불타는 고구마
[bul-ta-neun go-gu-ma]
lit up; blitzed or blotto; red-faced drunk
Meaning & context
글자 그대로 해석하면 불타고 있는 고구마를 뜻한다. 이 비속어는 누군가 술을 너무 마셔 그 얼굴이 고구마와 같은 색깔로 변했을 때 사용된다(특히 한국에는 이렇듯 알콜에 알레 르기를 가지고있는 사람들이 많다).
Literally “a blazing sweet potato.” Bultaneun goguma refers to someone who has had so much to drink (read – fire water) that their face has turned the color of a sweet potato. Koreans are particularly susceptible to this problem as many are allergic to alcohol, yet they go, go, go!. (Think, drunk as a skunk!)
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 126–127. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
백수 집합 [편의주 하면서]
English
The BaekSu Crew [out for PyeonuiJu]
아, 저 거지 돈 달라고 또 왔어.
Oh my, here comes that beggar again. Trying to ask for money.
냄새도 완전 구리고, 얼굴도 불타는 고구마네.
He smells so bad and he looks like a bultaneun goguma.
너도야! 너도 만만치않게 얼굴 시뻘게. 얼마나 마셨냐?
So do you! You’re as red-faced as he is. How much did you drink?
한 병 밖에 안 마셨어. 근데 민지야, 너도 거지잖아. 내 말은 너도 지금 백수라고. 안그래? 소주 더 먹고 싶으면 너가 저 사람한테 돈 달라고 해야지. ㅋㅋ.
Just one bottle. But Minji, you’re a beggar, I mean baeksu now too, aren’t you? You should ask him for money for more soju. Kh kh.
백수 아니야. 난 백조지.
I’m not a baeksu, I’m a baekjo.
(혼잣말로.) 백사겠지. 빨리 취직해야지. 안그러면 너도 저렇게 돼.
(Under his breath.) More like a baeksa. You’ll end up a beggar too, if you don’t get a job soon.
우리가 술을 그만 마시던지 같이 더 퍼 마시던지 해야겠다!
Either we should stop drinking or we should all have some more!
그래그럼, 너 돈 있으니까 저 사람 소주 사주고 우리 모두 불타는 고구마 친구하자.
Well, you’ve got money, so let’s buy him some soju and all become bultaneun goguma friends.
From the book: notes & culture
The Straight Scoop
편의주 [pyeon-ui-ju] a combination of 편의점 and 맥주 or 소 주 and meaning to meet someone for a beer or a smattering of soju on the plastic chairs outside a convenience store (most commonly in nice Spring/Fall weather).
The Beggar Box
Unemployed, Unemployable or Utterly Indolent
거지 [geo-ji] a street beggar, but not the only kind in Korea. . . “Not a beggar, but a bum.” These expressions all refer to someone with no job or nothing to do. Basically a lazy person with money to burn.
• 백수 [baek-su] Literally “white hand,” a baeksu is an idler who does nothing, has no job and really isn’t even looking for work. They are getting their money from some unknown source, usually their parents.
• 백조 [baek-jo] Literally “white swan,” a female baeksu is usually a young beautiful girl that doesn’t need to work (or is just unemployed and loafing).
• 백사 [baek-sa] Literally “white snake,” is a treacherous or wicked girl that pretends to be a baeksu. A baeksa is actually working in some capacity where she is taking a bite out of men, maybe as a room salon girl.
• 꽃뱀 [ggot-baem] Literally “flower snake,” similar to a white snake (baeksa).
• 백여시 [baek-yeo-su] A “white fox” is a crafty and capricious woman.
• 이태백 [ee-tae-baek] 20대 태반이 백수, 20-somethings stuck without a job because of the bad economy and living off their parents.
• 취집 [chui-jib] a woman who deliberately seeks to become a housewife.
TAKE THE WHOLE BOOK WITH YOU
As Much as a Rat’s Tail
Illustrated Korean, bilingual conversations, and the stories behind the expressions. Read here, then keep the complete book close.
Find the book Korean for lovers →