[Korean Culture & Language] Buying troubles

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When someone behaves or acts in a way that is likely to cause problems, difficulty, or danger for themselves, Westerners say “One is asking for trouble”. In Korea, there’s an expression ‘사서 고생하다,’ which is directly translated to ‘buying the trouble/suffering’. It refers to one’s decision to face a challenge even when there are easier options.

Photo by Keagan Henman on Unsplash

Ex)
A: 저거 다정이 아니야?
A: Isn’t that Da-Jeong?

B: 맞는 것 같은데.
B: I think that is.

A: 다정아!
A: Hey, Da-Jeong!

C: 어? 안녕! 너네가 여기 어쩐일이야?
C: Oh, hi! What are you guys doing here? 

B: 점심 먹으러 왔지. 언제부터 여기서 일 했어?
B: We came for lunch. How long have you worked here?

C: 어제부터! 한번 해 보고 싶어서.
C: Since yesterday! I wanted to try serving.

A: 너 부모님이 일주일에 $100씩 주시잖아. 돈이 더 필요해?
A: Your parents give you $100 per week. Do you need more money?

C: 아니, 그런건 아니고. 그냥 서빙 한번도 안 해 봐서 궁금했어.
C: No, I just wanted to try it since I’ve never done it before.

A: 너는 참 항상 고생을 사서 하는 것 같아.
A: You always seem to ‘buy troubles/decide to do something more difficult when you have easier options.

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