손절 (sonjeol) — to cut ties with someone.
Lesson 26 in our Korean Slang series, adapted from Korean Your Teacher Doesn’t Teach You by Injin Hwang.
What 손절 means
손절 originated in the idea of cutting a loss and now also refers to ending a relationship. It signals a serious break, stronger than simply not talking for a while.
A short conversation
A: 요즘 그 친구랑 연락해?
B: 아니, 여러 일 때문에 손절했어.
A: Are you still in touch with that friend?
B: No. I cut ties after several problems.
How to understand it
Start with the context in the dialogue. The speaker uses 손절 to mean “to cut ties with someone.” A word-for-word reading can miss the tone. Compare the Korean lines with the natural English translation, and notice which part of the situation makes the meaning clear.
Use it with care
This word can sound harsh or final. Do not use it lightly about a small disagreement or when the relationship is merely on pause.
A more neutral or polite alternative:
지금은 그 친구와 연락하지 않아요.
I am not in touch with that friend now.
Try it yourself
Is 손절 the same as being too busy to meet this week?
Show the answer
No. It suggests intentionally cutting ties.
Read the conversation aloud, then try the neutral alternative. Think about which one fits a friend and which one fits a polite conversation.
Based on the author’s slang collection, with additional learning notes. AI-generated illustration created for this lesson.
