[Korean Culture & Language] Speak like a barley cake


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직장인 스킬 - 개떡같이 말해도 찰떡같이 알아듣기

For many people, it’s easier to start a relationship than to keep one, and bad communication is one of the most common causes of a breakup. 

One of Korea’s best-selling books in 2019 is titled ‘개떡같이 말하면 개떡같이 알아듣습니다’. 

개떡 is a steamed rice cake made with barley powder, sesame seeds, and barley bran. 알아듣다 means to understand. So, if you were to translate the sentence directly, it would be: ‘If you spoke like a barley cake, I would understand it like a barley cake’. 


Compared to other 떡(rice cakes), 개떡 is more rustic than fancy. It is also usually prepared with minimal effort. For that reason, it is often used to describe a situation where someone ‘talks without considering the effects of their words, or without making any effort to ensure that the other person understands what they are trying to convey’.

The title of the book is a play on an old saying in Korea: ‘개떡같이 말 해도 찰떡같이 알아들어라 (Even when I talk about a barley cake, you should understand that I’m actually talking about a mochi)’. It means: ‘Even if I explain poorly about something(개떡), You should understand exactly what I’m trying to convey’.

Unfortunately, many Koreans in positions of power have this mindset because of the 상명하복(When seniors order, juniors must obey) culture. As a result of their acts, people who work beneath them suffer. 

However, for a better work culture or interaction with others, people should start ‘talking like a 찰떡 in order to convey 찰떡’.

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