Sometimes your friends might sense that you are sad even if you don’t express it to them. This makes you feel understood and closer to your friend. This ability to sense another person’s feelings or situations is very similar to ‘nunchi’ in Korean culture.
Nunchi means observing and understanding situations and others’ emotions by being aware of non-verbal cues. Though the word ‘nunchi’ means ‘eye measure’, it involves being aware of what the eyes cannot see directly, such as people’s demeanour, tones, gestures and periods of silence.
‘Nunchi’ encourages listening and empathy and is taught to children in Korea during early childhood. Reading between the lines helps people to change their behaviour and respond based on the situation, helping them to maintain peace and become socially intelligent.
It helps them understand that other people’s emotions and opinions are just as important as their own. But remember, though this skill encourages thoughtfulness, it does not mean you should be burdened by other people’s emotions or feel obligated to solve all of their problems. Instead, it teaches you to be receptive and helps you avoid misunderstandings by making wise decisions from a place of awareness. For example, if your friend has failed a test, you can sense the situation and say something encouraging rather than talk about your own score.
Practising ‘nunchi’ can help you build strong relationships. It also helps you to reflect on things rather than responding immediately. When you start observing people and your environment more closely, you will be amazed by how much people communicate even without words!
