Nunchi

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The knack for perceiving and adjusting to the emotional states and intentions of those in one's vicinity is essential for effective social engagement
2. An intuitive ability to gauge others' moods and respond appropriately to maintain harmony in social interactions
3. A finely tuned sensitivity to the feelings and thoughts of people around, aiding smooth and considerate communication

Etymology: Korean "눈치" (nunchi) literally combines "nun," meaning "eye," and "chi," a word for a kind of perception or sense, so the compound points to something like seeing or sensing what is going on beneath the surface. The word is used in everyday Korean for the ability to read a room, judging unspoken moods, hierarchies and expectations without being told, and it carries a mix of praise and social pressure, since good nunchi is admired while a lack of it can be criticized. English borrowed the term directly from Korean, so it arrived as a foreign word rather than through the Latin and French routes that shaped most English vocabulary. Its adoption reflects the fact that English had no single word for this particular skill of social perception, and the Korean term filled that gap neatly.