Many cultures and languages have words that describe a feeling or sense that is reflective of the culture. In Danish, there is the word hyggeligt, which describes the cozy, warm feeling that you have on a dark night with low candle light. That word describes Danish culture perfectly. Today's lesson is on a word that that is important in Korean culture.
Nunchi
Nunchi literally translates as 'eye-measure' but it means so much more than that. It's the intuitive sense of the feelings of the people around you. Those feelings or moods are known as kibun. It is important to keep people's kibun in mind when in a social setting, even sometimes at the expense of your own feelings. For instance, you realize that the people you are with are hungry even though they didn't say that. So you ask if the group should eat, even though everyone may know that you're not hungry. That 'reading between the lines' is nunchi.
If you make others wait, people will say you have no nunchi (no common sense, perception, manners). People will think you have no nunchi because you are too self-absorbed to think about others or you may innocently just not realize the kibun of others. Either way, having no nunchi is not good.
Nunchi
Nunchi literally translates as 'eye-measure' but it means so much more than that. It's the intuitive sense of the feelings of the people around you. Those feelings or moods are known as kibun. It is important to keep people's kibun in mind when in a social setting, even sometimes at the expense of your own feelings. For instance, you realize that the people you are with are hungry even though they didn't say that. So you ask if the group should eat, even though everyone may know that you're not hungry. That 'reading between the lines' is nunchi.
If you make others wait, people will say you have no nunchi (no common sense, perception, manners). People will think you have no nunchi because you are too self-absorbed to think about others or you may innocently just not realize the kibun of others. Either way, having no nunchi is not good.
Nunchi is a valued trait in Korean culture. You should be polite and considerate to the mood and feelings of the people in your group. There are many unspoken subtleties that can be picked up on if you have nunchi.
***thanks to the relatives and friends that helped with this post***
5 comments:
Thanks for sharing this!
I think we need some more nunchi in this country....so many are too focused on #1, which is sad.
Ohhhh.... this makes something from one of the Korean dramas I'm watching make so much more sense! Thanks. I'm going to start using this word...
That is really interesting!! I've known a few too many people with "no nunchi"!!!
What a great word! Thank again for such an interesting lesson on Korea!
i just read your blog for the first time through holt's forums and just wanted to say you did a great job explaining what nunchi is. (i'm a korean american and even i have a hard time defining a lot of korean words to my friends.)
someone without nunchi is definitely frowned upon.....
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