
짭새
[jjab-sae]
the pigs, the fuzz; police (derogatory)
The Flashcard
The original illustrated card, front and back.


Meaning & context
문자그대로는 상스러운, 잡종 새를 뜻한다. 비속어로서는 섞인, 순수하지 않은 것을 의미 하는 잡과 비슷한 짭이라는 글자와 조류, 더 나아가서는 이리저리 옮겨다니며 지저귀는 새 와 같은 위반단속을 하는 사람들을 연상캐하는 새라는 글자가 합쳐져 경찰을 의미한다. 이 는 거의 젊은 세대들에 의해 사용되어지고 비슷한 영어식 표현으로는 ‘pig’가 있다.
Literally “a vulgar, mixed-breed bird.” Jjab (짭), similar to jab (잡) is a mixed, or impure thing, and sae (새) most likely refers to a bird or fowl, or more particularly the annoying chirping of a bird as the officer wanders from place to place like a bird ticketing people. This insult is used mostly by youth and is roughly equivalent to the English insult to police: “the pigs.”
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 198–199. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
짭새가 날아든다!
English
Jjabsae, fly over here!
(음주단속 후) 나는 저런 짭새새끼가 싫어. 저놈은 시민들 괴롭히는 것 말고는 할게 없대? 지 주제를 알아야지!
(After sobriety test) I hate that kind of jjabsae SOB. Doesn’t he have anything better to do than bother citizens? He should know his place!
야! 너 네가 깡이 세다고 하지 않았었어? 얼굴 마주보고 짭새라고 해보지 그래? 넌 군인이고 쟨 기껏해야 경찰이야.
I thought you said you were brave! Why didn’t you call him jjabsae to his face? You outrank him.
지금 나보고 겁쟁이라는거야? 잠깐... 야, 짭새야!
You calling me a coward? Watch this… Ya, Jjabsae ya!
Officer (경찰이 차 쪽으로 다시 걸어온다) 뭐라고?
[Cop walks back to car] What did you say?
아, 그냥 노래에요 – 라디오에서 나온... “짭새가 날아든다!”
Ah, just singing – it was on the radio… “Jjabsae, fly over here!”
Officer 차에서 내려...
Get out of the car…
From the book: notes & culture
Swear Box
Some say this is the first stuff you should learn. . .
We say that too!
Be careful!! Shhh! Don’t say these, but you should know what they mean. . . especially if you are watching gangster movies . . . Korean Swearing in brief: The basics
•년 [nyeon] bitch
•놈 [nom] bastard (pejorative for a man)
•좆 [jot] dick or cock
•개 [gae] dog or cur (used in combination with other offensive language)
•개새끼 [gae-sae-ggi] SOB – son of a bitch (literally “a dog’s offspring”) or
개새 [gae-sae] for short
•씨발 [ssi-bal] similar to “you fucking (so-and-so)” in English, but literally meaning “you will sell your seed.” This can be shortened to 씹 [sshib]
•쌍 [ssang] low-born or ignoble from Chosun dynasty or before, also 썅 [sshyang] most often used as a combination 쌍놈 [ssang-nom] low bastard
•미친 [mi-chin] crazy, most often used as a combination 미친새끼 [mi-chin sae-ggi] crazy SOB, 미친년 [mi-chin nyeon] crazy bitch, or 미친놈 [mi-chin nom] crazy bastard The body parts – the unmentionables and offenders Sex organs
•보지 [bo-ji] slang for vulva muff or pussy, also 뽕 [bbong] or 잠지 [jam-ji]
•자지 [ja-ji] penis or dick, similar to 좆 [jot] cock, or
•고추 [go-chu] literally “a pepper,” but childish slang for a penis as with peepee or weewee.
•젖 [jeot] breast or breast milk, also 젖가슴 [jeot-ga-seum] boobs or tits
•젖탱이 [jeot-taeng-i] the cup of the breasts, 찌찌 [jji-jji] breast (somewhat childish)
•유두 [yu-du] nipples or 젖꼭지 [jeot-ggok-ji] literally, the breast spigot

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