Language: Korean. Pronunciation: “Nun-she.” Etymology: Translates literally from Korean to English as “eye-measure.”

Meaning: Nunchi is the ability to subtly but incisively gauge the mood of the people around you. The concept is a central part of Korean culture—having it, or not having it, determines how graciously one moves through life. Someone who has nunchi is a nunchi ppareuda—they can intuitively sense the right or wrong thing to do or say in any given social situation. A nunchi eopta is just the opposite—they don’t have any nunchi, or really much idea about anything.

One of the social functions of nunchi is to preserve harmony in group settings. Those who employ it are indirect and discreet in order to keep the peace. For example, in an office environment, a colleague might say “yes” when they mean “no,” knowing that it would be more awkward to disappoint. Having nunchi means knowing that what they really mean is “no,” and responding accordingly without ever exposing the lie.

The closest equivalent in the English language is the concept of “emotional intelligence,” a pseudo-psychological term that refers to the ability to read your own emotions and those of the people around you accurately and with empathy. Frequently co-opted by the corporate self-help industry, it’s a term most often used in the context of an individual’s pursuits—how someone can employ it in order to achieve their goals.

By contrast, nunchi is as much about understanding one’s status and place in a hierarchy as it is about reading emotional cues. Since as far back as the 16th century, Koreans have employed nunchi to read their oppressors or opponents, and find some advantage. Today’s Korean society is very much built on age hierarchy; the status rules and traditions formed over centuries continue to reign. Employment of nunchi assists in the navigation of complex and nuanced interactions between those with status and those without.

Use: The Korean drinking game Nunchi Game is an excellent test of one’s nunchi credentials. The first player begins by standing and saying “one.” Other players must then use nunchi to sense who’s going to continue the game by standing and saying “two,” then “three,” and so on. If two players stand and say the next number at the same time, they have failed to read the room and so lose the game.