ระยะเวลาไว้ทุกข์จีนโบราณ ตอนที่ 2 สวัสดีค่ะ สัปดาห์ที่แล้วคุยกันเรื่องการแบ่งการไว้ทุกข์ออกเป็นห้าระดับตามชื่อของชุดไว้ทุกข์ที่มีมาแต่สมัยราชวงศ์โจว หรือที่เรียกว่า ‘อู่ฝู’ (五服 แปลตรงตัวว่า ห้าชุด) โดยแต่ละระดับมีระยะเวลาไว้ทุกข์ที่ต่างกัน วันนี้เรามาคุยกันต่อค่ะ Storyฯ ขออิงตามประมวลกฏหมายต้าหมิงหุ้ยเตี่ยนที่ถูกจัดทำขึ้นในรัชสมัยว่านลี่ขององค์จูอี้จวิน (ซึ่งค่อนข้างนิ่งแล้ว แต่อาจมีบางรายการแตกต่างกับปัจจุบัน) โดยยกมาเฉพาะสำหรับชาวบ้านไม่รวมราชนิกูล เพื่อนเพจดูชุดไว้ทุกข์สมัยหมิงได้ตามรูปประกอบ 1 ส่วนการจัดลำดับเครือญาตินั้น เนื่องจากภาษาไทยเราไม่มีคำระบุเครือญาติได้ชัดเจนเหมือนจีน พอกล่าวถึงญาติห่างๆ จะสับสน Storyฯ จึงจัดทำเป็นผังตารางในรูปประกอบ 2 ในรูปแบบของพงศาวลีให้ง่ายสำหรับความเข้าใจ ซึ่งแตกต่างจากหน้าตาผังอู่ฝูในภาษาจีนที่บางท่านอาจเคยเห็น และนอกจากนี้ยังมีบางข้อมูลที่ไม่สามารถเขียนรวมอยู่ในผังได้ สรุปหลักสำคัญของ ‘อู่ฝู’ มีดังนี้: 1. ระดับที่หนึ่ง เป็นการไว้ทุกข์ขั้นสูงสุด ชุดไว้ทุกข์เรียกว่า ‘จ่านชุย’ (斩衰) เป็นชุดเนื้อหยาบที่สุด ใช้สำหรับไว้ทุกข์ให้กับพ่อแม่โดยลูกชายและภรรยา รวมถึงลูกสาวที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน (กล่าวคือ ยังไม่ออกเรือน หรือเป็นหม้ายไร้บุตรหวนกลับเข้าเรือน) รายละเอียดคุยไปแล้วในสัปดาห์ที่แล้ว (https://www.facebook.com/StoryfromStory/posts/pfbid02iGKyX4S6jcPqcr2kS6aigeGEv2v7oL2HB7WYx7UFHUkXV9i8hBPR33HyxRCnZ19kl) 2. ระดับที่สอง ชุดไว้ทุกข์เรียกว่า ‘จือชุย’ (齐衰) ดูจากรูปหน้าตาคล้ายกับชุดจ่านชุย ทำจากผ้ากระสอบดิบเนื้อหยาบเช่นกัน แต่มีการเย็บเก็บชายผ้าเรียบร้อย ไม้เท้าทำจากไม้คนละชนิด สตรีแต่งกายเหมือนกับบุรุษและใช้เนื้อผ้าเดียวกัน มีการคลุมหัวเหมือนแบบจ่านชุย ส่วนระยะเวลาไว้ทุกข์ในระดับนี้แบ่งย่อยออกเป็นสี่แบบ 2.1 แบบที่หนึ่ง คือสามปี ถือไม้เท้า: ในสมัยหมิงไม่มีอีกต่อไป 2.2 แบบที่สอง คือหนึ่งปี ถือไม้เท้า: - สามี: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับภรรยา - ลูกชายและภรรยา: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับแม่เล็ก (คืออนุภรรยาของพ่อ) - ลูกชายและภรรยา: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับพ่อเลี้ยง กรณีแม่แต่งงานใหม่ 2.3 แบบที่สาม คือหนึ่งปี ไม่ถือไม้เท้า เป็นการไว้ทุกข์สำหรับ: - บุรุษ และสตรีที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับญาติสนิทและญาติผู้ใหญ่สายตรง (ดูตามผังในรูปประกอบ 2) - สะใภ้: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับพี่น้องชายของสามี; ลูกชายและลูกสาวที่ยังอยู่ในเรือนของพี่น้องชายสามี - ลูกสาวที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับพ่อแม่ของตน - พ่อแม่: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับลูกชาย ลูกสาวที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน และลูกสะใภ้ใหญ่ (คือภรรยาของลูกชายคนโตอันเกิดจากแม่ใหญ่); - หลาน: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับปู่ย่า ทั้งนี้หมายรวมถึงหลานสาวที่ออกเรือนไปแล้วด้วย (แต่หลานสะใภ้ไว้ทุกข์ในระดับ 3) - ปู่ย่า: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับหลานชายคนโต (ลูกของลูกชาย) ในสายภรรยาเอก - อนุภรรยา: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับภรรยาเอก; บุตรชายทุกคนของสามีไม่ว่าจะเกิดจากแม่ใด รวมบุตรชายของตน; พ่อแม่ของตน 2.4 แบบที่สี่ คือ สามถึงห้าเดือน ไม่ถือไม้เท้า: - เหลนไว้ทุกข์ให้กับปู่ทวดย่าทวด ระยะเวลาห้าเดือน โดยหมายรวมถึงเหลนสาวที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว (หมายเหตุ สะใภ้ไว้ทุกข์ให้ปู่ทวดย่าทวดของสามีด้วยชุดซือหมาแบบ 5 ระยะเวลาสามเดือน) - ลื่อ (ลูกของเหลน) ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับปู่เทียดย่าเทียด ระยะสามเดือน หมายรวมถึงลื่อสาวที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว (หมายเหตุ สะใภ้ไม่ต้องไว้ทุกข์ให้) สำหรับการไว้ทุกข์ในระดับ 2.2-2.4 นี้ ชีวิตความเป็นอยู่จะสบายขึ้นกว่าระดับแรกหน่อย ก็คืองดอาหารเพียงสามมื้อ (คือวันเดียว) จากนั้นในสามเดือนแรกกินข้าวต้ม งดผักผลไม้เนื้อสัตว์และสุรา โดยมีข้อยกเว้นคือผู้สูงอายุและผู้ป่วยตามที่ได้กล่าวไปในสัปดาห์ที่แล้ว และพอพ้นสามเดือนก็กินดื่มได้ปกติแต่กินกันเองไม่ร่วมกินดื่มกับผู้อื่นเพราะจะกลายเป็นการสังสรรค์ ในส่วนของที่พักนั้น หากเคร่งครัดมาก สามเดือนแรกบุรุษอาจย้ายออกมาอยู่กระท่อมแบบสมถะ พ้นสามเดือนจึงกลับไปนอนบ้านได้ปกติ ซึ่งสาเหตุที่ยึดเกณฑ์สามเดือนก็คือ สามเดือนจึงทำพิธีฝังศพ 3. ระดับที่สาม ชุดไว้ทุกข์เรียกว่า ‘ต้ากง’ (大功) ทำจากผ้ากระสอบเนื้อละเอียดขึ้น เป็นผ้าต้มสุกและมีการเย็บเก็บชายผ้าเรียบร้อย ไม่ต้องมีไม้เท้า สวมรองเท้าเชือกสาน สตรีแต่งกายแบบบุรุษ ผมเปลี่ยนจากผ้าคลุมหัวเป็นผ้าโพกมวย ระยะเวลาไว้ทุกข์เก้าเดือน เป็นการไว้ทุกข์สำหรับ: - บุรุษ และสตรีที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับญาติที่ห่างออกมาอีกลำดับขั้น (ดูผังในรูปประกอบ 2) - พ่อแม่: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับลูกสะใภ้ (ยกเว้นลูกสะใภ้คนโตที่ไว้ทุกข์ในระดับ 2.3) - ปู่ย่า: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับหลานชายทุกคน (ยกเว้นหลานชายคนโตสายภรรยาเอกที่ไว้ทุกข์ในระดับ 2.3) และหลานสาวที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน - สตรีที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว: ไว้ทุกข์ให้แก่ลุงและอา (พี่น้องชายของพ่อ) ของตน; ป้าและอาหญิง (พี่น้องสาวของพ่อ) ของตนที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน; พี่น้องชายของตน รวมลูกชายและลูกสาวที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน; พี่น้องสาวของตนที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน สำหรับการไว้ทุกข์ในระดับต้ากงนี้ งดอาหารเพียงสามมื้อ (คือวันเดียว) จากนั้นในสามเดือนแรกกินข้าวต้ม งดผักผลไม้เนื้อสัตว์และสุรา โดยมีข้อยกเว้นคือผู้สูงอายุและผู้ป่วยตามที่ได้กล่าวไปในสัปดาห์ที่แล้ว และบุรุษอาจย้ายออกมาอยู่กระท่อมแบบสมถะไม่นอนเตียง พอพ้นสามเดือนก็กินอยู่ได้ปกติ 4. ระดับที่สี่ ชุดไว้ทุกข์เรียกว่า ‘เสี่ยวกง’ (小功) ทำจากผ้ากระสอบเนื้อบางละเอียดต้มสุกและมีการเย็บเก็บชายผ้าเรียบร้อย ไม่ต้องมีไม้เท้า สวมรองเท้าปกติได้ ระยะเวลาไว้ทุกข์ห้าเดือน เป็นการไว้ทุกข์สำหรับ: - บุรุษ และสตรีที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับญาติที่ห่างออกมาอีกลำดับขั้น (ดูผังในรูปประกอบ 2) และลูกชายของพี่น้องหญิงที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว - ปู่ย่า: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับหลานสะใภ้คนโตในสายภรรยาเอก (ภรรยาของลูกชายของลูกชาย); หลานสาว (ลูกสาวของลูกชาย) ที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว - บุตรของแม่เล็ก: ไว้ทุกข์ให้พ่อแม่พี่น้องชายหญิงของแม่ใหญ่ เฉพาะในกรณีที่แม่ใหญ่ยังมีชีวิตอยู่ - สตรีที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับลูกชายและลูกสาวที่ยังอยู่ในเรือนของลุงอาชายของตน (คือลูกพี่ลูกน้อง) 5. ระดับที่ห้า ชุดไว้ทุกข์เรียกว่า ‘ซือหมา’ (缌麻) ทำจากผ้ากระสอบเนื้อละเอียดที่สุดต้มสุกและมีการเย็บเก็บชายผ้าเรียบร้อย ไม่ต้องมีไม้เท้า ระยะเวลาไว้ทุกข์สามเดือน เป็นการไว้ทุกข์สำหรับ: - บุรุษ และสตรีที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับญาติที่ห่างออกมาอีกลำดับขั้น (ดูผังในรูปประกอบ 2) - บุรุษ และสตรีที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับลูกชายของป้าอาหญิง (พี่น้องสาวของพ่อ) ที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว; ลูกชายของพี่น้องชายหญิงของแม่ รวมภรรยา - บุรุษ: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับพ่อตาแม่ยาย (พ่อแม่ของภรรยา) - บุรุษและภรรยา: ไว้ทุกข์ให้หลานชายหญิง (ลูกของลูกชาย) ของลูกสาวที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว รวมภรรยาของหลานชาย - สตรีที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับญาติผู้ใหญ่ของตนคือ พี่น้องชายของปู่และภรรยา รวมลูกชายและภรรยา; พี่น้องสาวของปู่ที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน - สตรีที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว: ไว้ทุกข์ให้กับลูกชายหญิงของลูกชายของลุงอาชายของตน (คือลูกของลูกพี่ลูกน้องสาวของตน); ลูกสาวของลุงอาชายที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว (คือลูกพี่ลูกน้องสาวของตน) การไว้ทุกข์ระดับ 4 และ 5 นี้ นับเป็นการไว้ทุกข์แบบเบา มีการอดอาหารเพียงหนึ่งหรือสองมื้อ แรกงดผักผลไม้เนื้อสัตว์และสุราสามเดือน หลังจากนั้นกินดื่มปกติ และในช่วงเวลาไว้ทุกข์สามารถหลับนอนในห้องนอนเดิมนอนเตียงได้ การนับลำดับญาติเพื่อการไว้ทุกข์อาจฟังดูซับซ้อน แต่จากผังลำดับญาติจะเห็นได้ว่าหลักการในการนับความอาวุโสคือ ญาติในรุ่นเดียวกัน ถ้าเป็นพ่อคนเดียวกัน (คือพี่น้อง) ห่างออกไปหนึ่งขั้น หากเป็นปู่คนเดียวกัน ห่างออกไปสองขั้น หากเป็นปู่ทวดคนเดียวกัน ห่างออกไปสามขั้น และหากเป็นปู่เทียดคนเดียวกัน ห่างออกไปสี่ขั้น และจบอู่ฝูที่ลำดับญาติขึ้นสี่รุ่นลงสี่รุ่นรวมตนเองเป็นเก้ารุ่น เกณฑ์นี้ใช้สำหรับบุรุษหรือสตรีที่ยังอยู่ในเรือน และมีการกล่าวไว้ว่า พอพ้นเกณฑ์อู่ฝูนี้ก็ไม่ถือว่าเป็นญาติครอบครัวเดียวกันแล้ว ส่วนสตรีที่ออกเรือนไปแล้ว ให้ด้อยศักดิ์ลงหนึ่งขั้น (ยกเว้นกรณีที่กล่าวไว้แล้วในรายละเอียดข้างต้น) และสำหรับสตรีที่แต่งเข้ามาเป็นสะใภ้นั้น ไว้ทุกข์เทียบเท่าสามีให้รุ่นลูกลงไป แต่สำหรับการไว้ทุกข์ให้รุ่นเดียวกันและรุ่นอาวุโสกว่าให้ด้อยศักดิ์จากสามีหนึ่งขั้น (ยกเว้นกรณีที่กล่าวไว้แล้วในรายละเอียดข้างต้น) เช่น ไว้ทุกข์ให้พี่น้องสาวที่ออกเรือนไปแล้วของสามีในระดับ 4 ในขณะที่สามีไว้ทุกข์ในระดับ 3 ทั้งนี้ เนื่องจากการลำดับญาติมีความซับซ้อนและสรรพนามของไทยไม่ระบุเจาะจงเท่าของจีน อีกทั้งปัจจุบันมีเปลี่ยนแปลงไปบ้าง และข้อมูลก็ไม่สมบูรณ์โดยเฉพาะในส่วนที่เกี่ยวข้องกับสะใภ้และเขย หากมีตกหล่นผิดเพี้ยนไปแต่ประการใด Storyฯ ก็ขออภัยมา ณ ที่นี้ด้วย โดยทั่วไปแล้ว ในช่วงเวลาไว้ทุกข์ ไม่ว่าจะเป็นการไว้ทุกข์ระดับใด ห้ามสังสรรค์รื่นเริง ห้ามจัดงานมงคล กินอยู่อย่างสมถะ ไม่แต่งหน้าแต่งตาใส่เครื่องประดับ ทั้งนี้ ในช่วงเวลาไว้ทุกข์ไม่ได้จำเป็นต้องสวมชุดไว้ทุกข์เต็มยศตามที่กล่าวมาข้างต้นตลอดเวลา แต่จะใส่เฉพาะวันพิธีการสำคัญที่เกี่ยวข้อง นอกนั้นใส่ชุดไว้ทุกข์แบบเรียบง่ายหรือเปลี่ยนเป็นชุดขาวเรียบง่ายได้ ทั้งนี้มีตามหลักเกณฑ์เหมือนกัน แต่ Storyฯ ไม่ได้หาข้อมูลลงลึกเพิ่มเติม แน่นอนว่าพิธีการไว้ทุกข์มีความซับซ้อนมากกว่าที่เขียน ไม่ว่าจะเป็นรายละเอียดของชุดและกิจกรรมประจำวันต่างๆ และพิธีการเหล่านี้เปลี่ยนแปลงไปตามการเวลา ปัจจุบันยังมีธรรมเนียมการไว้ทุกข์นับตามอู่ฝูอยู่บ้างในประเทศจีนแต่ก็คลายความเคร่งครัดไป และสำหรับชาวไทยเชื้อสายจีนนั้น ปัจจุบันโดยส่วนใหญ่จะไม่นับถึงรุ่นทวดเดียวกันแล้ว เพื่อนเพจท่านใดมีประสบการณ์ที่แตกต่างอย่างไร เม้นท์เข้ามาเล่าสู่กันฟังหน่อยค่ะ (ป.ล. หากอ่านแล้วชอบใจ อย่าลืมกดติดตามเพจนี้เพื่อป้องกันการกีดกันของเฟซบุ๊คด้วยนะคะ #StoryfromStory) Credit รูปภาพจากในละครและจาก: https://historyindrama.wixsite.com/historyindrama/single-post/2018/03/17/-風起長林-披麻戴孝 https://kknews.cc/news/j5bqeq.html Credit ข้อมูลรวบรวมจาก: https://m.thepaper.cn/baijiahao_12081296 https://ctext.org/yili/sang-fu/zhs https://ctext.org/wiki.pl?if=gb&chapter=880555&remap=gb https://baike.baidu.com/item/丧服制度/5983791 https://baike.baidu.com/item/齐衰 https://www.sohu.com/a/124382586_555629 https://k.sina.cn/article_6093535129_16b33f79900100pcu5.html #หลางหยาป่าง2 #ไว้ทุกข์จีน #อู่ฝู #ติงโยว #การลำดับญาติจีน #สาระจีน

Do You Know What These Gen Z Slang Terms Mean—And Where They Really Come From? Language is constantly evolving, but there’s one type of language that so often changes even faster than the rest: slang. Every generation has its own unique slang words, and these terms seem to spring up faster than many people can keep up with. The popularity of TikTok and other social media trends has only made it easier for new slang to take hold, and if you aren’t keeping up with the latest trends, you might be left scratching your head. These terms may be new to you, but it’s essential to remember that so many of the slang terms that seem suddenly brand new in the dominant, mainstream culture actually have origins and long histories of use in Black culture, the LGBTQ+ community, the drag community, and other marginalized groups and subcultures. From there, the creativity, appeal and just plain usefulness of these terms frequently leads to them being adopted by youth culture at large (including by white people and those who are not part of the communities where the terms originated), from where they may spread into the general population. This adoption, in many cases, involves appropriation that ignores, obscures, or erases the terms’ origins and originators. If you need to brush up on the latest “cool” words so you don’t seem so cheugy, here are the meanings and likely origins of 16 essential Gen Z slang words to know—at least for the moment. 1. no cap You’ve likely seen cap and no cap used on social media, but these terms actually pre-date social media and Gen Z by several decades. In Black slang, to cap about something means “to brag, exaggerate, or lie” about it. This meaning dates all the way back to at least the early 1900s. No cap, then, has evolved as another way of saying “no lie” or “for real.” Though it’s currently popular with Gen Z, no cap was mostly influenced by hip-hop culture. 2. cheugy Are you cool or are you cheugy? This word, used to describe “uncool” things that are either out of style or trying too hard to be in style, is believed to have been coined in 2013. According to New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz, Californian Gaby Rasson started using cheugy then to describe people who unsuccessfully try to be trendy. The term got a great deal of exposure in a viral TikTok video in 2021. By May 2021, the hashtag #cheugy had over 10 million views on TikTok. Cheugyness or cheuginess are noun variations of the word, and a person who is cheugy is sometimes referred to as a cheug. Beware: Slang changes fast, and some may consider cheugy itself to be cheugy already. 3. drip During previous generations, drip was slang for “an unattractive, boring, or colorless person.” Now, if someone mentions your drip, it’s actually a good thing. Drip refers to your look or style, particularly when it’s considered extremely fashionable or sexy (kind of like a newer version of swag). The origins of this usage are the subject of some debate. Many credit the early 2000s hip-hop scene in Atlanta, while others think drip may have evolved from slang used on the teen comedy Zoey 101. Either way, if someone mentions your drip, now you know that you can take it as a compliment. 4. hits different Sometimes something is so awesome that it impacts you or inspires you on a whole new level. The proper Gen Z term for this is hits different. In this sense, hit means “to have a marked effect or influence on; affect severely.” For example: That new Adele album just hits different. This usage is believed to have originated in the LGBTQ community with popular YouTubers Daniel Howell and Phil Lester. In 2019, it gained popularity thanks to social media apps like TikTok and Twitter. Now, hits different has achieved widespread usage in a variety of situations. 5. main character Do you ever wish you could be the main character in your favorite movie? Main character, for Gen Z, originated from a TikTok trend in which people post either a montage of their life featuring themselves as the main character or they reenact popular scenes from favorite movies and TV shows. Main character can also refer to someone who is the subject of viral outrage on social media. For example: I checked Twitter to see who the main character is today. 6. snatched RuPaul’s Drag Race may well have been the vehicle that brought this slang term to the mainstream. For Gen Z, snatched means “fierce” or “on point,” particularly when it comes to someone’s hair, makeup, and physical appearance. Historically, snatched is slang from the Black drag community, in which performers often wear artificial hair called weaves. In the drag community, snatched is slang for saying something is so amazing it snatched your weave off. 7. bet Are you ready to learn the next slang word? Bet! As you may have guessed from the previous sentence, bet is a term of affirmation, agreement, or approval along the lines of “Cool!” or “I’m down!” It can also be used to express doubt or disbelief. This usage likely originated in Black slang. It’s also even more proof that Gen Z appears to love recycling trends from the ’90s, since bet can be traced back to that decade. 8. skrrt Does slang become less cool if we tell you it’s also an onomatopoeia? Skrrt is supposed to mimic the sound of screeching tires, and it’s used as an interjection. For example, if someone is sharing some juicy gossip, their friend might respond with a skrrt to get them to stop and repeat something exciting they just said. The term has been in use since at least 2015, and it’s closely linked to the rising popularity of trap music. 9. understood the assignment If you spend time on Twitter, you’ve probably seen tweets about actors who understood the assignment, or were perfectly suited for the role they were playing. This slang phrase is used to mean that someone was successful at or totally nailed something they needed to do. This isn’t limited to famous people. Someone who’s well-dressed or has the exact right comeback may also have understood the assignment. Saying this about someone is like giving them a gold star. 10. OK boomer Gen Z and Millennials are two distinct groups, but they found something to agree on with the term OK boomer. Both generations helped popularize the phrase starting in 2019, and it’s still going strong today. OK boomer is used as a clapback when people from older generations post condescending or out-of-touch things about younger generations online. It’s also used in a humorous or ironic way to dismiss out-of-touch commentary from people of any age group. 11. say less Say less may come off as rude to some because it’s essentially a request to stop talking. It’s an abrupt, often funny way of saying “I understand” or “I’ve got the point.” Say less is the title of a 2019 song by R&B artist Ashanti. It’s also the name of a 2017 album by Canadian musician Roy Woods. It appeared online as early as 2011, but it may have reached its current level of popularity thanks to a 2021 Saturday Night Live skit. 12. slaps This next word really slaps. It essentially means “to be excellent or amazing.” You’ve most likely heard slap in reference to music, as in “This song really slaps.” This slang word is also a total blast from the past. It was an adjective for “first-rate” in the mid-1800s and an adverb, meaning “excellently,” even earlier, in the mid-1700s. By at least the early 2000s, slaps was being used to celebrate everything from great music to good food. The musical slap is often credited to Bay Area hip-hop slang. There are many other slang terms that draw on force and motion to characterize great music, including bops, whips, and smacks. A track that slaps can be called a banger. 13. low-key/high-key Low-key generally means “quiet,” “restrained,” “moderate,” or “easygoing.” In the slang sense, it’s more about a subtle feeling or something you want to keep on the downlow, such as low-key being excited about a cheesy new movie coming out or having a low-key crush on a celebrity. Alternatively, high-key is used to express open excitement about something, like being high-key invested in the ongoing drama between Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal. Fun fact: while low-key originates as an adjective, it is also widely used as an adverb, as our examples show above. 14. bussin’ If something is really, really good, you might describe it as bussin’. This term originates in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), likely based on various senses of bust meaning “to explode, do well, enjoy.” Many say it’s been appropriated by Gen Z in a way that changes the original meaning. While younger generations use the term for everything from a great outfit to good music, in AAVE, bussin’ typically refers to delicious food. 15. simp Gen Z didn’t invent simp, but they’ve found a way to make it their own. Simp is used—often, it’s important to note, in sexist ways—as an insult for men who are seen as being too submissive to women, especially under the guise of trying to win sexual attention from them. It’s controversial, though, as many say the term is degrading to women and a way of bullying men. Though the term found viral fame among TikTok influencers in 2019 and early 2020, rappers like Ice-T and DJ Evil E were using the term as far back as 1987. 16. vibing Back in the day, kids used to chill out. Now, you might find them vibing instead. Vibing means relaxing, tapping into good feelings, and just generally enjoying the atmosphere. It’s closely related to vibe, which is an older slang term—from the late 1960s—that means “a feeling or flavor of the kind specified.” Vibing is used in many situations, but especially when someone is losing themselves in great music or conversation. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

New Words We Created Because Of Coronavirus We’re rounding out 2020, and the coronavirus continues to shape our lives and language. While we once hoped we could toss the year’s coronacoinages out the door, that’s clearly not going to be the case right now: the coronavirus continues to surge to new levels. It seems like years (not months) ago that we learned our first COVID-19 terms, like social distancing and flatten the curve. We had to process so much, in so little time; we had to become experts about important differences: epidemic vs. pandemic, quarantine vs. isolation, and respirator vs. ventilators. The conversation continued with contagious vs. infectious and what antibodies do. Many of the words we’ve continued to add to our vocabularies address the ongoing nature of our situation. Maybe we long for the Before Times or have embraced cluttercore as we cope. The ups and downs of this life haven’t been easy (it’s a coronacoaster, to be honest), but the new vocabulary has helped us stay safe and informed during these scary times. And what better way to bring some welcome humor and humility to our lives in the bunker than some wordplay? Here’s our ongoing roundup of some of the new slang terms born of this unique, unprecedented time in modern life—a time of upheaval that some more jokingly call the coronapocalypse (corona apocalypse) or coronageddon (corona armageddon). the Before Times Are you walking around in a constant state of nostalgia? Then the term Before Times is for you. This humorous (and yes, dark) take on life pre-pandemic makes it clear that we’ve lived through an apocalyptic rupture point that separates old and new. The Before Times has long been a trope in science fiction, and linguist Ben Zimmer traces this specific phrase back to 1960s Star Trek, though some variations (beforetime) appear in early texts like the Bible. Example: Remember in the Before Times, when we packed together in movie theaters for a fun time? Seems like a different world now! rona Rona—often in the phrase the rona—is an informal shortening of coronavirus. Coronavirus is popularly shortened to corona, which was apparently further clipped to rona. Rona is often used as a playful or ironic way to refer to COVID-19, especially when commenting on more relatable, humorous challenges of social distancing during the pandemic. It is generally not meant, however, to be flippant about the very serious loss and disruption COVID-19 has wreaked—nor diminish the life-saving service of so many essential workers, from grocery clerks to nurses. It’s a bit of gallows humor. Some people have personified the virus as Miss Rona or Aunt Rona. And la rona (meant as “the rona”) has emerged in some Spanish-language contexts. Other informal shortenings? Just as coronavirus has been shortened to corona and rona, so quarantine has been shortened to quar—and even pandemic to panny. Example: Yeah, I don’t know about you, but homeschooling my kids during the rona ends up in a lot of Frozen 2. cornteen Cornteen is an intentional misspelling of quarantine, often used in ironic commentary on what it’s like to be at home during the coronavirus pandemic. It may have originated as an actual misspelling of quarantine. (Hey, quarantine wasn’t exactly a word most of us used every day until COVID-19.) Cornteen is occasionally used to joke about how quarantine is pronounced in various regional accents. Some people visually pun on cornteen by substituting the corn emoji, 🌽, for the corn- part of the word; others pun on the -teen to mean “teenager.” doomscrolling Life under the rona has meant that it’s even harder to peel our eyes away from our phones and computers, constantly refreshing our feeds for the latest news about the pandemic. At least there’s a word for that: doomscrolling, also doomscrolling. The term has been notably used—and popularized in part by her exhortations to a take a break from doing it—by Quartz reporter Karen K. Ho. Scrolling refers to scrolling down on our smartphones for the latest posts on social media. And doom … well, a lot of the news we’re seeing online feels full of gloom and doom. Example: I was up to 2 a.m. last night doomscrolling about coronavirus news in my state. A related slang term is doomsurfing, or compulsively surfing the internet for upsetting news. coronasomnia Staying up late, again? Waking up at 4am to doomscroll? Can’t remember your last good night of sleep? You’re not the only one. The term coronasomnia refers to—what else?—the insomnia that’s afflicting so many of us during the pandemic. Doctors and pharmacists have seen a measurable increase in the number of people suffering symptoms of insomnia or whose symptoms have worsened since the quarantine began. Some estimates suggest some 20 to 30 percent of the population—including children—may be impacted. One doctor coined the term “FED UP” to describe the worries of this stressful time. It stands for “financial stress, emotional stress, distance from others, unpredictability, and personal and professional concerns.” Yikes. Sounds like that’s another term for the dictionary. coronacoaster If you’re suffering from coronasomnia, you’ll likely understand this next word without much of an explanation. Coronacoaster is one of the many new COVID-inspired coinages that use corona (short for coronavirus) as a kind of combining form. It blends corona and rollercoaster to describe the emotional experience of life during the pandemic. Did you bake cookies and then sob like a baby while masking up for the 10,000th time? You’re on the coaster! Example: The coronacoaster has been exhausting this week. I started crying during my weekly family Zoom and couldn’t stop. coronacut The hilariously bad haircut we give ourselves under lockdown. This was one of the first coronacoinages out there—proving that sometimes we worry most about the little things … or that we’re all pretty vain. It feels like so long ago since we first heard this term, which only goes to show how slang changes as our experience of the pandemic changes. cluttercore A “messy aesthetic,” especially in terms of embracing one’s books, knickknacks, and other stuff at home and sharing it on social media. While coronacut reminds us of our struggles during the earliest days of the pandemic, this term reflects the ongoing evolution of quarantine life. Cluttercore emerged as a maximalist, anti-Kondo approach in early 2020 before any lockdowns, but the pandemic really helped popularize the term. (As of October, videos with the hashtag #cluttercore had more than two million views.) This combining form blends clutter (“a disorderly heap or assemblage”) with -core, which names a kind of aesthetic, social movement, or lifestyle. Cluttercore is similar to terms like cottagecore, normcore, and gorpcore. “The pandemic has forced us to reevaluate what we have, make better use of objects and space … and also see their value, often for the first time,” says Jennifer Howard, author of Clutter: An Untidy History. covidiot A blend of COVID-19 and idiot, covidiot is a slang insult for someone who disregards healthy and safety guidelines about the novel coronavirus. Some signs of covidiocy are: not washing your hands regularly, hanging out in groups of people, standing within six feet of a stranger at the grocery, hoarding items like toilet paper and hand sanitizer all to yourself. Example: Don’t be a covidiot by visiting the beach today! It’s super crowded. quaranteam The (very limited) group of people you see during self-isolation; one of the many slang terms that plays on quarantine. Whether you call it a germ pod, a COVID bubble, or your quaranteam, this is the group of people you voluntarily choose to socialize with or even live with during the quarantine. Basically, your pod chooses to isolate together, promising not to have close contact (within six feet) with anyone outside the pod. This form of contact clustering (yet another term used by epidemiologists to describe the situation) allows you to socialize while also staying safe. Quaranteam is a blend of quarantine and team, and sounds like quarantine—it’s a punning blend, as we’ve seen throughout this slideshow Example: Our quaranteam is going camping next weekend. We’re tired of all the binge-watching and baking. moronavirus Another term for a covidiot. The wordplay, here, centers on the word moron. Example: My roommate is being such a moronavirus. He went down to the beach with a huge group of friends. Calling someone a covidiot or moronavirus is a form of quarantine shaming. That’s slang for publicly criticizing someone for not following health and safety guidelines (quarantine being a shorthand for policies in place requiring people to stay at home except where necessary in many places across the country and world). quarantini How do you take your quarantini? Dirty, dry? Shaken, stirred? Vodka, gin? Quarantini is a slang term for a cocktail people drink at home while under quarantine during—and because of—the coronavirus. The term is a blend of quarantine and martini, a cocktail made with gin or vodka and dry vermouth, usually served with a green olive or a twist of lemon peel. The original quarantini referred to a martini-like cocktail mixed with vitamin C-based dietary supplements—a concoction that predates the novel coronavirus. Quarantini has spread as a more general term for alcoholic beverages consumed at home during the pandemic. Example: Frozen pizza in the oven? Paw Patrol queued up? Think it’s time for a quarantini. coronarita The margarita answer to a quarantini—served with, what else, a Corona-brand beer. A margarita is a cocktail made of tequila, lime or lemon juice, and an orange-flavored liqueur, usually served in a salt-rimmed glass. virtual happy hour When someone might drink a quarantini or coronarita. Because many people are working from home to help, they are letting off steam at the end of a long day of doomscrolling by holding virtual happy hours over Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and other video conferencing or chat applications. Happy hour is a cocktail hour or longer period at a bar, during which drinks are served at reduced prices or with free snacks. It’s also used as a shorthand for drinks, generally with colleagues or friends, at the end of the workday, especially near the end of the work week. walktail When you want to take your quarantini or coronita outside on a walk (not that we’re condoning that), then you’d have a walktail. With so many quarantining at home with nothing to do—and nowhere to drink with the bars closed—some people have taken to swigging while sauntering, according to a New York Times article that identified this new trend. A walktail combines the words walk and cocktail, and bar owners are reporting increased alcohol to-go sales as a result. People are drinking and walking their neighborhoods, walking their pets, or just hosting happy hours in the backyard. Now, readers, do keep in mind: almost everywhere in the US it’s illegal to carry an “open container,” so most people disguise their walktails in discreet containers. Or you can also go bold, like the woman who dressed up in her bridal gown to dance in the street. Zoom-bombing This one’s a more serious entry. When using Zoom or similar services, be wary of Zoom-bombing. This is when uninvited guests to a virtual meeting disrupt it with various obscene, violent, or offensive images or words. Bombing, here, is based on photobombing, or when people ruin a photograph by appearing in the image without the photographer’s knowledge, often in some dramatic or comical way. Zoom mom A demographic of moms who are constantly using Zoom. They used to be called soccer moms, but COVID-19 changed that. Now, these so-called Zoom moms are described as spending a lot of time using Zoom for work, their children’s schooling, or simply to chat with their friends who are also stuck at home. In a May 22 article, Zoom moms were identified as a potentially powerful voting bloc that could influence the 2020 elections. Example: If the updated back to school plans aren’t released soon, the Zoom moms may revolt. Zoom fatigue The exhaustion that sets in while living life over Zoom. Fatigue is a “weariness from bodily or mental exertion,” and people began to cling to the term Zoom fatigue pretty quickly in April. Experts note that this sense of exhaustion is a real phenomenon caused by the amount of information processed face-to-face on Zoom without any non-verbal cues. Conversations and meetings cause conflicting emotions, without allowing people to relax as they would in person. Zoom fatigue ties into the larger phenomenon of “pandemic fatigue”: months into the pandemic and we are feeling the emotional, social, and psychological toll even as we try to grasp the loss of our lives and livelihood. Zoom town A place where housing sales are booming due to buyers who work remotely and are willing to live farther from the office. Example: The realtor convinced us to look at several homes in a nearby Zoom town, and I couldn’t help but imagine an idyllic life in the suburbs—complete with backyard barbecues and a two-car garage. Competition for homes in Zoom towns in suburbs and areas surrounding city centers is heating up as workers embrace remote work and ditch their commutes. Prices in these areas are often lower than in tighter urban markets. Zoom town is a play on Zoom (which of course, can also mean “to move quickly”) and boom town, a noun meaning “a town that has grown very rapidly as a result of sudden prosperity.” quarantine and chill Netflix and chill, but for the coronavirus era. Quarantine and chill is used for various ways people are hunkering down and spending free time at home during the coronavirus, especially with a romantic partner while marathoning streaming services. Be careful when you search for quarantine and chill on social media, though: some people use the phrase when posting revealing selfies. Example: My hubby and I are in an epic tournament of Rummy 500. Winner each night gets to pick the movie. #Quarantineandchill coronials, quaranteens, coronababies When two people get really cozy while quarantine-and-chilling, they may, you know … Babies being conceived while people are cooped up at home during the coronavirus have been dubbed coronababies. And when these babies get older, they will become the quaranteens, a pun on quarantine and teen(ager). The hypothetical new generation of children conceived during COVID-19 has cleverly been crowned the coronials, a play on corona(virus) and millennials. covidivorce The experience for other couples under COVID-19 quarantine may not be so snuggly. Being in extended isolation with loved ones can strain a relationship. Enter covidivorce, or divorces filed as a result of a couple’s experience during COVID-19. zumping The experience of COVID-19 isn’t just taxing on couples who live together. People who are dating are also reconsidering their relationships during the pandemic—and sometimes zumping each other. A blend of dump and Zoom (the popular video service), zumping is when you break up with someone over a video conferencing service. At least they didn’t just text? (Hey, you can do better, anyways). turbo relationship While some people are breaking up over Zoom due to quarantining, sheltering in place means others are turbocharging their relationship. The quarantine required couples to face a tough choice: break up or, er, shack up. According to some therapists, many couples who sped up the traditional courtship to live together during these conditions are reporting positive relationships and strong levels of commitment. Turbo ultimately derives from a Latin word meaning “whirlwind”—and turbo relationships may certainly get people’s minds, and hearts, spinning? COVID-10 For some, quarantining at home during COVID-19 may result in a less movement—and more snacking—than they are used to. COVID-10, also referred to as the COVID-15 or even the COVID-19, is a riff on the numerals of COVID-19 and the freshman 15, an expression for the weight some people (are said to) gain during their first year of college. (Hey, gotta stock up on some supplies to help flatten the curve. And gotta take up delicious hobbies to stay engaged!) See also the German Coronaspeck, weight gained during the coronavirus pandemic, a play on Kummerspeck, or weight gained as a result of emotional eating. coronacation Coronavirus-compelled staycations, due to cancelled classes, shifts, and the like. It’s usually an ironic term—just ask parents working from home while teaching their kids. Example: My teen thinks he’s getting a coronacation since his school has moved online. Oh, wait until he sees how I am going to keep him busy with the Learning At Home resources. drive-by, drive-in So if you can’t take that dream vacation you’d always wanted … how about a drive-by birthday party instead? Social distancing has inspired a lot of creative adaptations for our celebrations—and equally unique terms for them. We’ve been introduced to drive-by graduations, weddings, and birthdays, as well as drive-in concerts and campaign rallies during the lead up to the election. Generally drive-in refers to “a place of business or public facility designed to accommodate patrons who sit in their automobiles.” The adjective is “relating to, or characteristic of such an establishment.” Drive-by is “occurring while driving past a person, object, etc.” Example: The four friends jumped in the car and barely made it to the drive-in concert on time. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.

Get Swept Away By The Korean Words Streaming Into English The "Korean Wave" In the last decade or so, a wave has swept out of the Korean peninsula and spread anywhere and everywhere. But don’t worry. This wave isn’t made of water. No, it is made of … pop culture! The word Hallyu, which literally means “Korean Current” or “Korean Wave,” has been used to refer to the wave of Korean pop culture that has swept across the globe and led to a rapid explosion in popularity of Korean music, movies, food, television shows, and video games. Hallyu has exposed us to K-pop, K-dramas, and K-beauty. If you are hooked on the TV series Squid Game or have been enlisted into the BTS ARMY, you’ve already been caught up in Hallyu. Hallyu isn’t just about learning names of popular K-pop stars, though. It has led to a wider awareness of Korean culture and words from the Korean language. We’ve gathered up some of these words to help explain some of the things that have fueled the momentum of Hallyu. Note: We often use the words Korea and Korean to refer specifically to the Republic of Korea, commonly known as South Korea. Hangul (한글) First, you should know that the Korean language uses an entirely different writing system from English. Korean uses a 24-letter alphabet consisting of 14 consonants and 10 vowels. The name of the Korean alphabet is Hangul, which would be written in the Korean alphabet as 한글 and translates to “great script.” Because of the different alphabets, the English spellings of all of the words we will look at are merely renderings of how these Korean words would roughly be transliterated in written English. This means that you may come across alternate spellings of many of these words. Some important words Moving on, let’s look at some words that are useful for getting a bit of understanding into Korean history and culture. Korea: The English word Korea comes from the Goryeo/Koryo dynasty that ruled the Korean peninsula for several hundred years. South Koreans often refer to South Korea or the Korean peninsula as Hanguk (한국). The word Korea is often used to refer both to the Korean peninsula and specifically to the nation of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) located on the southern half of the peninsula. Won: Won (원) refers to Korean currency. Won comes in both coins and dollar bills. Roughly speaking, a US dollar is worth around 1100 Won, but the value frequently changes based on global economics. hanbok: Hanbok (한복) is the traditional Korean attire. The top piece, called a jeogori, resembles a sleeved jacket and is worn by both men and women. To complete hanbok, men wear a vest and pants while women wear a skirt and pantaloons. Typically, hanbok is not worn on a daily basis and is reserved for special occasions. sijo: Sijo (시조) is a Korean poetic form. Similar to the Japanese haiku, sijo typically follows certain guidelines based on numbers of syllables and lines. In general, sijo is intended to be used to compose songs rather than written poems. Siblings and friends In Korean, different terms of address are used to show respect to people older than you. Some of these terms can also be used among friends or siblings to affectionately refer to one another. Depending on your gender and the gender of the person you’re speaking to, you’ll need to pick out the right word for the job: Oppa (오빠) = Older brother (used by girls/women) Noona (누나) = Older sister (used by boys/men) Unnie (언니) = Older sister (used by girls/women) Hyung (형) = Older brother (used by boys/men) In 2012, many people may have encountered the word oppa thanks to its repeated use in the massive viral hit song “Gangnam Style” by Korean artist PSY. kimchi (김치) Kimchi was a popular dish even before everyone was swept up in Hallyu. Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish that involves a combination of some kind of fermented vegetable with a variety of seasonings. Some popular picks for the vegetable include cabbage, radish, or cucumber. You have a huge number of seasonings to pick from, but some common choices include garlic, ginger, salt, chili pepper, and fish sauce. There are hundreds of kimchi recipes out there, and all that variety might explain its popularity! Other food If you’re looking for something to go with your kimchi, there are plenty of other Korean dishes available. Some other Korean foods that make good additions to the menu include: banchan (반찬): Literally “side dishes,” banchan refers to small plates of food served alongside a main meal. Banchan can include any number of small morsels of food, such as seaweed, potato salad, or pickled radishes. bulgogi (불고기): This dish, which translates to “fire meat,” is Korean-style barbeque beef. dongchimi (동치미): Dongchimi is a specific kind of kimchi that uses radishes and hot water. galbi (갈비): Galbi means “ribs,” and this dish refers to Korean-style BBQ short ribs. japchae (잡채): Japchae is a popular festive dish made of stir-fried noodles, meat, and vegetables. kimbap (김밥): Kimbap or gimbap is a Korean snack that is made of a seaweed roll (gim), rice (bap), and whatever else you want to stuff inside! samgyeopsal (삼겹살): This dish refers to Korean grilled pork belly. chimaek (치맥): Chimaek is a fun word that is used in Korean slang to refer to a meal reserved only for the most posh of gourmets: fried chicken and beer! Chimeak is a mashup of the Korean words chikin (chicken) and maekju (beer). If food speaks to your soul, you’ll want to read about the different dishes that comprise soul food. mukbang (먹방) Mukbang is a livestream of a person socializing with an audience while eating a large amount of food. Mukbang broadcasts were popularized by Korean variety shows in the early 2000s. They’ve become even more popular with the rise of live streaming services, such as YouTube or Twitch, that allow mukbang streams to reach international audiences. If your mouth is watering for more information about mukbang streams, you can check out our in-depth profile on this tantalizing trend. aegyo (애교) The term aegyo, often translated into English as meaning “cuteness,” refers to the act of acting cute and charming everyone around you with cuteness. If you are at all familiar with the Japanese kawaii, you should already have a good idea about what aegyo entails. The word aegyo is often used to refer to K-pop idols or other Korean celebrities and entertainers that are expected to use their charms to entrance an audience. Mastering aegyo is key to succeeding in these fields, and you’ll often see both male and female K-pop idols making hearts with their hands, puffing their cheeks, and using cutesy dance moves to enhance their aegyo in order to remain popular with fans. daebak! (대박) Daebak literally translates to “jackpot” or “big hit.” In practice, it is used as an exclamation to express excitement, joy, or surprise. Basically, it is used in much the same way as the English “Wow!” or “Amazing!” We think you’ll be equally excited to learn some of the English words that originate from Mandarin and Cantonese. manhwa (만화) Manhwa refers to comic books, cartoons, and animation from Korea. The word manhwa could be easily confused with the word manga, which refers to comic books and graphic novels made in Japan. Both of these words are said to have the same Chinese origin, so there is some etymological reason for the mixup. Manwha and manga often look similar and may be sold in the same sections of bookstores. Unlike Japanese manga, though, Korean manwha is read from left to right rather than right to left. Blend words In addition to Korean loanwords, Hallyu has also increased awareness of some words that blend English and Korean together. These words are sometimes used as examples of Konglish, a language phenomenon that mixes English and Korean together and sometimes changing the original English loanword and its meaning. Fighting!: Written in Hangul as either 화이팅 (hwaiting) or 파이팅 (paiting), fighting is used as an encouraging word to spur someone on to success. Spectators might shout fighting at sporting events while cheering on their favorite team, for example. PC bang: A PC bang (PC방) is a Korean internet cafe that rents out computers with internet access to customers. Bang is Korean for room and, as you probably know, PC is a commonly used acronym for “personal computer.” PC bangs are most often used by customers looking for somewhere to play online gaming. skinship: Written in Hangul as 스킨십 (seukinsip), skinship seems to be a blend of the words skin and friendship. Skinship refers to the types of intimate contact used by close friends or family members, such as hand-holding, hugging, and kissing cheeks. Skinship is not intended to be romantic, however it may be used in fiction and by K-pop stars to tease the audience into believing two people might be in a romantic relationship. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.