찬밥
[chan-bab]
a nobody; an unknown or an upstart
Meaning & context
글자 그대로, 차가운 밥. 옛부터 뜨거운 밥은 맛있고 차가운 밥은 쓸모없는 것으로 생각되 어져왔다. 이 표현은 관심 받지 못하고 있는, 혹은 누구에게도 중요하지 않은 사람을 의미 한다. 비슷한 영어 표현으로는 “get the cold shoulder” 혹은 “yesterday’s news”가 있다.
Literally “cold rice.” Hot rice is considered delicious, and cold rice useless. This expression suggests someone without a vested interest, or someone of no importance. Distantly related to the English expressions “get the cold shoulder” or “yesterday’s news.” Can also be used for someone who “wears out their welcome.”
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 206–207. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
찬밥
English
Cold Rice
나 찬밥 된거야? 며칠 동안 연락도 안되고! 나 차버릴거니?
Did I become chanbab? I haven’t seen or heard from you in days! Are you going to kick me to the curb?
아니야, 그저 좀 바빴어...
No, I’ve just been busy . . .
바빴다고? 다른 남자들이랑? 다 들었어. 내 제일 친한 친구놈한테 전화하고 둘이서 쇼핑갔다며? 어떻게 네가 그럴 수 있어? 쪽나고 싶어?
Busy, what? With other guys? I heard you called my best friend and went shopping with him? How could you? You want to break up?
아니야, 깨지고 싶지 않아. 난 정말 널 좋아하니까. 우리 투투데이 때문에 쇼핑한거야. 여기 니 선물!
I don't want to break up!! I really like you. I was shopping for our big 22. Here’s your present!
뭐? 음, 투투데이? 난, 음, 찬밥 대신 냉면 어때? 하하
What? Um, 22 days? I, um, how about some cold noodles instead of chanbab? Ha ha.
From the book: notes & culture
Dating Box
Keeping Your Dates Straight
•차다 [cha-da] to dump someone or kick them to the curb.
•쪽나다 [jjok-na-da] to break up (with each other) also 깨지다 [ggae-ji-da], 끝나다 [ggeut-na-da], and 정리하다 [jeong-ri-ha-da]
•바람피다 [ba-ram-pi-da] literally “for the wind to blow.” This means to be unfaithful in a relationship or cheat on someone .
•어장관리 [eo-jang-gwan-ri] to (merely pretend to) cultivate potential candidates for a relationship, then dash their hopes (lit. to manage a fish farm).
•첫눈 [cheot-nun] first snow. The first snow in Korea is important because the word sounds like cheotnunae banhata (첫눈에 반하다) which means to fall in love at first sight.
•빼빼로데이 [bbae-bbae-ro day] 11/11 or Nov. 11th is a day to give your lover Bbaebbaero, a brand of chocolate covered pretzels (an amazing marketing scheme of the Lotte group).
•백일 [baek-il] 100 days. Traditionally, a baby was not named in Korea until it survived 100 days, as such a relationship lasting 100 days requires a celebration (and you better keep count, guys!).
•발렌타인데이 [bal-len-ta-in da-e] Valentine’s Day In Korea, women prepare chocolate for men on Feb. 14th. The men respond the following month by giving candy on Mar. 14th, which is called White Day (화이트데이), .
•블랙데이 [beul-lack-da-i] Black Day – for those sad souls who have no boyfriend or girlfriend, April 14th brings Black Day. Celebrated alone or with friends by eating black noodles called jjajangmyeon (자장면).
•투투데이 [tu-tu-dae-i] 22 days dating (like 100 days, but less common)
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As Much as a Rat’s Tail
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