Phrase in 30 Seconds
Master the art of 'Nunchi'—the Korean superpower of reading social cues and moods to navigate any situation smoothly.
- Means: Observing others to gauge their mood or the social atmosphere.
- Used in: Offices, family dinners, or when you're unsure how to act.
- Don't confuse: It's not just 'looking'; it's 'sensing' the unspoken vibes.
توضیح در سطح شما:
معنی
To try to understand someone's mood or situation by observing them.
زمینه فرهنگی
Nunchi is often called the 'Korean secret to success'. It is taught to children as early as age 3. A child with 'good nunchi' is praised for being well-behaved and considerate. In many Korean companies, employees will not leave the office until their boss does. This is a classic example of '눈치를 보다'. Even if their work is done, they 'look at the nunchi' of the superior. Fans often 'look at the nunchi' of their favorite idols during live streams to see if they are tired or happy, often commenting on their 'nunchi' in real-time.
The compliment
If someone tells you '눈치가 빠르시네요', say thank you! It means you are socially smart.
Don't overdo it
Looking at nunchi too much can make you look unconfident or '소심하다' (timid).
The compliment
If someone tells you '눈치가 빠르시네요', say thank you! It means you are socially smart.
Don't overdo it
Looking at nunchi too much can make you look unconfident or '소심하다' (timid).
خودت رو بسنج
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: '상사가 화가 나서 모두가 상사의 ____ 보고 있어요.'
상사가 화가 나서 모두가 상사의 ____ 보고 있어요.
When someone is angry and you are gauging their mood, you use '눈치를 보다'.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: 왜 밥을 안 먹어요? B: 부장님이 아직 안 드셔서 _________.
The speaker is waiting for the boss to eat first, which involves reading the social hierarchy/mood.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Which phrase fits a person who is very good at sensing others' feelings?
'눈치가 빠르다' means to be quick at reading the room.
🎉 امتیاز: /3
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
بانک تمرین
4 تمرینها상사가 화가 나서 모두가 상사의 ____ 보고 있어요.
When someone is angry and you are gauging their mood, you use '눈치를 보다'.
A: 왜 밥을 안 먹어요? B: 부장님이 아직 안 드셔서 _________.
The speaker is waiting for the boss to eat first, which involves reading the social hierarchy/mood.
Which phrase fits a person who is very good at sensing others' feelings?
'눈치가 빠르다' means to be quick at reading the room.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
سوالات متداول
2 سوالNo! It's actually a vital social skill. It shows you are considerate of others' feelings.
Yes, but if you do it too much, it might mean you are afraid of them.
عبارات مرتبط
눈치가 빠르다
similarTo be quick-witted
눈치가 없다
contrastTo be clueless
눈치를 채다
builds onTo notice/catch on
분위기를 파악하다
synonymTo grasp the atmosphere
کجا استفاده کنیم
At the Office
Colleague A: 부장님 기분이 안 좋으신 것 같아요.
Colleague B: 네, 그래서 다들 부장님 {눈|眼}치를 보고 있어요.
Family Dinner
Child: 아빠한테 용돈 달라고 할까?
Mother: 지금 아빠 {눈|眼}치 좀 봐. 지금은 아니야.
First Date
Friend: 데이트 어땠어?
Person: 상대방 {눈|眼}치 보느라 밥이 어디로 들어가는지 몰랐어.
With Friends
Friend A: 우리 노래방 갈까?
Friend B: 민수 {눈|眼}치 좀 봐. 민수는 가기 싫은 것 같아.
In a Store
Customer: 이거 입어봐도 돼요?
Friend: 점원 {눈|眼}치 보지 말고 그냥 물어봐.
Public Transport
Passenger A: 여기 앉아도 될까요?
Passenger B: 주변 사람들 {눈|眼}치 보지 말고 앉으세요.
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Think of 'Nun' (Eye) and 'Chi' (Cheese). You are looking at the 'Eye-Cheese'—the sticky social stuff that connects everyone.
تداعی تصویری
Imagine a person with giant, radar-dish eyes scanning a room for 'mood waves' coming off other people.
Rhyme
Look at the eye, don't be shy, read the nunchi, don't ask why.
Story
A secret agent enters a gala. He doesn't know the password, so he stands in the corner and 'looks at the nunchi' of the guests to see how they hold their glasses and who they bow to. By observing, he blends in perfectly.
In Other Languages
Japanese has 'Kuuki wo yomu' (reading the air), which is almost identical. English has 'reading the room', though it's less about constant social monitoring.
شبکه واژگان
چالش
Next time you are in a group, don't speak for 5 minutes. Just '눈치를 보세요' and try to guess everyone's mood.
Review this phrase whenever you feel a 'vibe' change in a conversation.
تلفظ
The 'nun' is a short, flat sound. The 'chi' is aspirated (like 'chee' in cheese).
طیف رسمیت
부장님의 {눈|眼}치를 살피고 있습니다. (office_talk)
부장님 {눈|眼}치를 보고 있어요. (office_talk)
부장님 {눈|眼}치 보는 중이야. (office_talk)
부장님 눈치 오지게 보는 중. (office_talk)
The word '눈치' (nunchi) is a native Korean word. '눈' means eye, and '치' is a suffix that historically referred to a measure or a state. It appeared in literature as a way to describe the 'measure of the eyes'—essentially, what you can perceive through sight about a person's inner state.
نکته جالب
There is no direct translation for 'Nunchi' in English that captures both its positive (empathy) and negative (social pressure) aspects.
نکات فرهنگی
Nunchi is often called the 'Korean secret to success'. It is taught to children as early as age 3. A child with 'good nunchi' is praised for being well-behaved and considerate.
“Parents might say '눈치껏 행동해' (Act with nunchi) to a child at a funeral or a formal event.”
In many Korean companies, employees will not leave the office until their boss does. This is a classic example of '눈치를 보다'. Even if their work is done, they 'look at the nunchi' of the superior.
“퇴근하고 싶지만 부장님 {눈|眼}치를 보느라 앉아 있어요.”
Fans often 'look at the nunchi' of their favorite idols during live streams to see if they are tired or happy, often commenting on their 'nunchi' in real-time.
“오늘 아이돌 멤버가 회사 {눈|眼}치를 보는 것 같아요.”
شروعکنندههای مکالمه
평소에 다른 사람 {눈|眼}치를 많이 보는 편이에요?
회사나 학교에서 {눈|眼}치를 봐야 했던 적이 있어요?
اشتباهات رایج
눈을 보다
눈치를 보다
L1 Interference
눈치를 읽다
눈치를 보다
L1 Interference
눈치가 보다
눈치를 보다
L1 Interference
눈치를 보여주다
눈치를 주다
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
空気を読む (Kuuki wo yomu)
Nunchi is often directed at a specific person (e.g., boss's nunchi).
察言观色 (Chá yán guān sè)
It sounds more like a formal idiom than a daily-use noun like nunchi.
Read the room / Walk on eggshells
English lacks a single noun that encompasses both the skill and the act.
Tantear el terreno / Estar pendiente
Spanish focuses more on the 'terrain' (situation) than the 'eyes' (person).
Tâter le terrain
Lacks the specific focus on interpersonal 'mood-reading'.
Die Lage peilen
More clinical and less emotional than nunchi.
جس النبض (Jass al-nabd)
Uses a medical metaphor (pulse) rather than a visual one (eyes).
Sentir o clima
Focuses on the 'climate' (vibe) rather than the specific person's 'nunchi'.
Spotted in the Real World
“선을 넘는 사람들...”
The entire movie is about the poor family 'looking at the nunchi' of the rich family to stay employed.
بهراحتی اشتباه گرفته میشود
Learners think it means 'reading the eyes'.
Remember that 'chi' (치) makes it about the 'sense', not just the physical eye.
سوالات متداول (2)
No! It's actually a vital social skill. It shows you are considerate of others' feelings.
basic understandingYes, but if you do it too much, it might mean you are afraid of them.
usage contexts
