Ever experience times when you really don’t want to do something, but have to do it anyway? Maybe it’s your taxes. Maybe it’s working out.
If so, according to this amusing Korean expression, you’re “crying and eating mustard.”
울며 겨자 먹기
Crying and eating mustard
Doing something very reluctantly or against your will
Korea
About the Expression
This expression is used in situations where you feel very reluctant to do something, but are forced to anyway.
Korean hot mustard (also known as gyeo-ja 겨자) is made from the powder of ground mustard seeds. Compared to the milder American mustard, it has a sharper, extra-spicy taste.
It’s sparingly used to add heat to certain dishes, like cold noodle soup (막국수 makguksu) or buckwheat noodle salad (해파리냉채 haepari naengchae ).
If you were forced to eat Korean hot mustard by itself however, the experience would be very painful indeed.
This proverb is often encountered in Korean books and news.
Let’s Dive Deeper
Gyeoja, or Korean hot mustard, is only one piece of the culture’s enduring love for spiciness.
In fact, spiciness is a well-known trait of Korean cuisine, one that infuses many of its dishes. A key ingredient is the chili pepper, which enlivens dishes in the form of gochujang (red chili paste) and gochugaru (chili pepper flakes).
There even is a Korean word related to the culture’s fervent love of spiciness — 맵부심 (maebusim), which means taking pride in being able to handle spice.
Also, a bonus. According to research, the perceived pain and burning sensation triggers the brain to release endorphins, helping to refresh and relieve stress.
Tasty and cathartic?
As long as it doesn’t involve eating mustard (or chili peppers) and crying, sign us up!
