Americans Against Language Barriers

Did you know there’s no exact translation for the Korean word “Nunchi” in English?

This is a tricky expression to translate.

If someone has great nunchi, in the United States they would say they are very good at "reading the room and behaving in a way that suits the atmosphere’.

Usage: "He has great nunchi" - "He's really good at reading the room.“

Want to explore more untranslatable words that remind us why our work matters so much? Like, follow for more, and share your favorite untranslatable word with us.

Sources: Hong, E. (2019). The Power of Nunchi: The Korean Secret to Happiness and Success. Penguin Life.
Oxford University Press. (2021). Nunchi. En Oxford English Dictionary. https://www.oed.com/

Your bilingual skills can open doors and change lives. Train with AALB.

Join us this Thursday, April 30th by registering now at www.AALB.org/register or through the link in our bio.

Today we're exploring a French expression that only makes sense in French. Translate it literally into any language and you'll just get confused looks.

"L'esprit de l'escalier" means "the spirit of the staircase." Spooky? Nope. It's that perfect reply you think of after you've already left the conversation. You're walking down the stairs and suddenly... THERE it is. Too late.

The Germans know this feeling too. They even have their own word for it: Treppenwitz ("staircase joke").

English? No equivalent. So we just use the French.

It's a perfect reminder that true communication is about capturing meaning, not just swapping words.

What's a phrase that only makes sense in your language and you always find yourself explaining? Drop it in the comments!