칼퇴 (kaltoe)
What 칼퇴 means
Leaving work right on time.
When Koreans use it
Talk about finishing work and leaving exactly when your scheduled day ends.
A short conversation
Korean
A: 오늘 저녁 약속 있어?
B: 응, 칼퇴해야 해.
English
A: Plans tonight?
B: Yes, I need to leave work on time.
Use it with care
Short for 칼같이 퇴근. Does not mean leaving before your working hours end.
From Korean Your Teacher Doesn’t Teach You by Injin Hwang. The meaning, usage, dialogue, and notes above follow the author’s book.
Previous lesson: Korean Slang 126 · Next lesson: Korean Slang 128
