Utente:Giorgia Catalisano/Sandbox

Meaning of the word

Jeong (정, Hanja: 情, Romanized: Jeong, lit: affection or attatchment) is a concept in Korean culture to denote the innate human feeling of expressing affection (애정).

Jeong

In all the languages of the world, there are expressions with a meaning too broad to be encapsulated within a single word; such is the case with 'Jeong'. Even the Koreans themselves, who coined the term, can’t manage to fully define its meaning. The Korean concept of Jeong is a term that refers to a feeling of connection and emotional affinity between people. It could be translated into Korean as '사랑' (love) or '친근감' (friendliness), but the meaning is deeper than these words suggest. Jeong implies a deep, mutual emotional connection between people that goes beyond simple social relationships and can be felt not only between friends and family, but also between complete strangers. Jeong also implies respect and gratitude for the relationships and emotional connections one has in life. This feeling can influence the choices one makes and the relationships one forms. For this reason, Korean society finds one of its fundamental pillars in it. Since this term has entered everyday language, it is used in South Korea in virtually every context, even when talking about '음식' (food). For example, when two friends each order a different dish at a restaurant, sharing it is a gesture that falls under jeong. Jeong is also when someone offers to help an elderly person or give directions to a stranger or any other action dictated by affection, sympathy and compassion. At first glance, this concept might seem something extremely positive, and indeed it is. Originating from the strong sense of '우리' (we) typical of the Korean people, it expresses the perception of a person not as a stranger but as a member of a large extended family. Precisely because of this nature, however, this concept can reveal some not-so-positive aspects. This is because this kind of bonding also unites people who may often not get along with each other. In such cases, the concept of jeong is also called 'miun jeong', literally 'jeong of hate'. Since this is a feeling that grows over time and, once born, is difficult to eradicate, there are various expressions that jokingly describe its 'jeong'. Jeong, therefore, is considered more dangerous than love. Of all the types of jeong, miun jeong, which forces you to overlook the faults and mistakes of others, is considered the most 'insidious' of all.

Sources

https://italia.korean-culture.org/it/1373/board/966/read/110931 https://gogohanguk.com/it/blog/come-dire-ti-amo-in-coreano/#:~:text=Jeong%20(%EC%A0%95)%20vuol%20dire%20infatti,appunto%20affetto%20verso%20quella%20persona. https://www.ktigerradio.com/showbiz/item/1788-jeong-l-amore-coreano