Nuance Dictionary / Culture & Language
염치 yeom-chi
A sense of shame, propriety, and basic decency regarding unearned favors
What does 염치 mean?
염치 (yeom-chi) means: A sense of shame, propriety, and basic decency regarding unearned favors.
Having 'yeom-chi' means being acutely aware when you are receiving more than you give back. In Korean social life, showing too little hesitation when someone offers food or help can make you look shameless ('yeomchi-eopda').
🔊 From the story above
체면 — Che-myeon
염치 — yeom-chi
사양하다 — sa-yang-ha-da
권유하다 — gwon-yu-ha-da
배불러서요 — baebulleoseoyo, "Because I'm full..."
안 먹습니다 — an meokseumnida, "I do not eat."
눈치 — noon-chi
마음만 받을게요 — maeumman badeulgeyo, "I'll take your kind heart [as the food]"
How it's actually used
- 염치불구하고 부탁 하나만 더 드릴게요.
yeomchibulguhago butak hanaman deo deurilgeyo.
Shamelessly, I'm going to ask you for one more favor.
💡 Standard polite set phrase when asking for heavy assistance. - 염치가 있으면 그럴 수가 없지.
yeomchiga isseumyeon geureol suga eopsji.
If he had any sense of shame or decency, he couldn't have done that.
💡 Use to express mild disgust at someone's shameless behavior. - 염치 없이 또 얻어먹네요.
yeomchi eopsi tto eodeomeokneyo.
I have no shame eating off you again.
💡 Playful self-deprecation when accepting a meal from someone frequently.
Related words in Culture & Language
권유하다 gwon-yu-ha-da엄지척 eom-ji-cheok입덕 ip-deok주휴수당 ju-hyu-su-dang칼퇴 kal-toe