물이 좋다
[mul-i joh-ta]
the water is good; it’s hoppin’
The Flashcard
The original illustrated card, front and back.
Meaning & context
글자 그대로는 수질이 좋다라는 뜻이지만, 이 표현은 나이트클럽이나 파티와 같은 특정한 장소에 잘생기고 예쁜 남,여가 많음을 의미한다. 이와 관련있는 영어 표현으로는 There
are many fish in the ocean.이 있다. 질문 형식으로 물이 어때라는 표현이 자주 쓰이고,
반대 표현으로는 물이 구리다라는 표현이 사용된다.
The literal meaning of “the water is good” infers that there are fish in the water or that the scene at a particular nightclub, party, or other venue is good as it is full of attractive or available men or women. Related to the English expressions “there are many fish in the sea” or “come on in, the water’s fine.” In question form 물이 어때 [mul-i eo-ddae]how’s the water, is often asked, and if the water is not good, its opposite is 물이 구리다[mul-i gu-ri-da] the water is gross.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 110–111. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
물 밖의 고기
English
A Fish Out of Water
명태야 벌써 파티갔어? 물이 어때?
Hey MyungTae, are you at the party yet? Muli oddae?
끝내주지. 물 완전 좋아. 빨리 오렴! [1시간 후...]
Yeah, it’s great. Muli johta. We’re doing booking… Hurry up! [1 hour later. . . ]
뭐야? 물 좋다고 했잖아... 완전 물 구리다...
What happened? This party sucks. Absolutely, muli gurida. You said the party was good . . .
너희가 빨리 왔어야지. 우린 둘다 여자 번호 땄지롱!
You should have come earlier, we both got girls’ numbers!
그래, 사람 완전 많았는데 술 떨어져서 다들 나가버렸어. 이젠 물이 구린게 아니라 아예 물이 없다.
Yeah, it was full of people, but everyone left when the liquor ran out. Now, worse than muli gurida, there isn’t any water at all . . . Absolutely muli obta.
귀여운 남자들은 다 어디갔지? 지겹고 마실것도 없고. 물 밖 고기 신세된 기분이야.
Where did all the cute guys go? I’m bored and there’s nothing to drink. I feel like a fish out of water!
그럼 물 좋은데로 가자.
So let’s go where the water is good.
아, 그 물좋다는 물 나이트 가자는 소리구나!
You mean Mool – the mul johta nightclub!
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