Badass Korean — As Much as a Rat’s Tail

컨닝하다

[cun-ning-ha-da]

to cheat on tests; to be cunning

The Flashcard

The original illustrated card, front and back.

Korean Pop Culture card back컨닝하다 — to cheat on tests; to be cunning

Meaning & context

한국에서 “컨닝”은 영어 의미와 별개의 의미를 갖는다. 콩글리쉬화 된 이 단어의 뜻은 시 험에서 베끼는 것을 의미한다(몇몇의 한국인들은 아주 어려운 시험에 있어서 베끼는 것은 가끔은 해도 되는 것이라고 얘기한다).

“Cunning” in Korea is largely independent of the English meaning. The Konglicized version is to “cheat on a test (and get away with it)” with the connotation of “. . . like a fox,” and often said with pride as some young Koreans think that cheating is an acceptable way of overcoming the impossible expectations of the school system).

From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 211–212. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.

STORY TIME

See it in conversation

Korean

시험점수

English

Test Scores

ByungShik

얘들아, SAT점수 나왔대... 보러가자!

병식

Guys, the SAT scores are posted… Let’s go see?

KwangSung

야! 나는 640점, 화석이는 660점이야.

광성

Hey! I got a 640 and HwaSeok got a 660.

ByungShik

수학 아니면 언어? 난 수학은 겨우 600, 언어는 540인데.

병식

On math or verbal? I only got 600 math and 540 verbal.

KwangSung

아니 합쳐서.

광성

No, combined.

ByungShik

뭐? 난 너 컨닝한줄 알았는데?

병식

What? I thought you did cunning?

KwangSung

나 화석이꺼 컨닝했어. 그리고 걔는 내꺼 컨닝하고.

광성

I did cunning off HwaSeok. And he did cunning off of me.

ByungShik

바보냐! 다음에는 좀 똑똑한 애 옆에 앉아라!!

병식

You idiots! You’re supposed to sit next to someone smart!!

From the book: notes & culture

Tried and True, Tiut Withdrew

from the public life it once knew.

An extra line across digut ㄷ cut

to tell that it was tough enough for what

Aspirated fully.

was to come. . . .

Separate and gruff, but no bully.

Voiced and vocal tiut ㅌ grew

strong and bold, though somewhat askew.

“

ㅌ, ㅌ, ㅌ,” it tutted trailing, uttering slowly it’s last “adieu.”

As Much as a Rat’s Tail

TAKE THE WHOLE BOOK WITH YOU

As Much as a Rat’s Tail

Illustrated Korean, bilingual conversations, and the stories behind the expressions. Read here, then keep the complete book close.

Find the book Korean for lovers →