View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
519forlife

Joined: 26 Sep 2006
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 5:34 pm Post subject: "You look tired" |
|
|
What is up with koreans saying this or similar things like "you look sick". I don't mean friends, I mean people you hardly know, co workers usually. Do they think it's a nice thing to say? This is what I have done to solve the problem, when some ignorant **** says"you look tried or sick" ect.. I look right at them and choose something to rip on elementary school style. I say something like this. "ya I'm really tired I didn't sleep well last night, by the way what happened to your teeth? Why are they scattered all over your mouth, have you been eatting bricks?" That's how I handle it, how about the rest of you? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
mateomiguel
Joined: 16 May 2005
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 5:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't really get that question alot, but the question I do get is "Do you live alone?" Last time someone asked me that I replied with, "Why, you gonna come over and kill me?" |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
dodgybarnet

Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Location: Directly above the centre of the earth. On a kickboard.
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 6:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Some of my favourites I've heard are to the female foreigners at work:
"You look fat"
"Your glasses make your face ugly"
"You no get husband [unless you use makeup]"
"You gain weight?"
I Lol'd. Seriously I nearly died of asphyxiation when I heard the "Glasses make you ugly" one. The girl it was said to was a perfectly attractive teacher, but funnier coz she has terrible luck with guys.
I don't really get any negative ones at me though, guess it's obvious enough that I look dumb. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Tiberious aka Sparkles

Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: I'm one cool cat!
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 6:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
mateomiguel wrote: |
I don't really get that question alot, but the question I do get is "Do you live alone?" Last time someone asked me that I replied with, "Why, you gonna come over and kill me?" |
 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Gaber

Joined: 23 Apr 2006
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Koreans are a lot more casual about comenting ont looks. i've heard really thin girls being told there getting fat by they're boys, and once one of my students told one of K coteachers (who frankly has a hot body) your getting fat. All I've got is "Your very hansom" From a radom a highschool girl on the street and "Your so good looking, I need to stop looking at you" from a married 31 year old male, followed by " don't worry I'm not a cross sexual".
Edit: "Do you live alone?" Last time someone asked me that I replied with, "Why, you gonna come over and kill me?" Lol. Really. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Novernae
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: "You look tired" |
|
|
519forlife wrote: |
What is up with koreans saying this or similar things like "you look sick". I don't mean friends, I mean people you hardly know, co workers usually. Do they think it's a nice thing to say? This is what I have done to solve the problem, when some ignorant **** says"you look tried or sick" ect.. I look right at them and choose something to rip on elementary school style. I say something like this. "ya I'm really tired I didn't sleep well last night, by the way what happened to your teeth? Why are they scattered all over your mouth, have you been eatting bricks?" That's how I handle it, how about the rest of you? |
"You look sick", or "You look tired" is just showing concern. Kind of like at home we might say 'Are you ok? You don't look so good/hot"
I usually repond by saying, "yeah, I'm tired", or "yeah, I'm not feeling very well" because they only seem to say it when it's true. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 8:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Many Koreans are creepily good at spotting emotions that I think I'm hiding. And yes, Novernae is correct. They are expressing concern. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
djsmnc

Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 9:36 pm Post subject: Re: "You look tired" |
|
|
519forlife wrote: |
This is what I have done to solve the problem, when some ignorant **** says"you look tried or sick" ect.. I look right at them and choose something to rip on elementary school style. I say something like this. "ya I'm really tired I didn't sleep well last night, by the way what happened to your teeth? Why are they scattered all over your mouth, have you been eatting bricks?" That's how I handle it, how about the rest of you? |
Maybe they say it because you look tired or sick?
Nothing sounds more ignorant to me than some d*ck who who gets cranky and insults someone who notices that they look like sh*t. You probably DO look sick. You'll probably be sick of Korea soon and go back home.
Anyhow, then your mom will say "You look exhausted" |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 9:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Gaber wrote: |
"Your so good looking, I need to stop looking at you" from a married 31 year old male, followed by " don't worry I'm not a cross sexual".
|
Yeah I've gotten comments like that from the same type of men in Korea (married, 30ish). It's at once disconcerting and uplifting. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: "You look tired" |
|
|
519forlife wrote: |
What is up with koreans saying this or similar things like "you look sick". I don't mean friends, I mean people you hardly know, co workers usually. Do they think it's a nice thing to say? This is what I have done to solve the problem, when some ignorant **** says"you look tried or sick" ect.. I look right at them and choose something to rip on elementary school style. I say something like this. "ya I'm really tired I didn't sleep well last night, by the way what happened to your teeth? Why are they scattered all over your mouth, have you been eatting bricks?" That's how I handle it, how about the rest of you? |
I do it, too. If someone looks tired or something I say it to them, then follow it up with whatever, like some obvious advice. It's just a way to show that I'm concered about their well-being.
Maybe you should try getting to sleep a bit earlier?  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
mateomiguel
Joined: 16 May 2005
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Gaber wrote: |
Lol. Really. |
yes, really. There was an awkward laugh and he turned back to his computer. And the time before that when a quite attractive 30-something newly married korean co-teacher asked me, "Aren't you lonely?" I said "that's a very dangerous question if you're in America, you shouldn't ask that." More awkward laughter.
Actually its kinda my hobby to elicit awkward laughter from people who ask me invasive questions. Maybe they'll stop asking those kinds of questions altogether if I embarass them enough. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Gaber

Joined: 23 Apr 2006
|
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 10:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Qinella wrote: |
Yeah I've gotten comments like that from the same type of men in Korea (married, 30ish). It's at once disconcerting and uplifting. |
lol. Yeah fully. I felt good and a little .... ahhh... unclean.... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
silvertoes
Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Location: Busan
|
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
I know they mean well. But sometimes, when you feel fine, you thought you looked normal, then someone says that, it can bring you down a little. It can be a real mood basher, and come across as the opposite of 'caring'. It also seems pointless to me. If you're at work, there's nothing you can do about it anyway and, if it's really true, then you've already seen it for yourself that morning; you don't need to be told.
When someone says it to me I say, "Yes, I'm pretty tired. Maybe you could cover my class for me while I go home and take a nap?"
They never say it again.
The (female) Korean teachers at my school are always ragging on each others' appearance. They know by now that I find it judgmental, intrusive, and superficial, so they do it behind my back instead. Which I prefer. They're entitled to their opinions, but when it comes to my own looks I'd rather not hear them. I have a mirror. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
poet13
Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Location: Just over there....throwing lemons.
|
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
My former colleague told me every day for more than a week that my clothes made me look fat. Finally I told him, "Yes, I'm fat, but you're an idiot and I can lose weight." Never said it again. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
billybrobby

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
|
Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
Koreans are all over each other's weight. you look fatter, you look skinnier on and on. I dunno if it's a remnant of leaner times (starving with a life expectancy of 35) or the emphasis on appearance or maybe their just saying what we're only thinking. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|