Badass Korean — As Much as a Rat’s Tail

반사

[ban-sa]

right back at you; ditto

Meaning & context

언어적 공격을 당했을때 어린이들이 주로 사용하는 비속어 표현이다. 이와 관련된 영어표 현으로 “나는 고무, 너는 풀, 너가 뭐라고 나에게 말하던 이건 다시 너에게 붙어버릴거야.” 라는 표현이 있다.

Literally meaning “reflection” and used by children in response to some verbal attack, it is similar to the childish English expressions “no backs,” or “I’m rubber and you’re glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you.”

From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 118–118. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.

STORY TIME

See it in conversation

Korean

외모와 지성

English

Brawn and Brains

YeoReum

오빠는 못생겼어!

여름

You’re ugly!

KyoWul

반사! 너는 무식하잖아!

겨울

Bansa! And you’re stupid!

YeoReum

더블 반사!! 어 그래, 나는 무식해도 공부해서 똑똑해지면 되지만 오빤 평생 못생긴 얼굴로 살아야되잖아!

여름

Double bansa!! Oh yeah, I can study and get smarter, but you’ll always be ugly!

KyoWul

이거 왜이래. 내가 원하면 엄마가 성형수술 시켜준댔어!

겨울

What are you talking about? Mom says I can get plastic surgery if I want!

As Much as a Rat’s Tail

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