What it means
눈치 is one of the most uniquely Korean concepts — the social ability to read situations, understand the atmosphere, and act accordingly without being told. 눈 = eye, 치 (from 재다 = to measure).
Nuance & when to use
눈치가 빠르다 = quick to read the room (positive). 눈치가 없다 = oblivious/tone-deaf (negative). 눈치채다 = to pick up on (notice). Koreans prize 눈치 highly — it's a sign of emotional intelligence and social harmony. Not having 눈치 is a serious social flaw.
⚠ Common mistake
눈치 cannot be translated as just "intuition" — it specifically refers to social reading in group/interpersonal contexts. It's about OTHERS' feelings, not your own inner sense.
Example sentences
See also
FAQ
When is this used?
눈치가 빠르다 = quick to read the room (positive). 눈치가 없다 = oblivious/tone-deaf (negative). 눈치채다 = to pick up on (notice). Koreans prize 눈치 highly — it's a sign of emotional intelligence and social harmony. Not having 눈치 is a serious social flaw.
What's a common mistake?
눈치 cannot be translated as just "intuition" — it specifically refers to social reading in group/interpersonal contexts. It's about OTHERS' feelings, not your own inner sense.
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