튕기다
[twing-gi-da]
to act coy or feign refusal (and then concede)
Meaning & context
글자 그대로는 ‘끈을 뜯다 당기다, 혹은 악기의 줄을 튕기는 것’을 의미하는 말. 실제의 뜻 은 사랑의 기교, 혹은 설득력과 관계가 있다. 한 남자가 여자의 손목을 잡으려고 애쓰고, 그녀도 원하기는 하지만 수줍어하는 척하며 여성적으로 보여 거부하는 모습을 떠올릴 수 있다.
Literally “to pluck strings” or “twang an instrument.” The actual meaning is a type of skill in the art of love or persuasion. Imagine a man trying to grab his woman’s wrist and she plucks it away in feigned act of bashful femininity, yet wants him to grab it again.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 216–217. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
보상없는 사랑 2
English
Unrequited Love 2
원동아 아까 희연이였어? 왜 그냥 걸어가버려?
WonDong, was that HeeYeon? Why is she walking away?
걔는 항상 나 가지고 놀잖아... 끊임없이 튕긴다.
Yeah, she’s always playing with me… Continually twinggida.
아, 사랑의 음악...
Ah, the music of love…
사랑? 하도 오랫동안 줄을 튕겨대서 더 이상의 튕은 없다. 포기했어!
Love? She’s been pulling my strings so long that there’s no twing left. I give up!
니 말은 방금 깨진거라고?
You mean you just broke up?
사실 시작한적도 없지, 걔가 튕긴것 밖에는.
Actually, we never got started, she just did twinggida.
From the book: notes & culture
The Power of Piup
The perfect, playful piup ㅍ said:
I might spit a bit, but I’ve shed
all pretense for a life of pleasure,
As the aspiration of all aspirates treasure
Not a wimp like that babbling biup ㅂ
Piup ㅍ put it to all with proper measure of power.
Its purpose passion voiced, its eyes moist
as some characters cowered . . . and some rejoiced.
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