 자수가 너무 배우고 싶어 (I want to learn how to embroider). 근데 나 소묘도 배워...
자세한 내용 보기

[Korean Culture & Language] Switching between the liver and the gallbladder

이미지
Hello, this is Uptempo! “Saving face” has always been a very important part of Korean culture. Most Koreans try hard to “ 체면을 세우다 (build one’s face),” and “ 체면을 지키다 (maintain one’s face),” and not to “ 체면을 잃다 or 체면을 구기다 (lose one’s face).” ‘ 세우다 ’ means ‘to build’ ‘ 지키다 ’ means ‘to keep’ ‘ 잃다 ’ means ‘to lose’ ‘ 구기다 ’ means ‘to crumple’ or ‘to damage’ ‘Saving one’s face’ means ‘to build one’s reputation,’ ‘maintaining’ one’s face’ means ‘to keep one’s reputation,” and ‘losing one’s face’ means ‘to lose or damage one’s reputation.’ However, some people are more concerned about their profit than “saving or maintaining their face.” They “ 간에 붙었다 쓸개에 붙었다 한다. ” ‘ 간 ’ means ‘liver’ ‘ 붙다 ’ means ‘to stick’ ‘ 쓸개 ’ means ‘gallbladder’ It is directly translated to “It sticks to the liver for a second and then moves to the gallbladder to stick to it for another.” It describes the behavior of someone who switches between two opposing teams or groups for completely selfish reasons. The...
자세한 내용 보기

[Korean Culture & Language] Washing one's Identity

이미지
Hello, this is Uptempo! In July 2021, a Chinese man in his 50s got arrested for killing two people in China and fleeing to Korea. It took years to catch him because he has ‘ 신분세탁 (washed his identity) ’ . Photo by   Jeremy Sallee   on   Unsplash https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/24104555#home According to Korea JoongAng Daily, this murderer killed two people in Yantai, Shandong Province, China in 1987, when he was 20. While hiding in China, he made a new passport after ‘ 신분세탁 (washing his identification) ’. He entered Korea in 2016, and has obtained a permanent residency (F5) visa by marrying a Chinese woman who had obtained Korean citizenship a while back. The term 신분세탁 (Washing one’s identity) refers to a person’s attempt to conceal their prior identity to rebuild a new life . Prostitutes and ex-convicts, for example, are likely to strive to 신분세탁 (rebuild their lives by concealing the fact that they have ever committed a crime or worked as a prostitute).   Belo...
자세한 내용 보기