[Korean Culture & Language] Reusing Compliments

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People sometimes pay their card bill with another credit card by using a ‘balance transfer’ or ‘cash advance.’ This is called ‘돌려막기’ in Korean.


The term ‘돌려막기’ is also used as slang to describe a situation where people reuse gifts.


Ex)

A: 주한이가 선물 준거 풀어봤는데, 이거 소현이가 주한이에게 준 생일선물 아니야? = I opened the present that Joo-han gave me. Isn’t this what Joo-han received for his birthday from So-hyun?

B: 주한이 걔 항상 선물 돌려막기 하잖아. 몰랐어? = He recycles his presents all the time. Did you not realize that?
A: 와… 진짜 쪼잔하다 = Wow… He’s cheap.



Below video is titled ‘K-칭찬 특) 칭찬 돌려막기 함’

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DMKmYCJDing


It is translated to: ‘Characteristics of compliments in Korea: People recycle compliments’


The guy in the video says,

“그림을 너무 잘 그렸어. 그러면 ‘우와~ 이거 사진같아요.” = When a painting looks amazing, then you’d say, ‘Wow, this painting looks like a picture.’

He continues, “너무 멋있는 사진이야. ‘우와 이거 그림 같아요.” = When a picture looks amazing, then you’d say, ‘Wow, this looks like a painting.’

“인형이 너무너무 진짜 같아. 그러면 ‘헐. 이거 사람 같아.” = When a doll is well-made, then you’d say, ‘Wow, this looks like a real person.’

“근데, 사람이 너무 이뻐. 그러면 야 얘 인형같아.” = When a person looks pretty, then you say, ‘Hey, she looks like a doll.’


Have you ever ‘돌려막기(reused)’ compliments before?

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