11.27.2007

reminds me of home

고소하다 (Korean) 'kosohada'

This is one of those really interesting words that really have no translations into other languages. If you were to look this word up in a dictionary, you would get 1) to be tasty, sweet, savory; to have the flavor of a nut. 2) to sue someone. Sounds strange doesn't it?

Kosohada is used to describe the taste of grains, seeds, and nuts, a vital part of Korean food culture. When one takes a bite into roasted sesame seeds, it is said to be kosohada. This word connotes a feeling of home, coziness, and nostalgia. It is like being at home snug next to a fireplace, roasting chestnuts on a cold day.

There is also a colloquial usage that means 'to be pleased to see a disliked person make a mistake or be brought down.' So if one dislikes a certain person and that person fails his/her test or gets rejected by a university or a job, this word can be used to describe that satisfying feeling.


0 comments: