Untranslatable wordSocial
Korean
KoreanNunchi
Meaning: The subtle art of reading a room — sensing what people feel, what they need, and what is unsaid, then responding with perfect tact.
Literally: Eye-measure
Origin: Korean 눈치; considered an essential social skill in Korean culture.
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- 저 분은 백 법학박사이고 이 분은 박 법학박사이다. (Jeo buneun Baek beopakbaksa igo, i buneun Bak beopakbaksa ida.) Baek and Bak are a single vowel apart, and 법학박사 piles four stop consonants into one title.
- 간장 공장 공장장은 장 공장장이고 된장 공장 공장장은 강 공장장이다. (Ganjang gongjang gongjangjang eun Jang gongjangjang igo, doenjang gongjang gongjangjang eun Gang gongjangjang ida.) A 'gong/jang/gang' syllable storm — the two surnames (Jang/Gang) swap while the rest stay…
- 경찰청 철창살은 외철창살이고 검찰청 철창살도 외철창살이다. (Gyeongchalcheong cheolchangsal eun oe cheolchangsal igo, geomchalcheong cheolchangsal do oe cheolchangsal ida.) A 'cheong/cheol/chal' onslaught — Korean's aspirated stops and affricates in relentless s…
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