여러분, 안녕하세요! Welcome to another episode of TOPIK & Beyond, where we not only prepare you for the TOPIK exam but also help you dive deeper into the heart of Korean language and culture. Today’s episode is a fun one—I promise!
Have you ever come across a Korean word that doesn’t quite translate into English or your native language? Words like 정 or 눈치? They carry so much meaning, yet they’re hard to explain with just one word. Well, today, we’ll be uncovering these “untranslatable” words and exploring what they reveal about Korean culture.
And don’t worry, this isn’t just a cultural lesson—we’ll also connect it to how these concepts can help you on the TOPIK exam. 준비됐나요? 그럼 시작해 봅시다!
🎵 [Cue Music] 🎵
다시 한 번 안녕하세요! 저는 엘라이자입니다. Welcome back to TOPIK & Beyond. I’m so happy you’re here today because this episode is one of my favorites.
Language and culture go hand in hand, and in Korean, there are certain words that reflect values and emotions unique to Korean society. If you’ve heard words like 정, 한, or 눈치, you’ve already touched on this idea. But what do these words really mean? And how can understanding them help you in your language learning journey—especially on the TOPIK exam? We’ll break it all down today. So, get comfy, grab your notebook, and let’s dive into the beauty of Korean expressions!
History/Story/Overview
여러분, 모두 이런 경험 해본 적 있죠? You’re learning Korean, you come across a word, and when you try to translate it into English—or your native language—you realize, “Wait, this word doesn’t have an exact translation!” It can be a bit frustrating, but it’s also fascinating because it’s a reminder that language and culture are deeply connected.
In Korean, just like any other language, certain words carry a meaning that goes beyond their literal definition. Take the word 정 for example. It’s often translated as "affection" or "attachment," but if you’ve been in Korea or interacted with Korean people, you’ll know it’s so much more than that. 정 is a feeling of deep emotional connection—like the bond you have with someone you’ve known for a long time, even if they’ve annoyed you at times. It’s tied to loyalty, warmth, and shared experiences.
For me, when I was first teaching, discovering these untranslatable expressions was like unlocking little doors to Korean society for my Korean learners. I never knew until when I first taught about 눈치, which means "social awareness" or "the ability to read the room," that how important it is in everyday life here. Whether you’re at a family gathering or in a meeting at work, 눈치 can dictate how people behave or what they say—and by realizing this, it helped Korean learners understand this concept to communicate more naturally and feel more connected to the culture.
These words also appear in Korean dramas, songs, and even in TOPIK exam contexts! You might find them in reading comprehension passages or essay prompts asking you to reflect on cultural values. For example, if a prompt asks you to discuss a concept unique to Korean society, understanding 정 or 한 can help you craft a thoughtful response.
So, as we go through today’s episode, I encourage you to think about how these words reveal deeper truths about Korean life. Let’s not just learn their definitions—we’ll also explore how to use them naturally and how they can give you an edge on the TOPIK exam.
Related Vocabulary, Phrases, and Grammar
이제 오늘의 중요한 단어들을 배워봅시다! These words are not only culturally significant but can also help you in conversations, writing, and even in the TOPIK exam. Let’s start with some untranslatable words that capture the essence of Korean life.
Vocabulary
1. 정 (jeong)
Definition: A deep emotional bond or affection that develops over time, often through shared experiences.
정 is one of the most beautiful words in Korean because it reflects a bond that isn’t based on logic or immediate attraction—it’s built over time through kindness and understanding.
Example: 친구와 오랜 시간 함께 지내면서 정이 들었어요. (Over time, I developed a deep emotional connection with my friend.)
2. 한 (han)
Definition: A complex feeling of deep sorrow, regret, resentment or perseverance, often stemming from collective or personal hardship.
You’ll see 한 in literature, music, and even dramas where characters persevere through hardship. Especially in dramas, you’ll be able to hear phrases like “내가 한이 맺혀서…!’, ‘한이 맺혀’ –-so, the phrase is ‘한이 맺히다’ meaning be filled with resentment. It’s a cultural concept that’s both painful and powerful.
Example: 한국의 전통 음악에는 한이 담겨 있어요. (Traditional Korean music carries the emotion of han.)
3. 눈치 (nunchi)
Definition: The ability to read social cues or "situational awareness."
눈치 is essential in Korean society. It’s not just about understanding what people say—it’s about sensing what they don’t say that may or may not show through the action (sometimes individually and also sometimes in collective settings). You can’t learn this in a textbook, but practicing it can help you understand cultural context better.
Example: 눈치가 빠르다 - 눈치가 빨라야 사람들과 잘 지낼 수 있어요. (You need quick nunchi to get along well with others.)
4. 새벽 (saebyeok)
Definition: The time between midnight and dawn, often seen as a quiet, reflective part of the day.
In Korean culture, 새벽 can symbolize both beginnings and endings. It’s a common setting in poetry and songs, reflecting solitude, reflection, or hope for a new day. Just for info, this may be different from person to person, but I’d say 새벽 is between 1am to 5am because that’s the way how we express time—새벽 1시 비행기야 / 새벽 4시 비행기야, etc.
Example: 새벽에 산책하면 마음이 차분해져요. (Taking a walk at dawn calms my mind.)
5. 흥 (heung)
Definition: A sense of joy, excitement, or rhythm, often (but not only) connected to music, dance, or festivities.
흥 is the spark of excitement you feel at a situation. I say ‘situation’ because this excitement can be at a festival, while dancing, but it can be even when singing karaoke with friends. It’s not just joy—it’s contagious energy! If you see those K-entertainment shows, you can sometimes hear comments like ‘저 친구는 흥이 많아요’ meaning that friend has a lot of joy/excitement, which is a skill especially in the entertainment world because you need that contagious energy to give to the crowd!
Example: 축제에서 사람들의 흥이 넘쳤어요. (The festival was overflowing with excitement and energy.)
6. 시원섭섭하다 (siwon-seopseop-hada)
Definition: A bittersweet feeling, often experienced when saying goodbye or completing something significant.
This is actually 시원하다 and 섭섭하다 put together. So, basically, think of a feeling where it feels great but also a bit sad at the same time—for example, when you quit a workplace, when you graduated, or that feeling when you’re a mom and your child is finally old enough to move out from your house to be independent—so as a mom, you feel like freedom yet sad that you won’t be seeing your child every day.
Example: 졸업식 날에 시원섭섭한 기분이 들었어요. (On graduation day, I felt bittersweet.)
7. 답답하다 (dapdap-hada)
Definition: A feeling of frustration or being stifled, often used when you can’t express yourself or when something isn’t working out.
This word can also be used to describe a stuffy room that needs some fresh air. But the more difficult translation is when you’re trying to use this word to express your feelings. It’s a type of a feeling when you’re trying to describe that there’s no good solution to a problem or you can’t quite figure out what to do or say to remedy a situation.
Example: 한국어로 말하고 싶었는데 단어가 생각나지 않아서 답답했어요. (I wanted to speak in Korean, but I couldn’t remember the words, so I felt frustrated.)
8. 어이없다 (eo-i-eopda)
Definition: To be shocked or dumbfounded, often when something unexpected or ridiculous happens.
This word literally translates to ‘without a why’ to describe a situation that has no reason or that is so absurd that it leaves you shocked or dumbfounded—like ‘No way!’ or ‘What?!’ or ‘This is ridiculous!’ kind of feeling.
Example: 그 친구가 갑자기 화를 내서 정말 어이없었어요. (I was completely dumbfounded when my friend suddenly got angry.)
9. 얼큰하다 (eolkeun-hada)
Definition: A pleasantly spicy and warming sensation, often used to describe stews or soups.
I personally have this feeling that this word is used a lot by old 아저씨들; but recently, with the rise of 먹방 shows, I hear a lot of young people use 얼큰하다 as a way of describing stews and soups—’이거 얼큰하네요~’
Example: 얼큰한 김치찌개가 먹고 싶어요. (I want to eat a spicy-warm kimchi stew.)
10. 치사하다 (chisa-hada)
Definition: To describe something or someone as petty, cheap, mean or unfair, selfish—basically, not cool.
Let’s say a colleague has used your weak point to promote him/herself. In such a situation, one of the adjectives to describe this colleague is 치사하다.
Example: 내 공을 가져간 친구가 치사하게 다른 사람한테 자랑했어요. (My friend took credit for my work and bragged about it—how petty!)
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Grammar: Using -(으)며 to Connect Ideas
이제 오늘의 문법 포인트를 봐요: -(으)며. This is a great connector to use when explaining multiple related ideas or describing things that happen simultaneously.
* Structure:
* (Verb stem) + -(으)며
* Use -으며 when the verb stem ends in a consonant, and -며 when it ends in a vowel.
* Meaning: Connects ideas like “while,” “and,” or “as.”
Let’s look at an example using today’s vocabulary:
* 눈치는 사람들과 어울리며 상황을 잘 이해하는 능력을 뜻해요.
(Nunchi refers to the ability to understand situations while interacting with others.)
Here, 어울리며 connects 사람들과 어울리다 (to get along with others) and 상황을 이해하다 (to understand situations), showing that these actions happen together.
Another example:
* 새벽은 조용하며 생각에 잠기기 좋은 시간이에요.
(Dawn is quiet and a good time to reflect.)
Try using -(으)며 to describe your daily activities or when explaining cultural concepts. It’s a useful structure for connecting ideas in essays, and you’ll see it often in TOPIK II writing tasks!
TOPIK Focus
이제 오늘의 TOPIK Focus로 넘어가 봅시다! As we’ve seen, understanding Korean cultural expressions like 정, 한, and 눈치 isn’t just interesting—it can actually help you on the TOPIK exam, especially in the reading and writing sections. Let’s talk about how.
Cultural Expressions in TOPIK II
In the listening, reading section of TOPIK II, you may encounter passages discussing traditional Korean values or cultural phenomena. Words like 정 or 한 could appear in a text about family dynamics, societal struggles, or even literature. Recognizing these words and their deeper meanings will help you answer comprehension questions more effectively.
But the real opportunity to showcase your cultural understanding comes in the writing section. The essay portion often includes prompts that ask you to reflect on societal values, traditions, or your own experiences.
Example Essay Prompt:
“Choose one Korean cultural concept (e.g., 정, 한, or 눈치) and explain how it reflects Korean society.”
This type of question might seem intimidating at first, but don’t worry! Let me walk you through how to approach it.
1. Start with a Clear Introduction:
* Briefly introduce the concept you’ve chosen and its significance.
* Example:
* 정은 한국 사회에서 사람들 간의 정서적 유대감을 나타내는 중요한 개념입니다.
(Jeong is an important concept in Korean society that represents emotional bonds between people.)
2. Develop Your Main Points:
* Explain the role of this concept in daily life, family, or society.
* Use examples, such as how 정 is often seen in long-term relationships or how 눈치 is essential in social harmony.
* Example:
* 정은 단순한 친밀감을 넘어서 이웃, 동료, 심지어 가게 주인과의 관계에서도 느낄 수 있습니다. 어려울 때 서로 돕는 행동은 정에서 비롯된 것입니다.
(Jeong goes beyond simple affection and can be felt in relationships with neighbors, coworkers, and even shopkeepers. Acts of helping others during difficult times often stem from jeong.)
3. Include a Personal or Historical Example:
* To make your essay more compelling, mention a personal experience or refer to a historical or cultural reference.
* Example:
* 제가 처음 한국에 왔을 때, 아파트 관리인께서 저를 따뜻하게 맞아주시고 많은 도움을 주셨습니다. 그때 정이 무엇인지 느꼈습니다.
(When I first came to Korea, the apartment manager welcomed me warmly and helped me a lot. That’s when I understood what jeong truly is.)
4. Wrap Up with a Conclusion:
* Summarize your points and highlight the cultural importance of the concept.
* Example:
* 정은 한국 문화의 본질을 이해하는 데 중요한 역할을 합니다. 이러한 정이 한국 사회를 따뜻하고 서로 의지하는 곳으로 만들어줍니다.
(Jeong plays a key role in understanding the essence of Korean culture. It is what makes Korean society warm and mutually supportive.)
Tips for Writing a Nuanced Essay:
* Use Specific Examples: Whether it’s a personal experience, a Korean proverb, or a cultural event, examples will strengthen your response.
* Keep Your Grammar Clean: Avoid overly complex sentences, but use grammar points like -(으)며 to connect ideas smoothly.
* Stay Focused: Don’t try to cover too many concepts in one essay. Choose one and explore it thoroughly.
Remember, understanding cultural concepts like 정 and 눈치 doesn’t just help you in the exam—it makes you a better communicator and brings you closer to Korean society. So, even when studying grammar and vocabulary, think about the bigger picture. Why are these words important? How do they connect to the culture? If you can answer those questions, your writing will naturally be more thoughtful and nuanced.
연습하는 거 잊지 마세요! 😊
여러분, 오늘 배운 단어들 중에 가장 마음에 드는 단어가 있나요? Or maybe you have your own favorite Korean cultural expression that we didn’t cover today. I’d love to hear it!
📸 Share your favorite Korean cultural word or untranslatable expression on Instagram. Don’t forget to tag @korean.joaacademy and use #topikandbeyond so I can see your posts and share them with the community!
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Your support means the world to me, and it helps me continue creating content that supports your Korean learning journey. 감사합니다, 여러분! 그럼 다음 에피소드에서 만나요! 😊
