WORDROW Korean Idioms
한국어

Idioms under “ㄱ” — 699 idioms

Browse idioms by the initial consonant of the first Korean syllable, in Hangul order. On this site, ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, and ㅉ are grouped under ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, and ㅈ, respectively.

Illustration of the first meaning of “개살구 먹은 뒷맛”: A bitter, astringent aftertaste Leave a bitter aftertaste A bitter, astringent aftertaste Illustration of the first meaning of “개소리를 치다”: Blurt out utterly unreasonable things Talk bullshit Blurt out utterly unreasonable things Illustration of the first meaning of “개암을 도르다”: Of a hawk, digest the meat of its prey and regurgitate only the indigestible pellet. Regurgitate a pellet Of a hawk, digest the meat of its prey and regurgitate only the indigestible pellet. Illustration of the first meaning of “개암을 지르다”: To put a wad of cotton in a hawk’s feed. put cotton in a hawk’s feed To put a wad of cotton in a hawk’s feed. Illustration of the first meaning of “개자리가 지다”: When transplanting rice, have one area planted less densely, creating unevenness. Have a patch of sparse seedlings When transplanting rice, have one area planted less densely, creating unevenness. Illustration of the first meaning of “개탕을 치다”: Cut grooves in frames for papered sliding doors, removable plank doors, or the like. Cut a groove Cut grooves in frames for papered sliding doors, removable plank doors, or the like. Illustration of the first meaning of “개평을 떼다”: To receive and take a share of another person’s winnings. take a share of someone’s winnings To receive and take a share of another person’s winnings. Illustration of the first meaning of “개평을 뜯다”: Obtain a share of gambling winnings by pestering and coercion Cadge a share of winnings Obtain a share of gambling winnings by pestering and coercion Illustration of the first meaning of “개화물을 먹다”: Follow or be influenced by the trend of enlightenment and modernization thought Be influenced by modernization Follow or be influenced by the trend of enlightenment and modernization thought Illustration of the first meaning of “개화물이 들다”: Come to approve of and follow the trend of enlightenment and modernization. Embrace modernization Come to approve of and follow the trend of enlightenment and modernization. Illustration of the first meaning of “갱을 달다”: Excavate a mine tunnel along a vein of ore. 2 meanings Drive a mine tunnel; dig a placer ditch Excavate a mine tunnel along a vein of ore. Illustration of the first meaning of “거간을 서다”: Serve as a broker and arrange a bargain. Act as a broker Serve as a broker and arrange a bargain. Illustration of the first meaning of “거꾸로 박히다”: Fall with one’s head downward Fall headfirst Fall with one’s head downward Illustration of the first meaning of “거듭 태어나다”: Acquire an entirely new character or appearance Be reborn Acquire an entirely new character or appearance Illustration of the first meaning of “거름발 나다”: For the effects of fertilizer to become apparent. show the effects of fertilizer For the effects of fertilizer to become apparent. Illustration of the first meaning of “거리가 멀다”: Fail to meet what is expected or used for comparison. Fall far short Fail to meet what is expected or used for comparison. Illustration of the first meaning of “거리가 생기다”: For a relationship to become awkward or distant. grow apart For a relationship to become awkward or distant. Illustration of the first meaning of “거리에 나앉다”: To have nowhere to go because the family has been ruined and its home has become someone else’s property. end up homeless To have nowhere to go because the family has been ruined and its home has become someone else’s property. Illustration of the first meaning of “거미 새끼 풍기듯”: Figuratively, many people or objects scatter simultaneously, like newly hatched spiders dispersing. Shared · 2 Scatter all at once Figuratively, many people or objects scatter simultaneously, like newly hatched spiders dispersing. Illustration of the first meaning of “거미 새끼 흩어지듯”: A figurative expression for many people or objects dispersing at once, like newly hatched baby spiders scattering. Shared · 2 scatter all at once A figurative expression for many people or objects dispersing at once, like newly hatched baby spiders scattering. Illustration of the first meaning of “거미 알 까듯”: For animals or plants to propagate their kind wherever they go, as a spider lays many eggs in various places 3 meanings Spread or cluster like spider eggs For animals or plants to propagate their kind wherever they go, as a spider lays many eggs in various places Illustration of the first meaning of “거미줄을 누르다”: When installing heated flooring, plaster clay into the gaps between the stone slabs. Seal gaps between ondol slabs When installing heated flooring, plaster clay into the gaps between the stone slabs. Illustration of the first meaning of “거미줄을 늘이다”: To spread an investigative network widely in many directions to catch a suspect or offender. spread a wide investigative net To spread an investigative network widely in many directions to catch a suspect or offender. Illustration of the first meaning of “거북을 타다”: Move far more slowly than others while working Work at a snail’s pace Move far more slowly than others while working Illustration of the first meaning of “거상을 치다”: To perform music for welcoming distinguished guests. play ceremonial guest music To perform music for welcoming distinguished guests. Illustration of the first meaning of “거지 밥주머니”: A collection of shabby things thrown together indiscriminately. A jumble of odds and ends A collection of shabby things thrown together indiscriminately. Illustration of the first meaning of “거지 술안주 같다”: An expression for insignificant, worthless food. paltry food An expression for insignificant, worthless food. Illustration of the first meaning of “거짓말을 보태다”: To exaggerate beyond what actually happened. embellish the truth To exaggerate beyond what actually happened. Illustration of the first meaning of “거칠 것이 없다”: Have affairs proceed smoothly without obstruction 2 meanings Meet no obstacles Have affairs proceed smoothly without obstruction Illustration of the first meaning of “거품을 물다”: To speak in a state of extreme emotional agitation. foam at the mouth To speak in a state of extreme emotional agitation. Illustration of the first meaning of “거품을 치다”: Remove foam by exposing it to cold air or the like Disperse foam Remove foam by exposing it to cold air or the like Illustration of the first meaning of “거품을 품다”: To become excited through extreme emotional agitation. become furiously worked up To become excited through extreme emotional agitation. Illustration of the first meaning of “거품이 잦듯”: Describes something once flourishing disappearing or dwindling helplessly. Fade away helplessly Describes something once flourishing disappearing or dwindling helplessly. Illustration of the first meaning of “걱정을 잡아매다”: Refrain from worrying or stop worrying. Stop worrying Refrain from worrying or stop worrying. Illustration of the first meaning of “걱정이 태산이다”: To have worries as vast as Mount Tai because there are too many or too complicated matters to resolve. have a mountain of worries To have worries as vast as Mount Tai because there are too many or too complicated matters to resolve. Illustration of the first meaning of “건넛마을 불구경하듯”: The manner of standing by indifferently because one considers an affair unrelated to oneself Shared · 3 Look on with indifference The manner of standing by indifferently because one considers an affair unrelated to oneself Illustration of the first meaning of “건목을 치다”: Decide by making an approximate estimate Make a rough estimate Decide by making an approximate estimate Illustration of the first meaning of “건몸을 달다”: Struggle and fret needlessly by oneself. Fret uselessly alone Struggle and fret needlessly by oneself. Illustration of the first meaning of “건시나 감이나”: An expression meaning that the items are much alike, with no significant difference in the end. much of a muchness An expression meaning that the items are much alike, with no significant difference in the end. Illustration of the first meaning of “건즐을 받들다”: A humble expression used by a woman for becoming a wife or concubine. Become a wife or concubine A humble expression used by a woman for becoming a wife or concubine. Illustration of the first meaning of “걸귀가 들린 듯이”: Figuratively, the manner of craving food excessively Eat as though possessed Figuratively, the manner of craving food excessively Illustration of the first meaning of “걸립을 놀다”: Perform a shamanic ritual segment honoring the minor geollip deity 2 meanings Perform a geollip rite or fundraiser Perform a shamanic ritual segment honoring the minor geollip deity Illustration of the first meaning of “걸음마를 떼다”: Begin a task or business for the first time. Shared · 2 Take the first steps Begin a task or business for the first time. Illustration of the first meaning of “걸음마를 타다”: For a young child to begin learning to walk. 2 meanings Shared · 3 take one’s first steps For a young child to begin learning to walk. Illustration of the first meaning of “걸음발을 타다”: Of a young child, learn walking for the first time. 2 meanings Shared · 3 Learn to walk Of a young child, learn walking for the first time. Illustration of the first meaning of “걸음아 날 살려라”: An expression for fleeing urgently with all one’s strength. Shared · 4 run for one’s life An expression for fleeing urgently with all one’s strength. Illustration of the first meaning of “걸음을 떼다”: Begin walking 2 meanings Take the first steps Begin walking Illustration of the first meaning of “걸음을 재촉하다”: Hurry along while traveling. 2 meanings Shared · 3 Hurry one's steps; urge someone onward Hurry along while traveling. Illustration of the first meaning of “걸음을 하다”: An honorific expression for an elder or person of high standing making a visit. honor someone with a visit An honorific expression for an elder or person of high standing making a visit. Illustration of the first meaning of “검은 구름”: Figuratively, a bleak or dangerous situation caused by exploitation, oppression, war, or the like Dark clouds Figuratively, a bleak or dangerous situation caused by exploitation, oppression, war, or the like Illustration of the first meaning of “검은 마수를 뻗치다”: Approach someone with sinister, vicious intentions to deceive, exploit, or harm them. Extend a sinister influence Approach someone with sinister, vicious intentions to deceive, exploit, or harm them. Illustration of the first meaning of “검은 뱃속을 채우다”: To satisfy one’s own greed with sordid intentions. satisfy one’s selfish greed To satisfy one’s own greed with sordid intentions. Illustration of the first meaning of “검정개 한 마리 얼씬하지 않다”: An expression for silence with nothing passing through, meaning that not even a moving animal, much less a person, can be found. Shared · 3 be utterly deserted An expression for silence with nothing passing through, meaning that not even a moving animal, much less a person, can be found. Illustration of the first meaning of “겁에 질리다”: Be so frightened that one cannot summon strength. Be paralyzed by fear Be so frightened that one cannot summon strength. Illustration of the first meaning of “겉물이 돌다”: Have watery liquid float and move on the surface of a liquid Have surface water collect Have watery liquid float and move on the surface of a liquid Illustration of the first meaning of “겉으로 빙빙 돌다”: Cling only to outward phenomena without investigating the core of something. Circle around the surface Cling only to outward phenomena without investigating the core of something. Illustration of the first meaning of “게 눈 감추듯”: Figuratively, devour food hurriedly and quickly. Gobble food down Figuratively, devour food hurriedly and quickly. Illustration of the first meaning of “게걸을 떼다”: Eat to one’s heart’s content until one no longer wants more Eat one’s fill Eat to one’s heart’s content until one no longer wants more Illustration of the first meaning of “게걸음을 치다”: Walk sideways 2 meanings Sidestep or make little progress Walk sideways Illustration of the first meaning of “겨냥을 대다”: To judge one’s aim so that an arrow or gunshot will hit the target. take aim To judge one’s aim so that an arrow or gunshot will hit the target.