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.
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.
강남스타일
[gang-nam seu-ta-il]
uptown style
From Gangnam Style (강남스타일) sights to Burning Friday Nights (불금), this book is the bomb! The best book of KOREAN SLANG just got better! Completely updated with new expressions! — Heol (헐)
Meaning & context
한국의 슈퍼스타 싸이의 노래제목과 같아 대중화되었다. 강남스타일은 서울의 생기 넘치 는 “업타운” 지역에서, 사람들이 입고 행동하는 것에 대한 논평이다. 유명브랜드가게와 비 싼 커피숍이 즐비한 “로데오거리”를 자주 다니는 사람들은 그들의 부를 자랑하기 위해 흔 히 그들의 외모, 패션, 그리고 과시적인 라이프스타일에 전념한다. 노래는 그들의 치장과 혼란스러운 물질주의 감정에 대한 풍자이다.
Popularized by the Korean superstar, Psy in his hit song, “Gangnam Style” is a commentary on how people dress and act on the sassy “uptown” side of Seoul. People that frequent its “Rodeo drive” of name-brand stores and overpriced coffee shops are often focused on external appearances, conspicuous consumption and an ostentatious show of wealth rather than more important things. The song is a satire of their dapper styles and muddled materialistic sensibilities.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 14–15. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
원샷과 쇼트 스커트
English
One Shot and Too Short
근혜씨, 축하해! 방금 당선됐어! 이제 뭘 할거야?
GeunHye shi, Congrats! You just got elected! What will you do next?
우선, 이 $12짜리 커피 마시고 로데오에 가서 프라다 좀 사려고…
First, I’m going to throw back this $12 coffee and head to Rodeo to buy some Prada.…
아싸! 원샷! 그게 진정한 강남스타일! 그리고 나서는?
Ah-SA! One Shot! That’s very Gangnam Style of you! And then?
그리고 나서 “강남스타일”을 금지할거야!
I’m going to ban “Gangnam Style!”
뭐?! 내 노래를? 나의 이 기막힌 춤을? 내 간지스타일?
What?! Ban my song? My super fabulous dance? My ganji style?
아니지, 오빠. 난 오빠 노래 무지 좋아해, 그게 아니라 fashion police 불렀다고! 짧은 치마 입은 애들 다 잡아야지!
No, Oppa. I love your song, but I’ve called out the fashion police! Those short skirts have got to go!
안돼~~~ 그건 내가 제일 좋아하는 거라고! 그건 아주 강남답지 못해!
Noooooo, that’s my favorite part! That’s not very Gangnam of you!
From the book: notes & culture
The Straight Scoop
원샷 [one-shot] a call to “shoot it!” A common Korean practice of shooting generally smaller glasses of beer, soju or boilermakers, similar to “bottoms up.”
아싸 [ah-SA] awesome or thrilling; an exclamation of utter delight.
오빠 [o-bba] big brother (only from a girl). See page 49 and 130.
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