[Korean Culture & Language] Switching between the liver and the gallbladder
Hello, this is Uptempo!
“Saving face” has always been a very important part of Korean culture. Most Koreans try hard to “체면을 세우다 (build one’s face),” and “체면을 지키다 (maintain one’s face),” and not to “체면을 잃다 or 체면을 구기다 (lose one’s face).”
‘세우다’ means ‘to build’
‘지키다’ means ‘to keep’
‘잃다’ means ‘to lose’
‘구기다’ means ‘to crumple’ or ‘to damage’
‘Saving one’s face’ means ‘to build one’s reputation,’ ‘maintaining’ one’s face’ means ‘to keep one’s reputation,” and ‘losing one’s face’ means ‘to lose or damage one’s reputation.’
However, some people are more concerned about their profit than “saving or maintaining their face.” They “간에 붙었다 쓸개에 붙었다 한다.”
‘간’ means ‘liver’
‘붙다’ means ‘to stick’
‘쓸개’ means ‘gallbladder’
It is directly translated to “It sticks to the liver for a second and then moves to the gallbladder to stick to it for another.” It describes the behavior of someone who switches between two opposing teams or groups for completely selfish reasons. They are usually unashamed about betraying their original team or party.
Ex)
A: 민희랑 서아랑 사이 안 좋지 않아?
A: It doesn’t seem like Minhee and Seoah are on good terms. Are they?
B: 맞아. 작년부터 아예 같이 안 다니더라.
B: They are not. I’ve never seen them at lunch together after the big fight last year.
A: 근데 민아는 민희랑도 먹고 서아랑도 먹고 그러네?
A: But I’ve seen Mina eating lunch with both Minhee and Seoah.
B: 걔 원래 그날 기분 따라 간에 붙었다 쓸개에 붙었다 해.
B: She sticks to the liver one day and switches to the gallbladder the next.
A: 민희가 간이고 서아가 쓸개야? ㅋㅋ
A: Oh, is Minhee the liver and Seoah the gallbladder? Lol
Do you ever try to ‘save or maintain your face’? Do you know of anyone who “switches between the liver and the gallbladder”? Feel free to share your story in the comment section below!
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