[Korean Culture & Language] This is the life

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마스크팩 잘못 섞음 혐짤 주의

The above meme has become popular because it’s probably what almost everyone in the whole world can agree on. It is titled ‘직장인 퇴근 후 딜레마,’ which is translated as ‘The dilemma that everyone encounters after getting off from work’.

‘직장인’ often refers to ‘office workers,’ but it can include all types of workers.

‘퇴근’ means ‘to get off from work’

‘후’ means ‘after’

‘딜레마’ is ‘dilemma’


It reads: 1. 밤에 하고 싶은 걸 한다 (Spends the night doing whatever one wishes) -> 정신만족 (satisfied emotionally) + 육체 피로 (fatigued physically) -> 기분은 괜찮은데 너무 피곤하다 이게 사람 삶인가 (Emotionally satisfied but physically exhausted. ‘Is this how a human life supposed to be?’) -> 다음날 스트레스 (Stressed out the next day).


2. 밤에 그냥 잔다 (Go to bed early at night) -> 정신 불만족(Dissatisfied emotionally) + 육체 멀쩡 (Feeling okay physically) -> 집 회사 집 회사라니 살 맛 안 난다 (Repetitive life of going to work, making money, and coming home depletes one’s drive to live.) -> 다음날 스트레스 (Stressed out the next day).


‘살맛 난다’ directly translates to ‘It’s tasty to live’ 

‘살’ means ‘to live’

‘맛 난다’ means ‘tasty’ or ‘able to taste’.

‘살맛 난다’ means ‘it’s worth living,’ or ‘This is the life!’

On the other hand, ‘살맛 안 난다’ means ‘I don’t feel like my life is worth living’.


How much do you agree with the meme?

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