Badass Korean — As Much as a Rat’s Tail

나와바리

[na-wa-ba-ri]

one’s hood or turf; a managing district

Meaning & context

1950년대 즈음 깡패들은 그들의 영향력이 미치는 그들만의 특정한 구역이 있었는데 이러

한 구역이나 지역을 의미하는 일본어로부터 유래한 말이다. 다른 사람들이 방문하면 그 지 역에 거주하고 있는 사람이 대접하길 원하는 상황과 같은 경우 이 속어를 사용한다. “이곳 은 내 나와바리니까 내가 쏠게.”

From the Japanese for a zone or (managing) district, nawabari refers to one’s area, hood, turf or stomping grounds, particularly in the 1950’s sense of a gang’s area of influence. In such a situation, the host who says this may be indicating that since the other person is visiting his neighborhood, the host wishes to foot the bill: “It’s my nawabari, so I’ll pay.”

From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 58–59. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.

STORY TIME

See it in conversation

Korean

웰컴투 창현 골

English

Welcome to Changhyun Gol

ChangHyun

나의 나와바리에 온 것을 환영해... 오늘밤 내가 한턱 쏜다.

창현

Welcome to my nawabari . . . Tonight, I’ll shoot.

SiWoo

이야~ 창현이한테 이런 면이 있는 줄 몰랐네.

시우

Wow, I didn’t know ChangHyun had it in him.

Peter

나도. 우리가 창현이를 잘못 생각했던것 같애.

피터

Me neither. I guess we misjudged him.

ChangHyun

난, 멋진 김두환이다. [2시간 후 (모두 배불리 먹고 마신 뒤)]

창현

Me, I’m a regular Kim DuHwan. [2 hours later (all are drunk and full)]

ChangHyun

나 이제 가봐야겠다, 너희들끼리 재밌게 놀다 가.

창현

I’ve got to go, but relax and enjoy yourselves.

SiWoo

(창현이가 계산대로 갔을 때) 이야 오늘 대박이다!

시우

(as ChangHyun goes to the counter) We hit the jackpot tonight!

Peter

(막잔) 화끈한 창현이를 위해. 이제 가자.

피터

(Last glass) Here’s to ChangHyun, a great host. Let’s go.

Waiter

잠시만요, 계산 안 하셨는데요!

점원

Wait, you haven’t paid!

Peter

계산 안 하고갔네, 깎아달라고만 말했대! 결국 깎지도 못했어!

피터

He didn’t pay, he only asked for a discount! And didn’t even get one!

Siwoo

나의 나와바리, 구라였어.

시우

My nawabari, my ass.

From the book: notes & culture

The Straight Scoop

한턱 쏜다 [han-teok sson-da] I’ll shoot, similar to “It’s my treat.” Meaning I’ll pay.

김두환 [Kim DuHwan] a famous mob boss from the 1950’s who later became a politician.

대박 [dae-bak] to hit the jackpot. See page 80.

As Much as a Rat’s Tail

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