KR FOOD NAMES WHERE GOOGLE TRANS WILL FAIL YOU
닭똥집 (DAK DDONG JIP)
Directly translated to:
Chicken Shit House
Actual translation:
Chicken gizzard
Usually found at those fried chicken shops
감자탕 (GAMJA TANG)
Directly translated to:
Potato Soup
Actual translation:
Pork backbone Soup
Since gamja has two meanings, it can mean potato or pork backbone people misunderstand but I highly recommend trying this because its realllllly nice
사철탕 (SACHEOL TANG 四季汤） / 보신탕 (BOSHINTANG 宝身汤）
Avoid this at ALL COST. This is actually dog meat Soup, unfortunately it's still seen around korea so pleaseeee avoid!!! Because🐕🐶🐕🐶 look at just how cute they are!!!! And when I first started living in KR I almost tried it because it sounded so good for health until I realised it was dog meat!!!!😡😡
When I first started exploring Korean cuisine, I relied heavily on Google Translate to understand dish names. However, I quickly realized many translations were misleading or downright wrong, which could be embarrassing or dangerous—like mistaking dog meat soup for something else! For instance, the dish '감자탕' literally translates to 'Potato Soup,' but it’s actually a hearty pork backbone soup loved by many. This taught me to be cautious and curious, often asking locals or reading trustworthy sources to fully appreciate unique Korean dishes. Another lesson was about cultural sensitivity, especially regarding foods like '사철탕' and '보신탕,' which are dog meat soups. Seeing the literal translations misrepresent these dishes helped me understand why it’s important not just to translate words mechanically but also to grasp cultural context. If you’re into Korean food, I highly recommend learning the authentic names and stories behind dishes. It makes ordering easier and enhances the dining experience. Plus, you avoid awkward moments caused by weird translations! For newcomers and tourists, don’t rely solely on machine translation; try to get recommendations from locals or food bloggers familiar with Korean culinary nuances. This approach helped transform my eating adventures and deepened my appreciation for Korea’s rich food culture.
