Korean vs. Japanese Culture: A Surprising Difference in Chopstick Etiquette
Updated: Aug 28
제가 일본에 온 건 다 알고 계시죠?
You all know I'm in Japan, right?
아니라고요? 그럼, 아래 이미지를 봐 주세요.
No? Then take a look at the images below.
학회에서 많은 한국어 선생님과 좋은 시간을 보냈는데요. 진짜 충격적인 것을 알게 됐어요. 😱 I had a wonderful time meeting Korean-language teachers at the academic conference, and I learned something that really surprised me.
저녁 식사 자리에서 이것 하나로 한국인 선생님과 일본인 선생님을 구분할 수 있었어요. 그게 뭘까요? 아래 사진에서 찾아 보세요. At dinner, I realized I could tell the Korean teachers from the Japanese teachers just by looking at one thing. Can you guess what it was? See if you can spot it in the photo below.
그건 바로.. 식탁에 젓가락을 놓는 방법입니다. It was how they placed their chopsticks on the table.
한국에서는 젓가락을 세로로 놓는데, 일본에서는 젓가락을 가로로 놓아요. In Korea, people place their chopsticks vertically, while in Japan, they're placed horizontally.
Korean vs Japanese culture
일본에서는 젓가락 끝을 상대를 향해 놓으면 상대를 찌른다는 뜻이라서 무례하대요. 사무라이 문화의 영향이래요. 일본이 바로 옆 나라인데도, 저는 이걸 이제서야 알게 되었어요.
In Japan, pointing the tips of your chopsticks toward another person is considered rude because it can symbolize stabbing at them. I was told this custom comes from samurai culture. Even though Japan is right next to Korea, I only learned this now.
정말 흥미롭죠? 저는 나고야에 일주일 더 있다가 한국으로 돌아갈 거예요. 집에 돌아가기 전에 I See Your Heart의 제2권을 완성하는 것이 목표예요. 아니, 완성 못 하면 집에 못 갑니다! 😂
Isn't that fascinating? I'll be staying in Nagoya for another week before heading back to Korea. My goal is to finish I See Your Heart Vol. 2 before I go home. Otherwise... I don't get to go home!
Writing I See Your Heart Vol. 2 ❤️
A K-drama-style illustrated novel for Korean learners
제2권은 8월 말 또는 9월 초에 나올 거예요. 제1권이 저의 다른 소설보다 긴데요. 지금 읽기 시작하면 1달 뒤에는 제2권을 읽을 준비가 되어 있을 거예요.
Vol. 2 is expected to be released in late August or early September. Since Vol. 1 is longer than any of my previous novels, if you start reading now, you'll be ready for Vol. 2 in about a month.
I See Your Heart로 즐겁게 한국어 공부하세요!
Have fun learning Korean with I See Your Heart!
Written by Saehee Um
Saehee Um is the creator of ToonToon Korean and the author of illustrated novels for Korean learners. Her books combine binge-worthy storytelling, real-life dialogue, and cultural insights to make learning Korean engaging and fun.
She writes Korean learning novels presented in a K-drama-style script, helping learners improve their Korean through dramatic stories and immersive dialogue.
