Korean idioms

Said to agree emphatically: the point is so obvious that saying it again would be a waste of breath.

English: it goes without saying; you bet

이 집 냉면이 맛있냐고요? 두말하면 잔소리죠.Is the cold noodle soup good here? It goes without saying.

Literally "saying it twice is nagging": 두말 is a second word on the same matter, and 잔소리 is the needless talk of somebody who repeats themselves. It usually follows a question, often one the speaker finds almost silly to be asked.

Said of something so clearly true that it does not need saying, often to move on to a stronger point.

English: needless to say; not to mention

주말에는 말할 것도 없고 평일에도 사람이 많아요.It’s busy on weekdays, not to mention at weekends.

Literally "there is not even anything to say". In the pattern …는 말할 것도 없고 …도 it works like English "not to mention", but in the other order: the obvious case comes first and the surprising one second.

Said to take up a topic that has just come up and deal with it there and then.

English: now that you mention it; while we’re on the subject

말이 나온 김에 다음 모임 날짜도 정해요.While we’re on the subject, let’s fix the date of the next get-together too.

Literally "since the word has come out". 김에 means "while you are at it" and appears in the grammar pattern -는 김에.

Said to give the reason that makes something just mentioned understandable.

English: and no wonder; small wonder, since

민수가 많이 피곤해 보였어요. 그도 그럴 것이 어젯밤에 한숨도 못 잤대요.Minsu looked very tired. No wonder — apparently he didn’t sleep a wink last night.

Literally "as that too would be so". It stands at the start of the sentence that explains, and it is more at home in stories and careful speech than in quick conversation.

Said to take the edge off something one has said: it was a manner of speaking, not meant literally.

English: I’m only saying; it’s just a figure of speech

회사를 그만둔다는 건 말이 그렇다는 거지, 진짜 그만두겠다는 건 아니에요.When I say I’ll quit, it’s just a figure of speech — I don’t really mean it.

Literally "it is only that the words are like that". The sentence that follows usually says what was really meant.

Said to agree warmly with a complaint or an observation, as if to say nobody could possibly disagree.

English: tell me about it; you can say that again

요즘 물가가 너무 올랐죠? — 누가 아니래요.Prices have gone up so much lately, haven’t they? — Tell me about it.

Literally "who says it isn’t?". It is a rhetorical question used as agreement, and it is friendly and conversational. Among friends it is 누가 아니래.

Said at the start of a call, a message or a visit to come to the reason for it.

English: the reason I’m calling is; I’m writing because

다름이 아니라 내일 약속 시간을 좀 바꿀 수 있을까 해서 전화했어요.I’m calling because I wondered whether we could change the time for tomorrow.

Literally "it is nothing other than". It is the polite way into a request, and its absence can make a request sound abrupt. It is very common at the start of e-mails and text messages.

Said when something happens exactly as one expected.

English: sure enough; just as I thought

하늘이 흐리더니 아니나 다를까 비가 오기 시작했어요.The sky had clouded over, and sure enough it started to rain.

Literally "would it be any different?". It introduces the event that confirms the expectation, and it is used in speech and in stories alike.

Said after giving a single fact that makes the point so clearly that nothing more needs adding.

English: that says it all; need I say more?

그 식당 주인도 거기서 밥을 안 먹는대요. 말 다 했죠.Apparently even the owner doesn’t eat at that restaurant. That says it all.

Literally "the talking is done". It nearly always comes in the past and with -죠 or -지, inviting the listener to draw the conclusion.

Said to point out that something is much harder to do than to suggest.

English: easier said than done

매일 운동하라고요? 말이 쉽지, 시간이 없어요.Exercise every day? That’s easier said than done — I don’t have the time.

Literally "saying it is easy". The sentence usually goes on to name the difficulty, often with -지만 left unsaid.

Said of an outcome so predictable that there is no need to look.

English: it’s a foregone conclusion; you can bet

보나 마나 민수는 오늘도 늦을 거예요.You can bet Minsu will be late again today.

Literally "whether one looks or not". The same pattern makes 들으나 마나, "whether one listens or not", for advice that is not worth hearing.

Said to promise that time will prove one right, often as a mild challenge.

English: just you wait; wait and see

두고 보세요. 이번에는 꼭 합격할 거예요.Just you wait — this time I’ll definitely pass.

Literally "to leave it and watch". Between friends 두고 봐 is cheerful defiance; said to an opponent, it can be a warning.

Said of somebody who avoids the point or changes the subject instead of answering.

English: to beat about the bush; to change the subject

말 돌리지 말고 솔직하게 대답해 주세요.Don’t change the subject — please give me an honest answer.

Literally "to turn the words". 돌려서 말하다, "to say it turned round", is the kinder side of the same idea: to say something indirectly out of tact.

Said of somebody who picks on a small detail of what was said instead of its meaning.

English: to nitpick; to twist someone’s words

제 말꼬리 잡지 마세요. 그런 뜻이 아니었어요.Don’t twist my words. That’s not what I meant.

Literally "to grab the tail of the words": to hold on to the last bit of a sentence and argue about that.

Said when there is no point in saying something, because nobody will listen or it will change nothing.

English: it’s a waste of breath

그 사람한테 말해 봤자 입만 아프죠.Telling him would just be a waste of breath.

Literally "only the mouth gets sore". It often follows the pattern -아/어 봤자, "even if one does".

Said of two people who understand each other easily and get on.

English: to be on the same wavelength; to click

그 친구랑은 처음 만났을 때부터 말이 잘 통했어요.That friend and I clicked from the moment we first met.

Literally "the words get through". It is about understanding rather than language: two people with no common language can 말이 안 통하다, and so can two who share one perfectly.

Said of being so surprised, shocked or moved that one cannot say anything.

English: to be lost for words; to be speechless

너무 어이없는 질문이라서 말문이 막혔어요.It was such an absurd question that I was lost for words.

Literally "the door of speech is blocked". 말문, the "word gate", also opens: a child who starts to talk 말문이 트이다.

Said when two options are no different in the end.

English: it’s all the same; six of one, half a dozen of the other

버스를 타나 지하철을 타나 그게 그거예요.Bus or underground, it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Literally "that is that". It often follows the pattern -나 -나, "whether … or …".

Said when the facts turn out quite different from what was expected.

English: far from it; not a bit of it

시험이 쉬울 줄 알았는데 웬걸, 하나도 모르겠더라고요.I thought the exam would be easy — far from it, I didn’t know a thing.

A contraction of 웬 것을, "what thing?", from an old expression of surprise. It stands on its own, between the expectation and the reality.

Said of somebody who carries on regardless of what others say or do.

English: regardless; for all anyone cares

엄마가 뭐라고 하든 동생은 그러거나 말거나 게임만 해요.Whatever Mum says, my little brother just keeps on playing his games regardless.

Literally "whether it is so or not". It can describe somebody else’s indifference or announce one’s own: 그러거나 말거나 난 갈 거야, "I’m going, whatever anyone says".

Said of a person who knows a great many people and is connected everywhere.

English: a well-connected person; someone who knows everybody

우리 팀장님은 마당발이라서 모르는 사람이 없어요.Our team leader knows everybody — there’s no one he doesn’t know.

Literally "a yard foot": a foot as wide as a courtyard, one that gets everywhere. It is a compliment. The word list has the related idiom for the same idea.

Said of somebody who gets angry but does not hold a grudge afterwards.

English: to not bear grudges; to blow over quickly

우리 부장님은 화를 내셔도 뒤끝이 없어요.Our department head gets angry, but he never holds a grudge.

뒤끝 is what is left over at the end, here bad feeling. The opposite, 뒤끝이 있다, describes somebody who remembers every slight.

Said of somebody who watches others’ reactions carefully before acting, usually out of caution or insecurity.

English: to tread carefully; to keep an eye on how others react

아직 신입이라서 선배들 눈치를 많이 봐요.I’m still new, so I keep a close eye on how my seniors react.

Literally "to look at someone’s 눈치". It is what a junior does around a boss and a child around a cross parent, and it is often said with a little sympathy.

Said of somebody who pretends to know nothing about something they did or know perfectly well.

English: to play innocent; to feign ignorance

동생은 케이크를 다 먹어 놓고 시치미를 뗐어요.My little brother ate the whole cake and then played innocent.

A 시치미 was the name tag tied to a hunting falcon to show its owner. Removing it, 떼다, made a stolen bird look like nobody’s. The thief’s innocent face is the picture.

Said of somebody who flatly denies something they obviously did.

English: to deny everything; to brazen it out

증거가 있는데도 그는 끝까지 오리발을 내밀었어요.Even with the evidence in front of him, he denied everything to the end.

Literally "to hold out a duck’s foot". It comes from the saying about somebody who eats another’s chicken and then shows a duck’s foot, claiming that was what he ate.

Said of praise so lavish that it embarrasses the person praised.

English: to flatter somebody; to lay it on thick

그렇게 비행기 태우지 마세요. 부끄러워요.Don’t lay it on so thick. You’re embarrassing me.

Literally "to put somebody on an aeroplane": to lift them high. It is usually said by the person being praised, as a modest protest.

Said of somebody who celebrates or counts on something before it is certain.

English: to count one’s chickens before they hatch

아직 합격 발표도 안 났는데 김칫국부터 마시지 마세요.The results haven’t even been announced yet — don’t count your chickens.

Short for a proverb: the person who will give you rice cake has not even thought of it, and you are already drinking the kimchi soup that goes with it.

Said of a couple, usually newly married, who are openly happy and affectionate together.

English: to be lovey-dovey; to be blissfully happy together

두 사람은 신혼이라서 그런지 깨가 쏟아져요.Maybe because they’re newly-weds, the two of them are blissfully happy.

Literally "sesame seeds pour out". Ripe sesame pods spill their seeds at the lightest touch, and sesame stands for something savoury and good. It is affectionate, sometimes a little teasing.

Said of a remark or event that spoils a good mood.

English: to throw cold water on something; to put a damper on it

다들 신났는데 괜히 찬물을 끼얹고 싶지 않아요.Everyone’s so excited, and I don’t want to put a damper on things.

Literally "to pour cold water over". The picture is the same as the English one, but Korean pours it over the whole gathering rather than on a plan.

Said of somebody who backs down meekly after acting tough.

English: to back down; to climb down

사장님이 화를 내시자 그는 바로 꼬리를 내렸어요.As soon as the boss got angry, he backed down.

Literally "to lower one’s tail", as a dog does when it gives way. It is not kind to the person it describes.

Said of somebody who makes a fuss or offers news after the matter is already settled.

English: to be behind the times; to say it after the fact

다 끝난 일인데 이제 와서 뒷북치지 마세요.It’s all over — don’t bring it up now, after the fact.

Literally "to beat the drum afterwards", when the procession has already passed. In speech it is usually one word, 뒷북치다.

Said of somebody, especially a child, who is shy with people they do not know.

English: to be shy with strangers

우리 아이는 낯을 많이 가려서 처음 보는 사람한테 인사를 잘 안 해요.Our child is very shy with strangers, so she doesn’t say hello to people she’s just met.

Literally "to tell faces apart": to react differently to familiar and unfamiliar faces. Adults use it about themselves too, without shame: 제가 낯을 좀 가려요, "I’m a bit shy at first".

Said of somebody so honest and kind that they would behave well even if there were no laws.

English: a thoroughly decent person; as honest as the day is long

우리 할아버지는 법 없이도 살 사람이라는 말을 자주 들으셨어요.People often said my grandfather was as honest as the day is long.

Literally "a person who could live even without laws". It is high praise, and it often describes somebody quiet and unassuming.

Said of somebody slow to understand what others mean.

English: to be slow on the uptake

제가 말귀가 좀 어두워서 그러는데, 다시 한번 설명해 주시겠어요?I’m a bit slow on the uptake, I’m afraid — could you explain that once more?

말귀 is the ability to catch the meaning of words, literally "the ear for speech", and 어둡다 means dark. Said of oneself, as in the example, it is a modest way to ask again.

Said of somebody who meddles in other people’s business.

English: to be nosy; to stick one’s nose into everything

옆집 아주머니는 오지랖이 넓어서 남의 일에 다 참견하세요.The lady next door sticks her nose into everybody’s business.

Literally "the front panel of one’s coat is wide": wide enough to cover other people’s affairs too. It can be gently ironic, even said of oneself.

Said of somebody who boasts and exaggerates.

English: to talk big; to brag

삼촌은 낚시 이야기만 나오면 허풍을 떨어요.My uncle starts talking big the moment fishing comes up.

허풍 is literally "empty wind". 떨다 with a noun of behaviour means to make a show of it, as in 내숭을 떨다.

Said of somebody who pretends to be shy, innocent or modest when they are not.

English: to act coy; to put on an innocent air

내숭 떨지 말고 먹고 싶으면 더 먹어요.Stop being coy — if you want more, have some.

내숭 is outward meekness hiding something else. It is usually said teasingly, between friends.

Said of somebody who acts sweet and cute to charm someone or get their way.

English: to act cute; to turn on the charm

조카가 용돈을 받고 싶어서 애교를 부렸어요.My nephew turned on the charm because he wanted some pocket money.

애교 is charm expressed through a childlike voice, gestures and expressions, and it is a recognised part of Korean social life. 부리다 with a noun of behaviour means to put it on show.

Said of playing a trick on somebody or causing them deliberate trouble.

English: to play a nasty trick on somebody; to give someone a hard time

친구들이 장난으로 민수를 골탕 먹이려고 했어요.Our friends tried to play a trick on Minsu for a laugh.

골탕 is said to have been the name of a rich soup, which makes this "to feed somebody the soup". The person on the receiving end 골탕을 먹다.

Said of a man who is very careful with money, often too careful.

English: a penny-pincher; a skinflint

제 친구는 짠돌이라서 커피 한 잔도 잘 안 사요.My friend is such a penny-pincher that he hardly ever buys even a cup of coffee.

From 짜다, salty, which also means stingy. The female form is 짠순이. Said of oneself, it can be a cheerful boast about saving.

Said when a worry or a frustration is finally gone, often after saying what one has kept to oneself.

English: to feel relieved; to get something off one’s chest

하고 싶은 말을 다 했더니 속이 시원해요.I’ve said everything I wanted to say, and it’s such a relief.

Literally "the inside is cool". 속 is the inside of the body and the seat of feelings; 시원하다, pleasantly cool, is also what a cold drink on a hot day or a good stretch feels like.

Said when one is anxious and helpless, usually while waiting for news.

English: to be worried sick; to be on tenterhooks

아이가 연락이 안 돼서 속이 타요.I can’t reach my child, and I’m worried sick.

Literally "the inside burns". The same picture appears in 애가 타다, where 애 is an old word for the gut, and in 속을 태우다, to make somebody worry.

Said of somebody, often a child, who causes another person constant grief and worry.

English: to cause someone grief; to drive someone to despair

어릴 때 부모님 속을 많이 썩였어요.I gave my parents a lot of grief when I was young.

Literally "to make somebody’s inside rot". The person who suffers says 속이 썩다. It is very often said by parents, half as a complaint and half with affection.

Said when one is hurt, upset or disappointed.

English: to be upset; to be hurt

친구가 제 생일을 잊어버려서 속이 상했어요.I was hurt that my friend forgot my birthday.

Literally "the inside is damaged". In speech it is usually one word, 속상하다, and it is one of the commonest ways to say one is upset without sounding angry.

Said when one feels guilty, worried or sad about something.

English: to have a heavy heart

친구를 혼자 두고 와서 마음이 무거워요.I have a heavy heart because I left my friend on his own.

Literally "the heart is heavy" — one of the few cases where the Korean and the English picture match exactly. The opposite, 마음이 가볍다, is relief.

Said of the sudden shock of thinking something bad has happened.

English: one’s heart sinks; one’s heart skips a beat

지갑이 없어진 줄 알고 가슴이 철렁했어요.My heart sank when I thought my wallet had gone.

철렁 imitates water sloshing heavily in a container. Korean has many such sound and manner words for the heart: 두근두근 for a pounding one, 조마조마 for a nervous one.

Said of being terrified, usually for a moment.

English: to be scared stiff; to nearly jump out of one’s skin

밤에 이상한 소리가 나서 간이 콩알만 해졌어요.There was a strange noise in the night, and I was scared stiff.

Literally "the liver shrinks to the size of a bean". The liver is the seat of courage in Korean idiom: a brave person 간이 크다, has a big liver.

Said of somebody who loses confidence, often in the face of others who seem better.

English: to lose heart; to feel intimidated

다른 사람들이 너무 잘해서 기가 죽었어요.Everyone else was so good that I lost heart.

기 is one’s spirit or vital energy. To build somebody up is 기를 살리다, "to bring the spirit back to life".

Said of somebody who tries with all their strength.

English: to strain every nerve; to try one’s hardest

동생은 형을 이기려고 기를 쓰고 달렸어요.The younger brother ran with all his might to beat the older one.

Literally "to use one’s spirit". It is often slightly ironic, suggesting the effort is more than the matter deserves.

Said of somebody so absorbed in something that they forget everything else.

English: to be miles away; to be wrapped up in something

휴대폰에 정신이 팔려서 내릴 역을 지나쳤어요.I was so wrapped up in my phone that I missed my stop.

Literally "one’s mind is sold": it has gone to something else and is not available. The thing it went to takes 에.

Said of somebody so struck by a sight or a feeling that they are lost in it.

English: to be spellbound; to be lost in wonder

아이들은 넋을 잃고 불꽃놀이를 바라봤어요.The children watched the fireworks, spellbound.

넋 is the soul, the part of a person that can leave the body. It can be wonder or shock, and the context decides which.

Said when one is overwhelmed by praise or kindness and does not know how to respond.

English: to not know what to say; to be overwhelmed

이렇게 칭찬해 주시니 몸 둘 바를 모르겠어요.You’re praising me so much that I don’t know what to say.

Literally "not to know where to put one’s body". It is a polite, modest answer to praise, and it is used in speeches and thanks.

Said when one is so embarrassed that one wants to disappear.

English: to wish the ground would swallow one up

사람들 앞에서 넘어져서 쥐구멍에라도 들어가고 싶었어요.I fell over in front of everyone and wished the ground would swallow me up.

Literally "to want to go even into a mouse hole". English sinks into the ground; Korean squeezes into the smallest hiding place there is.

Said when one is extremely happy.

English: to be over the moon; to walk on air

합격 소식을 듣고 하늘을 날 것 같았어요.When I heard I’d passed, I was over the moon.

Literally "it seems I could fly in the sky". It is built with the grammar pattern -(으)ㄹ 것 같다, "it seems that".

Said of sudden, violent anger.

English: one’s blood boils; to see red

그 사람이 거짓말한 걸 알고 피가 거꾸로 솟았어요.When I found out he’d lied, my blood boiled.

Literally "the blood rises upside down". The word list has 피가 마르다, which is a different feeling altogether: anxiety that drains one dry.

Said of somebody who is furious.

English: to be livid; to hit the roof

아버지는 그 이야기를 듣고 머리끝까지 화가 나셨어요.My father hit the roof when he heard about it.

Literally "to be angry up to the tips of one’s hair". It adds to the everyday 화가 나다, to get angry, how far up the anger goes.

Said of sudden fear or a creepy feeling.

English: to send a shiver down one’s spine

혼자 집에 있는데 문이 저절로 열려서 등골이 오싹했어요.I was home alone when the door opened by itself, and a shiver ran down my spine.

등골 is the hollow running down the middle of the back, and 오싹 is a sound and manner word for a sudden chill.

Said when one is overwhelmed by joy, pride or emotion.

English: one’s heart is full; to be overcome with emotion

아이가 처음 걷는 모습을 보고 가슴이 벅찼어요.My heart was full when I saw my child walk for the first time.

벅차다 means more than one can manage. Here the feeling is bigger than the chest that holds it, and it is always a good one.

Said of feeling very uncomfortable or anxious in a situation one cannot leave.

English: to be on pins and needles; to be on tenterhooks

실수를 한 날이라서 회의 내내 바늘방석에 앉은 것 같았어요.I’d made a mistake that day, so I was on pins and needles through the whole meeting.

Literally "as if sitting on a cushion of needles". A 방석 is the flat cushion people sit on on the floor, so the picture is a very Korean one.

Said after a fright or a narrow escape.

English: to be frightened out of one’s wits; that took years off my life

차가 갑자기 튀어나와서 십 년 감수했어요.A car shot out in front of me — that took years off my life.

Literally "to shorten one’s life by ten years". 감수 is a Sino-Korean word for losing years of one’s life; it appears almost only in this phrase.

Said when a long-standing problem or burden is finally gone.

English: what a weight off my mind; it’s a huge relief

어려운 일을 끝내니까 앓던 이가 빠진 것 같아요.Now that I’ve finished that difficult job, it’s a weight off my mind.

Literally "as if an aching tooth had come out". It is the relief of something that hurt for a long time ending all at once.

Said of somebody whose mind is elsewhere, usually on something they would rather be doing.

English: one’s mind is elsewhere; to be miles away

수업 시간인데 동생은 마음이 벌써 콩밭에 가 있어요.It’s still class time, but my little brother’s mind is already elsewhere.

Literally "the heart has gone to the bean field". It comes from a proverb about a dove perched in a tree while thinking only of the beans in the field below.

Said of somebody, usually a child or grandchild, who is loved beyond measure.

English: to be the apple of one’s eye

할아버지께 손녀는 눈에 넣어도 아프지 않을 만큼 소중해요.To my grandfather, his granddaughter is the apple of his eye.

Literally "it would not hurt even if one put them in one’s eye". English and Korean both find the eye for this, from different directions.

Said of somebody who has lost the trust or favour of a person above them.

English: to fall out of favour; to get on the wrong side of someone

지각을 자주 해서 부장님 눈 밖에 났어요.I was late so often that I got on the wrong side of the department head.

Literally "to go outside somebody’s eyes": to drop out of the circle of people they look on kindly.

Said of somebody or something one cannot stop thinking about, usually a person left behind.

English: to be unable to get someone out of one’s mind

혼자 계신 어머니가 자꾸 눈에 밟혀요.I keep thinking of my mother, living on her own.

Literally "to be stepped on by the eyes": the image keeps coming back and treading on one’s sight. It is tender, and often a little sad.

Said of somebody searching or working with fierce concentration.

English: to be all eyes; to go at something with fierce determination

동생은 눈에 불을 켜고 잃어버린 반지를 찾았어요.My sister searched for the lost ring with fierce concentration.

Literally "to light a fire in one’s eyes". It can be eagerness or greed, and the context decides.

Said of somebody who loses all judgement because of greed, anger or passion.

English: to lose one’s head; to be blinded by something

돈에 눈이 뒤집혀서 친구를 속였대요.Apparently he was so blinded by money that he cheated his friend.

Literally "the eyes turn over". What causes it takes 에: 돈에, 욕심에.

Said of somebody who stays completely calm when others would be shaken.

English: to not bat an eyelid

그는 큰 소리가 나도 눈 하나 깜짝하지 않았어요.Even when there was a loud bang, he didn’t bat an eyelid.

Literally "not to blink a single eye". It is the exact Korean counterpart of the English, and it can praise composure or criticise indifference.

Said of somebody who dismisses something with contempt.

English: to sneer at something; to scoff

제 계획을 듣고 형은 코웃음을 쳤어요.My brother scoffed when he heard my plan.

A 코웃음 is a "nose laugh", a short snort of contempt. Note the verb: one 치다, strikes, a laugh like this.

Said of a deadline or event that is now very close.

English: to be just around the corner; to be looming

시험이 코앞에 닥쳤는데 아직 공부를 시작도 못 했어요.The exam is just around the corner, and I haven’t even started revising.

Literally "to arrive right in front of one’s nose". 코앞 on its own means very near in space too: 역이 바로 코앞이에요, the station is right on the doorstep.

Said of being amazed by the size, number or quality of something.

English: one’s jaw drops

할머니가 차리신 음식을 보고 입이 떡 벌어졌어요.My jaw dropped when I saw the food my grandmother had laid on.

떡 here is a manner word for something opening wide, not the rice cake. The picture is the same as in English.

Said of praising somebody constantly and enthusiastically.

English: to sing someone’s praises; to praise someone to the skies

선생님이 민수를 입에 침이 마르도록 칭찬하셨어요.The teacher sang Minsu’s praises.

Literally "to praise until the saliva in one’s mouth dries up". The pattern 입에 침이 마르도록 can go with other verbs of speaking too.

Said of somebody looking at something they want but cannot have, or of mild disappointment.

English: to lick one’s lips; to be left wanting

아이가 진열장 속 케이크를 보며 입맛을 다셨어요.The child licked his lips as he looked at the cakes in the window.

Literally "to smack one’s taste", making a small sound with the tongue. It can be appetite or regret, depending on what is out of reach.

Said of a word somebody uses all the time, or a food they eat constantly.

English: to always be saying something; to live on something

우리 팀장님은 "바쁘다"를 입에 달고 사세요.Our team leader is forever saying how busy he is.

Literally "to live with it hung on one’s mouth". Said of food, it means one eats it all the time: 커피를 입에 달고 살아요.

Said of hearing the same advice or complaint so often that one is sick of it.

English: to be sick of hearing something

공부하라는 소리를 귀가 따갑게 들었어요.I was told to study so often that I was sick of hearing it.

Literally "the ears sting". The word list has a stronger picture for the same thing, ears with a nail driven into them.

Said of hearing something so surprising that one can hardly believe it.

English: to not believe one’s ears

그 소식을 듣고 제 귀를 의심했어요.When I heard the news, I couldn’t believe my ears.

Literally "to doubt one’s ears". The same works for the eyes: 눈을 의심하다.

Said of taking action to deal with a problem before it gets worse.

English: to take steps; to do something about it

일이 더 커지기 전에 손을 써야 해요.We have to do something before things get any worse.

Literally "to use one’s hand". It can also hint at using connections or influence behind the scenes.

Said of somebody who works quickly and efficiently with their hands.

English: to be quick; to work fast

어머니는 손이 빨라서 반찬 다섯 가지를 금방 만드세요.My mother works so fast that she makes five side dishes in no time.

Literally "the hand is fast". The opposite is 손이 느리다. The word list has 손이 크다, which is about generosity rather than speed.

Said of refusing or denying something by waving one’s hand.

English: to wave something away; to refuse firmly

돈을 드리려고 했더니 할머니가 손사래를 치셨어요.When I tried to give my grandmother some money, she waved it away.

A 손사래 is the gesture of waving the hand from side to side in front of one’s face, the Korean gesture for "no" and "not at all".

Said of being condemned or scorned by other people.

English: to be pointed at; to be looked down on

그런 행동을 하면 사람들한테 손가락질을 받아요.If you behave like that, people will look down on you.

Literally "to receive finger-pointing". Pointing at a person with a finger is rude in Korea too, and the idiom builds on that.

Said of something that holds a person back or stops them from leaving.

English: to hold someone back; to drag someone down

작은 실수가 결국 그의 발목을 잡았어요.In the end a small mistake was what held him back.

Literally "to grab somebody by the ankle". The passive, 발목을 잡히다, is "to be held back" or "to be caught out".

Said of withdrawing from something one was involved in.

English: to pull out; to back out

일이 복잡해지자 그는 슬그머니 발을 뺐어요.When things got complicated, he quietly pulled out.

Literally "to pull out one’s foot". Its opposite is 발을 들이다 or 발을 담그다, to set foot in, to get involved.

Said of somebody anxious and impatient, unable to do anything.

English: to be beside oneself with worry; to hop from foot to foot

기차를 놓칠까 봐 발을 동동 굴렀어요.I was hopping from foot to foot, afraid I’d miss the train.

동동 imitates small, quick stamping. Note the irregular verb: 구르다 gives 굴러요, 굴렀어요.

Said of thinking hard, often to find a clever way out or a trick.

English: to rack one’s brains; to scheme

숙제를 안 하려고 머리를 굴려 봤지만 소용없었어요.I racked my brains for a way to get out of my homework, but it was no use.

Literally "to roll one’s head". It can be admiring or slightly disapproving, as when somebody is too clever by half.

Said of a mind that is no longer flexible, usually with age or lack of practice.

English: to get rusty; to become set in one’s ways

나이가 드니까 머리가 굳어서 새 단어가 잘 안 외워져요.I’m getting older and my mind is rusty, so new words don’t stick.

Literally "the head hardens". It is mostly said about oneself, with a smile.

Said of a problem so hard that one’s head hurts from thinking about it.

English: to make one’s head spin; to be too much for one’s brain

수학 문제를 풀다가 머리에 쥐가 날 뻔했어요.Doing those maths problems almost made my head spin.

Literally "to get a cramp in the head". 쥐가 나다 on its own is a muscle cramp, as in the leg, although 쥐 also means a mouse.

Said of feeling so ashamed that one cannot face others.

English: to be unable to hold one’s head up

너무 창피해서 고개를 들 수가 없었어요.I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t look anyone in the eye.

Literally "cannot lift one’s head". 고개 is the head as something one nods, bows or raises, different from 머리, the head as a part of the body.

Said of becoming equal to somebody in standing or ability.

English: to be on a par with; to rank alongside

이 작은 회사가 이제는 큰 회사들과 어깨를 나란히 하고 있어요.This small company is now on a par with the big ones.

Literally "to put shoulders side by side". It is a phrase of achievement, common in news reports and speeches.

Said of pushing somebody into doing something they are reluctant to do.

English: to push someone into something; to talk someone into it

친구들이 등을 떠밀어서 무대에서 노래를 불렀어요.My friends pushed me into singing on stage.

Literally "to shove somebody’s back". The passive, 등 떠밀려서, explains why one did something one did not want to do.

Said of hurting somebody deeply with words or actions.

English: to wound someone deeply; to break someone’s heart

홧김에 한 말이 어머니 가슴에 못을 박았어요.What I said in anger wounded my mother deeply.

Literally "to drive a nail into somebody’s chest". The pain is meant to last, like a nail that stays.

Said of devoting one’s whole life or career to a place or a cause.

English: to stay for life; to give one’s whole career to something

이 회사에 뼈를 묻겠다는 마음으로 일하고 있어요.I work here meaning to stay with this company for life.

Literally "to bury one’s bones" there. It is a solemn phrase of loyalty, and in a job interview it is a very strong promise.

Said of working extremely hard for a long time.

English: to work one’s fingers to the bone

부모님은 우리를 위해 뼈 빠지게 일하셨어요.My parents worked their fingers to the bone for us.

Literally "to work until one’s bones come out". English wears the fingers to the bone; Korean loses the bones altogether.

Said of nursing a grudge and waiting for the chance to get even.

English: to be out for revenge; to be determined to get even

지난 경기에서 진 뒤로 선수들은 이를 갈며 연습했어요.Since losing the last match, the players have been training hard, set on revenge.

Literally "to grind one’s teeth". The word list has 이를 악물다, to clench them, which is about enduring rather than revenge.

Said of betraying somebody who trusted you.

English: to stab someone in the back

믿었던 동료가 뒤통수를 쳐서 큰 충격을 받았어요.A colleague I trusted stabbed me in the back, and I was shocked.

Literally "to hit the back of somebody’s head": from behind, where they cannot see it coming. The victim says 뒤통수를 맞았어요.

Said of bringing disgrace on somebody, usually one’s family or group.

English: to bring shame on someone; to disgrace someone

부모님 얼굴에 먹칠을 하는 일은 절대 하지 않을 거예요.I will never do anything that brings shame on my parents.

Literally "to smear ink on somebody’s face". Ink, 먹, is the black ink of brush writing, and a stained face is a stained name.

Said of somebody or something that looks familiar.

English: to look familiar

저분 어디서 본 것 같아요. 낯이 익어요.I think I’ve seen that person somewhere. He looks familiar.

낯 is an older word for the face, and 익다 means both to ripen and to become familiar. The opposite is 낯설다, unfamiliar.

Said of suddenly understanding something or hearing a brilliant idea.

English: the penny drops; to see the light

그 설명을 듣고 모두 "아, 그렇구나!" 하며 무릎을 쳤어요.When we heard the explanation, we all went "oh, I see!" — the penny had dropped.

Literally "to slap one’s knee", the gesture of sudden understanding or admiration. The word list has 무릎을 꿇다, to kneel, which is submission.

Said when one cannot concentrate on work because of worry or excitement.

English: to be unable to concentrate; to be unable to settle to anything

걱정이 돼서 일이 손에 잡히지 않아요.I’m so worried that I can’t concentrate on my work.

Literally "the work does not come into one’s hands". The work is the subject: 일이, 공부가.

Said of being so busy that there is no time for anything else.

English: to be rushed off one’s feet; to be up to one’s eyes in work

연말이라서 눈코 뜰 새 없이 바빠요.It’s the end of the year, so I’m rushed off my feet.

Literally "no time to open one’s eyes and nose". It most often appears as 눈코 뜰 새 없이 바쁘다. 새 here is a short form of 사이, a gap in time.

Said when there are not enough people to do the work.

English: to be short-handed

주말에는 손님이 많아서 손이 모자라요.We have so many customers at weekends that we’re short-handed.

Literally "hands are lacking". 손 stands for a worker, as "hand" does in English, and 일손, "work hands", is the workforce: 일손이 부족하다.

Said of cutting back on spending to save money.

English: to tighten one’s belt

이사 비용 때문에 당분간 허리띠를 졸라매야 해요.Because of the cost of moving, we’ll have to tighten our belts for a while.

The same picture as in English, and used the same way, of households, companies and governments alike.

Said of doing enough to justify one’s place or pay.

English: to earn one’s keep; to pull one’s weight

이번 계약을 따냈으니 이제 밥값은 한 셈이에요.Now that I’ve won this contract, I suppose I’ve earned my keep.

Literally "to do the price of one’s rice". It is often said with modesty about oneself, or with irony about somebody who does not.

Said of a shop or restaurant that has almost no customers.

English: business is dead; there isn’t a soul about

비가 와서 그런지 가게가 하루 종일 파리만 날렸어요.Maybe it was the rain, but there wasn’t a single customer in the shop all day.

Literally "to let the flies fly": the shopkeeper has nothing to do but wave away flies. It usually takes 만, "only flies".

Said of making a mess of something one was supposed to do well.

English: to make a hash of something; to mess it up

준비를 못 해서 오늘 발표는 완전히 죽을 쒔어요.I hadn’t prepared, so I made a complete hash of today’s presentation.

Literally "to boil porridge": to set out to cook rice and end up with mush. Note the contracted past: 쑤다 gives 쒔어요.

Said of a plan or chance that is now lost for good.

English: to be too late; that ship has sailed

마감이 지났으니 그 계획은 이미 물 건너갔어요.The deadline has passed, so that plan is dead in the water.

Literally "to cross the water": once something has gone over to the other bank, there is no getting it back.

Said of going through a stressful, difficult situation.

English: to sweat blood; to have a tough time of it

갑자기 영어로 발표하게 돼서 진땀을 뺐어요.I suddenly had to give the presentation in English, and I really sweated over it.

진땀 is a cold, sticky sweat, the kind that comes from tension rather than heat.

Said of taking on an unpleasant task or responsibility on behalf of a group.

English: to stick one’s neck out; to bite the bullet for everyone

아무도 말을 안 해서 결국 제가 총대를 메고 부장님께 말씀드렸어요.Nobody would say anything, so in the end I stuck my neck out and told the department head.

Literally "to shoulder the gun". It is said of the one who speaks up or takes the risk while the others stay safely behind.

Said of making a start, with the idea that a good start decides what follows.

English: to take the first step; to get off on the right foot

첫 단추를 잘 끼워야 나머지 일도 잘 풀려요.If you get off on the right foot, the rest of the work goes well too.

Literally "to fasten the first button": get it wrong, and every button after it is wrong too.

Said of devoting oneself to one field or task for a long time.

English: to stick at one thing; to specialise

그는 삼십 년 동안 한 우물을 판 장인이에요.He is a craftsman who has stuck at the one trade for thirty years.

Literally "to dig one well". It comes from a proverb: if you dig a well, dig one well, rather than giving up on each after a few spadefuls.

Said of losing one’s job or livelihood.

English: to lose one’s livelihood; to be out of work

공장이 문을 닫으면서 많은 사람의 밥줄이 끊겼어요.When the factory closed, many people lost their livelihoods.

Literally "the rice line is cut". 밥줄 is the job that puts rice on the table, and the idiom is informal.

Said of somebody who got a job through connections rather than merit.

English: no single equivalent — a placeman, somebody parachuted in

새로 온 과장은 낙하산이라는 소문이 있어요.There’s a rumour that the new section chief got the job through connections.

Literally "a parachute": somebody dropped in from above. English uses the same verb, "parachuted in", but Korean makes the person into the parachute. It is a criticism.

Said of standing by and doing nothing while others work.

English: to stand idly by; to sit on one’s hands

다들 바쁜데 혼자 뒷짐 지고 구경만 하면 어떡해요?Everybody’s busy — how can you just stand there watching?

Literally "to clasp one’s hands behind one’s back", the posture of an onlooker. Said of an official or a company, it means doing nothing about a problem.

Said of an amount, especially a salary, that is very small.

English: tiny; a pittance

월급은 쥐꼬리만 한데 일은 너무 많아요.My salary is a pittance, but there’s far too much work.

Literally "as big as a mouse’s tail". 만 하다 means "as big as", and in front of a noun it becomes 쥐꼬리만 한 월급.

Said of somebody who spends money carelessly.

English: to spend money like water

복권에 당첨된 뒤로 그는 돈을 물 쓰듯 했어요.After winning the lottery, he spent money like water.

The same picture as in English. -듯 means "as if", and 물 쓰듯 is "as if using water".

Said of being overcharged.

English: to be ripped off; to pay over the odds

관광지에서 택시를 탔다가 바가지를 썼어요.I took a taxi at a tourist spot and got ripped off.

A 바가지 is a gourd bowl. The person who overcharges 바가지를 씌우다, puts the bowl over your head; the one who pays 바가지를 쓰다, wears it.

Said of making sure that somebody important notices one.

English: to get oneself noticed; to make an impression

신입 사원은 첫 회의에서 부장님께 눈도장을 찍으려고 애썼어요.The new employee tried hard to get himself noticed by the department head at his first meeting.

Literally "to stamp an eye seal": to leave one’s mark in somebody’s eyes the way a name seal, 도장, leaves it on paper.

Said of making a great effort to do something.

English: to try hard; to go to great lengths

그는 실수를 만회하려고 무척 애를 썼어요.He tried very hard to make up for his mistake.

애 is an old word for the gut, and the same word appears in 애가 타다, to worry. To somebody who has worked hard, 애쓰셨어요 is a warm thank-you.

Said of doing work in person, by going out and visiting places and people.

English: to do the legwork; to go out and get it oneself

그 기자는 직접 발로 뛰며 기사를 썼어요.That reporter did all the legwork herself to write the article.

Literally "to run with one’s feet". It is praise for somebody who does not rely on the telephone or the desk.

Said of ending up worse off than if one had done nothing.

English: to come off worse; to get nothing for one’s trouble

괜히 나섰다가 본전도 못 찾았어요.I stuck my neck out for nothing and only came off worse.

Literally "not even to get back one’s capital". 본전 is the money one started with; failing to recover it is losing on the deal.

Said of becoming very keen on something, or heated in an argument.

English: to be all fired up about something; to get worked up

요즘 아버지는 주식 공부에 열을 올리고 계세요.These days my father is all fired up about studying the stock market.

Literally "to raise the heat". It can be enthusiasm or anger, and the particle shows which: 에 열을 올리다 is keenness.

Said of getting married, usually in a question about when it will happen.

English: no single equivalent — to tie the knot

언제 국수 먹게 해 줄 거예요?So when are you going to tie the knot?

Literally "to eat noodles". Noodles, long and unbroken, were served at wedding feasts as a wish for a long life together, so the question really asks when the guests will be fed.

Said of failing an exam or a selection.

English: to fail; to flunk

이번 시험에서도 미역국을 먹었어요.I failed the exam again this time.

Literally "to eat seaweed soup". Seaweed is slippery, and to slip is to fail, so students avoid the soup before an exam. The same soup is eaten on birthdays, with no bad meaning at all.

Said of a task that is very easy.

English: a piece of cake; child’s play

이 정도 문제는 식은 죽 먹기예요.A problem like this is a piece of cake.

Literally "eating cold porridge": no need to blow on it, no need to chew. English reached for cake; Korean for porridge.

Said of something one wants but can never have.

English: pie in the sky; something out of reach

저 비싼 차는 저한테는 그림의 떡이에요.That expensive car is just a dream for me.

Literally "a rice cake in a picture": it looks delicious and cannot be eaten.

Said of something extremely easy.

English: a piece of cake; as easy as pie

컴퓨터를 잘하는 민수한테 이 일은 누워서 떡 먹기예요.For Minsu, who is good with computers, this job is as easy as pie.

Literally "eating rice cake lying down". Some speakers point out that eating lying down is not actually easy, and the phrase is used all the same.

Said of something extremely hard to get or achieve.

English: next to impossible; like finding a needle in a haystack

그 공연 표를 구하는 건 하늘의 별 따기예요.Getting tickets for that show is next to impossible.

Literally "picking a star from the sky". It is said of tickets, jobs, flats and places at popular schools.

Said of an amount so small that it hardly matters compared with something else.

English: a drop in the ocean; peanuts

이번 실수는 지난번에 비하면 새 발의 피예요.This mistake is nothing compared with the last one.

Literally "the blood in a bird’s foot". Note the spelling: the particle 의 is written, and in speech it is said [에].

Said of people or things that are all equally ordinary, so that comparing them is pointless.

English: six of one, half a dozen of the other; there’s nothing to choose between them

두 사람 실력은 도토리 키 재기예요.There’s nothing to choose between the two of them.

Literally "acorns measuring their height": whichever is taller, they are all acorns. It is gently dismissive.

Said of dealing with something only superficially.

English: scratching the surface

하루 만에 박물관을 다 보는 건 수박 겉 핥기예요.Seeing the whole museum in a day is only scratching the surface.

Literally "licking the outside of a watermelon", without ever reaching the sweet red flesh inside.

Said of something that looks good but turns out to be disappointing.

English: all that glitters is not gold; all show and no substance

디자인만 예쁘고 기능은 별로예요. 빛 좋은 개살구죠.It only looks nice — it doesn’t work well. All show and no substance.

Literally "a wild apricot with a fine colour". 개- at the front of a plant’s name marks a wild, inferior kind, and the wild apricot looks ripe and tastes sour.

Said of something so easy or safe that it cannot fail.

English: a sure thing; plain sailing

경험 많은 그에게 이번 일은 땅 짚고 헤엄치기였어요.For someone as experienced as him, this job was plain sailing.

Literally "swimming with one’s hands on the ground": in water so shallow that one cannot sink.

Said of something done that cannot be undone.

English: it’s no use crying over spilt milk; what’s done is done

이미 엎질러진 물이니까 너무 걱정하지 마세요.What’s done is done, so don’t worry too much.

Literally "spilt water". English spills milk, Korean water, and the point is the same: it cannot be put back.

Said of a clumsy attempt to deceive that fools nobody.

English: fooling nobody; a transparent trick

물건을 다 침대 밑에 넣고 청소했다고 하는 건 눈 가리고 아웅이에요.Shoving everything under the bed and saying you’ve tidied up is fooling nobody.

Literally "covering the eyes and saying 아웅", the sound that goes with a peekaboo game for a baby — the only person such a trick fools.

Said of somebody with a narrow outlook who does not know the wider world.

English: a big fish in a small pond; someone who has never seen beyond their own back yard

외국에 나가 보니 제가 우물 안 개구리였다는 걸 알았어요.Going abroad made me realise how narrow my view of the world had been.

Literally "a frog in a well": all it knows of the sky is the circle it can see from the bottom. The picture comes from an old Chinese story.

Said of a plan everybody agrees with that nobody dares to carry out.

English: who will bell the cat?

사장님께 그 문제를 말씀드리는 건 고양이 목에 방울 달기예요.Raising that problem with the boss is like belling the cat.

Literally "hanging a bell on the cat’s neck". The fable of the mice is the same in both languages.

Said of effort or money spent on something that will never fill up or pay off.

English: pouring money down the drain; a bottomless pit

고장 난 차를 계속 고치는 건 밑 빠진 독에 물 붓기예요.Repairing that broken-down car again and again is pouring money down the drain.

Literally "pouring water into a jar with no bottom". A 독 is the large earthenware jar once kept in every yard for kimchi and sauces.

Said of somebody trapped with no way out.

English: like a rat in a trap; cornered

출구가 다 막혀서 범인은 독 안에 든 쥐가 됐어요.All the exits were blocked, and the criminal was cornered.

Literally "a mouse inside a jar": the sides are too high and too smooth to climb.

Said of doing something one does not want to do because there is no other choice.

English: to grin and bear it; to do something against one’s will

다른 방법이 없어서 울며 겨자 먹기로 비싼 표를 샀어요.There was no other way, so I reluctantly bought an expensive ticket.

Literally "eating mustard while crying": the mustard makes the eyes water, and one eats it anyway. It usually takes 로.

Said of laying on a lavish spread of food.

English: to put on a feast; to lay on a spread

명절이라고 할머니가 상다리가 부러지게 차리셨어요.For the holiday my grandmother laid on a huge feast.

Literally "to set the table so that its legs break". A Korean meal is many dishes at once, so the size of a feast is measured by the weight on the table.

Said of spoiling something that was going well, often a surprise.

English: to spoil everything; to let the cat out of the bag

깜짝 파티였는데 동생이 미리 말해서 산통을 깼어요.It was a surprise party, but my brother told her in advance and spoiled everything.

A 산통 was the little box of counting sticks used by fortune tellers. Break it, and nobody’s fortune gets told.

Said of a person or thing that has been neglected in favour of something new.

English: to be left out in the cold; to be pushed aside

새 컴퓨터를 산 뒤로 옛날 노트북은 찬밥 신세가 됐어요.Since I bought the new computer, the old laptop has been left out in the cold.

Literally "the lot of cold rice": the leftover rice nobody serves to a guest. 신세 is one’s situation, usually a poor one.

Said of somebody who takes their time before saying or doing something, often to build suspense.

English: to keep someone in suspense; to take one’s time

뜸 들이지 말고 빨리 결과를 알려 주세요.Don’t keep us in suspense — tell us the result.

From cooking rice: 뜸 is the final stage when the heat is turned down and the rice is left to steam, and it cannot be hurried.

Said of being completely exhausted.

English: to be worn out; to be dead on one’s feet

하루 종일 이삿짐을 날랐더니 파김치가 됐어요.I carried boxes for the move all day, and now I’m dead on my feet.

Literally "to become spring-onion kimchi": firm green onions go limp once they are salted and seasoned.

Said of somebody completely in their element.

English: like a fish in water; in one’s element

노래방에만 가면 민수는 물 만난 고기 같아요.The moment Minsu gets into a singing room, he’s in his element.

Literally "a fish that has met water". English has the same fish, and puts it out of water for the opposite feeling.

Said of an outcome that is completely obvious.

English: as plain as day; a foregone conclusion

이렇게 공부를 안 하면 결과는 불 보듯 뻔해요.If you don’t study, the result is as plain as day.

Literally "as obvious as looking at a fire". It usually describes a bad outcome.

Said of a very great difference.

English: a world of difference; like chalk and cheese

직접 보는 것과 사진으로 보는 것은 하늘과 땅 차이예요.There’s a world of difference between seeing it in person and in a photo.

Literally "the difference between heaven and earth". A shorter, more casual form is 천지 차이.

Said of changing one’s words or position easily and without shame.

English: at the drop of a hat; as easily as turning over a hand

그는 자기가 한 말을 손바닥 뒤집듯 바꿔요.He goes back on his word at the drop of a hat.

Literally "as one turns over a palm". It describes somebody unreliable, and it is often said of politicians.

Said of something that happens very rarely.

English: once in a blue moon

그 친구한테서는 가뭄에 콩 나듯 연락이 와요.I hear from that friend once in a blue moon.

Literally "as beans sprout in a drought": now and then, here and there, and never many.

Said of a place or a group that has gone completely silent.

English: as quiet as a mouse; so quiet you could hear a pin drop

선생님이 들어오시자 교실이 쥐 죽은 듯 조용해졌어요.When the teacher came in, the classroom went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Literally "as if the mice were dead": not even the smallest scratching sound.

Said of a shock or exhaustion so great that one feels faint.

English: one’s head spins; the world goes black

지갑을 잃어버린 걸 알고 하늘이 노래졌어요.When I realised I’d lost my wallet, my head started to spin.

Literally "the sky is yellow". English sees black or stars; Korean sees yellow. Note the irregular adjective: 노랗다 gives 노래졌어요.

Said of something done in complete secrecy.

English: without anybody knowing; on the quiet

그 돈은 쥐도 새도 모르게 사라졌어요.The money vanished without anybody knowing how.

Literally "without even the mice and the birds knowing" — the same mice and birds that overhear everything in a well-known proverb.

Said of a person or thing that turns up everywhere and is part of everything.

English: no single equivalent — someone who has a finger in every pie

그 배우는 약방의 감초처럼 어느 드라마에나 나와요.That actor turns up in every drama going.

Literally "the liquorice root in the herbalist’s shop": it went into almost every traditional remedy. It is usually affectionate.

Said of somebody left out or isolated in a group.

English: the odd one out; a fish out of water

다들 아는 사이라서 저만 개밥에 도토리 같았어요.They all knew each other, so I felt like the odd one out.

Literally "an acorn in the dog’s food": the dog eats around it, and it is the only thing left in the bowl.

Said of somebody who takes on trouble that could have been avoided.

English: to make life hard for oneself; to ask for trouble

편한 길을 두고 왜 사서 고생을 해요?Why make life hard for yourself when there’s an easy way?

Literally "to buy hardship and suffer it". It is often affectionate: a hiker or a home cook may say it of themselves.

Said of skipping school, class or work without permission.

English: to skip class; to play truant

고등학교 때 수업을 땡땡이치고 바다에 간 적이 있어요.Once in high school I skipped class and went to the sea.

Where 땡땡이 comes from is not certain. In speech the phrase is usually one word, 땡땡이치다, and it is informal: a student says it, a teacher does not.

Said to remind somebody that people answer in the tone they are spoken to.

English: what goes around comes around; speak kindly and you will be spoken to kindly

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다고, 먼저 친절하게 말해 보세요.Kind words get kind answers, as they say — try speaking nicely first.

Literally "only if the words that go are fine are the words that come fine". -아야 means "only if", and the whole proverb is built on it.

Said as a warning that what one says in private may always be overheard and repeated.

English: walls have ears

낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다니까 여기서 그런 이야기는 하지 마세요.Walls have ears, you know, so don’t talk about that here.

Literally "the birds hear the words of the day and the mice the words of the night". English has walls listening; Korean has the animals that live in and around a house.

Said of habits learnt early, which last a lifetime — usually to argue for teaching good ones young.

English: old habits die hard; as the twig is bent, so grows the tree

세 살 버릇 여든까지 간다고, 어릴 때부터 정리하는 습관을 들이는 게 좋아요.Habits learnt young last a lifetime, so it’s good to get children used to tidying up early.

Literally "a habit at three goes on until eighty". The ages are counted in native numbers, as ages always are: 세 살, 여든.

Said to encourage somebody to make a start, since starting is the hardest part.

English: well begun is half done; the first step is the hardest

시작이 반이니까 오늘 일단 첫 장부터 써 봐요.Well begun is half done, so let’s at least write the first page today.

Literally "the start is half". It is one of the most quoted proverbs, used for anything from homework to a new business.

Said to encourage people to work together, since even an easy job goes better with help.

English: many hands make light work

백지장도 맞들면 낫다고, 같이 하면 금방 끝날 거예요.Many hands make light work — if we do it together, it’ll be done in no time.

Literally "even a sheet of paper is better carried by two". If sharing helps with something that light, it helps with everything.

Said of taking precautions only after the damage has been done.

English: to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

도둑이 든 다음에 자물쇠를 바꾸다니, 소 잃고 외양간 고치는 격이에요.Changing the locks after the burglary is shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Literally "losing the ox and then mending the cowshed". English loses a horse; Korean, a farming country, loses its most valuable animal, the ox.

Said to excuse or explain a mistake by somebody who is usually very good at what they do.

English: even Homer nods; nobody is perfect

원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다더니, 요리사인 형도 요리를 망칠 때가 있네요.Even experts slip up — my brother is a chef and he still ruins a dish sometimes.

Literally "even monkeys fall from trees". It is kind rather than mocking, and often said to comfort the expert.

Said when somebody appears just as people are talking about them.

English: speak of the devil

호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다더니, 마침 민수가 들어오네요.Speak of the devil — here comes Minsu.

Literally "even the tiger comes when you talk about it". The tiger is the animal of Korean folk tales, and the proverb is often cut to its first half: 호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다더니.

Said as a warning that rumours and careless words spread fast and far.

English: news travels fast; word gets around

발 없는 말이 천 리 간다고, 그 소문이 벌써 온 동네에 퍼졌어요.Word gets around — the rumour has already spread all over the neighbourhood.

Literally "a word without feet travels a thousand li". There is a pun too: 말 is both a word and a horse, and a horse has feet. A 리 is an old measure of distance.

Said to encourage saving or effort in small amounts, which add up to a great deal.

English: every little helps; look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves

티끌 모아 태산이라고, 매일 조금씩 저금했더니 꽤 많이 모였어요.Every little helps — I saved a bit every day, and now it’s quite a lot.

Literally "gather specks of dust and you have a great mountain". Nowadays it is also said ironically, of savings that refuse to grow.

Said when the weak suffer from a quarrel between the powerful.

English: when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled

부장님들끼리 싸우는데 고래 싸움에 새우 등 터진다고 우리만 힘들어요.The department heads are fighting each other, and as usual it’s us little people who suffer.

Literally "in a fight between whales the shrimp’s back bursts". The English-speaking world uses elephants and grass for the same idea.

Said to encourage somebody in a desperate situation: there is always a way out.

English: every cloud has a silver lining; where there’s a will, there’s a way

하늘이 무너져도 솟아날 구멍이 있다잖아요. 너무 걱정하지 마세요.You know what they say — there’s always a way out. Try not to worry so much.

Literally "even if the sky falls in, there is a hole to climb out through". It is comfort for the worst of times.

Said when something one has been searching for, or should have noticed, was right under one’s nose.

English: it was right under my nose; you can’t see the wood for the trees

등잔 밑이 어둡다더니, 찾던 안경이 제 머리 위에 있었어요.It was right under my nose all along — the glasses I was looking for were on top of my head.

Literally "it is dark under the oil lamp": the lamp lights the room and leaves its own base in shadow.

Said to insist on eating before doing anything else, however exciting.

English: no single equivalent — food first, sightseeing later

금강산도 식후경이라는데, 구경은 밥부터 먹고 해요.As they say, food comes first — let’s eat before we look around.

Literally "even the Diamond Mountains are a sight for after the meal". The Diamond Mountains, 금강산, are famous for their beauty, and still they can wait for lunch.

Said when one action brings two benefits at once.

English: to kill two birds with one stone

운동도 하고 교통비도 아끼고, 자전거 출근은 꿩 먹고 알 먹고예요.I get exercise and save on fares — cycling to work kills two birds with one stone.

Literally "eat the pheasant and eat its eggs". English kills two birds; Korean catches one bird and its nest.

Said of somebody who, having done well, forgets their own humble beginnings and is hard on others.

English: no single equivalent — to forget where one came from

개구리 올챙이 적 생각 못 한다더니, 자기도 신입 때 실수를 많이 했으면서 후배를 혼내요.He’s forgotten where he came from — he made plenty of mistakes as a newcomer himself, and now he tells off the juniors.

Literally "the frog cannot remember when it was a tadpole". It is a criticism, usually of a boss or a senior.

Said to suggest that a rumour must have some truth behind it.

English: there’s no smoke without fire

아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까요? 그런 소문이 난 데는 이유가 있겠죠.There’s no smoke without fire, is there? There must be a reason for a rumour like that.

Literally "would smoke rise from a chimney where no fire was lit?". The picture is the same as the English one. 아니 때다 is an old form of 안 때다, not to light a fire.

Said when too many people trying to lead a project lead it astray.

English: too many cooks spoil the broth

사공이 많으면 배가 산으로 간다고, 결정은 한 사람이 하는 게 좋겠어요.Too many cooks spoil the broth — it would be better if one person made the decision.

Literally "with too many boatmen, the boat goes up the mountain". English blames cooks; Korean blames boatmen, and the result is even more absurd.

Said to advise caution, even where something seems perfectly safe.

English: better safe than sorry; look before you leap

돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라는 말처럼 계약서는 꼼꼼히 읽어 보세요.Better safe than sorry — read the contract carefully.

Literally "tap even a stone bridge before you cross it". It is quoted with -라는 말처럼, "as the saying goes", because it ends in a command.

Said to encourage somebody to begin a long task one step at a time.

English: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

천 리 길도 한 걸음부터라고, 오늘은 단어 열 개만 외워 봐요.Every long journey starts with a single step — today, just learn ten words.

Literally "even a road of a thousand li starts with one step". The proverb is shared across East Asia and has reached English too.

Said to reassure somebody that work done with care and effort will not be wasted.

English: hard work always pays off

"공든 탑이 무너지랴"라는 말이 있잖아요. 그렇게 열심히 준비했으니까 잘될 거예요.Hard work always pays off, they say. You’ve prepared so hard, so it’ll go well.

Literally "would a tower built with devotion collapse?". -랴 is an old ending for a question that expects the answer no.

Said of somebody who has picked up a skill just by being around it for a long time.

English: no single equivalent — you learn by being around something long enough

서당 개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다더니, 식당에서 일한 지 삼 년 만에 저도 요리를 잘하게 됐어요.You pick things up just by being around them — after three years working in a restaurant, I’ve become a good cook.

Literally "after three years at the village school, even the dog recites poetry". A 서당 was the traditional village school, where pupils chanted their lessons aloud.

Said when choosing the better-looking or nicer option, since it costs the same.

English: if it costs the same, you might as well have the best

같은 값이면 다홍치마라고, 가격이 같으면 더 예쁜 걸로 사요.If it costs the same, you might as well have the nicer one — let’s buy the prettier one.

Literally "at the same price, the crimson skirt". 다홍치마, a skirt of deep red, was the finest and most festive choice.

Said of always thinking that what others have is better than what one has.

English: the grass is always greener on the other side

남의 떡이 더 커 보인다고, 친구 회사가 늘 더 좋아 보여요.The grass is always greener — my friend’s company always looks better than mine.

Literally "the other person’s rice cake looks bigger". English looks over the fence at a lawn; Korean looks at somebody else’s plate.

Said as a warning that small wrongdoing, left unchecked, leads to bigger wrongdoing.

English: give them an inch and they will take a mile

바늘 도둑이 소도둑 된다고, 작은 거짓말도 하면 안 돼요.Small wrongs lead to big ones — you mustn’t tell even small lies.

Literally "the needle thief becomes a cattle thief". It is said to children, and about them.

Said to remind somebody that however good they are, someone else is better.

English: there’s always someone better; there’s always a bigger fish

자기가 최고라고 생각했겠지만 뛰는 놈 위에 나는 놈 있는 법이에요.He must have thought he was the best, but there’s always someone better.

Literally "above the fellow who runs, there is a fellow who flies". 놈 is a rough word for a man, so the proverb is informal.

Said of people who talk loudly and boastfully but have little substance.

English: empty vessels make the most noise

빈 수레가 요란하다더니, 말만 많고 실력은 없네요.Empty vessels make the most noise — lots of talk and no ability.

Literally "the empty cart rattles loudly". English has empty vessels; Korean, an empty cart.

Said in praise of people who stay modest even as they become accomplished.

English: no single equivalent — the greater the person, the humbler they are

벼는 익을수록 고개를 숙인다고, 그 교수님은 유명하신데도 아주 겸손하세요.They say true greatness is humble — that professor is famous, and still very modest.

Literally "the riper the rice, the lower it bows its head": a ripe ear of rice is heavy and bends. It uses the grammar pattern -(으)ㄹ수록, "the more … the more".

Said to argue that those at the top must set a good example.

English: no single equivalent — example comes from the top

윗물이 맑아야 아랫물이 맑다고, 회사가 바뀌려면 위에서부터 바뀌어야 해요.Example has to come from the top — if the company is going to change, it has to start with the bosses.

Literally "only if the water upstream is clear is the water downstream clear". It is quoted about parents, teachers, bosses and governments alike.

Said to encourage somebody in hard times: good things come after suffering.

English: no pain, no gain; after the rain comes the sunshine

고생 끝에 낙이 온다고, 조금만 더 힘내세요.Good times come after hard ones — keep going a little longer.

Literally "at the end of hardship comes joy". 낙 is a Sino-Korean word for pleasure. The word list has the four-character idiom with the same meaning.

Said to point out that it is hard to be harsh to somebody who is friendly and polite.

English: a soft answer turns away wrath; you catch more flies with honey

웃는 얼굴에 침 못 뱉는다고, 웃으면서 부탁하면 거절하기 어려워요.You can’t be harsh to a smiling face — it’s hard to refuse a request made with a smile.

Literally "one cannot spit at a smiling face". It is advice as much as observation: smile, and you are safe.

Said of the power of well-chosen words to solve even a great problem.

English: a kind word goes a long way

말 한마디로 천 냥 빚을 갚는다고, 진심으로 사과하면 친구도 이해해 줄 거예요.A kind word goes a long way — if you apologise sincerely, your friend will understand.

Literally "with a single word one pays off a debt of a thousand nyang". A 냥 was an old unit of money, and a thousand of them a fortune.

Said of persistence, which wins in the end, especially in persuading someone.

English: if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again

열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다고, 계속 부탁드렸더니 결국 허락해 주셨어요.Persistence pays — I kept asking, and in the end they said yes.

Literally "there is no tree that does not fall after ten blows of the axe". It is often said of courtship, sometimes with a raised eyebrow.

Said of being betrayed or let down by somebody, or something, one trusted completely.

English: to be stabbed in the back by a friend

믿는 도끼에 발등 찍힌다더니, 제일 친한 친구가 제 비밀을 말해 버렸어요.Betrayed by the one I trusted most — my best friend gave away my secret.

Literally "the trusted axe strikes your instep". It uses the passive 찍히다, "to be struck".

Said of somebody inexperienced who boldly takes on what they should fear.

English: fools rush in where angels fear to tread

하룻강아지 범 무서운 줄 모른다고, 신입이 사장님한테 따졌대요.Fools rush in — apparently a newcomer argued with the boss.

Literally "a day-old puppy does not know to fear the tiger". 범 is an old word for the tiger, still used in proverbs.

Said when people side with those who are like them, whatever the rights of the matter.

English: birds of a feather flock together; blood is thicker than water

가재는 게 편이라고, 결국 형은 자기 친구 편을 들었어요.Birds of a feather — in the end my brother took his friend’s side.

Literally "the crayfish is on the crab’s side": the two look alike, so they stick together.

Said when a quarrel or a hard time leaves a relationship stronger than before.

English: no single equivalent — a storm clears the air

비 온 뒤에 땅이 굳어진다고, 크게 싸운 뒤로 우리는 더 친해졌어요.Things are stronger after a storm — since our big fight we’ve become closer.

Literally "after the rain, the ground hardens". It is a common comfort after a family row, and a common line in wedding speeches.

Said to urge somebody to act while the moment is right.

English: strike while the iron is hot

쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라고, 생각났을 때 바로 예약해요.Strike while the iron is hot — let’s book it now, while we’re thinking of it.

Literally "pull out even an ox horn while it is hot": horn was heated to soften it before working. The English iron and the Korean horn both have to be hot.

Said to advise checking even what one thinks one already knows.

English: better safe than sorry

아는 길도 물어 가라는 말도 있으니까 한 번 더 확인하고 출발해요.Better safe than sorry — let’s check once more before we set off.

Literally "ask the way even on a road you know".

Said in praise of a small person who turns out tougher, braver or more able than bigger ones.

English: good things come in small packages

작은 고추가 더 맵다더니, 키가 제일 작은 선수가 골을 제일 많이 넣었어요.Good things come in small packages — the shortest player scored the most goals.

Literally "the small chilli is hotter". It is often said by short people about themselves, with some pride.

Said of taste: what one person likes, another may not, and each sees with their own eyes.

English: beauty is in the eye of the beholder

제 눈에 안경이라고, 다른 사람이 뭐라고 해도 저는 이 그림이 좋아요.Beauty is in the eye of the beholder — whatever anyone says, I like this painting.

Literally "glasses for one’s own eyes": a pair of glasses suits only the person they were made for.

Said to point out that results follow from what one has done.

English: you reap what you sow

콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다고, 노력한 만큼 결과가 나와요.You reap what you sow — the results match the effort.

Literally "where beans are planted, beans grow, and where red beans are planted, red beans grow". It can be said of good results and bad, and of children who take after their parents.

Said of somebody who always has an excuse ready.

English: there’s an excuse for everything

핑계 없는 무덤 없다더니, 늦을 때마다 이유가 있네요.There’s an excuse for everything — every time he’s late, he has a reason.

Literally "there is no grave without an excuse": even the dead had a reason for dying.

Said to reassure somebody that there is a partner for everyone.

English: there’s someone for everyone; every Jack has his Jill

짚신도 짝이 있다잖아요. 곧 좋은 사람을 만날 거예요.There’s someone for everyone, they say. You’ll meet somebody nice soon.

Literally "even straw sandals come in pairs". The humblest footwear there was still has its other half.

Said as a warning that somebody who keeps doing wrong will eventually be caught.

English: you can’t get away with it for ever

꼬리가 길면 밟힌다고, 거짓말을 계속하다가 결국 들켰어요.You can’t get away with it for ever — he kept lying and was found out in the end.

Literally "a long tail gets stepped on". The longer the wrongdoing goes on, the more of it there is to catch.

Said to argue that the result matters more than the way one gets there.

English: all roads lead to Rome; the end justifies the means

모로 가도 서울만 가면 된다고, 방법은 달라도 결과만 좋으면 돼요.All roads lead to Rome — it doesn’t matter how, as long as the result is good.

Literally "even if you go sideways, you only need to get to Seoul". 모로 means sideways or at an angle.

Said to point out that talent or resources are worth nothing until they are put to use.

English: no single equivalent — talent is nothing without work

구슬이 서 말이라도 꿰어야 보배라고, 아이디어가 많아도 실천해야 의미가 있어요.Beads are only treasure once they’re strung — ideas mean nothing unless you act on them.

Literally "even three measures of beads are only a treasure once they are strung". 말 here is an old measure of volume, and 서 an old form of three used with it.

Said of somebody whose talent was visible from an early age.

English: no single equivalent — greatness shows early

될성부른 나무는 떡잎부터 알아본다더니, 그 선수는 어릴 때부터 남달랐대요.Talent shows early — they say that player stood out from childhood.

Literally "a tree that will grow well can be recognised from its seed leaves". 될성부르다 is an old word for "promising".

Said of small losses or habits that add up unnoticed to something large.

English: no single equivalent — little by little, it adds up

가랑비에 옷 젖는 줄 모른다고, 매일 마시는 커피값이 한 달이면 꽤 많아요.Little things add up without your noticing — the coffee I buy every day comes to quite a lot in a month.

Literally "in a drizzle one does not notice one’s clothes getting wet" — until they are soaked.

Said to reassure somebody worried about a person they have not heard from.

English: no news is good news

무소식이 희소식이라고, 연락이 없는 건 잘 지낸다는 뜻일 거예요.No news is good news — if she hasn’t been in touch, she’s probably doing well.

Literally "no news is happy news". Both languages say exactly the same thing in exactly the same way.

Said of somebody completely ignorant of a subject.

English: not to know the first thing about something

저는 기계에 대해서는 낫 놓고 기역 자도 몰라요.I don’t know the first thing about machines.

Literally "to put down a sickle and still not know the letter giyeok": a sickle lying on the ground has exactly the shape of the first letter of the alphabet. Said of oneself, it is modest.

Said of a search with far too little to go on.

English: like looking for a needle in a haystack

주소도 모르고 그 사람을 찾는 건 서울 가서 김 서방 찾기예요.Looking for him without an address is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Literally "going to Seoul to look for Mr Kim". Kim is the commonest family name in Korea, and 서방 an old way of addressing a married man.

Said when one meets somebody one would rather avoid, in a place where there is no avoiding them.

English: no single equivalent — you always run into the person you least want to see

원수는 외나무다리에서 만난다더니, 결승에서 작년에 졌던 팀을 다시 만났어요.Of course — in the final we met the team that beat us last year.

Literally "one meets one’s enemy on a single-log bridge", where neither can step aside.

Said to warn that even the meekest person will react if pushed too far.

English: even a worm will turn

지렁이도 밟으면 꿈틀한다고, 아무리 착한 사람도 계속 무시당하면 화를 내요.Even a worm will turn — however kind a person is, they’ll get angry if they’re ignored all the time.

Literally "even an earthworm wriggles when stepped on". English has the same worm.

Said of doing something simply because a friend is doing it.

English: no single equivalent — to tag along with a friend

친구 따라 강남 간다고, 친구가 배우길래 저도 기타를 배우기 시작했어요.I just tagged along — my friend was learning the guitar, so I started too.

Literally "following a friend, one goes to Gangnam". The 강남 of the proverb is far to the south across a great river, where swallows were believed to spend the winter, long before the name meant a district of Seoul.

Said to advise somebody in a hurry to slow down and do things properly.

English: more haste, less speed

급할수록 돌아가라는 말처럼 서두르지 말고 차근차근 해요.More haste, less speed — don’t rush, take it step by step.

Literally "the more urgent it is, the more you should take the long way round". It is built on -(으)ㄹ수록.

Said to argue that seeing something oneself is better than hearing about it many times.

English: seeing is believing

백문이 불여일견이라고, 직접 가서 보는 게 제일 좋아요.Seeing is believing — it’s best to go and see for yourself.

Literally "a hundred hearings are not as good as one seeing". It is classical Chinese read in Korean, which is why its grammar is nothing like modern Korean.

Said of somebody who causes harm and then offers help or comfort.

English: no single equivalent — to hurt someone and then offer a plaster

실컷 놀려 놓고 이제 와서 위로하다니, 병 주고 약 주는 거예요?You tease me all you like and then try to comfort me? That’s like causing the injury and offering the cure.

Literally "to give the illness and then give the medicine". It is often said half jokingly.

Said of a place that is very close.

English: a stone’s throw away; just round the corner

우리 집에서 회사까지는 엎드리면 코 닿을 데예요.My office is just round the corner from my flat.

Literally "a place one’s nose would touch if one lay down flat". 데 here is a noun meaning a place, and it is written with a space.

Said of quarrels between husband and wife, which pass quickly and leave no mark.

English: no single equivalent — lovers’ quarrels soon mend

부부 싸움은 칼로 물 베기라더니, 어제 싸운 두 사람이 오늘은 손을 잡고 다녀요.Married couples’ rows never last — the two of them were fighting yesterday, and today they’re walking hand in hand.

Literally "a quarrel between husband and wife is cutting water with a knife": the water closes up again at once.

Said of somebody who hears advice without taking any notice of it.

English: in one ear and out the other

동생은 제 충고를 한 귀로 듣고 한 귀로 흘려요.My advice goes in one ear and out the other with my brother.

Literally "to hear with one ear and let it flow out of the other". English and Korean share the picture almost word for word.

Said of somebody who puts a remarkably positive spin on a bad situation.

English: no single equivalent — that’s a generous way of looking at it

시험에 떨어진 게 오히려 좋은 기회라고요? 꿈보다 해몽이 좋네요.Failing the exam was actually a good opportunity? That’s a generous way of looking at it.

Literally "the interpretation is better than the dream". 해몽 is the reading of a dream for omens, still a popular pastime.

Said to encourage somebody going through hard times: good fortune will come to them too.

English: every dog has its day

쥐구멍에도 볕 들 날 있다고, 언젠가는 좋은 날이 올 거예요.Every dog has its day — good times will come one day.

Literally "even a mouse hole has a day when the sun shines in".

Said when something extra costs more than the main thing.

English: no single equivalent — the extras cost more than the thing itself

프린터는 싼데 잉크가 더 비싸요. 배보다 배꼽이 더 크네요.The printer is cheap, but the ink costs more. The extras cost more than the thing itself.

Literally "the belly button is bigger than the belly". It is the everyday comment on delivery charges, accessories and repairs.

Said of somebody whose guilty conscience gives them away.

English: a guilty conscience needs no accuser

도둑이 제 발 저리다고, 아무도 안 물어봤는데 자기가 안 했다고 하네요.A guilty conscience gives itself away — nobody asked, and he’s saying he didn’t do it.

Literally "the thief’s own feet go numb": he gives himself away before anyone suspects him.

Said as a warning not to speak of bad things, in case they come true.

English: be careful what you wish for; don’t tempt fate

말이 씨가 된다니까 그런 나쁜 말은 하지 마세요.Don’t tempt fate — don’t say bad things like that.

Literally "words become seeds": what is said can grow into what happens.

Said of a sudden, completely unexpected misfortune.

English: a bolt from the blue

갑자기 회사가 문을 닫는다니, 마른하늘에 날벼락이에요.The company closing all of a sudden is a bolt from the blue.

Literally "a sudden thunderbolt from a dry sky". Both languages chose lightning from a clear sky.

Said when one misfortune is followed by another.

English: it never rains but it pours; to add insult to injury

감기에 걸렸는데 엎친 데 덮친 격으로 휴대폰까지 고장 났어요.I caught a cold, and then, as if that wasn’t enough, my phone broke too.

Literally "something falling on top of what was already knocked over". It usually takes 으로; the word list has a four-character idiom for the same idea.

Said of family ties, which in the end are stronger than others.

English: blood is thicker than water

피는 물보다 진하다고, 형제는 결국 서로를 도와요.Blood is thicker than water — brothers help each other in the end.

The same proverb as the English one, word for word.

Said of somebody who achieves great success despite humble origins.

English: from rags to riches

개천에서 용 난다는 말처럼 그는 작은 시골 마을에서 자라 유명한 과학자가 됐어요.A real rags-to-riches story — he grew up in a small village and became a famous scientist.

Literally "a dragon rises from a ditch". It is often discussed as a question: whether such success is still possible today.

Said of how hard it is to know what another person is really thinking.

English: you never really know a person

열 길 물속은 알아도 한 길 사람 속은 모른다더니, 그 사람이 그럴 줄은 몰랐어요.You never really know a person — I never thought he would do such a thing.

Literally "one can know water ten fathoms deep, but not a person one fathom deep". 속 is both the depth of the water and a person’s heart.

Said of bad habits, which show wherever a person goes.

English: a leopard cannot change its spots

집에서 새는 바가지 들에 가도 샌다고, 집에서 정리 안 하는 사람은 회사 책상도 지저분해요.A leopard can’t change its spots — people who don’t tidy up at home have messy desks at work too.

Literally "a gourd bowl that leaks at home leaks in the fields too".

Said to advise somebody to ask for what they need instead of waiting.

English: the squeaky wheel gets the grease

우는 아이 젖 준다고, 필요한 게 있으면 말을 해야 해요.The squeaky wheel gets the grease — if you need something, you have to say so.

Literally "the crying child gets the milk". English oils a wheel; Korean feeds a baby.

Said of two people who are always together.

English: to be inseparable; to go together like a horse and carriage

바늘 가는 데 실 간다고, 두 사람은 어디든 같이 다녀요.Those two are inseparable — they go everywhere together.

Literally "where the needle goes, the thread goes".

Said when one arrives somewhere to find something unexpected, usually that it is closed or crowded.

English: just my luck

가는 날이 장날이라고, 맛집에 찾아갔더니 오늘 문을 안 연대요.Just my luck — I went to that famous restaurant, and it’s closed today.

Literally "the day one goes is market day": one arrives on business and finds the whole town at the market. It is mostly said of bad luck.

Said when a newcomer pushes out somebody who has been there a long time.

English: no single equivalent — the newcomer pushes out the old hand

굴러온 돌이 박힌 돌 뺀다더니, 새로 온 사람이 오래 일한 선배 자리를 차지했어요.The newcomer pushed out the old hand — the new person has taken over the job of a senior who’d been here for years.

Literally "the stone that rolled in pushes out the stone that was set in the ground".

Said to argue that one cannot judge who is better without actually comparing or competing.

English: the proof of the pudding is in the eating

길고 짧은 건 대 봐야 안다고, 경기는 끝까지 봐야 알아요.The proof of the pudding is in the eating — you can’t tell until the match is over.

Literally "which is long and which is short is known only by laying them side by side".

Said of somebody who interferes in matters that do not concern them.

English: to stick one’s oar in

남의 잔치에 감 놔라 배 놔라 한다더니, 왜 우리 집 일에 이렇게 참견하세요?Why are you sticking your oar into our family’s business like this?

Literally "at somebody else’s feast, telling them to put out the persimmons, put out the pears".

Said to argue that one small action shows what a person is like.

English: no single equivalent — one thing tells you everything

하나를 보면 열을 안다고, 인사하는 것만 봐도 어떤 사람인지 알 수 있어요.One thing tells you everything — just watching how someone says hello shows what kind of person they are.

Literally "see one, and you know ten".

Said to encourage a beginner who is impatient for results.

English: Rome wasn’t built in a day

"첫술에 배부르랴"라는 말도 있잖아요. 처음부터 잘하는 사람은 없어요.Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know. Nobody is good at the start.

Literally "would one be full after the first spoonful?". It uses the same old question ending -랴 as 공든 탑이 무너지랴.

Said when something much talked about turns out to be disappointing.

English: no single equivalent — it didn’t live up to the hype

소문난 잔치에 먹을 것 없다더니, 유명한 식당이라는데 맛은 평범했어요.It didn’t live up to the hype — the restaurant is famous, but the food was ordinary.

Literally "at a much-talked-about feast there is nothing to eat".

Said when something usually found everywhere is nowhere to be found the moment one needs it.

English: no single equivalent — you can never find one when you need one

개똥도 약에 쓰려면 없다더니, 평소에 많던 볼펜이 오늘은 하나도 안 보여요.You can never find one when you need one — there are usually pens everywhere, and today there isn’t a single one.

Literally "even dog droppings are nowhere when you want them for medicine". It is earthy but not rude, and very common.

Said when one has too many problems of one’s own to help others.

English: I have enough on my plate

도와주고 싶지만 지금은 제 코가 석 자예요.I’d like to help, but I have enough on my own plate right now.

Literally "my own nose is three ja long": one’s own runny nose needs wiping first. A 자 is an old measure of length. In polite speech 내 becomes 제.

Said of jealousy at the good fortune of somebody close.

English: no single equivalent — to be green with envy at a friend’s luck

사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다더니, 친구가 승진했다는 소식에 괜히 기분이 이상했어요.You know how it is with envy — I felt strange for no reason when I heard my friend had been promoted.

Literally "when your cousin buys land, your stomach aches". The aching stomach on its own is in the word list as an idiom for envy.

Said to remind somebody that kindness has to be given before it is returned.

English: no single equivalent — you get back the warmth you give

가는 정이 있어야 오는 정이 있다고, 먼저 이웃에게 인사해 보세요.You get back what you give — try greeting your neighbours first.

정 is the warm attachment that grows between people, a word with no English equivalent. The proverb is built like 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다.

Said by parents to say that they love all their children equally.

English: no single equivalent — a parent loves every child the same

열 손가락 깨물어 안 아픈 손가락 없다고, 부모님께는 자식이 다 소중해요.To parents, every child is precious — like fingers, each one hurts when bitten.

Literally "bite any of your ten fingers and there is none that does not hurt".

Said as a warning against trying to keep up with people who have more money or ability.

English: no single equivalent — don’t try to keep up with the Joneses

뱁새가 황새 따라가다 가랑이 찢어진다고, 친구처럼 비싼 차를 샀다가 빚만 늘었어요.Trying to keep up with others only hurts you — I bought an expensive car like my friend’s, and all I got was debt.

Literally "the crow-tit that tries to keep up with the stork splits its legs": a tiny bird matching the strides of a long-legged one.

Said to argue that nothing is achieved without taking a risk or going where the thing is.

English: nothing ventured, nothing gained

호랑이 굴에 가야 호랑이 새끼를 잡는다고, 한국어를 배우려면 한국 친구를 사귀어 보세요.Nothing ventured, nothing gained — if you want to learn Korean, try making Korean friends.

Literally "only by going into the tiger’s den can one catch the tiger’s cub".

Said when a place or a person has changed a great deal over the years.

English: times change; a lot of water has flowed under the bridge

십 년이면 강산도 변한다더니, 고향 동네가 완전히 바뀌었어요.Times change — my home neighbourhood is completely different now.

Literally "in ten years even rivers and mountains change". 강산, rivers and mountains, also means the land, the country.

Said of parents with many children, who always have something to worry about.

English: no single equivalent — a big family is never short of worries

가지 많은 나무에 바람 잘 날 없다고, 자식이 많으니 걱정이 끊이지 않으세요.A big family is never short of worries — with so many children, she is always worrying about one of them.

Literally "a tree with many branches never has a day without wind".

Said of small efforts that, repeated over time, achieve great things.

English: constant dripping wears away the stone

낙숫물이 댓돌을 뚫는다고, 매일 조금씩 연습하면 실력이 늘어요.Constant dripping wears away the stone — practise a little every day, and you will improve.

Literally "the water dripping from the eaves bores through the stone step". The English saying uses the same picture.

Said when advice or explanation is wasted on somebody who will not listen or understand.

English: like talking to a brick wall

아무리 말해도 안 들으니 쇠귀에 경 읽기예요.However much I tell him, he doesn’t listen. It’s like talking to a brick wall.

Literally "reading the scriptures into an ox’s ear". 쇠 is an old contraction of 소의, "the ox’s", and many speakers today say 소 귀에 경 읽기.

Said of somebody who criticises others for a fault they have themselves, usually worse.

English: the pot calling the kettle black

지각을 제일 많이 하는 사람이 저한테 늦었다고 하다니, 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라는 격이에요.The person who’s late more than anyone telling me off for being late — that’s the pot calling the kettle black.

Literally "the dog with dung on it scolds the dog with chaff on it". It is earthy, and said among people who know each other.