손절 vs 거리두다 뜻: Cut Off or Keep Distance?
Learn 손절 vs 거리두다 with a relationship-distance scale, common chat fixes, and softer rewrites that keep boundaries—master
Use a relationship-distance scale to choose 손절 vs 거리두다, with 5 “too cold” chat traps and softer rewrites that keep the same boundary.
A real KakaoTalk moment: someone keeps crossing a line, and a friend types 손절sonjeol like it’s a button. But in Korean, picking 손절sonjeol vs 거리두다georiduda changes not just meaning—your relationship temperature.
Quick answer
손절sonjeol is cutting someone off (final), while 거리두다georiduda is creating distance (still reversible).
Quick cheat sheet
Expressions in this post
When it’s the right choice
Use 손절sonjeol when you’re signaling a clean break: you don’t want ongoing contact, updates, or emotional labor. It’s common in meme-y chat, but it can land as cold or humiliating if you say it directly to the person.
A quick relationship-distance scale:
- 0 = close (you want more connection)
- 1 = mildly annoyed (you just need a pause)
- 2 = distance (less contact, less access)
- 3 = boundaries (rules, not rejection)
- 4 = cut off (no contact)
손절sonjeol lives at 4.
Minimal pairs (vs 거리두다)
거리두고 싶어.georidugo sipeo. — I want some space (not a breakup).손절할게.sonjeolhalge. — I’m cutting you off (relationship-ending).
If you still want the option to reconnect later, 손절sonjeol is usually too strong.
Examples
걔는 진짜 손절해야 돼.gyaeneun jinjja sonjeolhaeya dwae. — You really need to cut them off.나 그 사람이랑 손절했어.na geu saramirang sonjeolhaesseo. — I cut ties with that person.손절각이다.sonjeolgagida. — This is a “time to cut them off” situation.
When it’s the right choice
Use 거리두다georiduda when you want less access, less frequency, or less emotional closeness—without declaring “we’re over.” It works well for “I’m protecting my peace” situations, and it’s much safer in mixed settings (friends + coworkers) where you can’t or shouldn’t blow things up.
A common trap: learners use 거리두다georiduda to mean “block them.” Koreans usually hear it as “keep some distance,” not “erase them from existence.”
Minimal pairs (vs 손절)
요즘은 좀 거리두는 중이야.yojeumeun jom georiduneun juiya. — Lately I’m keeping some distance (soft, ongoing).이건 손절이지.igeon sonjeoriji. — This is cutting them off (hard, final).
When you’re annoyed but still need to coexist (same group chat, same workplace, same friend circle), 거리두다georiduda is often the adult choice.
Examples
요즘 그 친구랑은 좀 거리두고 있어.yojeum geu chinguraeun jom georidugo isseo. — These days I’m keeping some distance from that friend.일단 거리를 두자.ildan georireul duja. — Let’s keep some space for now.그 사람이랑은 거리두는 게 좋겠어.geu saramiraeun georiduneun ge jotgesseo. — It’d be better to keep some distance from that person.
Comparison table
| 손절 | 거리두다 | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Cut ties; end the relationship | Create space; reduce contact |
| Tone | Harsh, meme-ish, final | Neutral, mature, reversible |
| Safer in workplace? | Rarely | Often |
| Common mistake | Using it for small annoyance | Using it when you truly mean “no contact” |
8 common chat fixes (wrong → right)
나 너 손절할게.na neo sonjeolhalge. — too final →나 요즘은 좀 거리두려고 해.na yojeumeun jom georiduryeogo hae. — I’m going to keep some distance lately.손절해.sonjeolhae. (to a friend about someone minor) — escalates fast →일단 거리를 두는 게 어때?ildan georireul duneun ge eottae? — How about creating some space first?나 그 사람 차단했어. 거리뒀어.na geu saram chadanhaesseo. georidwosseo. — “distance” ≠ “block” →나 그 사람 차단했어.na geu saram chadanhaesseo. — I blocked them.회사 사람 손절함.hoesa saram sonjeolham. — sounds reckless →회사에서는 그분이랑은 좀 거리를 두고 지내.hoesaeseoneun geubuniraeun jom georireul dugo jinae. — At work I keep some distance.너무 불편해서 손절각.neomu bulpyeonhaeseo sonjeolgak. — feels dramatic →너무 불편해서 당분간 거리를 두는 게 좋겠어.neomu bulpyeonhaeseo dangbungan georireul duneun ge jotgesseo. — It’s so uncomfortable; better to keep space for a while.나랑 손절할래?narang sonjeolhalrae? — threatens the relationship →우리 잠깐만 거리 두고 생각하자.uri jamkkanman geori dugo saenggakhaja. — Let’s take a bit of space and think.손절은 아니고…sonjeoreun anigo… (then says “never talk again”) — mismatch →손절할 정도는 아닌데, 연락은 줄이려고.sonjeolhal jeongdoneun aninde, yeonrageun juriryeogo. — Not a cut-off, but I’ll message less.거리두자.georiduja. (when you mean “stop contacting me”) — too vague →앞으로는 연락하지 말아줘.apeuroneun yeonrakhaji marajwo. — Please don’t contact me anymore.
Decision tree
If you mean “I’m done, no more access” → use 손절. If you mean “I want less contact/less closeness” → use 거리두다.
Three-branch version for real life texting:
- Cut off completely →
손절sonjeol - Create distance (still reversible) →
거리두다georiduda - Set boundaries but keep the relationship →
선 긋다seon geutda /선을 긋다seoneul geutda
Rewrite drill: 5 “too cold” traps → softer, same boundary
-
Too cold:
너 손절할게.neo sonjeolhalge. — I’m cutting you off. Softer:당분간 연락은 어려울 것 같아.dangbungan yeonrageun eoryeoul geot gata. — I don’t think I can be in touch for a while. -
Too cold:
그만 연락해.geuman yeonrakhae. — Stop messaging me. Softer:지금은 대화가 부담스러워서, 연락을 좀 줄이고 싶어.jigeumeun daehwaga budamseureowoseo, yeonrageul jom jurigo sipeo. — Talking feels heavy right now, so I want to reduce contact. -
Too cold:
너랑은 못 지내.neoraeun mot jinae. — I can’t be around you. Softer:우린 요즘 자꾸 부딪혀서, 잠깐 거리를 두는 게 좋겠어.urin yojeum jakku budithyeoseo, jamkkan georireul duneun ge jotgesseo. — We keep clashing lately; it’d be better to take some space. -
Too cold:
단톡에서 나가.dantogeseo naga. — Leave the group chat. Softer:단톡에서는 그 얘기는 그만하자.dantogeseoneun geu yaegineun geumanhaja. — Let’s stop that topic in the group chat. -
Too cold:
너랑 끝.neorang kkeut. — We’re done. Softer:난 지금 내 페이스가 필요해. 당분간은 거리를 둘게.nan jigeum nae peiseuga piryohae. dangbunganeun georireul dulge. — I need my own pace right now; I’ll keep some distance for a while.
Next steps
- Pick the better word: You still have to be in the same group chat next month, but you want less access → write one sentence using
거리두다georiduda. - Softening practice: Rewrite
너 손절할게.neo sonjeolhalge. into two kinder options that keep the boundary (one short, one longer).
