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Korean · Aegyo & Fish Farms

관심 없어

gwansim eopseo

gwahn-sheem UHP-ssuh · /kwan.ɕim ʌp̚.s͈ʌ/

Not interested — the flat, load-bearing brush-off.

2/5 Bar-safe

coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances

Literally

"interest does not exist"

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

How to use it

The rejection that requires no apology: "관심 없어" states, grammatically, that interest does not exist — nothing personal, nothing negotiable. It's the phrase for the club approach, the street evangelist, and the persistent app match; delivered flat, without a smile, it does its own security work. The polite version 관심 없어요 keeps it civil for softer contexts. A 2 because banmal to a stranger carries its usual static — which, in a brush-off, is precisely the point. If it fails twice, skip the diplomacy and see 꺼져. "안 사요" (not buying) is its retail cousin.

Heard in the wild

미안한데 관심 없어. 그만 연락해.

Sorry, but I'm not interested. Stop texting me.

Where it lands

South Korea (universal)

Quick answers

What does "관심 없어" mean?
In Korean, "관심 없어" means "Not interested — the flat, load-bearing brush-off.". Literally it's "interest does not exist". The rejection that requires no apology: "관심 없어" states, grammatically, that interest does not exist — nothing personal, nothing negotiable. It's the phrase for the club approach, the street evangelist, and the persistent app match; delivered flat, without a smile, it does its own security work. The polite version 관심 없어요 keeps it civil for softer contexts. A 2 because banmal to a stranger carries its usual static — which, in a brush-off, is precisely the point. If it fails twice, skip the diplomacy and see 꺼져. "안 사요" (not buying) is its retail cousin.
Is "관심 없어" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 2/5 (Bar-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. coarse but friendly; fine among acquaintances.
How do you pronounce "관심 없어"?
Say it "gwahn-sheem UHP-ssuh" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: kwan.ɕim ʌp̚.s͈ʌ.

Related in Korean

꺼져 kkeojyeo kkuh-JYUH Get lost / piss off — you're telling a human to power down. 바람둥이 baramdungi bah-rahm-DOONG-ee Player / womanizer — a serial flirt with commitment allergies. 어장관리 eojang gwalli uh-jahng-GWAHL-lee Keeping admirers on the line like stocked fish — breadcrumbing, Korean-style. 나쁜 놈 nappeun nom nah-ppeun NOHM You bad man / that jerk — the K-drama accusation, tears optional. 자기야 jagiya jah-gee-YAH Babe / honey — the default couple's call sign. 오빠 oppa OH-ppah Oppa — older brother, boyfriend, crush, or K-pop idol, depending on who's saying it to whom.

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Shot down".

how to say "Shot down" →

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