
맞장뜨다
[mat-jang-ddeu-da]
go toe-to-toe or face off (with); mano-a-mano
The Flashcard
The original illustrated card, front and back.


Meaning & context
일대 일의 의미를 가지고 있는 맞이라는 단어와, 우두머리와 대장을 뜻하는 장이라는 단 어, 결정하다라는 의미를 함축하고 있는 뜨다라는 단어가 결합되어 싸우자는 것을 의미하 는 비속어이다. 보통 중,고등학생들이 많이 사용한다.
Literally, mat (맞) meaning face-to-face and ddeuda (뜨다) to bestow [in a sense to decide on] the title of jang (장) which is a head, leader or chief. To matjangddeuda is to face off against one’s opponent, engaging in hand-to-hand combat to see who is the better man or to settle a score. Usually used by middle or high school students, and similar to “go toe-to-toe with someone” or the commonly used Spanish expression for fighting man-to-man, “mano-a-mano.”
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 107–107. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
복수전
English
Settling the score
병식아. 우리 둘 뿐이다. 너 계급장 떼고 맞장뜨고 싶지?
OK, ByungShik. We’re all alone now. You want to forget rank and matjangddeuda.
네?
Sir?
내가 기억하기로는 나를 대장 농땡이라고 했던것 같은데? 한번 싸워보자.
As I recall, you called me Corporal Nongddaengi, didn’t you? Let’s see what you’re made of.
아닙니다. 전 절대 대장님과 싸울 수 없습니다.
No Sir. I can’t fight you.
너 커피 한 잔이면 다 끝난줄 알았지? 나보고 귀차니스트 농땡이라며. 그래, 지금은 안 귀찮으니까 싸우자. 주먹 쥐고 손 올려.
You thought the coffee was the end of it? Guichanist nongddaengi, you said. Well, I’m not lazy now, so get your idle hands up. . .

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