몽땅
[mong-ddang]
all-in; everything; completely
The Flashcard
The original illustrated card, front and back.
Meaning & context
이 표현은 ‘모두’의 충청도 지방 사투리에서 유래되었다. 그러나 또한 욕망, 탐욕을 의미하 는 ‘몽’이라는 단어와 지구 혹은 대지를 뜻하는 ‘땅’이라는 단어가 결합되어 모든것을 의미 하기도 한다. (또한 짧고 굵은것을 뜻할때도 쓰이는데 ‘몽땅연필’을 예로 들 수 있다.)
This slang expression is most likely derived from the Chungchong province dialect for modeu (모두), meaning everything. However, we suggest that it could also come from the combination of mong (몽), meaning greed, with ddang (땅), referring to the Earth or the land, to communicate the concept of everything, similar to “the whole enchilada” or in the case of gambling, “I’m all-in.” (Mongddang can also be used for something short and fat, like a stubby pencil.)
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 112–113. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
다다익선
English
The More the Better
너 도박 왜 계속 하는거야? 돈도 이제 거의 없잖아.
Why are you gambling? You hardly have any money left.
난 몽땅 가지던지, 몽땅 잃던지 화끈한게 좋아.
I want to get mongdang or lose mongddang.
하지만 식구들은 어떡해.
But what about your family?
어짜피 마누라도 펑펑 쓰는걸 뭐. 마누라는 몽땅걸, 그리고 나는 몽땅가이야...
My wife will spend it all either way. She’s a mongddang girl and I’m a mongddang guy . . .
From the book: notes & culture
Babbling Biup, Buzzing Free
A bit like the B of bat and ball,
and free to fall from puckered lips,
P pursed then softly parted
Abuzz with bees’’abundance
back and forth 브브브 , the buzzing started.
Beware the biup, but speak free . . .
Bbbb is indubitably the letter for me.
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