Nuance Dictionary / Grammar
끼리끼리 Kki-ri-kki-ri
The social mechanism by which individuals self-segregate into insular groups based on shared socioeconomic status or background.
What does 끼리끼리 mean?
끼리끼리 (Kki-ri-kki-ri) means: The social mechanism by which individuals self-segregate into insular groups based on shared socioeconomic status or background.
🔒 The full native nuance note and audio for this card are locked. Unlock it with a token on the Nuance Dictionary — your first unlock every day is free.
How it's actually used
- 결국 다 끼리끼리 노는 거지, 뭐.
Gyeol-guk da kki-ri-kki-ri no-neun geo-ji, mwo.
In the end, everyone just sticks to their own kind, you know?
💡 Reveals the fatalistic tone often used when discussing social mobility. - 그 동네 사람들은 끼리끼리만 어울리려고 해서 좀 피곤해.
Geu dong-ne sa-ram-deul-eun kki-ri-kki-ri-man eo-ul-li-ryeo-go hae-seo jom pi-gon-hae.
The people in that neighborhood only want to socialize within their own circle, which is exhausting.
💡 Highlights how the word is used to express frustration with exclusionary behavior. - 끼리끼리 만난다는 말이 딱 맞네.
Kki-ri-kki-ri man-nan-da-neun mal-i ttak mat-ne.
It’s so true that like attracts like.
💡 Used as a biting observation when two people with similar 'vibes' or reputations pair up.
Related words in Grammar
설렁설렁 seolleong-seolleong격조사 gyeok-jo-sa보조사 bo-jo-sa주제 (화제) ju-je (hwa-je)대비 dae-bi