Jung-Kkok-Ma: The Power of an Unbreakable Heart
Introduction
Hello! This is [Daily Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills to the next level! 👋
Today, we are going to talk about a slightly heavy but very important topic: “Dealing with Failure and Finding the Courage to Try Again.”
Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone fails at some point—whether it’s a project at work, a language exam, or a personal goal. But recently in Korea, a specific phrase has taken the nation by storm, changing how people view failure. It’s not just about “trying hard”; it’s about having a mindset that never breaks.
Have you heard of “Jung-Kkok-Ma” (중꺾마)? It’s the hottest keyword among Koreans right now, from office workers to K-pop idols. Let’s learn how to express resilience and overcome the fear of failure like a true Korean local!
Key Expressions
Here are 3 essential expressions to help you talk about overcoming failure and encouraging others.
1. 실패를 두려워하지 마세요.
- Pronunciation: [Silpaereul duryeowohaji maseyo]
- English Meaning: Don’t be afraid of failure.
- Detailed Explanation: This is a standard, polite way (using the honorific ending -세요) to encourage someone who is hesitating. At the B2 (Intermediate) level, discussing abstract emotions like “fear” (두려움) is essential. You can use this in a professional setting or with friends (by changing the ending to ‘마’ or ‘말아요’).
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Pay attention to 두려워하지 [duryeowohaji].
- In natural, fast speech, the ‘ㅎ(h)’ sound is often weakened or dropped between vowels. So, it often sounds more like [두려워아지 (duryeowo-aji)].
- However, try to pronounce the ‘h’ softly to sound clear and professional.
2. 일단 부딪혀 봐요!
- Pronunciation: [Ildan budichyeo bwayo!]
- English Meaning: Just face it head-on! / Just give it a try!
- Detailed Explanation: Literally, “부딪히다” means “to bump into” or “to crash.” Metaphorically, it means to face a challenge directly without avoiding it. “일단” means “first of all” or “for now.” This is a very active and energetic way to tell someone to stop worrying and just take action.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- ‘부딪혀’ is pronounced [부디쳐 (budichyeo)].
- Why? This is a combination of two rules. First, the final consonant ‘ㅈ’ in ‘딪’ behaves like a ‘t’ sound. When ‘t’ meets ‘h’ (in ‘혀’), they merge into an aspirated ‘t’ sound. However, because of Palatalization (구개음화) involving the ‘i’ vowel sound, the ‘t’ + ‘hi’ often shifts to a ‘ch’ sound in this specific verb conjugation.
- Think of it simply: [Bu-di-chyeo]. It sounds much stronger and more natural than reading every letter separately!
3. 중요한 건 꺾이지 않는 마음 (중.꺾.마)
- Pronunciation: [Jungyohan geon kkeokkiji anneun maeum]
- English Meaning: The important thing is an unbreakable heart.
- Detailed Explanation: This is the trendy phrase we mentioned! It is often shortened to “Jung-Kkok-Ma”. It means that the result isn’t as important as your persistence. Even if you lose or fail, maintaining your spirit is what matters.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- ‘꺾이지’ is pronounced [꺼끼지 (kkeokk-i-ji)]. The double consonant ‘ㄲ’ (kk) moves over to the empty ‘ㅇ’ spot in the next syllable. This is the Linking Rule (Yeoneum).
- ‘않는’ is pronounced [안는 (anneun)].
- Why? The ‘ㅎ’ in the double final consonant ‘ㄶ’ is silent. The remaining ‘ㄴ’ stays. So it sounds like ‘안는’. Don’t try to pronounce the ‘h’!
Conversation Example
Let’s see how these expressions are used in a workplace situation.
(Situation: Min-su failed a big presentation, and his colleague Ji-eun is cheering him up.)
Min-su: 이번 프로젝트는 완전히 망했어. 다시 시작할 엄두가 안 나.
(I completely messed up this project. I can’t build up the nerve to start again.)Ji-eun: 너무 자책하지 마요. 실패를 두려워하지 마세요. 다 경험이잖아요.
(Don’t blame yourself too much. Don’t be afraid of failure. It’s all experience.)Min-su: 그래도 팀원들에게 너무 미안해서…
(Still, I feel so sorry for the team members…)Ji-eun: 요즘 유행하는 말 알죠? 중요한 건 꺾이지 않는 마음! 우리 일단 부딪혀 봐요. 제가 도와줄게요.
(You know the trending phrase, right? The important thing is an unbreakable heart! Let’s just face it head-on. I’ll help you.)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive 🇰🇷
What exactly is “Jung-Kkok-Ma” (중꺾마)?
This phrase originated from the world of E-sports (League of Legends). In 2022, a famous player named Deft lost a match, but in an interview, it was stated that “The important thing is an unbreakable heart.” Eventually, his team won the World Championship against all odds!
Since then, this phrase has exploded in Korea. It resonated deeply because Korean society is very competitive, and people often fear failure.
* Usage: You will see this phrase in news headlines, advertisements, and even on variety shows.
* The Vibe: It represents the “grit” of the Z-generation. It’s not about blind optimism; it’s about acknowledging the pain of failure but choosing to stand up anyway.
If you use “Jung-Kkok-Ma” when a Korean friend is feeling down about a failed test or a rejected job application, they will be surprised by your cultural knowledge and feel deeply encouraged!
Conclusion & Practice
Today, we learned how to turn failure into an opportunity with the “Jung-Kkok-Ma” spirit. Remember, learning Korean is also a journey where mistakes are natural. Don’t be afraid—just speak out loud!
📝 Mini Quiz:
Fill in the blanks with the expressions we learned today.
- A: I’m scared to take the TOPIK exam again.
B: Don’t worry. ________________ (Don’t be afraid of failure). -
A: This problem looks too hard.
B: Thinking alone won’t solve it. ________________! (Let’s just face it/try it!)
Answer Key:
1. 실패를 두려워하지 마세요
2. 일단 부딪혀 봐요
Leave a comment below using “중꺾마” to share your current goal!
See you in the next post! 👋
