Published on
updated on
Reading 1 min.
Rooted in Korean culture, nunchi is the art of perceiving the thoughts and feelings of others in order to create more harmony in social relationships. Here’s what this concept is and how to get inspired by it.
Nunchi is not a personality trait but rather an emotional skill that helps one to experience social and professional interactions more serenely. In Korea, this skill plays a fundamental role in daily life.
The term “nunchi”, what does it mean?
The term “nunchi” is composed of two Korean words: “nun” meaning “eye” and “chi” meaning “measure.” Together, they describe the ability to “measure with the eyes,” that is, to carefully observe and interpret subtle social cues. This skill is comparable to emotional intelligence in Western cultures, but it often goes further, requiring high sensitivity and quick responsiveness to social dynamics.
Nunchi relies heavily on the nonverbal communication. In Korea, it is common to understand intentions and feelings through subtle cues such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and posture. A good nunchi can pick up on these signals that are often imperceptible to those unfamiliar with the culture.
Feeling good in your body, feeling good in your head!
Learning to connect with others
Is nunchi a sixth sense? While for some this ability seems innate, it can be developed according to social psychology doctor Déborah Romain-Delacour.The first step to progress in this empathy is to become aware of it.notes the author, with Jimin Lee, of the work Nunchi: Connect with others (Éditions Eyrolles), in the media Madame Figaro. Then, learning and developing nunchi involves observing others, including posture, facial expressions, tone of voice, etc.It’s like reading between the lines: implicit gestures often have more meaning than words. Nunchi thus allows you to capture the emotional states of the interlocutor, and therefore to better position yourself in front of them.”explains the psychologist.