How to Say "Jerk" in Korean - How To Say Guide

개자식

gaejasik[ˈkɛ(ː)d͡ʑa̠ɕʰik̚]

The Korean word for "jerk" is 개자식 (gaejasik).

개자식 is used as a noun to describe an unlikable person.

Meaning: unlikable person (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The term is a compound of gae (dog) and jasik (son/offspring), literally meaning "son of a dog".

개자식 is a highly vulgar and offensive term used to insult someone's character. It is an informal expression.

gaejasik

While the word 개자식 is highly vulgar, the word 개 (dog) can also be used as a prefix to intensify almost any adjective, such as in 개좋다 meaning 'extremely good'.
In traditional Korean culture, the dog was often seen as a symbol of low status or filth, which is why using it in an insult like 개자식 hits so much harder than just calling someone a 'dog'.
The word 자식 is used by parents as a term of endearment for their children, meaning the same root word exists at both extremes of love and hate.

그는 정말 개자식이야.
geuneun jeongmal gaejasik-iya.
He is a real jerk.
그런 개자식은 상대할 가치도 없어.
geureon gaejasik-eun sangdaehall gachido eopseo.
A jerk like that isn't even worth dealing with.
전 남자친구는 완전 개자식이었어.
jeon namjachingu-neun wanjeon gaejasik-ieosseo.
My ex-boyfriend was a complete jerk.

Minji tells Jihun about a rude man she met.

민지 Min-ji

그 사람이 나한테 소리를 질렀어.
geu sarami nahante sorireul jilleosseo.
That man yelled at me.
지훈 Ji-hun

뭐라고? 정말 무례하네.
mworago? jeongmal muryehane.
What? That's really rude.
민지 Min-ji

완전 개자식이야.
wanjeon gaejasig-iya.
He is a total jerk.
지훈 Ji-hun

너무 신경 쓰지 마, 민지야.
neomu singyeong sseuji ma, Minji-ya.
Don't let it get to you, Minji.

Sources

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