Badass Korean — As Much as a Rat’s Tail

꼬라지 나다

[ggo-ra-ji na-da]

get bent out of shape; be cranky, crabby or snarky

Meaning & context

언니이이이 [on-ni-i-i-i] or [eonni] Older sister. Koreans have a tendency to

stretch out the last syllable of a word especially when they want to gain favor.

이 또한 상태를 의미하는 꼴이라는 단어와 관련이 있다. 이것은 글자 그대로‘감정이 상한 상태’여기서는 성질(성깔)이 나게 된 것을 의미하는데, 성깔을 의미하는 전라도 방언‘꼬라 지’로부터 유래한 표현이다.

Also coming from ggol (꼴), ggorajinada means “in bad shape” or “in poor form.” Ggoraji comes from Jeolla province where it is dialect for a fierce temperament or someone who is offended over trifles and gets “bent out of shape” easily.

From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 43–43. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.

STORY TIME

See it in conversation

Korean

계산소

English

The Check

Areum

(점원에게) 계산해 주세요.

아름

(to the waiter) Check please.

Minji

나 잠깐 화장실 다녀올께.

민지

I’ll be right back. I’m going to the rest room.

Areum

뭐라고? 언니 돌아올 때까지 계산서는 그 자리에 있을거야!!

아름

What? The check will still be here when you get back!!

Minji

왜 그렇게 꼬라지 났어?

민지

Why are you so ggoraji nada like that?

Areum

아니야. 그냥 항상 내가 계산하는게 피곤해서 그래.

아름

I’m not. I’m just tired of paying all the time.

Minji

언니가 사줘야 더 맛있잖아. 언니이이이.

민지

It’s more delicious when you pay. Onni-i-i-i.

From the book: notes & culture

The Straight Scoop

As Much as a Rat’s Tail

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