Tonight, leaving work, I said to my coworker Danny these exact words:
“수고하세요. Don’t work too hard.”
Then suddenly, I realized this was incredibly funny. You see, each, in their respective languages (Korean and English), is a conventionalized way of saying goodbye to coworkers who are staying – but they must reflect some deep cultural differences, because their meaning is exactly opposite, and combining them was an act of pure cognitive dissonance.
“수고하세요” [sugohaseyo] means, roughly, “take pains, put in an effort, work hard.” It’s a typical thing you tell colleagues when you’re leaving them. “Don’t work too hard” is the sort of phatic, leaving-work phrase that I’ve used with late-staying colleagues during most of my working life, in English.
It’s an interesting cultural difference on display.
What I’m listening to right now.
Basement Jaxx, “Where’s your head at.” The video is freaking awesome, too.
