Korean Dictionary
How to say "Effort Junkie" in Korean
“Effort Junkie” in Korean is 노력충 (pronounced "noryeok choong").
노력충
noryeok choong
Usage & Context
Someone obsessed with hard work and effort. Used to describe people who overemphasize the importance of hard work in achieving success.
Example Sentence
그 사람 노력충이야.
That person is an effort junkie.
How to use 노력충 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Effort Junkie” is 노력충, romanized as noryeok choong.
Usage tip
Use slang only with friends or people who already speak casually with you. It can sound rude in formal Korean.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 노력충.
Pronunciation Guide
'No' is like the English word 'no'. 'Ryeok' sounds like 'rye-ok', where 'rye' is like the grain and 'ok' is like 'oak'. 'Choong' sounds like 'choon' with a soft 'g' at the end, or like 'chung' in 'chungus'. The stress is on 'No' and 'Choong'.
More Example Sentences
Describing someone's intense and perhaps excessive work ethic.
그는 노력충이라서 주말에도 쉬지 않고 공부해.
He's an effort junkie, so he studies without rest even on weekends.
Expressing pressure or burden felt due to others' perceived over-effort.
노력충들 때문에 더 열심히 해야 할 것 같은 압박감이 들어.
Because of the effort junkies, I feel pressured to work even harder.
Showing a reaction to the label, trying to avoid being seen as overly zealous.
노력충 소리 듣기 싫어서 대충 하는 척했어.
I didn't want to be called an effort junkie, so I pretended to do things half-heartedly.
Cultural Context
노력충 (noryeokchoong) is a relatively newer slang term, often used with a slightly negative or sarcastic connotation. While 'effort' (노력) is traditionally highly valued in Korean society, '노력충' criticizes those who excessively emphasize or boast about their hard work, sometimes implying that they are naive about systemic inequalities (like the 'spoon class theory') or that their 'effort' is performative or even annoying to others. It can also be used to mock those who believe that sheer effort alone can overcome all obstacles, ignoring external factors. The suffix '-충' (choong) literally means 'insect' and is often attached to terms to create a derogatory or dismissive label.
Editorial note
We flag slang like 노력충 for register and audience, since Korean slang can shift quickly and may sound rude outside close friendships.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
노력충 극혐
extreme dislike for effort junkies
노력충 마인드
effort junkie mindset
노력충 소리 듣다
to be called an effort junkie
Related Expressions
열정페이
yeoljeong pei
passion pay (being paid very little for work because of 'passion', related to exploitation of effort)
꼰대
kkondae
an older person who is preachy and condescending (can sometimes be associated with '노력충' mentality, telling younger people to just 'work harder')
워라밸
worabel
work-life balance (opposite concept to '노력충' mentality)
노오력
no-eoryeok
a sarcastic way of saying 'effort' (emphasizing the futility or excessive nature of effort in a difficult society)
More Slang Words
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