Nuance Dictionary / People & Relationships
말을 놓다 Mal-eul no-ta
The intentional act of breaking the hierarchical barrier to initiate a peer-to-peer relationship.
What does 말을 놓다 mean?
말을 놓다 (Mal-eul no-ta) means: The intentional act of breaking the hierarchical barrier to initiate a peer-to-peer relationship.
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How it's actually used
- 우리 이제 말 놓을까요? 동갑인데 계속 존댓말 쓰니까 좀 어색하네요.
U-ri i-je mal no-eul-kka-yo? Dong-gab-in-de gye-sok jon-daet-mal sseu-ni-kka jom eo-saek-ha-ne-yo.
Shall we drop the honorifics now? Since we're the same age, keeping the polite form feels a bit awkward.
💡 Shows the standard, polite way to initiate the threshold when age parity is established. - 아직 말 놓은 사이도 아닌데 왜 이렇게 반말을 하세요?
A-jik mal no-eun sa-i-do a-nin-de wae i-reo-ke ban-mal-eul ha-se-yo?
We aren't even at the stage where we've dropped honorifics yet, so why are you speaking casually to me?
💡 Highlights the social friction caused when someone crosses the threshold without an invitation. - 술 한잔했으니까 오늘부터 말 놓기로 해요. 편하게 말해요!
Sul han-jan-haet-seu-ni-kka o-neul-bu-teo mal no-gi-ro hae-yo. Pyeon-ha-ge mal-hae-yo!
Since we've had a drink, let's agree to drop the honorifics starting today. Speak comfortably!
💡 Demonstrates how alcohol is often used as a 'social lubricant' to bridge the hierarchical gap.
Related words in People & Relationships
민폐 Min-pye내리사랑 nae-ri-sa-rang남사친 nam-sa-chin눈에 넣어도 아프지 않다 nun-e neoh-eodo apeuji anta눈치가 빠르다 Nunchi-ga bba-reu-da