중꺾마 (jungkkyeongma)
What 중꺾마 means
What matters is not giving up.
When Koreans use it
Use it to encourage resilience after a setback, often with a knowing, meme-like tone.
A short conversation
Korean
A: 오늘은 졌지만 다시 해 보자.
B: 맞아, 중꺾마!
English
A: We lost today, but let's try again.
B: Yes. Don't give up!
Use it with care
Short for 중요한 것은 꺾이지 않는 마음. Encouragement should not pressure someone to ignore their limits.
From Korean Your Teacher Doesn’t Teach You by Injin Hwang. The meaning, usage, dialogue, and notes above follow the author’s book.
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