Nunchi 눈치

nunchi · from Korean

What is nunchi?

Nunchi is the Korean skill of reading a room: sensing others' moods and unspoken expectations and responding appropriately.

Literally eye-measure, nunchi is considered an essential social skill in Korea. Someone lacking it is called 눈치가 없다 nunchiga eopda. It overlaps with Japanese 空気を読む kūki o yomu (reading the air).

Examples

눈치가 빠르다 nunchiga ppareuda (quick to read the room); 눈치가 없다 nunchiga eopda (clueless); 눈치 보다 nunchi boda (to watch others' reactions)

Kungfucius says: Nunchi: the reason Koreans know you are upset before you do.