[Korean Culture & Language] Jealousy and stomachache



Hello, this is Uptempo!

Be’O, a South Korean rapper who became famous after releasing his song “Counting Stars” in 2021, continues to enjoy success in 2022 thanks to his most recent single, ‘자격지심 (Inferiority Complex).’ ‘자격지심’ has quickly reclaimed the number one spot in the charts.

The lyrics contain the phrase “주위 사람의 성공이 배 아파.” It is directly translated to “Successful people around me give me a stomachache.” 

Do you remember the expression, “사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다,” which is directly translated to “One gets stomachache when their cousin buys land?’ It illustrates a situation where one becomes jealous of someone else’s success or good fortune. Simply saying “배 아프다” also imply that one is jealous.

Ex)
A: 수학 시험 잘 봤어?
A: How did you do on the math test?
B: 망했어… D 나왔더라.
B: I didn’t do well at all. I got a D.
A: 그 전날 너랑 민지랑 같이 술 마시고 놀지 않았어? 걔는 이번에 A 받았던데.
A: Didn’t you and Min-ji go out drinking the night before? She’s got an A.
B: 그러니까. 어떻게 같이 놀았는데 걔만 시험을 잘 봤지?
B: I know. We both drank the night before the test. How did she do so well?
A: 너 배 아프겠다.
A: I bet you have a stomachache (I bet you’re jealous).
B: 조금…?
B: I guess, a little…

Have you ever had a “stomachache” due to someone’s success? Please share your experience in the comment below.

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