Untranslatable Stage 2 · Comprehension
눈치
nunchi
Reading the room / social radar
🗣️ How to say it
noon-chi — make the ㅊ (ch) crisp.
📊 Meaning spectrum
awareness →tact →social sixth sense
💬 When to use it
The skill of sensing what people feel and need without being told. Having '눈치' is a compliment; lacking it is a flaw.
그는 눈치가 빠르다. 🔊
He's quick to read the room.
🧠 Culture note
No real English equivalent. In Korea's group-oriented culture, good 눈치 is a social virtue — knowing when to speak, stay quiet, or offer help before being asked. Don't translate it flatly as 'wits.'
✅ Use it / ❌ Don't
✅ Praising someone who's socially perceptive
❌ Using it as a direct synonym for 'intelligence'
🎬 Where you've heard it
🎯 Quick quiz
What does 눈치 mean?