Nuance Dictionary / Culture & Language
눈치껏 nun-chi-kkeot
According to subtle social reading — acting with instantaneous contextual awareness
What does 눈치껏 mean?
눈치껏 (nun-chi-kkeot) means: According to subtle social reading — acting with instantaneous contextual awareness.
The behavioral counterweight to speed. You cannot move fast in a Korean group setting without 'nunchi'; otherwise, your speed is just blind disruption rather than harmonious coordination.
🔊 From the story above
빨리빨리 — Ppal-li Ppal-li
빨리 좀 해줘 — ppal-li jom hae-jwo, "Do it a little faster"
조금만 서둘러 주세요 — jo-geum-man seo-dul-reo ju-se-yo, "Please hurry up a little"
계속 닥달하지 마세요 — gye-sok dak-dal-ha-ji ma-se-yo, "Please stop hounding me like this"
눈치껏 — nun-chi-kkeot, "according to subtle social reading"
눈치껏 빨리 — nun-chi-kkeot ppal-li, "quickly, by reading the situation"
결론만 딱 말해봐 — gyeol-ron-man ttak mal-hae-bwa, "Just give me the conclusion"
발걸음 좀 빨리합시다 — bal-geol-eum jom ppal-li-hap-si-da, "Let's pick up our pace"
🎙️ 눈치껏은 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [눈치껃]로 소리나요 (받침규칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 회식 자리에서 눈치껏 먼저 일어나는 게 좋을 것 같아.
hoesik jarieseo nunchikkeot meonjeo ireonaneun ge joheul geot gata.
It might be best to read the room and leave the company dinner a bit early.
💡 Implies acting wisely according to the social atmosphere. - 상황 파악을 못 하고 있길래 내가 눈치껏 알아서 처리했지.
sanghwang pareul mot hago itgillae naega nunchikkeot araseo cheorinhaetji.
Since they couldn't read the situation, I used my situational awareness and handled it myself.
💡 Doing what is appropriate without explicit instruction. - 눈치껏 행동해야 회사 생활이 편해진다는 걸 이제야 알았다.
nunchikkeot haengdonghaeya hoesa saenghwari pyeonhaejindaneun geol ijeya aratda.
I only now realize that you need to be socially perceptive to have an easygoing workplace life.
💡 Emphasizes the necessity of situational awareness in Korea.
Related words in Culture & Language
사양하다 sa-yang-ha-da염치 yeom-chi권유하다 gwon-yu-ha-da반짝이 ban-jjak-i밥 먹었어? Bap meogeosseo?