Oppa Benz spotted in Koreatown. Photo by Y. Peter Kang.
by RUTH KIM
In an ever-expanding heterogeneous world where diverse cultures continuously intersect, it’s easy to get a little lost in translation—the Korean word “oppa,” which women usually use to call older men or a boyfriend, is being re-defined in China.
Narrowing the definition, people in China are using the term “oppa” to refer to handsome men. According to China’s state-run Global Times, a restaurant in Seoul has female customers lining up at the door because the male staff members are reportedly all “oppa.” The article didn’t bother to even explain the term, as it is already well understood by Chinese readers.
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Last month, the word was listed in a Chinese online encyclopedia hosted by Baidu.com, written as “歐巴,” and loosely defines the term as an ambiguous love and closeness, or intimate feeling.
“Ajumma,” another Korean word, is also entering the Chinese language. Although the original definition refers to married women, or older women in general, the Chinese interpretation indicates tough women.
Since PSY’s “Gangnam Style” exploded, “oppa” has earned a spot on the list of terms known universally. And as long as Korean culture, especially the influence of K-pop and famous Korean dramas, continue to garner fans the world over, Korean culture and language will carry on to be a strong and powerful international presence around the world.
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