Textbook오늘 저녁에 동료들과 식사합니다o-neul jeo-nyeok-e dong-ryo-deul-gwa sik-sa-ham-ni-daI will dine with colleagues this evening
Real오늘 회식이야... 몇 차까지 갈 것 같아o-neul hoe-sik-i-ya... myeot cha-kka-ji gal geot ga-taWe have 회식 tonight... probably going multiple rounds🏷️ Close friends
회식 is not just dinner — it's a multi-round bonding ritual. 1차 (dinner), 2차 (drinks/bar), 3차 (karaoke or more drinks). Each round is a 차.
회식 survival vocabulary
회식 drinking rules
윗사람이 따라주면 두 손으로 받기Receive a pour from seniors with two hands
고개 돌려서 마시기Turn your head away when drinking near elders
빈 잔 채워주기Refill empty glasses (especially seniors')
첫 잔은 다 같이 건배First glass: everyone cheers together
Breaking these rules won't get you fired, but people WILL notice. These are unwritten social codes that signal respect.
Leaving after 1차 is now socially acceptable (especially post-COVID). Say 저 먼저 가보겠습니다 or claim a morning meeting. But going to at least 2차 once in a while builds serious workplace social capital.
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