Badass Korean
You're cool like Korea... You’re a real BADASS, so learn to speak like one!Learn some Korean slang from the GreyRat before you become the linguistic equivalent of a 99-pound weakling.
ABSOLUTELY OBLIVIOUS!
Ever forgotten the one thing you went out to buy? This bird-brained expression is a sharp little insult—not a compliment.
새대가리
[sae-dae-ga-ri]
oblivious a birdbrain a twit
Who me? I’m a simple 새대가리 fella with a bird simple plan. ABSOLUTELY OBLIVIOUS! So sick of this guy – especially because it’s usually me! 새대가리 [sae-dae-ga-ri] to be totally oblivious; a birdbrain; a twit
Meaning & context
새의 머리라는 뜻. 창피를 주기 위해 친구들 사이에서 쓰인다. 이것은 누군가가 바보같이 굴 때, 혹은 잘 잊어버릴 때 사용되며 이와 비슷한 영어표현으로는 “새 뇌”가 있다.
Literally “a bird’s head.” Saedaegari can be used as an insult among friends. It alludes to someone being annoyingly stupid or forgetful and is similar to calling someone a “moron,” a “buffoon” or “bird brained” in English. Also: 닭대가리 [dalk-dae-ga-ri] chicken head; 돌대가리 [dol-dae-ga-ri] rock head.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 144–144. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
유유상종
English
Birds of a Feather
지윤이 어디갔어?
Where’s JiYoon?
걔 또 까먹었나봐. 전화해보자. 완전 새대가리같애.
I bet she forgot again. Let’s call her. She’s such a saedaegari.
뭐? 걔 머리 작지않아. 생각해봐! 크고 각졌잖아. 깍두기처럼.
What? She doesn’t have a small head. Look at it! Its big and square, like a ggakdugi.
아니, 내 말은 새대가리라고. 새 뇌 같이 잘 까먹고. 전화해봐!
No I mean saedaegari. Forgetful, like a bird brain. Call, her!
야 새대가리... 어디야? 집이야? 튀어나와!
Hey saedaegari. . . . Where are you? At home? Get out here!
From the book: notes & culture
The Straight Scoop
깍두기 [ggak-du-gi] - a type of kimchi made from Chinese radish usually cut into small bite-sized cubes.
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