Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
억지 eok-ji
A forced, unreasonable argument or claim pushed forward purely through stubbornness despite zero logical ground to stand on.
What does 억지 mean?
억지 (eok-ji) means: A forced, unreasonable argument or claim pushed forward purely through stubbornness despite zero logical ground to stand on.
Speakers reach for this word when someone pushes a claim or argument that defies basic logic or facts. It turns up in arguments where an interlocutor refuses to concede reality, such as trying to claim a pheasant is actually a chicken. It frequently combines with verbs like 부리다 and 쓰다 to describe the act of manufacturing an unreasonable demand or stubborn stance.
This can sound like an exasperated dismissal of someone's bad-faith arguing or gaslighting, often highlighting the absurdity of their mental gymnastics.
This can sound like an exasperated dismissal of someone's bad-faith arguing or gaslighting, often highlighting the absurdity of their mental gymnastics.
Other sides of 억지
◆ The 'Forced' Aesthetic — Speakers use this to describe things that are unnatural, forced, or pushed beyond what is normal or genuine. It frequently combines with nouns describing emotional expressions or physical displays that feel contrived, such as forced tears. The expression appears when someone tries to manufacture an effect that does not come naturally.
This can feel like an artificial or unconvincing performance, often leaving an impression of trying too hard to achieve a desired emotional or visual result.
This can feel like an artificial or unconvincing performance, often leaving an impression of trying too hard to achieve a desired emotional or visual result.
🎙️ 억지는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [억찌]로 소리나요 (경음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 멀쩡한 꿩을 보고 닭이라고? 억지도 가지가지이구려.
meol-jseong-han kkwong-eul bo-go dak-i-ra-go? eok-ji-do ga-ji-ga-ji-i-gyu-ryeo.
Looking at a perfectly fine pheasant and calling it a chicken? That's taking unreasonable nonsense to another level.
💡 Exclaiming at an absurd and illogical claim made by someone. - 억지를 부리다.
eok-ji-reul bu-ri-da.
To persist in an unreasonable demand or argument.
💡 Describing the action of stubborn, baseless insistence. - 억지를 쓰다.
eok-ji-reul sseu-da.
To resort to twisted logic and stubborn demands.
💡 Marking someone's stubborn refusal to accept reason.
Related words in Social Situations
어색하다 eosaekhada어영부영 Eoyeong-buyeong가임기 ga-im-gi가성비 ga-seong-bi개판 gae-pan