여우짓 🦊
So, if you remember from the basic vocabulary I introduced to you in the beginning of this newsletter, the Korean word for fox is 여우 (yeo-u). So what is 여우짓 (yeo-u-jit)??? Well it’s actually a phrase used to describe a person’s actions.
🚫 Before we get into this deeper, I’d like to give a bit of a disclaimer since this phrase is usually used to describe women but I assure you these actions/the term itself are NOT restricted to just women and are DEFINITELY applicable to men as well and can be used to describe men as well. 🚫
Here is the definition of yeo-u-jit:
여우짓: To flirt but not outwardly or directly; acting sly and sneakily trying to win someone’s romantic favor or attention.
Just as the Gumiho from mythology lured men in with her deceptive charm and beauty, a person who does “여우짓” is known for flirting but in a subtle way. While 여우짓 refers to someone’s actions, you can also just directly describe someone as a fox. 🦊 For example, if you see a girl flirting with your man and you’re talking with a friend you can say: “Woah, she is such a fox do you see that?”
As you can see, mythology and folklore–while they might be a thing of the past–are still very prominent in Korean culture today. Now that you know where these words and phrases come from, you’re one step closer to being a true native speaker! Congratulations~ 🎉🎉🎉
