Korean slang profile

새내기

saenaegi

A newcomer

Someone who has just entered a university, workplace, or other organization.

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

01Examples, with English translations

Example by Julimmal
새내기 때는 동아리 활동이 제일 재밌었어.
When I was a freshman, club activities were the most fun.
Quoted from a source
대학이나 직장에 갓 들어온 사람을 가리키는 ‘새내기’라는 말이다.[3]
The term ‘새내기’ refers to a person who has just entered college or work.
English translation by Julimmal.

February 2010Yonhap News: “This is a ‘campus sitcom’-style novel written by young writers in their 20s and 30s who have been in the industry for less than 10 years with the intention of telling stories about college life to 새내기s who have just entered college.”[1]
October 2018Premium Chosun: “Also, ‘새내기’, which refers to a person who has just joined an organization such as a university or workplace, is a pure Korean word that is a purification of the Chinese character for ‘new person’ and the English word ‘freshman.’”[2]
February 2020The term ‘새내기’ refers to a person who has just entered college or work.[3]

Where the expression originated has not been verified. The 2020 source from K-Gonggam only explains the meaning.

Evidence for the origin explanationLow

The meaning is supported, but the sources do not explain how the expression was formed.

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