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.
Ever felt like this? 바가지 긁다 -the demoralizing truth
The picture gets your attention. The expression is the real punchline. Here is the meaning and the scene behind it, straight from As Much as a Rat’s Tail.
바가지 긁다
[ba-ga-ji-geulk-da]
to nag bitch and moan
The demoralizing truth of 바가지 긁다! Like nails on a chalkboard, it was never ending! 바가지 긁다 [ba-ga-ji geulk-da] to nag, bitch and moan
Meaning & context
문맥적으로, 박을 긁다라는 뜻. 이것은 부인의 듣기 싫은 불평(보통, 금전적인 부분에 대 한 불평)을 반영하는 비속어이다. 한국에서 바가지는 전통적으로 국자와 같은 용도로 사 용되었다. 또한 이는 조선시대 거지들이 밥을 구걸할 때 사용되기도 하였다. 바가지 긁는 것은 빈 바가지를 긁는 것이다. 그 소리는 영어식으로는 칠판 긁는 소리와 비슷하다고 할 수 있다.
Literally “to scrape the gourd.” This expression refers to the annoying sound of a nagging wife (usually in reference to getting, earning or making money). Gourds are traditionally used as ladles in Korea, but they were also used by beggars in the Joseon Dynasty, beating it to beg for rice. A scraped gourd is an empty gourd. The sound loosely relates to the English concept of scraping the chalkboard.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 114–115. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
반쯤 비어있는 박
English
ㅂ The Gourd is Half Empty
요즘 어때?
How’re things?
우리 남편 승진했어. KFC에서 파티할거야.
My husband got a promotion. We’re celebrating at KFC.
좋~겠네... 우리남편은 한 번도 승진한적 없는데.
That’s great. . . I guess. Mine never gets promoted.
네 남편은 의사잖아! 승진할 수가 없지. 너 남편 바가지 긁니?
He’s a doctor! He can’t be promoted. Do you bagaji geulkda?
나 열쇠 3개 가지고 시집왔어. 난 불평할 권리 있다고.
Well, I came with three keys, so I can complain if I want.
더 이상 뭘 원하는건데? 우리는 아무것도 없이 시작했지만, 난 바가지 긁은적 없어. 난 사랑을 위해 결혼했고, KFC면 만족해.
What more do you want? We started with nothing and I never did bagaji geulkda. I married for love and I’m happy with KFC.
사랑이 밥먹여 주니? 넌 반 쯤 빈 바가지에 행복할지 몰라도 난 더 원해.
Love won’t put food on the table. Maybe you’re happy with a half empty gourd, but I want more.
From the book: notes & culture
Culturally Speaking
Three Keys
열쇠 3개 [yeol-sue sae-gae] Traditionally, a doctor or lawyer in Korean culture is so sought after as a husband that a woman who wishes to marry one is often expected to bring three keys to the marriage: one for a new car, an office (for his practice) and a house.
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