된장녀
[duen-jang-nyo]
material girl; gold digger
The Flashcard
The original illustrated card, front and back.
Meaning & context
영어표현 shit 또는 damn과 비슷한 의미를 가지고 있는 단어, 젠장으로부터 변형된 말이 다. 이 표현은 이와같이 발음상의 유사점 때문에, 그리고 배설물의 색과 된장의 색이 비슷 하듯, 머리속에 똥이 찬건지 된장이 찬건지 구분 못 할 정도로 물질적 가치만 따르는 여성 을 일컫는 말이 되었다.
Taken from the word jaenjang, an expletive similar to “shit” or “damn,” this expression changed to duenjang (soybean paste), which also sounds similar and has the color of excrement. Distantly related to the expression “material girl,” it describes a woman who is willing to live on only duenjang stew in order to afford designer handbags or shoes, but also carries the connotation of a shallow woman who is only after material wealth (a gold digger looking good for a sugar-daddy to marry).
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 89–89. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
PC의 복수
English
PC’s Revenge
야, 나 방금 압구정 다녀왔어. 여자들 전부 예쁘더라.
Man, I just went to Apkujeong. The girls are all beautiful.
그렇긴 해도 걔네들 거의 다 된장녀야.
Yeah maybe, but most are duenjangnyo.
뭐? 냄새가 된장같다고, 아님 된장을 먹는다고? 상관없어!
What? They smell like duenjang, or eat duenjang? I don’t care!
아니, 걔네는 명품에만 관심있다고. 이기적이고 사치스러워.
No, they just care about material things. Selfish and conceited.
된장녀가 누군지 어떻게 구별해?
How do I know which ones are duenjangnyo?
iPad 들고 다니는거 보면 딱 알 수 있어.
The iPads are a sure giveaway.
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