How do you pronounce "쪽바리"?

Say it "JJOHK-bah-ree" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: tɕ͈ok̚.p͈a.ɾi.

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Korean · Words You'll Hear But Must Never Say

쪽바리

jjokbari

JJOHK-bah-ree · /tɕ͈ok̚.p͈a.ɾi/

An ethnic slur for Japanese people, rooted in colonial-era hatred. Never say it.

5/5 Do not deploy

nuclear/taboo — comprehension only, never recommended

Literally

"(ethnic slur for Japanese people; from 'split-toe,' mocking traditional footwear)"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

We're telling you so you understand it, not so you say it. 쪽바리 mocks the split-toed tabi sock and jjori sandal, and carries the full freight of the colonial occupation and everything after — this is not casual xenophobia but a historically loaded slur you'll hear in nationalist rants, sports-rivalry flame wars, and from angry older men when Japan is in the news. However sympathetic the history, the word is not a visitor's to touch, ever, in any register including quotation. The neutral word is 일본인 (Japanese person) or 일본 사람. Severity 5, comprehension-only. Do not deploy.

Heard in the wild

[Heard in nationalist invective; listed for comprehension only.]

[A colonial-era ethnic slur — understand it, never use it.]

Where it lands

South Korea; historically loaded, a slur throughout

Quick answers

What does "쪽바리" mean?: In Korean, "쪽바리" means "An ethnic slur for Japanese people, rooted in colonial-era hatred. Never say it.". Literally it's "(ethnic slur for Japanese people; from 'split-toe,' mocking traditional footwear)". We're telling you so you understand it, not so you say it. 쪽바리 mocks the split-toed tabi sock and jjori sandal, and carries the full freight of the colonial occupation and everything after — this is not casual xenophobia but a historically loaded slur you'll hear in nationalist rants, sports-rivalry flame wars, and from angry older men when Japan is in the news. However sympathetic the history, the word is not a visitor's to touch, ever, in any register including quotation. The neutral word is 일본인 (Japanese person) or 일본 사람. Severity 5, comprehension-only. Do not deploy.
Is "쪽바리" offensive?: Yes — very. It rates 5/5 on the Punch-o-Meter (Do not deploy). nuclear/taboo — comprehension only, never recommended. Read the usage note before you even think about it.
How do you pronounce "쪽바리"?: Say it "JJOHK-bah-ree" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: tɕ͈ok̚.p͈a.ɾi.

Related in Korean

병신 byeongsin byung-SHEEN Moron / useless idiot — extremely common, and an ableist slur at its root. Never say it. 짱깨 jjanggae JJAHNG-kkeh An ethnic slur for Chinese people — also slang for Chinese food, which does not launder it. Never say it. 니 애미 ni aemi nee EH-mee The Korean 'your mom' — the nuclear escalation of any argument. Never say it. 김치녀 kimchinyeo keem-chee-NYUH A misogynist slur labeling Korean women as gold-diggers. You'll see it online; never use it. 미친 michin mee-CHEEN Crazy — from 'that's insane(ly good)!' to 'you lunatic' to a genuine slur on someone's sanity. 개새끼 gaesaekki geh-SEH-kkee Son of a bitch / bastard — a real insult with no soft reading.

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