{
  "id": 11771384,
  "title": "‘저희 회사’ ‘저희 나라’…우리는 왜 ‘저희’를 남발할까 [.txt]",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/txt-11771384",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-03T19:24:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hankyoreh",
    "slug": "hankyoreh",
    "url": "https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/culture/book/1280770.html"
  },
  "original_language": "ko",
  "account": "Many languages are often regarded as more logical by those who favor reasoning. For instance, the phrase \"if something is not clear, it is not French\" mocks the clarity and logic of the French language, which tends to be overly pretentious. Both French and English are notorious for their inconsistent spellings, which deviate from logical patterns. There isn't an inherently more logical or illogical language; rather, the rules of languages simply don't always adhere to logic. Over time, as people communicate and adapt, irregularities and exceptions inevitably arise in language. Despite this, we often find ourselves using unusual expressions. In Korean, the word 'our' is frequently used. For example, when referring to family members, 'my mother, son, and father' is more common than 'my mother.' Even when addressing one's spouse, 'our mother' can sound peculiar to foreign listeners. Such usage is also common among friends. When a group of friends gathers, 'our mother' usually refers only to the speaker's mother. Here, 'our' functions as a term of endearment, indicating familiarity. However, when used for places like 'our neighborhood or school,' the meaning changes. While many people live in the same neighborhood or attend the same school, 'our' often implies a larger group. The ambiguity arises because the word can refer to multiple individuals, even if the speaker is alone. When used for spouses or partners, 'our' refers to the speaker and their partner. Thus, 'our family members' or 'our spouse' can be understood as 'our family.' Similarly, when a person lives alone, they may still refer to their home as 'our house.' In English, such usage differs significantly. When speaking to others about one's family, one would always say 'my mother' or 'my son.' The use of 'our' is reserved for when speaking to others about the family. In Japanese, when referring to one's family, people often use the pronoun 'we' (うち) instead of 'my' (わたし) or 'our' (あたらし). For example, inviting someone to one's house would be 'come over to our house.' Similarly, in Korean, '우리' is used to indicate a sense of belonging and exclusion. However, when it comes to addressing one's country, the word 'our' is not used. Instead, 'our country' is used to distinguish it from other nations. This difference in usage between Korean and English highlights the distinct cultural perspectives on language and identity.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hankyoreh",
        "title": "다른 목소리를 침묵시키지 않는 의료 [.txt]",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/txt",
        "published": "2026-10-03T18:04:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}