대박이다
[dae-bak-i-da]
score; hit the jackpot; dynamite or stellar
The Flashcard
The original illustrated card, front and back.
Meaning & context
글자상으로, 이것은 큰 박을 의미한다. 한국에서, 특히 20세기 전의 가난한 시대에는 작은 박을 말리거나 삶아서 바가지로 만들었다. 하지만 큰 박으로는 성찬을 즐길 수 있었고, 이 를 반영하여 현재는 풍부, 행운, 그리고 좋은 일을 뜻하게 되었다.
Literally “it’s a big gourd.” During periods of poverty in 19th Century Korea, small gourds were dried and boiled to make dippers, but large gourds could be feasted on, so they came to represent periods of abundance or by reference, great or lucky things. Similar to “wow,” “that rocks” or “wonderful,” daebak is as ubiquitous and overused as “swell” in the 50’s, “hip” in the 60’s, “groovy” in the 70’s, “dope“ in the 80’s “rad” in the 90’s, “phat” in the 2000’s, and “epic” since.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 80–80. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
여름 제비들 그리고 겨울 박들
English
Summer Swallows and Winter Gourds
옛날 옛날에, 여름과 오빠인 겨울이 살고 있었다. 여동생 여름은 여름 내내 밭에서 열심히 일했고 큰 박들을 길러냈다. 심지어 발을 절뚝이는 제비를 치료해주어 자신의 것처럼 소중히 여기는 착한 아이였다. 오빠 겨울은 여름 내내 사냥을 했고 겨울이 오자, 여름의 수확물을 즐겨 먹었다. 어느날 밤, 아주 큰 겨울 박을 열었을 때 그는 외쳤다. 대박이다, 대박! 그리고는 맛있는 제비찌개를 먹었다.
Long long ago, there were two siblings, a sister of summer and a brother of winter. The sister, YeoReum, worked hard all summer in the fields, grew grand gourds and even saved a lame swallow, curing it’s broken leg and raising it as her own. Brother KyoWul hunted all summer and when winter came, he would enjoy the fruits of the Summer. One night, as he opened a great winter gourd, he said, daebakita, daebak! And ate some delicious swallow stew.
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