Korean Job Discussion Forums

howie2424 · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

Sorry Mods don't know quite how to post this without skirting the profanity guidelines or even if it's in the right forum but here goes.

Since arriving here 2 years ago I have to admit I'm bothered by the frequency with which Korean kids use the phrase "f*** you", I must hear it 4 or 5 times a day at my school from kids as young as five. I even saw a car the other day that had it painted on the side in 10 inch lettering!

I'm no expert on Korean profanity but it sure seems to me that the Korean cusses I do know are, in their literal translation, pretty meak compared to English stuff. This maybe why the Korean teachers seem to find it amusing when I suggest that maybe the kindergarten class shouldn't be running around saying "f** you" every 15 seconds. I realize they pick it up from Western films and really don't know what it means and that brings me to my question.

What exactly does the phrase "f*** you" mean? Since "f***" essentially connotes sex and since you wouldn't say to someone you dislike; "I hope you get laid" I have always assumed that the saying is meant to convey the thought "I hope you will be raped" but maybe I'm wrong. Anybody else have an interpretation? I'm curious.

Bubbliee · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Location: Kelowna, BC Canada

Hmm a literal translation, thats actually a bit difficult. Could it maybe be that it means I hope your whole enitre life gets screwed up?

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I got this from http://www.wordreference.com/english/definition.asp?en=*beep*.

*beep* [fʌk] (taboo)
verb
1 to have sexual intercourse with (someone)
noun
2 an act of sexual intercourse

3 (slang)
a partner in sexual intercourse, esp. one of specified competence or experience
example: she was a good *beep*

4 not care or give a *beep* not to care at all
interjection
5 (offensive)
an expression of strong disgust or anger (often in exclamatory phrases such as *beep* you! *beep* it! etc.)
[ETYMOLOGY: 16th Century: of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch fokken to strike]

Number 5 is the definition being discussed here. Based on the etymology I guess it means "strike you."

howie2424 · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

interesting link Beav, thanks, but if it means 'strike you' then why the middle finger gesture that often accompanies the use of he phrase?

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2003 4:55 pm Post subject:

If you want students to understand why it's so bad, you need to first explain to them that saying "F you" will get you into a fight. It won't always do that, of course, but I'd rather have the kids believe that, and not get tromped by a big biker over in the U.S., because they thought "F you" would be okay to say.

The middle finger might have phallic connotations; I've never really thought about it.

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

I'm sorry I don't understand the question. Howie, are you an English speaker and don't understand what the term means? or are you a Korean and want it translated? If you are Korean, PM me and I'll explain it in Korean. If you are a westerner, I don't understand why this is confusing to you.

elizabethjane · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Location: Suwon

Can anyone tell me what "pork you" means?

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I loved the little devils when they held up their index finger to their friends and shouted "Puck you!" Inovative buggers, but I still punished them.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

howie2424 · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

howie2424 · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Stomp hard on every kid that uses it, they'll eventually stop. Of course they don't realise how offensive it is now, but it'll be too late for them if they say it jokingly to some hard fighting westerner in a bar one day.
After all, I wouldn't expect a korean to take it as a joke if I called them "Shipbal" every day.

The Marchioness · Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Location: teetering on the edge

From the Dutch word 'fokken' meaning to breed. In short, when you say 'f... you' you are offering a suggestion to the other person that he or she should breed with themselves, an inversion of sorts! The insult is contained in the idea that the person is not worthy to breed with another person of the opposite sex; breeding with oneself will produce no measurable results, of course, and therefore your line will die out. Final insult: your genes will not be passed on!

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2003 9:39 pm Post subject:

Well then, you could find a movie where someone says "F you", and then gets pummeled by the person they told off. Then you could play this scene over and over again, several times for your class. Point out how jacked up the person got, and yea.

Alternatively, my quickie solution is to tell them that "F you" is for fighting, and then show them the possible response, using a little bit of Korean to aid me along. 95% of the students get the hint immediately.