안 맵게
an maepge
The English phrase "no spicy" can be expressed in Korean as 안 맵게 (an maepge).
안 맵게 is used specifically when ordering food to request that the heat level be reduced or eliminated.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 안, meaning "not" and 맵게, meaning "spicily" or "in a spicy way".
Which one should you use?
If you want the food to be slightly spicy rather than completely non-spicy, use 덜 맵게 instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding 해주세요 to the end of 안 맵게 turns the phrase into a polite request to a cook or server, resulting in 안 맵게 해주세요 (please make it not spicy).
How do you pronounce it?
an maepge
Did you know?
- If you are someone who consistently requests 안 맵게 because you cannot handle heat, you might be called a 맵찔이. This slang term combines the word for 'spicy' with a word meaning 'clumsy' or 'poor at something'.
- While you might say 안 맵게 to avoid heat, the dish may still arrive bright red. This is because some Korean ingredients provide a deep red color without adding any spiciness.
- In Korean, the word 안 used as a negation is a contraction of 아니, which has roots in the Old Korean word *ANti.
Examples in context
- 안 맵게 해주세요.an maepge haeju-seyo.Please make it not spicy.
- 저는 안 맵게 먹고 싶어요.jeoneun an maepge meokgo sipeoyo.I want to eat it not spicy.
- 이 음식은 안 맵게 가능한가요?i eumsigeun an maepge ganeunghangayo?Is it possible to make this food not spicy?
Example conversation
Jihoon and Subin are ordering food at a restaurant.
- 지훈 Ji-hun여기 떡볶이 주세요.yeogi tteokbokki juseyo.Please give us the tteokbokki here.
- 수빈 Su-bin매운 거 잘 드세요?maeun geo jal deuseyo?Do you eat spicy food well?
- 지훈 Ji-hun아니요, 안 맵게 해주세요.aniyo, an maepge haeju-seyo.No, please make it not spicy.
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 알겠습니다.ne, algetseumnida.Yes, understood.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 안, CC BY-SA 4.0.
