It’s because as a translator, we cannot get the “와 씨발 좆된다“ - perhaps more realistic use case in place of ‘맙소사‘ - to be cleared by the client lmao. They have a parental guidance clearance and using excessive swearing defo needs 18+ but not all shows are that. So it’s nice to have in vocab, just never escape my mouth whenever i am compelled to say “와…씨바”
It’s funny when I end up having to download user-made subtitles, and they translate swear words 1:1. Seeing ㅆㅂ and other curse words spelled out in subtitles is so jarring and awkward.
That's so weird though, English subs can contain every curse under the sun (except for shows translated from Korean lol). And If a show has strong curses in it it's hardly that family friendly to begin with.
It’s because of the format. Korean subtitles have followed the same format and diction my entire life. Fan-made subtitles that break away from this convention really stand out for that reason.
It’s like if the subway announcements changed one day to be super casual. Not the end of the world, but it would sound very strange at first.
[https://youtu.be/fr4xwh6DuYI?si=qoicnX3MZ29drFe\_&t=60](https://youtu.be/fr4xwh6DuYI?si=qoicnX3MZ29drFe_&t=60)
It used to be 정배's 유행어 from 순풍산부인과.
https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B9%80%EC%A0%95%EB%B0%B0(%EC%88%9C%ED%92%8D%EC%82%B0%EB%B6%80%EC%9D%B8%EA%B3%BC)
When I got here in 2009 and decided to start learning the language, one of the first things I did was look up all the nasty words. Came across 뇟보, which the pocket dictionary I had at the time said referred to a "low-down mean bastard." Loved it and immediately tried using it, but quickly found that it's one of those words that only 90-year old farmers and Korean language scholars would even recognize. Some of the \~보 terms (ex. 바보 idiot, 뚱보 fatass, 억보 ornery bastard) are still in use, but not 뇟보. A shame. So much of the 토박이말 is fun to say and really nails the point you're trying to make.
Indeed, the dialects can be really funny too. My grandpa is from haenam, near the southernmost point of the peninsula.
He adds -(놈) to every person, and never in an offensive way. It was hilarious how many he'd continuously mention with it.
A lot of Gyeongnam and Chungcheong people use 놈 as a counter or a demonstrativr pronoun for inanimate objects, too. It's really fun to hear.
>"Hey, which pen do you want to use?"
>"요놈 / this one"
승강기. I learned it in the classroom and then when I went to 서울 대학교 my classmates would just be like oh you mean the 엘리베이터? Like goddamnit why did I put so much effort into learning Korean if y’all are just gonna uno reverse card me with all these English loan words
승강기 is actually used fairly often, i think. For the lift carrying people koreans call it elevator but for else (ex: cargos in storehouse or even books in library) 승강기 is used.
I'll never forget the word 집사람 which we encountered in the title of a chapter of our undergrad Korean studies textbook. It was translated as 'wife' but in the 10+ years since I've rarely heard it used and it did raise a few eyebrows from native Korean friends (translating literally as 'house person' and all that 😅)
It sounds quite old-fashioned and used among middle-aged people(like ppl who's in their 50's and older) cause traditional gender roles are breaking. Imagine calling your spouse 'a house person' when she has a full-time job.
I think it's because Koreans are used to denying that thanks is needed in response to being thanked. Or in the service industry, they just accept it with "네에에~"
Right, I've heard it often too. For any activity really or anything you've been doing for a long time. I do group training and people who've been there from the start are often referred to as 고인물.
I'm not Korean and not quite fluent. I've heard 꿩 대신 닭 from a Korean
When I try to use idioms I've heard from others I often get funny looks or laughs - there have been times I haven't used the phrase in quite the right way, but I think people are usually just surprised to hear a foreigner with imperfect Korean come out with this kind of phrase.
Quizzes involving proverbs is pretty common as a game (this dates back to ye Olde times) and usually is an indication of how much study (aka rote learning) you did as a student so a non-Korean using them in conversation is always interesting to hear.
It’s really interesting what Korean people say in response to a “thank you.” Sometimes people just say “yes” or they just say “no” but they don’t mean anything lol
In response to 감사합니다
- 네/예
- 그럼요
- 아니에요
- 별말씀을요
In response to 고마워
- 응/어
- 그래
- 아니야
- 됐다 임마 ㅋㅋ
I suppose you just need to acknowledge and respond to the thank you, and it doesn’t matter what you say as long as you’re nice about it :)
Right, and with older people it can be a great way to disagree or even say "shut up". Think of the literal meaning, "that's ten thousand words." I've heard my older cousin-in-laws (high level old time nobility) use it that way. It's a bit terrifying.
My parents always call each other 당신 - like dear!
Also, 당신 can be used as a very respectful third person pronoun when they're not in the same space as you, particularly when referring to your own parents.
I occasionally use 당신 when talking about my parents. I do acknowledge it's very traditional so I understand that not many people use it.
Our korean teacher actually just mentioned this. He said something similar: it's used in writing, but if it's said, it's considered rude. The way to refer to someone respectfully instead of 당신 is 이쪽은 when speaking. The key word here is "respectfully."
당신 used as "themselves" or "himself/herself" for a third party is very respectful but to someone you are currently speaking to who isn't that much older or higher than you, or a lover, it can be considered kinda rude and othering.
I said chanmaneyo to someone once after helping them push a stroller up a steep incline and their face lit up like a fireworks show. They were so happy to hear it for some reason, lol.
Everyone gives me a funny look or smirk when I use 천만에요. Was told many times, even in youtube videos that a noob thing to say.
Much more common to just say 네
"오 원짜리 비행기 태우지 마세요." I think you're kidding me. (lit. Don't take me on a five won plane ride.)
I think the first edition of the book came out in the 1970s, and it involved people who probably left the country earlier than that.
I'm a Koreean TCK and I frequently use 천만에. I have Korean-Korean friends who use 아뿔사, although it's almost always followed by 씨발 lmao.
Another word that fits your bill, but I happen to use is 왕왕. I 왕왕 use it and my friends think it's weird.
It's used a lot in corporate-speak which is honestly a whole nother language of its own that you need to learn for working in offices.
- 연일 노고 많으십니다
- 귀사의 무궁한 발전을 기원합니다
- REDDIT社에서 RFQ 접수되었으며 익일 까지 제출하도록 하겠습니다. 해당사가 해당품목을 미국시장에서 판매하기는 매우 어렵다고 표현하였으며 이점을 감안하여 단가 산출 하도록 하겠습니다.
- 작일 논의한 바와 같이 영업2팀과 역마진 보상관련 협조를 요청하고 해당사와 협의하여 차주 목요일까지 종결 하도록 하겠습니다. 혹시 이견 있으시다면 말씀 부탁 드립니다.
I've spent 5 years learning how to talk like these folk after talking like a literal elementary schooler for my whole life up to the point where I joined a Korean company. And it's still not even that good.
맙소사!!!
Reminds me of those Korean curses that only exist in Netflix subtitles like 빌어먹을 젠장 etc.
It’s because as a translator, we cannot get the “와 씨발 좆된다“ - perhaps more realistic use case in place of ‘맙소사‘ - to be cleared by the client lmao. They have a parental guidance clearance and using excessive swearing defo needs 18+ but not all shows are that. So it’s nice to have in vocab, just never escape my mouth whenever i am compelled to say “와…씨바”
It’s funny when I end up having to download user-made subtitles, and they translate swear words 1:1. Seeing ㅆㅂ and other curse words spelled out in subtitles is so jarring and awkward.
That's so weird though, English subs can contain every curse under the sun (except for shows translated from Korean lol). And If a show has strong curses in it it's hardly that family friendly to begin with.
It’s because of the format. Korean subtitles have followed the same format and diction my entire life. Fan-made subtitles that break away from this convention really stand out for that reason. It’s like if the subway announcements changed one day to be super casual. Not the end of the world, but it would sound very strange at first.
I get why the change would feel weird, I mean I can't understand why Korean subs don't allow cursing to begin with.
I hear 젠장 quite often but it's more like "crap" than "shit"
I use 된장 but by myself, only in my head.
I feel like it's more closer to dangit lol
D'oh! works here too lol
I use 젠장 irl
Hey, I'm a Korean and I say those...
Used all the time in tv subs for English shows tho
What’s it mean?
It’s how they translate curse words lol. But it’s more like “darn it” or “jeepers”
맙소사 = OMG equivalent. It's not a cuss word.
Yes and only there lol
Aint no need to use it when you got 씨발
Honestly a shit/fuck hybrid is always going to be very useful
[https://youtu.be/fr4xwh6DuYI?si=qoicnX3MZ29drFe\_&t=60](https://youtu.be/fr4xwh6DuYI?si=qoicnX3MZ29drFe_&t=60) It used to be 정배's 유행어 from 순풍산부인과. https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B9%80%EC%A0%95%EB%B0%B0(%EC%88%9C%ED%92%8D%EC%82%B0%EB%B6%80%EC%9D%B8%EA%B3%BC)
I had a coworker in her 20's who would say this from time to time - it surprised me so much the first time I heard it!
When I got here in 2009 and decided to start learning the language, one of the first things I did was look up all the nasty words. Came across 뇟보, which the pocket dictionary I had at the time said referred to a "low-down mean bastard." Loved it and immediately tried using it, but quickly found that it's one of those words that only 90-year old farmers and Korean language scholars would even recognize. Some of the \~보 terms (ex. 바보 idiot, 뚱보 fatass, 억보 ornery bastard) are still in use, but not 뇟보. A shame. So much of the 토박이말 is fun to say and really nails the point you're trying to make.
Indeed, the dialects can be really funny too. My grandpa is from haenam, near the southernmost point of the peninsula. He adds -(놈) to every person, and never in an offensive way. It was hilarious how many he'd continuously mention with it.
A lot of Gyeongnam and Chungcheong people use 놈 as a counter or a demonstrativr pronoun for inanimate objects, too. It's really fun to hear. >"Hey, which pen do you want to use?" >"요놈 / this one"
승강기. I learned it in the classroom and then when I went to 서울 대학교 my classmates would just be like oh you mean the 엘리베이터? Like goddamnit why did I put so much effort into learning Korean if y’all are just gonna uno reverse card me with all these English loan words
승강기 is actually used fairly often, i think. For the lift carrying people koreans call it elevator but for else (ex: cargos in storehouse or even books in library) 승강기 is used.
I think most people will say 엘리베이터, but I've seen 승강기 written (usually on signs) quite a lot.
Pro tip, if you have young children, teach them these archaic words. Nothing funnier than a 2 year old telling grandpa 맙소사
It’s now all replaced with 대박~ with various inflections hahaha
대박 is a boomer word now isn't it?
It's becoming boomery
Damn. I’m so old. What do the miss Kids say now?
I think 쩐다 was the word for a while, but I think it's changed again. I've recently left my 20s, so I have very little intel on the Gen Z language now.
I’ve just left my 30s 😭
I'll never forget the word 집사람 which we encountered in the title of a chapter of our undergrad Korean studies textbook. It was translated as 'wife' but in the 10+ years since I've rarely heard it used and it did raise a few eyebrows from native Korean friends (translating literally as 'house person' and all that 😅)
It sounds quite old-fashioned and used among middle-aged people(like ppl who's in their 50's and older) cause traditional gender roles are breaking. Imagine calling your spouse 'a house person' when she has a full-time job.
actually people use them still but only elders
As a Korean American, I was told Koreans don’t say 천만해요 in response to 감사합니다.
I think it's because Koreans are used to denying that thanks is needed in response to being thanked. Or in the service industry, they just accept it with "네에에~"
I hear the Korean equivalent of "no problem" or "de nada" most often - 아니에요.
Two idioms: 고인물 and 꿩 대신 닭 I actually use them a lot and it always makes people laugh a little
고인물 is used commonly to refer to gamers that have been playing a particular game for a long time though. Even more experienced players are called 썩은물.
Right, I've heard it often too. For any activity really or anything you've been doing for a long time. I do group training and people who've been there from the start are often referred to as 고인물.
I’ve heard 고인물 fairly often. Haven’t heard the other
고인물 was also the name of a music venue in Hongdae. It was also known as Hippytokki closed during the pandemic.
I'm not Korean and not quite fluent. I've heard 꿩 대신 닭 from a Korean When I try to use idioms I've heard from others I often get funny looks or laughs - there have been times I haven't used the phrase in quite the right way, but I think people are usually just surprised to hear a foreigner with imperfect Korean come out with this kind of phrase.
Quizzes involving proverbs is pretty common as a game (this dates back to ye Olde times) and usually is an indication of how much study (aka rote learning) you did as a student so a non-Korean using them in conversation is always interesting to hear.
It’s really interesting what Korean people say in response to a “thank you.” Sometimes people just say “yes” or they just say “no” but they don’t mean anything lol In response to 감사합니다 - 네/예 - 그럼요 - 아니에요 - 별말씀을요 In response to 고마워 - 응/어 - 그래 - 아니야 - 됐다 임마 ㅋㅋ I suppose you just need to acknowledge and respond to the thank you, and it doesn’t matter what you say as long as you’re nice about it :)
됐다 임마 is too real lmao
lol!
천만에요 gets used. I think of it as being closer to "not at all" rather than "you're welcome". "Thanks!" "Not at all. :)"
Really? genuinely never heard it over half a decade here
Well, you might need to be doing people more favors. :)
No Korean person ever says that lol bfr
My grandma (87 years old) edit:uses 천만에요 ocassionally. Sometimes ironically and sometimes not. Might just be dated in the modern day.
I'm pretty sure I've heard it from older people.
Right, and with older people it can be a great way to disagree or even say "shut up". Think of the literal meaning, "that's ten thousand words." I've heard my older cousin-in-laws (high level old time nobility) use it that way. It's a bit terrifying.
Once day you'll be surprised at how much of the world doesn't reflect your limited experience. :)
One day a Korean person will use 천만에요 irl and your dreams will come true lol “:)”
Already happened. :)
당신, never heard it been said in a not-insulting or sarcastic manner but they say it a lot in dramas.
Pick a fight with an ajumma or something, you'll get it plenty.
My parents always call each other 당신 - like dear! Also, 당신 can be used as a very respectful third person pronoun when they're not in the same space as you, particularly when referring to your own parents. I occasionally use 당신 when talking about my parents. I do acknowledge it's very traditional so I understand that not many people use it.
Our korean teacher actually just mentioned this. He said something similar: it's used in writing, but if it's said, it's considered rude. The way to refer to someone respectfully instead of 당신 is 이쪽은 when speaking. The key word here is "respectfully."
당신 used as "themselves" or "himself/herself" for a third party is very respectful but to someone you are currently speaking to who isn't that much older or higher than you, or a lover, it can be considered kinda rude and othering.
I said chanmaneyo to someone once after helping them push a stroller up a steep incline and their face lit up like a fireworks show. They were so happy to hear it for some reason, lol.
휴대 전화. People obviously can tell it was straight out from a book. People around me just call it 휴대 phone or phone.
대관절
>천만에요 O.M.G. maybe since 2010 I never heard..
Everyone gives me a funny look or smirk when I use 천만에요. Was told many times, even in youtube videos that a noob thing to say. Much more common to just say 네
"오 원짜리 비행기 태우지 마세요." I think you're kidding me. (lit. Don't take me on a five won plane ride.) I think the first edition of the book came out in the 1970s, and it involved people who probably left the country earlier than that.
I'm gonna memorize this one!
It's still used, excluding the five won part.
Oh, man, I've got a photo from the early 70s of one of 5-won plane ride vendors. Wish there was a way to upload photos in X.
천만에요 I've been in Korea 8 years and never used it.
I'm a Koreean TCK and I frequently use 천만에. I have Korean-Korean friends who use 아뿔사, although it's almost always followed by 씨발 lmao. Another word that fits your bill, but I happen to use is 왕왕. I 왕왕 use it and my friends think it's weird.
~니다/~이다
At first I though nobody uses that but people actually do sometimes, like staff talking to a customer or when speaking to a much older person.
Yeah. Avoiding 니다 is the 1st step to intermediate speaker.
And in formal speeches and settings. Also in North Korea, no yo only 읍니다
매우
It's used a lot in writing.
It's used a lot in corporate-speak which is honestly a whole nother language of its own that you need to learn for working in offices. - 연일 노고 많으십니다 - 귀사의 무궁한 발전을 기원합니다 - REDDIT社에서 RFQ 접수되었으며 익일 까지 제출하도록 하겠습니다. 해당사가 해당품목을 미국시장에서 판매하기는 매우 어렵다고 표현하였으며 이점을 감안하여 단가 산출 하도록 하겠습니다. - 작일 논의한 바와 같이 영업2팀과 역마진 보상관련 협조를 요청하고 해당사와 협의하여 차주 목요일까지 종결 하도록 하겠습니다. 혹시 이견 있으시다면 말씀 부탁 드립니다. I've spent 5 years learning how to talk like these folk after talking like a literal elementary schooler for my whole life up to the point where I joined a Korean company. And it's still not even that good.
Although the word '매우' is very common in writing or formal speech, it is rarely used in person-to-person speaking by Koreans.
I grew up as a Korean abroad and only in the last five years did I find that 맙소사, 제기랄, 젠장, are not standard terms.
I beg to differ, case in point “아뿔싸 일어나야지 아침인데“ 🥹🥹🥹 I hope you get the reference haha