취존 (chwijon) — The Two-Syllable Way to Say "Respect My Taste," Explained
Imagine a friend says this to you: “Mint chocolate chip ice cream is the most delicious thing in the world.” Some people would recoil, insisting it tastes like toothpaste — but young Koreans these days just smile and reply: 취존 (chwijon). Rather than bothering to argue, it’s a cool way of drawing a line: “Your taste is yours, my taste is mine.” Today we’re taking a deep dive into a piece of slang you’ll run into countless times in chat windows and comment sections as a fan of Korean culture: 취존 (chwijon).
취존
취존 (chwijon) is a shortened form of 취향 존중 (chwihyang jonjung). 취향 (chwihyang) means “an individual’s leaning toward what they like and enjoy” — in other words, taste or preference — and 존중 (jonjung) means “respect.” Take just the first syllable of each word, stick them together, and you get 취존 (chwijon). Spelled out in full, it means “I respect (your) taste.”
Korean has a highly developed culture of 줄임말 (jurimmal, abbreviations) made exactly like this — by clipping the first syllable off of two words. 취존 is one of them: a 신조어 (sinjoeo, a newly coined word) that hasn’t officially made it into the dictionary yet. So even once you know what it means, it can look unfamiliar the first time you see it — but if you recall the original phrase, ‘취향 존중,’ it clicks right away.
Meaning and Nuance
The core nuance of 취존 is “no judgment.” It’s the attitude of accepting someone’s choice as it is, without weighing it as right or wrong, even when it differs from your own standards. That’s why it gets used in two directions.
First, as respect directed at another person. As in “난 그 아이돌 잘 모르지만, 네가 좋아하면 취존!” (“I don’t really know that idol, but if you like them, 취존!”), it’s a way of taking someone’s taste at face value. Second, as a declaration in defense of your own taste. When others tease you for being weird, saying “취존 좀 해 줘” (“give me a little 취존”) becomes a gentle defense meaning “respect whatever it is I like.”
Either way, the important thing is that it’s never aggressive — it carries a light, cheerful tone. Rather than a phrase that ends a serious debate, it’s closer to something you say with a smile: “We’re different, and that’s okay.”
Example Sentences by Situation
An expression only truly becomes yours once you learn it in context. Let’s look at three original example sentences.
Situation 1 — Accepting a friend’s unusual food preference
가: 나 탕수육은 무조건 부먹이야, 소스 부어야 제맛이지. (A: For sweet-and-sour pork, I’m all about 부먹 — you’ve got to pour the sauce on for it to taste right.) 나: 난 찍먹인데… 뭐, **취존 (chwijon)**이지. 각자 맛있게 먹으면 됐어. (B: I’m a 찍먹 person myself… but hey, 취존 (chwijon). As long as we each enjoy it, we’re good.)
This is a scene where 취존 neatly settles one of Korea’s long-running “memes” — the debate over whether to pour the sauce on (부먹) or dip into it (찍먹).
Situation 2 — When you each have a different bias (favorite idol)
가: 넌 어떻게 그 그룹을 좋아해? 난 이해가 안 돼. (A: How can you like that group? I just don’t get it.) 나: 취향은 취향이니까~ 취존 (chwijon) 부탁해! (B: Taste is taste, you know~ 취존 (chwijon), please!)
A super common situation in fandom culture. It’s used to make a smiling request — “respect my taste too” — without criticizing the other person.
Situation 3 — Over a fashion style
가: 겨울에 샌들에 양말? 그건 좀 아니지 않아? (A: Sandals with socks in winter? That’s kind of a no, isn’t it?) 나: 편하고 좋아. 취존 (chwijon) 해 주라, 내 스타일이니까. (B: It’s comfy and I like it. Give me some 취존 (chwijon) — it’s my style.)
Here it’s used as a declaration that defends one’s taste, putting personal satisfaction ahead of what others think.
Casual vs. Polite Speech, and Comparisons with Similar Expressions
Since 취존 is an abbreviation, it’s basically used in casual speech between friends and in internet slang. With someone older than you or in a formal setting, it’s more natural to say it unabbreviated, in full.
- Casual: 취존! (chwijon!)
- Polite: 취향을 존중해요 (chwihyangeul jonjunghaeyo) / 취향을 존중합니다 (chwihyangeul jonjunghamnida)
A similar expression is “사바사 (sabasa).” It’s short for “사람 바이(by) 사람” (“person by person”) and means “it varies from person to person,” so it often shows up alongside 취존. “각자 취향이지 (gakja chwihyangiji, it’s each person’s own taste)” is another expression in the same vein. The difference is that while 취존 puts its emphasis on “respect,” 사바사 focuses on explaining the “difference.”
Cultural Background — How the Younger Generation Handles Differences
Behind the spread of 취존 lies the sensibility of today’s young Koreans, who place great value on individuality and diversity. As the current has grown toward respecting “I’m me, you’re you” rather than feeling pressured to be like everyone else, these two short syllables have come to stand for that mindset. In variety shows and dramas, scenes where characters bicker over each other’s quirky tastes only to end up laughing it off show exactly this spirit — even when the word ‘취존’ never appears in the dialogue. When you watch Korean content, try calling this word to mind every time characters acknowledge their differences: “Ah, this is 취존.” The expression will come across much more vividly.
Closing Quiz
A friend says, “Pineapple pizza is the most delicious thing in the world!” It’s not really your thing, but you want to respect your friend’s taste. Which of the following is the most fitting thing to say in this situation?
- 취존! 맛있게 먹어. (chwijon! masitge meogeo. — 취존! Enjoy your food.)
- 그건 틀렸어. (geugeon teullyeosseo. — That’s wrong.)
- 안녕히 가세요. (annyeonghi gaseyo. — Goodbye.)
The answer is number 1, 취존! 맛있게 먹어. Acknowledging each other’s differences with a smile — that’s the very heart of 취존. What are your own “취존 points”? Try using the word you learned today in the comments!