Korean honorifics

Why “Acting Your Age” Feels Different in Korean Culture

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In Korean, there is a phrase called “naitgap.” It is difficult to translate directly. The word “nai” means age, and “gap” can mean value or worth. But in everyday Korean, the phrase is usually about whether someone is behaving in a way that feels appropriate for their age. When someone says a person “does their … Read more

How Everyday Respect Shapes Korean Etiquette

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Korean business professional bowing and offering a business card with both hands to a senior colleague in a modern Seoul office, representing hierarchical etiquette in South Korean corporate culture

Korean etiquette is easy to notice, but not always easy to understand. A younger person gives a small bow to an older person. A business card is offered with both hands. A drink is poured for someone else before one’s own glass is filled. At a meal, people may wait until the oldest person begins … Read more