Understanding 정 (Jeong): The Untranslatable Korean Emotion

Writer: Tejaswini Rao Itham (Telangana, Hyderabad, India)

Editor: Arpita Jena (Baripada, Odisha, India)

As a translator and interpreter, I frequently encounter certain Korean words that cannot be translated precisely. The nuances of these words are challenging to convey to another person without losing significant meaning in the translation.

One such word is 정 (Jeong). 정 has no perfect English translation. It is extremely difficult to translate however let me try to explain it’s beautiful significance in a plain and simple way.

^{Picture Credit: KOREA.net}

It’s one my favourite words in Korean but its intricate meaning is hard to explain because perhaps it can’t be explained by words it can only be felt, only be felt through the heart.

Some say 정 is love , some say it is attachment others say it is affection. I say that it is the soft and subtle emotion that builds over time and moments. A bond that is formed irrespective of the demographic characteristics. It plays a major and a very significant role in Korean Culture. Let’s see how it influences and impacts the culture of Korea.

^{Picture Credit: THE KRAZE}

In Korean culture 정 refers to long term bond or togetherness. 정 is extremely important in Korean culture as Korean families are tight- knit , we often see scenes in Dramas depicting the close bonding between family members. Having meals together is quite important to them and also people coming together during hard and difficult times is an excellent example of 정.

The emotional bond between families coming together during festivals like Chuseok and Seollal carries a unique charm which can also define 정 between the family members.

^{Picture Credit: ROK Center for Korean Studies}

This 정 doesn’t have to be necessarily between just family members. It can exist between friends, colleagues, or sometimes strangers. We often see in Korean dramas how kind and nice the restaurant owners treat their customers just like their family by offering extra side dishes 반찬 with so much warmth , this gesture might me simple and ordinary but is it not meaningful to a student who had an extra difficult day ? this is nothing but 정.

Interesting fact that these restaurant owners are often referred to as 이모 which literally means Aunt. Isn’t it interesting?

^{Picture Credit: Cámara de Comercio España-Corea}

I have experienced this feeling myself. When I walked into a café in Korea I was welcomed and attended to with so much love and warmth by the café owner. She offered chocolates (which I didn’t order) not only to me but also to my friend who accompanied me. This little gesture of hospitality felt so much deeper and made my day , and of course my friend’s too.

If this is not 정, what else it could be ?

^{Picture Credit: ROK Center for Korean Studies}

However, one single or specific example is not enough to capture this feeling or emotion. The depth of this emotion cannot be explained through one instance or story. So how should we call this feeling, is it a bond? Is it a deep attachment?

I would call this a connection that grows into a strong and deep emotional bond. It grows quietly in a soft and subtle way. It feels like a warm embrace or warm feeling on a cold day.

And perhaps the reason I love this word so much is because it teaches me that some of the most meaningful emotions in life need not be expressed in a dramatic way. Their gentleness can be felt and understood in the most subtle way possible.

In the end, 정 is not something I can define and express in words. It is something I identify and recognize as a quiet, deep feeling which needs no explanation. 정 might be different to different people , but the only way to understanding this deep emotion is to experience it and to feel it in person .

^{Video Credit: KSA Team}

Do let us know in the comments about an untranslatable word from your language that holds deep meaning for you.