Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when you've done something socially awkward or wrong and people are glaring at you with disapproval.
- Means: To be the target of sharp, disapproving glares or public criticism.
- Used in: Public transport, quiet offices, or family gatherings after a mistake.
- Don't confuse: With '눈길을 끌다' which means to attract positive or neutral attention.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
To be stared at disapprovingly or criticized by others.
Contexte culturel
In Korea, 'public etiquette' (공공예절) is strictly monitored by the public. Silence in subways and libraries is highly valued. 'Nunchong' acts as a silent social contract enforcer. The 'eye-gun' is a common tool in hierarchical office cultures. A subordinate who doesn't follow the 'atmosphere' of the team might receive silent glares from seniors instead of direct feedback. Historically, the eyes were seen as the window to one's 'Gi' (energy). A 'nunchong' was literally a 'shot of bad energy' intended to make the recipient feel ashamed. The term is now used for 'cyber-glares' or public shaming online. When a celebrity posts something controversial, they are said to be receiving the 'nunchong' of the netizens.
Use '따가운' for emphasis
If you want to say the glares were really intense, add '따가운' (stinging) before '눈총'.
Don't use for praise
Even if everyone is looking at you because you are beautiful, never use '눈총.' It is strictly for negative attention.
Use '따가운' for emphasis
If you want to say the glares were really intense, add '따가운' (stinging) before '눈총'.
Don't use for praise
Even if everyone is looking at you because you are beautiful, never use '눈총.' It is strictly for negative attention.
Silence is the key
Remember that 'nunchong' is usually silent. If someone is shouting at you, use '혼나다' (to get scolded) instead.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
지하철에서 크게 떠들다가 사람들의 ( ) 받았다.
When you make noise in a quiet place like a subway, you receive 'eye-guns' (disapproving glares).
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: 어제 회식 때 왜 그렇게 일찍 갔어? B: 일이 좀 있어서... 근데 부장님한테 ( ).
B is the one who left early and received the glare from the boss.
Which situation best fits the phrase '눈총을 받다'?
다음 중 '눈총을 받다'가 가장 잘 어울리는 상황은?
Laughing loudly in a quiet cafe is a social faux pas that attracts glares.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercices지하철에서 크게 떠들다가 사람들의 ( ) 받았다.
When you make noise in a quiet place like a subway, you receive 'eye-guns' (disapproving glares).
A: 어제 회식 때 왜 그렇게 일찍 갔어? B: 일이 좀 있어서... 근데 부장님한테 ( ).
B is the one who left early and received the glare from the boss.
다음 중 '눈총을 받다'가 가장 잘 어울리는 상황은?
Laughing loudly in a quiet cafe is a social faux pas that attracts glares.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it is a metaphor. It describes a look that feels as sharp as a bullet.
Yes, you can say '부장님의 눈총을 받았다' if your boss glared at you for a mistake.
'시선' is a neutral word for 'gaze.' '눈총' is always a negative, critical glare.
Yes, it is very common in news articles and essays to describe public disapproval.
Use the active form: '나는 그에게 눈총을 주었다.'
The word itself implies a collective or repeated action, so you don't need to pluralize it.
Because a sharp look 'pierces' the person, much like a bullet or a needle tip.
No, it is a standard idiom that has been used for a long time.
You can say '부모님의 눈총을 받았다.' It's very natural.
Usually, yes, but it can also mean general social criticism even if you don't see the eyes.
Expressions liées
눈총을 주다
contrastTo glare at someone disapprovingly.
눈총을 사다
similarTo earn/buy glares.
따가운 시선
synonymA stinging gaze.
눈길을 끌다
contrastTo attract attention/eyes.
Où l'utiliser
In a Library
A: 야, 여기서 전화 받으면 어떡해?
B: 미안, 급해서... 사람들 눈총을 너무 많이 받았어.
Office Overtime
부장: 김 대리, 벌써 퇴근하나?
김 대리: 네, 일이 끝나서요. (동료들의 눈총을 받으며 나간다)
Public Transport
승객 1: (크게 음악을 듣는 사람을 보며) 진짜 시끄럽네.
승객 2: 그러게요. 저 사람 눈총을 좀 받아야 정신 차릴 텐데.
Family Dinner
엄마: 너 또 반찬 투정하니?
나: 아니에요... (할머니의 눈총을 받고 조용히 먹는다)
Movie Theater
친구: 너 아까 핸드폰 불빛 때문에 눈총 엄청 받았어.
나: 몰랐어, 정말 미안해.
Job Interview
지원자: (면접 중에 핸드폰이 울림)
면접관: (따가운 눈총을 보냄)
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'Eye-Guns'. When you do something wrong, people's eyes turn into guns and shoot you with glares.
Association visuelle
Imagine standing in a quiet library and your phone starts ringing a loud heavy metal song. Suddenly, everyone around you turns their heads, and their eyes literally turn into small laser pistols pointing at you.
Rhyme
눈총을 받으면, 마음이 아파요 (When you receive eye-guns, your heart hurts).
Story
Min-su was very hungry, so he started eating a smelly burger on the quiet bus. Suddenly, he felt a 'stinging' sensation on his neck. He looked up and saw five elderly people staring at him with sharp, angry eyes. He realized he was 'receiving eye-guns' (눈총을 받다) and quickly put the burger away.
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'to get the stink eye' or 'to be under fire.' In Japanese, they use 'to be looked at with white eyes' (白い目で見られる). All these involve the eyes as a weapon of judgment.
Word Web
Défi
Go to a public place (or imagine one) and identify one behavior that would definitely cause someone to 'receive eye-guns' (눈총을 받다). Write a sentence about it in Korean.
Review this phrase whenever you feel someone is judging you in public. Associate the 'sting' of the look with the word '총' (gun).
Prononciation
Pronounce 'nun' like 'noon' and 'chong' with a strong aspirated 'ch'.
The 't' sound at the end of 'bat' is unreleased, making the 'd' in 'da' sound like a tense 't'.
Spectre de formalité
지각을 하여 위원들의 눈총을 받았습니다. (Being late)
늦게 와서 사람들의 눈총을 받았어요. (Being late)
늦어서 눈총 좀 받았지. (Being late)
늦어가지고 눈총 오지게 받았네. (Being late)
The term combines '눈' (eye) and '총' ({銃|총} - gun). In pre-modern times, '총' referred to the sharp point of a needle or the sting of an insect. As firearms were introduced, the metaphor shifted to the 'shot' of a gun to describe the piercing nature of an angry look.
Le savais-tu ?
While '총' means gun, there is no actual shooting involved—only the psychological feeling of being hit by a bullet of shame.
Notes culturelles
In Korea, 'public etiquette' (공공예절) is strictly monitored by the public. Silence in subways and libraries is highly valued. 'Nunchong' acts as a silent social contract enforcer.
“If you eat food with a strong smell on a bus, you will likely receive 'nunchong' from other passengers.”
The 'eye-gun' is a common tool in hierarchical office cultures. A subordinate who doesn't follow the 'atmosphere' of the team might receive silent glares from seniors instead of direct feedback.
“A junior employee leaving exactly at 6 PM while the team is struggling with a deadline.”
Historically, the eyes were seen as the window to one's 'Gi' (energy). A 'nunchong' was literally a 'shot of bad energy' intended to make the recipient feel ashamed.
“An elder glaring at a youngster who is sitting in a disrespectful posture.”
The term is now used for 'cyber-glares' or public shaming online. When a celebrity posts something controversial, they are said to be receiving the 'nunchong' of the netizens.
“A celebrity receiving thousands of critical comments for a social media post.”
Amorces de conversation
공공장소에서 눈총을 받아본 적이 있어요?
어떤 행동을 하면 사람들의 눈총을 받을까요?
최근에 뉴스에서 눈총을 받은 유명인이 누구인가요?
Erreurs courantes
눈총을 주다 (when you are the one being glared at)
눈총을 받다
L1 Interference
눈길을 받다
눈총을 받다
L1 Interference
눈총을 듣다
눈총을 받다
L1 Interference
눈총이 받다
눈총을 받다
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
To get the stink eye / To be under fire
English uses 'stink' (smell) while Korean uses 'gun' (projectile).
白い目で見られる (Shiroi me de mirareru)
Japanese focuses on the 'white' of the eye, Korean on the 'sharpness' of the gaze.
遭白眼 (Zāo báiyǎn)
Chinese uses 'encounter' (遭) while Korean uses 'receive' (받다).
Mirar con malos ojos
Spanish focuses on the quality of the eyes (bad), Korean on the weapon-like nature (gun).
Voir d'un mauvais œil
French is more about the perspective of the observer, Korean is about the impact on the victim.
Böse Blicke ernten
German uses 'harvesting' as a metaphor, Korean uses 'receiving a shot'.
نظرة شزر (Nazrat shazar)
Arabic focuses on the angle and sharpness, Korean on the projectile metaphor.
Olhar de rabo de olho
Portuguese focuses on the physical part of the eye used.
Spotted in the Real World
“장그래 씨는 스펙이 없어서 팀원들의 눈총을 받았다.”
The protagonist Jang Geu-rae enters a top trading company as an intern with only a GED, receiving glares from elite interns.
“냄새 때문에 사람들의 눈총을 받을까 봐 걱정돼요.”
The family is sensitive to how others perceive their 'basement smell' in public.
“방역 수칙을 어긴 식당이 인근 주민들의 눈총을 받고 있다.”
A restaurant breaking COVID-19 rules receiving glares from neighbors.
Facile à confondre
Both involve '눈' (eye) and social situations.
'눈치를 채다' means to 'notice' or 'get a hint,' while '눈총을 받다' is about being glared at.
Both involve eyes.
'눈을 맞추다' means to make eye contact (often romantic or friendly), while '눈총' is always negative.
Questions fréquentes (10)
No, it is a metaphor. It describes a look that feels as sharp as a bullet.
basic understandingYes, you can say '부장님의 눈총을 받았다' if your boss glared at you for a mistake.
usage contexts'시선' is a neutral word for 'gaze.' '눈총' is always a negative, critical glare.
comparisonsYes, it is very common in news articles and essays to describe public disapproval.
grammar mechanicsUse the active form: '나는 그에게 눈총을 주었다.'
practical tipsThe word itself implies a collective or repeated action, so you don't need to pluralize it.
grammar mechanicsBecause a sharp look 'pierces' the person, much like a bullet or a needle tip.
basic understandingNo, it is a standard idiom that has been used for a long time.
basic understandingYou can say '부모님의 눈총을 받았다.' It's very natural.
usage contextsUsually, yes, but it can also mean general social criticism even if you don't see the eyes.
cultural usage
