정·눈치 뜻: Korean Culture Weekly Review

정jeong is the sticky, familiar affection that grows from time spent together—shared routines, favors, small memories. It’s not the same as “love,” and it’s not only romantic.

A common trap: thinking 정jeong means instant closeness. In Korean, 정jeong usually suggests history.

Examples:

• 정 들었어.jeong deureosseo. — I’ve grown attached.
• 정이 많다.jeoi manda. — They’re very warm-hearted.

눈치nunchi is your ability to sense what’s happening socially without it being said: mood, timing, hierarchy, and what would make things awkward.

Trap to avoid: translating 눈치 없다nunchi eopda as “stupid.” It’s more like “socially unaware,” and it can sound harsh if aimed directly at someone.

Examples:

• 눈치가 빠르네.nunchiga ppareune. — You catch on quickly.
• 눈치 좀 챙겨.nunchi jom chaenggyeo. — Read the room a bit.

회식hoesik is a team meal (sometimes with drinks) that’s meant to build rapport. Even when it’s “optional,” people may still read participation as a signal of teamwork.

Practical nuance: you can be polite without over-explaining. A short, clear reason usually works best.

Examples:

• 오늘 회식 있어요.oneul hoesik isseoyo. — We have a team dinner today.
• 회식은 다음에 갈게요.hoesigeun daeume galgeyo. — I’ll join next time.

막내maknae is the youngest or most junior person in a group. It can be affectionate, but it also implies expectations (being helpful, moving fast, doing small tasks).

Trap: calling yourself 막내maknae in a new group can sound like you’re claiming a role. Let others label it first.

Examples:

• 제가 막내예요.jega maknaeyeyo. — I’m the youngest/junior.
• 막내가 제일 바쁘다.maknaega jeil bappeuda. — The junior is the busiest.

선배seonbae is a senior in a shared context—school, workplace, hobby community. It’s not only “older”; it’s about being ahead within the same track.

Cultural note: in campus settings, people use 선배seonbae even before they know each other well.

Examples:

• 선배님, 잠깐 괜찮으세요?seonbaenim, jamkkan gwaenchanheuseyo? — Senior, do you have a moment?
• 우리 선배가 추천했어.uri seonbaega chucheonhaesseo. — A senior of ours recommended it.

후배hubae is a junior in the same context. It can sound warm when spoken about someone you look after, but it can also sound distant if you use it instead of their name.

Trap: saying “my 후배hubae” in English can feel neutral; in Korean it can imply rank. Use it carefully.

Examples:

• 후배가 들어왔어요.hubaega deureowasseoyo. — A junior joined (the team/group).
• 후배한테 물어볼게.hubaehante mureobolge. — I’ll ask a junior.

밥 먹었어?bap meogeosseo? is a classic “care check” in Korean. It can be a real question, but often it’s closer to “How are you holding up?”

Nuance: it’s casual. With someone you should be polite to, switch to 밥 드셨어요?bap deusyeosseoyo? (same idea, more respectful).

Examples:

• 밥 먹었어?bap meogeosseo? — Have you eaten?
• 아직, 바빠서.ajik, bappaseo. — Not yet, I’ve been busy.

김치국부터 마시다gimchigukbuteo masida means getting ahead of yourself—acting like success is guaranteed before it’s decided. It’s common in friendly advice.

Trap: if you say it too sharply, it can sound like you’re dismissing someone’s excitement. Keep the tone light.

Examples:

• 아직 결정도 안 났는데 김치국부터 마시지 마.ajik gyeoljeongdo an natneunde gimchigukbuteo masiji ma. — It’s not decided yet—don’t get ahead of yourself.
• 나 김치국부터 마신 것 같아.na gimchigukbuteo masin geot gata. — I think I jumped the gun.

눈치껏nunchikkeot means doing something “with good sense,” adjusting to context without being told. It’s often used when someone wants you to infer the right move.

Misunderstanding to avoid: it’s not about mind-reading details; it’s about choosing a safe, socially smooth option.

Examples:

• 눈치껏 좀 해.nunchikkeot jom hae. — Use some common sense (read the room).
• 눈치껏 자리 바꿨어.nunchikkeot jari bakkwosseo. — I switched seats appropriately.

말 놓다mal notda means switching to casual speech (반말) with someone. In Korean culture, suggesting this switch (for example, 우리 말 놓을까?uri mal noheulkka?) can signal closeness, so timing matters.

Trap: bringing it up too early can feel pushy. A soft question plus a reason (“we’re the same age,” “we’ve met a lot”) usually lands better.

Examples:

• 우리 말 놓을까?uri mal noheulkka? — Should we speak casually?
• 편하게 말 놔도 돼.pyeonhage mal nwado dwae. — You can speak casually.