Nuance Dictionary / People & Relationships
눈치가 보이다 Nunchi-ga bo-i-da
The visceral, self-imposed pressure to perform productivity or submissiveness to avoid triggering a superior's disapproval.
What does 눈치가 보이다 mean?
눈치가 보이다 (Nunchi-ga bo-i-da) means: The visceral, self-imposed pressure to perform productivity or submissiveness to avoid triggering a superior's disapproval.
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How it's actually used
- 상사 눈치가 보여서 정시 퇴근을 못 하겠어.
Sang-sa nun-chi-ga bo-i-seo jeong-si toe-geun-eul mot ha-get-seo.
I can't leave work on time because I'm worried about what my boss will think.
💡 Highlights the 'invisible' overtime culture where the boss's gaze dictates your clock. - 다들 열심히 일하는데 나만 쉴 수 없어서 눈치가 보여.
Dal-deul yeol-sim-hi il-ha-neun-de na-man swil su eop-seo-seo nun-chi-ga bo-yeo.
Everyone else is working hard, so I feel the pressure not to take a break.
💡 Shows how the collective atmosphere creates an internal mandate to stay busy. - 윗사람 눈치가 보여서 내 의견을 제대로 말하기가 어려워.
Wit-sa-ram nun-chi-ga bo-i-seo nae ui-gyeo-neul je-dae-ro mal-ha-gi-ga eo-ryeo-wo.
I find it hard to speak my mind because I'm constantly worried about how my superiors will react.
💡 Demonstrates the chilling effect of hierarchy on honest communication.
Related words in People & Relationships
센스 있다 Sense-it-da손발이 맞다 sonbari majda썸남 sseom-nam썸녀 sseom-nyeo여사친 yeo-sa-chin