Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations

주관적 ju-gwan-jeok

A strategic linguistic shield used to dismiss an opponent's factual argument by reframing it as mere personal bias.

What does 주관적 mean?

주관적 (ju-gwan-jeok) means: A strategic linguistic shield used to dismiss an opponent's factual argument by reframing it as mere personal bias.

Speakers use this to describe thoughts, perspectives, or interpretations that stem from an individual standpoint rather than an objective standard. It commonly combines in phrases with words for thoughts, opinions, and interpretations, such as 견해, 생각, 입장, and 해석하다. In exchanges between peers, one speaker applies it to characterize another person's stated opinion as a personal view.

In arguments or debates, labeling an opponent's factual claim as subjective can function as a rhetorical maneuver to dismiss their evidence as mere personal bias.

Other sides of 주관적

◆ The Artistic Disclaimer — Speakers use this term when offering personal opinions, creative interpretations, or reviews to explicitly mark that the perspective belongs to the speaker alone. It pairs directly with nouns like 견해 or 생각, as well as verbs like 해석하다. In dialogues, it appears when speakers identify or negotiate whether a stated view is an individual perspective rather than a shared fact.

Preceding a creative work or review with this term often functions as a social softener, shielding the speaker from over-generalization while inviting the listener to engage with the perspective as art or opinion rather than absolute truth.

◆ The Workplace Professionalism Shield — Speakers use this term to describe evaluations, thoughts, and judgments rooted in personal views rather than hard facts. It appears in contexts requiring the categorization of viewpoints or interpretations, pairing with terms like 견해, 생각, 입장, and 판단. In dialogue, speakers invoke it to characterize someone's perspective.

In professional settings, framing a decision or evaluation with this term can serve to soften potential pushback, signaling that a conclusion is provisional and open to revision rather than dogmatic.

How it's actually used

  • 이건 선생님의 주관적인 견해인 것 같아.
    i-geon seonsang-nim-ui ju-gwan-jeok-in gyeon-hae-in geot gat-a.
    I think this is the teacher's subjective view.
    💡 A speaker pointing out that a statement rests on a personal perspective.
  • 지극히 주관적인 사고는 버리고 열린 마음으로 세상을 바라보아요.
    ji-geuk-hi ju-gwan-jeok-in sa-go-neun beor-igo yeol-lin ma-eum-u-ro se-sang-eul ba-ra-bo-a-yo.
    Let's abandon extremely subjective thinking and look at the world with an open mind.
    💡 An appeal to move away from purely personal viewpoints toward broader openness.
  • 형사는 사건을 주관적으로 해석하지 말고 객관적으로 해석해야 한다.
    hyeong-sa-neun sa-geon-eul ju-gwan-jeok-u-ro hae-seok-ha-ji mal-go gaek-gwan-jeok-u-ro hae-seok-hae-ya han-da.
    A detective must interpret a case objectively rather than subjectively.
    💡 A prescription contrasting a personal interpretation with an objective one.

Related words in Social Situations

중독 jung-dok중독성 jung-dok-seong깔끔하다 kkal-kkeum-ha-da코가 납작해지다 koga napjakhaejida마음을 먹다 maeumeul meokda

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