깡다구
[ggang(da-gu)]
steeled for action; having balls (of steel)
The Flashcard
The original illustrated card, front and back.
Meaning & context
깡이 세다, 깡이 있다라는 표현으로 많이 쓰이며, 이 “깡”은 지기 싫어하는 악착같은 오기 를 의미한다. “깡”은 북한에서 강철을 의미하고, “다구”는 맷돌을 의미하는데, 강철과 맷 돌같이 센 성격을 가지고 있다하여 이와같이 변형된 것으로 추측된다.
Coming from the expression ggangi saeda (깡이 세다), which actually originates from the North Korean word ggang (깡) for steel, and the -dagu (다구) ending, which comes from the Korean word for millstone. Overall, this is suggestive of someone that has courage, nerve,an unyielding spirit or is simply reluctant to admit defeat.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 36–37. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
멍청한 깡다구
English
Drunken Decisions
겁쟁이. 깡다구도 없냐? 평일날 무슨 음주단속이야.
Coward. Don't you have any ggangdagu? On a weekday would there be a sobriety check?
아~ 몰라 난 깡이 없어서 운전 못하겠어? 깡다구 센 네가 운전해!
Ah~ I don’t know. I don’t have any ggang so I can’t drive. You have the strong ggangdagu, so you drive!
알았어. 이 겁쟁아. 내가 할게. [10분 후...]
OK. You coward. I’ll do it. [10 minutes later. . . ]
Officer 음주단속이 있겠습니다. “후”하고 힘차게 불어주십쇼.
Sobriety check, sir. Blow into the device.
제발 한번만 봐주세요. 이제부터 안할게요.
Please look at me nicely one time. I won’t do it any more.
ㅋㅋㅋ 깡다구 세다더니 꼴 좋다.
Kh Kh Kh. Your ggangdagu is strong all right. . . looking good.
From the book: notes & culture
The Straight Scoop
한번만 봐주세요 [han-beon-man bua-ju-sae-yo] would be literally translated as look at me (nicely) one time. It is a common request to ask for forgiveness or for the person to turn a blind eye to your misdeed.
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