Badass Korean — As Much as a Rat’s Tail

사오정

[sa-o-jeoung]

a moron; an idiot or an imbecile

The Flashcard

The original illustrated card, front and back.

Being Bad in Korea card back사오정 — a moron; an idiot or an imbecile

Meaning & context

사오정은 중국전설에 등장하는 인물로, 한국만화에서는 귀가 거의 안들려서 멍청한 행동 을 하는 캐릭터로 그려졌다. 이 표현은 누군가 질문을 잘못 알아듣고, 엉뚱한 대답을 할 때 종종 쓰인다.

Saojeoung is a legendary Chinese person who has become a character in a Korean animated series. He is portrayed as an thickheaded fool since he is almost completely hearing impaired. He is often unaware of what is going on, and misunderstands those around him. The phrase is often used for someone who answers a different question than was asked, or just doesn’t get the joke. Synonym: 형광등 [hyeong-gwang-deung] a dim, flickering light (read: dimwit).

From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 142–142. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.

STORY TIME

See it in conversation

Korean

지독한 귀머거리 배트맨

English

Holy Bad Ears Batman

Robin

야, 배트맨. 악당들이 여기 쳐들어왔어!

로빈

Hey Batman, the bad guys are here!

Batman

물론이지, 여기 동굴이야. 우린 여기 있고.

배트맨

Of course, the ‘bat cave’ is here. We’re in it!

Robin

아니, 악당들이 여기 왔다고! 우리가 가서 한방 먹여줄까?

로빈

No, the bad guys are here! We’ve got to beat them.

Batman

악당들? 우리가 걔네들을 왜 먹여줘?

배트맨

Bad guys?! Why would we ‘feed them’?

Robin

배트맨!

로빈

Batman!

Batman

팻맨이라고 그만 좀 불러! 나 그렇게 뚱뚱하지 않아!

배트맨

And stop calling me a ‘fat man’! I’m not that fat!

Robin

배트맨! 이 빌어먹을 사오정. 나 혼자 한방 먹이러 간다.

로빈

Batman! You’re a fucking saojeoung. I’ll fight them myself.

Batman

나도 초콜렛 갖다줘. 혼자 다 먹지말고.

배트맨

Get me some chocolate too! Don’t bite them all yourself!

As Much as a Rat’s Tail

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