짱이다
[jjang-i-da]
it’s the tops; it’s cool; it’s the bomb
The Flashcard
The original illustrated card, front and back.
Meaning & context
짱은 무리의 대장, 우두머리를 나타내는 말로 그만큼 멋짐, 훌륭함을 의미하게 되었다. 다 른 비슷한 표현으로는, 캡이다, 캡숑, 그리고 가장 최근에 생겨난 ‘킹왕짱’과 ‘님 좀 짱인 듯’이 있다.
Jjang, the head or leader of a group, came to express approval or describe something that is “pretty damn great.” Some similar expressions are kapida (캡이다 – ace, it’s cap, it’s the best), kapshong (캡숑 – better than the best), and most recently, kingwangjjang (킹왕짱 – king, king jjang) and nim jom jjangindeut (님 좀 짱인듯 – you look a bit jjang). English equivalents – cool, fresh, with it, the shit, the bomb, etc.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 195–195. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
바보의 기회
English
Brush with Fame
너 어디가냐?
Where are you going?
나 이태원에서 알바 구했어...
I’ve got an alba in Itaewon…
와우, 님 좀 짱인듯! 제시카 알바 보는거야? 걔 짱이야.
Wow, nim jom jjangindeut! You’re going to see Jessica Alba? She’s jjangida.
아니, 일자리 구했다고. 이태원에 알바로.
No. I’ve got a part time job, in Itaewon, an alba.
이태원에 온데? 캡이다. 나 가도 돼?
She’s coming to Itaewon? Kapida. Can I come?
아니, 얼간이! 알바. 아르바이트.
No, stupid! Alba. It’s an arbeit!!
오 이런 일이! 너 제시카랑 같이 일 하는거야? 캡숑이다.
Oh my god! You get to work with Jessica? Kapshong!
알았다, 알았어. 알바보러 오고 싶어? 주유소에 있어.
OK, OK. You want to come see alba? It’s at the gas station.
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