얻어먹다
eo-deo-meok-da · literally “Get and eat”
Situation: Your Korean coworker has paid for lunch three times. A friend teases: 너 맨날 얻어먹기만 하네.
✕ What AI tells you
Translates it as 'You always just get and eat', missing that it's a gentle hint about paying.
Why it fails: 얻어먹다 means eating on someone else's money. Saying you 'only' 얻어먹다 is a nudge: in Korea, treating is a cycle, and it's your turn. AI also misses 욕을 얻어먹다, which means 'get scolded'.
✓ What Koreans actually say
얻어먹다 = someone else paid. After being treated, thank them and promise the next one. 욕을 얻어먹다 = get told off.
잘 얻어먹었습니다. 다음엔 제가 살게요!
jal eo-deo-meo-geot-seum-ni-da. da-eum-en je-ga sal-ge-yo
After someone treats you: 'Thanks for the meal — next time is on me!'
맨날 얻어먹어서 죄송해요.
maen-nal eo-deo-meo-geo-seo joe-song-hae-yo
'Sorry, you always end up paying' — then actually pay next time
늦어서 부장님한테 욕 얻어먹었어.
neu-jeo-seo bu-jang-nim-han-te yok eo-deo-meo-geo-sseo
Casual: 'I got chewed out by my manager for being late'
Cultural nuance, in depth
Seniors usually pay for juniors in Korea, so being treated by your boss is normal. With friends and peers, though, people quietly take turns. 다음엔 제가 살게요 is not just politeness — following through matters. The pattern 'X을/를 얻어먹다' with something unpleasant (욕, 핀잔) is common and always means receiving criticism.
- #double-verbs
- #food
- #paying
- #culture
More on food & dining
- Food & Diningv0.4
눈칫밥
nun-chit-bap · “Nunchi rice”
AI gets it wrong:눈치 is reading other people's moods. 눈칫밥 is the meal you eat while worrying how others see you — at a relative's house you depend on, in a new team, under in-laws. It means feeling like a burden and tiptoeing around everyone.Say instead:신입이라 눈칫밥 먹는 중이에요.See why → - Food & Diningv0.4
도시락 싸 들고 말리다
do-si-rak ssa deul-go mal-li-da · “Pack a lunchbox and stop (or dry) someone”
AI gets it wrong:말리다 has two meanings: 'to dry' and 'to stop someone'. Here it's 'stop'. The picture is someone so determined to stop you that they'd pack a lunch and follow you around all day to talk you out of it.Say instead:그건 도시락 싸 들고 말리고 싶어.See why → - Food & Diningv0.4
빵은 밥이 아니다
ppang-eun ba-bi a-ni-da · “Bread is not rice / not a meal”
AI gets it wrong:밥 means both 'cooked rice' and 'a meal'. For many Koreans, especially older ones, a real meal means rice with soup and side dishes. Bread, ramen or snacks are something you 'got by on', not a meal — so she heard 'I haven't eaten properly'.Say instead:빵으로 대충 때웠어요.See why →