Nuance Dictionary / Emotions & Feelings
눈살을 찌푸리다 Nun-sal-eul jji-pu-ri-da
To visibly signal collective moral discomfort or social disapproval toward someone's inappropriate behavior.
What does 눈살을 찌푸리다 mean?
눈살을 찌푸리다 (Nun-sal-eul jji-pu-ri-da) means: To visibly signal collective moral discomfort or social disapproval toward someone's inappropriate behavior.
Natives don't use this just for physical pain or confusion; it is a weapon of social etiquette. When you see someone cutting a line or acting out in a cafe, the collective 'tsk-tsk' energy of the room is exactly what this phrase captures. Learners often mistake it for a literal facial muscle movement, but in reality, it functions as a silent, judgmental verdict cast by an observer on someone else's lack of manners.
Other sides of 눈살을 찌푸리다
◆ Physical Discomfort — Textbooks love to reduce this phrase to 'frowning in disapproval,' but natives use its physical root just as often. When the midday sun hits your eyes like a physical blow or a rotting trash can makes your face cave in, this is the exact bodily reflex. Learners often miss that the '살' in 눈살 refers to the actual flesh of the brow—you are physically scrunching your skin together because your senses are under siege.
◆ Internal Worry — Textbooks often frame this as a look of annoyance, but in this internal context, it’s the look of someone mentally wrestling with a knotty problem. When a native uses this, they aren't judging you; they are signaling that their brain is currently deep in a 'processing' cycle. Learners often mistake this for anger, but it is actually a sign of intense, focused concern—a mental 'loading screen' that you shouldn't interrupt.
◆ Internal Worry — Textbooks often frame this as a look of annoyance, but in this internal context, it’s the look of someone mentally wrestling with a knotty problem. When a native uses this, they aren't judging you; they are signaling that their brain is currently deep in a 'processing' cycle. Learners often mistake this for anger, but it is actually a sign of intense, focused concern—a mental 'loading screen' that you shouldn't interrupt.
🎙️ 눈살을 찌푸리다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [눈사를 찌푸리다]로 소리나요 (연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 지하철에서 다리를 쩍 벌리고 앉은 사람을 보고 사람들이 다들 눈살을 찌푸리더라고.
ji-ha-cheol-e-seo da-ri-reul jjeok beol-li-go an-jeun sa-ram-eul bo-go sa-ram-deul-i da-deul nun-sal-eul jji-pu-ri-deo-ra-go.
Everyone on the subway was visibly frowning at the guy manspreading.
💡 Shows the phrase being used to describe a communal reaction to anti-social behavior in public. - 그런 식의 무례한 농담은 듣는 사람 눈살을 찌푸리게 만들어.
geu-reon sik-ui mu-rye-han nong-dam-eun deut-neun sa-ram nun-sal-eul jji-pu-ri-ge man-deul-eo.
That kind of rude joke just makes people uncomfortable and disapproving.
💡 Highlights the phrase as a causal agent—your words are the reason others are casting judgment. - 공공장소에서 고성방가하는 건 정말 눈살을 찌푸리게 하는 행동이야.
gong-gong-jang-so-e-seo go-seong-bang-ga-ha-neun geon jeong-mal nun-sal-eul jji-pu-ri-ge ha-neun haeng-dong-i-ya.
Screaming in a public place is truly behavior that makes people frown in disapproval.
💡 Demonstrates the phrase defining a breach of social norms.
Related words in Emotions & Feelings
눈에 밟히다 Nune balpida눈물이 나다 nunmuri nada피도 눈물도 없다 pido nunmoldo eopda설마 seolma심심하다 sim-sim-ha-da