Badass Korean — As Much as a Rat’s Tail

빡세다

[bbak-soe-da]

to go grey (from hard work); to get the life sucked from you

The Flashcard

The original illustrated card, front and back.

Sex Sells card back빡세다 — to go grey (from hard work); to get the life sucked from you

Meaning & context

글자그대로는 머리가 회색으로, 하얗게 혹은 창백해진 것을 의미한다. ‘빡’은 누군가의 머 리를 낮춰 이르는 말로서 정중한 대화에서 사용해서는 안되는 표현이며, ‘세다’는 힘든 일 로인해 머리카락이 하얗게 변한 것을 뜻한다.

Literally “to make your head turn grey, white or even pale.” Bbak (빡) is a low expression for someone’s head so this should not be used in polite conversation, and soeda (세다) means to turn white, ostensibly from hard work.

From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 131–131. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.

STORY TIME

See it in conversation

Korean

최종 기한

English

The Deadline

Siwoo

여기 앉아서, 너랑 책 쓰는 일은 빡세.

시우

Sitting here working with you on this book is bbaksoeda.

Peter

그래, 나도 알아. 25살도 안됐는데 벌써 머리가 샜어.

피터

Yeah, I can tell. You’re already getting grey and you’re not even 25.

Siwoo

장난하냐? 뭐야, 나 흰머리 있냐?

시우

You’re joking?! Oh no, I have grey hair?

Peter

하! 그냥 농담이야! 너 낚였지! ㅋㅋ 니 얼굴 창백해 지는걸 봤어야 하는데!

피터

Ha! Just kidding! I really had you going, didn’t I! Kh kh. You should have seen your face turn pale!

Siwoo

창백한 얼굴? 너가 백인이잖아... 내가 이렇게 책쓰는 일을 통해 얻는 것이라고는 단지, ‘빡세다! 빡세다!’ 뿐이야.

시우

Pale face? You’re the white one. . . That’s all I’ll ever get from writing this book! Just Bbaksoeda! Bbaksoeda!

As Much as a Rat’s Tail

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