I was buying tangerines at the market, and the lady silently added an extra handful. Even international students at first ask, "Why are you giving this away for free?" He asked. When this happens, Korean people smile and say, "It's jeong." ## What is jeong? Why do they say it can't be translated? Jeong is a little different from "liking" someone. It's a feeling that arises naturally when you see each other often, eat together, and depend on one another. They say it's hard to put into a single word because it isn't a feeling that's calculated and exchanged. Actually, even Koreans can't explain jeong well in words. So instead of words, they show a little something extra. The steamed egg or drink a restaurant brings out with "This is on the house" comes from the same feeling. ## So why do we use "정 떨어진다" more often? You can't really see 정 when it's there. It shows when the extra bit disappears. When a shop that always tossed in an extra handful one day sells you exactly what you asked for, people say "정 떨어진다." 정 isn't a promise, so it never gets put in writing. That's why people only speak up when their expectations are broken. In Korea, many people lived for a long time in the same neighborhood, seeing the same faces. Since it wasn't a one-time sale and then goodbye, the extra was a greeting that meant "See you next time." ## So what should I do? Try finding one shop to make your regular spot. After you go three or four times, they'll say "You're back!" and give you a little extra. If you say "Please give me a bigger discount" at that point, the extra turns into haggling. Instead, accept it by saying, "Thank you, I'll enjoy this." Then return the favor next time with a small snack or a greeting, and that is exactly how you build jeong.