넨장맞을
[naen-jang-maj-eul]
it’s torture; cursed; damn; oh the agony!
Meaning & context
문자 그대로의 의미는 난장을 맞아야 할 놈 이라는 뜻이다. 난장은 조선왕조 (1392-
1910), 사람을 발가벗긴채 곤장을 치는 고문의 일종이다. 이 속어는 좋지 않은 상황에서
는 언제든지 사용될 수 있으며, 또한 사람에게 직접적으로도 쓰일 수 있다. “이런 넨장맞 을 놈.” 속어, “젠장”과 비슷한 의미로 쓰인다.
Literally “you should be beaten like nanjang (난장).” Nanjang is a style of torture from the time of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), where a naked person is beaten. It can be used for any unpleasant situation or even directed at a person as: “You should be tortured.” It would be similar to “Oh, shit” or the old expression: “Tie me to an anthill and cover me with jam.”
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 69–69. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
화장실 이야기
English
Toilet Talk
야 뚱땡이... 왜 우리랑 같이 먹으러 안가?
Hey fatty . . . Why aren’t you eating with us?
나 문제가 있어. 아, 넨장맞을!
I have a problem. Ah, naenjangmajeul!
소화불량?
Indigestion?
아니, 나 먹는게 두려워... 나 곧 집에 가봐야하는데, 우리 푸세식 변기가 꽉 찼거든.
No, I’m afraid to eat. . . I have to go home soon, and my outhouse is full.
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