Interpersonal Friction

Words in this collection

• 괘씸하다 (gwae-ssim-ha-da) — You lent a friend money when they were broke. Years later, they are rich but refuse to pay you back, claiming they forgot. You aren't just angry; you are '괘씸하다'. It's the rage born from shattered trust and ingratitude.
• 쪼잔하다 (jjo-jan-ha-da) — A very negative and somewhat slangy word. If a millionaire argues for 20 minutes to get a 50-cent discount, or if someone brings up a 5-year-old argument to win a fight, they are incredibly '쪼잔하다'.
• 삐치다 (삐지다) (ppi-chi-da (ppi-ji-da)) — A very common behavior in relationships. If you forget an anniversary, your partner won't necessarily scream; they will give you short answers, avoid eye contact, and cross their arms. They have '삐쳤다'.
• 서운하다 (seo-un-ha-da) — Unlike the general sadness of '슬프다' (sad), '서운하다' is strictly relational. You only feel this when someone you care about fails to meet your expectations. If a stranger ignores you, you might be angry or confused. But if your best friend ignores your text but posts on Instagram, you feel '서운하다'. It translates to 'I thought we were closer than this.'
• 섭섭하다 (seop-seop-ha-da) — Similar to '서운하다' but slightly lighter. If your friend forgets your birthday, you are '서운하다' (hurt). If they give you a very small, thoughtless gift, you might just be '섭섭하다' (a bit let down). It implies a mild sense of emotional deprivation.
• 따지다 (tta-ji-da) — Can be neutral (to '따지다' the pros and cons of buying a house). But often negative: If someone bumps your car and runs, you chase them down and '따지다' (aggressively demand an explanation and argue).
• 떼쓰다 (tte-sseu-da) — Usually applied to children crying on the floor of a toy store. But adults do it too—when someone illogically whines for special treatment despite knowing the rules, they are '떼쓰다'. It's exhausting to deal with.
• 우기다 (u-gi-da) — When a child insists the sky is green, or a terrible driver insists they had the green light when there is clear dashcam footage showing a red light. They are '우기다'. It is an irrational, stubborn persistence.
• 얄밉다 (yal-mip-da) — This isn't a deep hatred. It's the feeling you get toward a coworker who always manages to look busy when the boss is around but does zero work otherwise. They are clever about it, which makes them perfectly '얄밉다'.