
짝퉁
[jjak-tung]
a knockoff; black market merchandise
Meaning & context
짝은 무익한 것 혹은 아무짝에도 쓸모없음을, 그리고 퉁은 낮은 질의 놋쇠를 의미한다. 이 두 글자가 합쳐지면 하찮은 놋쇠를 뜻하여, 비속어로는 간단히 모조한것, 특별히 유명 브 랜드 상품의 이미테이션을 말할 때 쓰인다.
The jjak (짝) refers to something useless or “good for nothing,” and tung (퉁) means “low quality brass.” The combination refer to a brass trinket and as slang it simply suggests something fake, particularly an knockoff of a name brand product. Not necessarily of poor quality like heojeop (허접). Synonyms: 짭퉁 [jjab-tung] impure brass & 짜가 [jja-ga] a reversal of 가짜 [ga-jja] meaning fake or imitation & 야매[ya-mae] a bootleg product.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 194–194. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
B-브랜드 쇼핑
English
B-Brand Shopping
그거 진짜 구찌야? 아니면, 이태원 표 짝퉁?
Is that a real Gucci? Or an Itaewon jjaktung?
이게 짜가로 보여? 내가 그런 짭퉁을 살 사람으로 보이냐고?! 감히 어떻게 나에게!!
Does it look jjaga? Do I look like someone who would buy jjabtung?! How dare you!!
그냥 한 말이야. 단지 네가 좋은 가격에 샀나 궁금해서. 나도 가끔 짝퉁 사거든...
I didn’t mean anything. Just wondered if you got a good deal. I buy jjaktung sometimes…
농담이야. 사실 이거 짝퉁이야. 내가 가지고 있는 유일한 진퉁은 남자친구가 사준거거든. 하도 애원하길래 받아줬지. 이거 얼마주고 샀는지 맞춰봐...
Just kidding. It’s jjaktung. The only real stuff I have, I let my boyfriends buy for me (after much cajoling). Guess how much I got it for…

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