English translation · Awaiting review

Korean slang profile

커터칼퇴

keoteo kaltoe

Leaving as early as office expectations allow

Leaving work as early as possible while gauging others' reactions, even when leaving exactly on time is not possible.

Expanded form
Not documented
Other spellings
커터칼퇴근
Earliest source found
Jan 14, 2026
Documented trend period
Not verified

This is the earliest source we have verified, not the date the term was coined.

01Examples, with English translations

  • Example by Julimmal

    오늘은 눈치 보다가 커터칼퇴했어.

    I gauged the office mood today and left as early as I could.

  • Quoted from a source

    커터칼퇴[1]

    Leaving as early as office expectations allow.

    English translation by Julimmal.

02Documented history

  1. 2026-01-14The supporting material introduced the meaning and use of this expression.[1]

03Origin & word formation

Asia Today explains it as distinct from leaving exactly on time. Who first coined the name has not been verified.

Evidence for the origin explanationMedium

The article explicitly supports the meaning, but the circumstances in which 칼 was first replaced by 커터칼 have not been verified.

04Sources

Original titles and links are preserved. An English translation does not replace the original source.

  1. [카드뉴스] 2026년 김풍스럽게’라도! …‘2026년 신조어 모음’ (아시아투데이)Published Jan 14, 2026Original source checked Nov 6, 2026
Original Korean record: Nov 6, 2026English translation: awaiting review

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