[Korean Culture & Language] Do it Right, Well, Flawlessly, and Tactfully.

Hello, this is Uptempo!


The expression ‘알잘딱깔센’ has become increasingly popular after BTS members have mentioned it on a variety web series called ‘달려라 방탄(Run BTS)’.

The following is a video clip from the series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISyurDSjrVE

The video shows a situation where RM and Jin pose a question to the other members, to which they must answer. 

RM says, ‘이게 웃기긴 할 것 같은데 (I think this would be funny),’ and Jin responds, ‘오케이 이거 한다 (Okay then, let’s do this one)’. Jin reads ‘알잘딱갈센’ to the group. 

Three of them scream for their chance to answer the question. When 지민 gets picked, he answers by saying, ‘알아서 잘 딱 깔끔하고 센스있게’.
‘알아서 하다’ means ‘Figure it out yourself,’
‘잘’ means ’well’
‘딱’ means ‘right’
‘깔끔하게’ means ‘flawlessly,’
‘센스있게’ means ‘tactfully’

Ex)
A: 그 회사는 디자인 어떤 식으로 해 달래?
What type of design are they looking for?
B: 뭐라고 했겠냐?
What do you think they said?
A: 음… 알잘딱깔센?
Umm… ‘Figure it out for yourself, do it right, well, flawlessly, and tactfully’?
B: 응. 항상 그렇듯이.
Yeah. As always.

Ex)

A: 내일 소영이랑 첫 데이트인데, 너 나 모솔인거 알잖아. 첫 데이트엔 뭐 해야해?
A: Tomorrow is my first date with So-Young. You know that I’ve never had a girlfriend before. What should I do on a first date?

B: 내가 무슨 너 데이트 하는 것까지 알려줘야해? 알잘딱깔센 해.
B: Why should I even help you with your dates? Figure it out for yourself, do it right, well, flawlessly, and tactfully.

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