떼먹다
tte-meok-da · literally “Tear off and eat”
Situation: A coworker at your factory warns you: 그 사장님 월급 떼먹는 걸로 유명해.
✕ What AI tells you
Translates it as 'That boss is famous for tearing off and eating salaries.'
Why it fails: 떼먹다 means keeping money you owe someone — not paying back a loan, or not paying wages. Your coworker is warning you that this employer doesn't pay people.
✓ What Koreans actually say
떼먹다 = not pay back what you owe (casual, accusing). For your own situation, especially if you need help, use 월급이 밀렸어요 or the official term 임금 체불.
친구가 빌려 간 돈을 떼먹었어요.
chin-gu-ga bil-lyeo gan do-neul tte-meo-geo-sseo-yo
'My friend never paid back the money they borrowed'
월급이 두 달째 밀렸어요.
wol-geu-bi du dal-jjae mil-lyeo-sseo-yo
'My pay is two months overdue' — clear and neutral
임금 체불 신고하고 싶어요.
im-geum che-bul sin-go-ha-go si-peo-yo
'I want to report unpaid wages' — the official phrase to use with the labor office
Cultural nuance, in depth
떼먹다 is strong and accusing. Use it about someone else, not in a negotiation with your employer. If you're owed wages in Korea, 임금 체불 is the word officials use.
- #double-verbs
- #money
- #workplace
- #foreign-workers
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