슬슬
seul-seul
슬슬 is how Korean starts a move — and says goodbye
The picture Something still beginning to move, a little at a time, too slowly to notice. 슬슬 starts slowly; 확 bursts all at once.
Where the picture shows up in 슬슬
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a body just starting
슬슬 준비할까요?
seul-seul jun-bi-hal-kka-yo
Shall we start getting ready?
Someone seated lifts their hands off their knees and shifts to stand
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an unhurried goodbye
이제 슬슬 가 볼게요.
i-je seul-seul ga bol-ge-yo
I'd better be heading off now.
A glass set down, one glance at the clock, a hand on the bag
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sleep arriving unnoticed
졸음이 슬슬 와요.
jo-reu-mi seul-seul wa-yo
I'm starting to feel sleepy.
The letters blur and the head tips a little further down each time
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people gathering one by one
사람들이 슬슬 모여요.
sa-ram-deu-ri seul-seul mo-yeo-yo
People are gathering little by little.
Empty seats filling one person at a time until the room is suddenly full
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a hand rubbing slowly
손으로 슬슬 문질러 주세요.
so-neu-ro seul-seul mun-jil-leo ju-se-yo
Please rub it slowly with your hand.
A palm circling the same small spot with no weight behind it
All of it in one picture
슬슬 is one movement starting quietly. On a task it is the moment you decide to get going; on leaving it is an unhurried goodbye; on the body it is sleep arriving before you notice. On a crowd it is people filling a room one by one, and on a hand it is slow rubbing with the force taken out.