편지을 먹다
To 먹다 편지
Littéralement: To eat a letter
Use this casual phrase to playfully or annoyedly ask why someone hasn't replied to your message.
En 15 secondes
- Ignoring a letter or message without replying.
- A casual way to say someone ghosted your communication.
- Uses the 'eating' metaphor common in Korean idioms.
Signification
This phrase is used when someone receives a letter or message but doesn't reply to it. It's like they 'swallowed' the message instead of sending a response back.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Texting a friend who disappeared
야, 왜 내 문자 먹어? 바빠?
Hey, why are you eating my texts? Are you busy?
Complaining to a sibling
우리 언니는 맨날 내 편지를 먹어.
My older sister always eats my letters.
Joking about a crush not replying
그 남자가 내 고백 편지를 먹었나 봐.
I guess that guy ate my confession letter.
Contexte culturel
The use of 'eating' as a metaphor for ignoring obligations is deeply rooted in the Korean language. Historically, it was used for physical letters, but it transitioned seamlessly into the digital age for emails and texts. It reflects a culture where prompt communication is often seen as a sign of respect and connection.
The 'Chewing' Upgrade
If you want to sound more like a local teenager, use '씹다' (to chew) instead of '먹다'. It's punchier and very common in texting.
Don't 'Eat' with Superiors
Never use this with teachers or bosses. It sounds like you're accusing them of being irresponsible. Stick to '연락을 못 받았습니다' (I didn't receive a contact).
En 15 secondes
- Ignoring a letter or message without replying.
- A casual way to say someone ghosted your communication.
- Uses the 'eating' metaphor common in Korean idioms.
What It Means
Imagine you pour your heart into a letter or a long text message. You hit send and wait. And wait. But nothing happens. In Korean, we say that person 편지를 먹었다 (ate the letter). It doesn't mean they literally had a paper snack! It means the communication went into a black hole. The person received it, but for some reason, the reply never came out. It’s a colorful way to describe being ignored or 'ghosted' in a traditional sense.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when you want to call someone out for their silence. It’s usually directed at friends or people you are close to. You can use it as a question like, "Why did you eat my letter?" or as a complaint to someone else. It carries a mix of disappointment and a tiny bit of accusation. Just remember to use the object marker 를 correctly—it's 편지를 먹다, not 편지을 먹다!
When To Use It
This is perfect for casual, everyday situations. Use it when your best friend hasn't replied to your KakaoTalk message for two days. Use it when you're joking with a sibling who ignored your last mail. It’s great for lighthearted confrontation. If you're texting a friend and they finally show up, you might tease them by saying they have a very full stomach from 'eating' all your messages.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this phrase in any professional or formal setting. If your boss hasn't replied to your project proposal, do NOT tell them they 'ate' your email. That would be incredibly rude and might actually get you in trouble! Also, don't use it if someone genuinely didn't receive the message due to a technical error. It implies a bit of intentionality or laziness on the receiver's part.
Cultural Background
In Korea, the verb 먹다 (to eat) is used in dozens of idiomatic ways. We 'eat' age to get older, 'eat' insults when people badmouth us, and 'eat' money when someone takes a bribe. This 'eating' metaphor usually implies that something has been taken in or consumed by a person without the expected outward result. In the case of a letter, the expected result is a reply. Because you didn't get one, the letter is considered 'consumed' by the recipient.
Common Variations
While 편지를 먹다 is the classic version, modern Koreans use 문자를 씹다 (to chew a text) much more often. 씹다 (to chew) is a bit more aggressive and slangy, implying the person 'chewed up' your message and spat it out. You might also hear 답장을 먹다 (to eat a reply). If you want to be very modern, you can use 읽씹 (read-chew), which is the specific term for when someone reads your message but doesn't reply.
Notes d'usage
Use this only in casual conversations. Ensure you use the correct object marker '를'. It's slightly accusatory, so use it with a playful tone to avoid real conflict.
The 'Chewing' Upgrade
If you want to sound more like a local teenager, use '씹다' (to chew) instead of '먹다'. It's punchier and very common in texting.
Don't 'Eat' with Superiors
Never use this with teachers or bosses. It sounds like you're accusing them of being irresponsible. Stick to '연락을 못 받았습니다' (I didn't receive a contact).
The 'Read-Chew' Phenomenon
Koreans are obsessed with the '1' disappearing on KakaoTalk. If the '1' is gone but there's no reply, that's '읽씹' (Read-Chew), a modern version of eating a letter.
Exemples
6야, 왜 내 문자 먹어? 바빠?
Hey, why are you eating my texts? Are you busy?
Using 'eat' for a text message in a casual way.
우리 언니는 맨날 내 편지를 먹어.
My older sister always eats my letters.
Expressing frustration about a recurring habit.
그 남자가 내 고백 편지를 먹었나 봐.
I guess that guy ate my confession letter.
Using humor to mask the pain of being ignored.
지수한테 연락해 봤는데 내 연락을 먹더라고.
I tried contacting Jisoo, but she just ate my message.
Describing someone else's lack of response.
답장이 안 와요. 제 편지를 먹은 걸까요?
No reply is coming. Did they eat my letter?
A slightly more polite but still informal way to express worry.
부장님, 제 이메일 왜 먹으셨어요?
Manager, why did you eat my email?
This is an example of being too rude in a professional context.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct particle to complete the phrase meaning 'to ignore a letter'.
친구에게 보낸 편지___ 먹어서 속상해요.
The word '편지' (letter) is the object of the verb '먹다' (to eat), so it requires the object marker '를'.
Which verb completes the idiom for ignoring a message?
왜 내 답장을 ___? 빨리 대답해!
The idiom is '답장을 먹다', meaning to consume/ignore a reply.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Spectrum of '편지를 먹다'
Using '씹다' (chew) instead of '먹다'.
내 문자 씹지 마!
The standard '편지를 먹다' with friends.
왜 내 편지 먹었어?
Never use this phrase. Use '답장이 없으시다' instead.
답장이 없으셔서 다시 연락드립니다.
When to use '편지를 먹다'
Ghosted by a crush
He ate my letter...
Lazy best friend
Stop eating my texts!
Sibling rivalry
She always eats my mail.
Group chat silence
Everyone is eating my message.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it's a metaphor. It means they received the information but didn't provide the expected response, effectively 'consuming' it.
Usually, we say 전화를 안 받다 (not picking up) or 전화를 씹다 (ignoring/chewing the call). 먹다 is specifically common for written messages or letters.
No, '편지' ends in a vowel, so it should be 편지를 먹다. Using 을 is a common mistake for beginners.
You can say 내 문자 먹지 마 or more commonly 내 문자 씹지 마.
There isn't a direct opposite like 'spitting a letter,' but you would just say 답장을 주다 (to give a reply).
The word 편지 (letter) makes it feel a bit classic. For digital texts, most people say 문자 (text) or 카톡 (KakaoTalk) instead of 편지.
Yes! You can apologize by saying 미안, 내가 네 문자를 깜빡하고 먹었어 (Sorry, I accidentally ate your message).
It depends on how close you are. If your parents are cool and casual, it's fine. If they are strict, it might sound a bit disrespectful.
It's short for 읽고 씹다 (read and chew). It's the ultimate modern version of 'eating a letter' specifically for messaging apps.
Yes! You can 'eat' a goal in soccer (concede a goal) or 'eat' a bribe. It's a very versatile verb in Korean.
Expressions liées
문자를 씹다 (To ignore/chew a text message)
읽씹 (Read and ignore - slang)
안읽씹 (Not reading and ignoring - slang)
답장이 없다 (There is no reply)
연락이 두절되다 (To lose contact/be cut off)
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