Badass Korean — As Much as a Rat’s Tail

말리다

[mal-li-da]

to dry up; not go well; botched or jacked up

Meaning & context

건조시키다, 못하게하다, 혹은 말다(내가 돌돌 말려서 아무것도 못하게 되듯)라는 단어로 부터 유래되었다. 이는 무엇인가가 잘 진행되지 않을 때, 무언가 망쳤을 때, 혹은 어떠한 것에 리듬감을 잃고 헤맬 때 사용하는 비속어이다.

Literally “to dry out” or “to prohibit” (Another possible origin is from malda (말다) meaning to roll something up, as in “I’m all rolled up and can’t do anything right”). Mallida can be used to describe something not going well, some failing, to lose one’s rhythm, or to ruin something.

From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 103–103. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.

STORY TIME

See it in conversation

Korean

마른 날

English

A Dry Day

Peter

오늘 플레이가 잘 안돼?

피터

Can’t play ball today?

Bom

어, 전부 말린다.

봄

Yeah, I’m all mallida.

Peter

왜? 또 무슨 일 있어?

피터

What’s wrong?

Bom

어제는 아들 생일인데 사장이 늦게까지 붙잡는 바람에 아들 얼굴도 못보고 마누라는 그것 때문에 나랑 얘기도 안해. 어제부터 말리네.

봄

Yesterday, my boss wouldn’t let me go till late, so missed my son’s birthday party. Now, my wife won’t talk to me. The whole day is malinae.

Peter

괜찮아질거야. 긍정적으로 생각해. 적어도 비는 안오겠지.

피터

It’ll be all right. Look on the bright side. At least it’s not raining.

As Much as a Rat’s Tail

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