WORDROW Korean Idioms
한국어

Idioms under “ㄴ” — 299 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 “나 몰라라 하다”: Show indifference to an affair, neither concerning oneself with it nor intervening Wash one’s hands of a matter Show indifference to an affair, neither concerning oneself with it nor intervening Illustration of the first meaning of “나 죽었소 하다”: Behave as though one were absent despite being present. Keep an extremely low profile Behave as though one were absent despite being present. Illustration of the first meaning of “나그네 노릇”: An expression for living as a wanderer, relying on others here and there. live as a wanderer An expression for living as a wanderer, relying on others here and there. Illustration of the first meaning of “나그네 세상”: An expression for the fleeting world A transient world An expression for the fleeting world Illustration of the first meaning of “나래를 펴다”: Vigorously unfold one’s thoughts, feelings, spirit, or the like Shared · 2 Spread one’s wings Vigorously unfold one’s thoughts, feelings, spirit, or the like Illustration of the first meaning of “나무람을 타다”: Feel displeased after being scolded. Feel hurt by criticism Feel displeased after being scolded. Illustration of the first meaning of “나발을 불다”: Slang: recklessly say inappropriate things. 5 meanings Shared · 2 Spout nonsense; exaggerate; drink; confess; bawl Slang: recklessly say inappropriate things. Illustration of the first meaning of “나사가 빠지다”: Be absent-minded or mentally unsettled Have a screw loose Be absent-minded or mentally unsettled Illustration of the first meaning of “나사가 풀리다”: Be slack in one's mental state. Become mentally lax Be slack in one's mental state. Illustration of the first meaning of “나사가 풀어지다”: For one’s mental state to become lax. become mentally slack For one’s mental state to become lax. Illustration of the first meaning of “나사를 죄다”: To compose a lax mind and pull oneself together. tighten up one’s discipline To compose a lax mind and pull oneself together. Illustration of the first meaning of “나이가 아깝다”: Act or speak childishly in a manner inappropriate to one’s age 2 meanings Act beneath one’s age or die too young Act or speak childishly in a manner inappropriate to one’s age Illustration of the first meaning of “나팔을 불다”: Vulgarly, speak unreasonable things recklessly 5 meanings Shared · 2 Blare out or drink straight from a bottle Vulgarly, speak unreasonable things recklessly Illustration of the first meaning of “낙동강 오리알”: Figuratively, a forlorn state of being separated from a group or isolated alone Be left forlorn and alone Figuratively, a forlorn state of being separated from a group or isolated alone Illustration of the first meaning of “낙양의 지가를 올리다”: Figuratively, for a book to sell extremely well; derived from the story that paper prices rose when people in Luoyang competed to copy Zuo Si’s Rhapsody on the Three Capitals during China’s Jin dynasty Become a runaway bestseller Figuratively, for a book to sell extremely well; derived from the story that paper prices rose when people in Luoyang competed to copy Zuo Si’s Rhapsody on the Three Capitals during China’s Jin dynasty Illustration of the first meaning of “낚시를 던지다”: To use a means of enticing someone. cast bait To use a means of enticing someone. Illustration of the first meaning of “난다 긴다 하다”: To have talent or ability superior to others. be among the best To have talent or ability superior to others. Illustration of the first meaning of “난든집이 나다”: To become accustomed to doing something with one’s hands. become practiced To become accustomed to doing something with one’s hands. Illustration of the first meaning of “난을 치다”: Paint orchids in East Asian painting Shared · 2 Paint orchids Paint orchids in East Asian painting Illustration of the first meaning of “난장을 치다”: To make loud, indiscriminate noise. make a noisy fuss To make loud, indiscriminate noise. Illustration of the first meaning of “난전을 치다”: For soldiers attached to the Six Licensed Shops to crack down on unauthorized stalls, confiscating goods and arresting people. crack down on unlicensed stalls For soldiers attached to the Six Licensed Shops to crack down on unauthorized stalls, confiscating goods and arresting people. Illustration of the first meaning of “난초를 치다”: Paint orchids in East Asian painting Shared · 2 Paint orchids Paint orchids in East Asian painting Illustration of the first meaning of “난탕을 치다”: Act wildly, disorderly, and recklessly. Run riot Act wildly, disorderly, and recklessly. Illustration of the first meaning of “낟알 구경을 하다”: Euphemistically, to eat a meal after a long time without one. finally get a meal Euphemistically, to eat a meal after a long time without one. Illustration of the first meaning of “날 것 같다”: Feel extremely light in body or mind Feel light as air Feel extremely light in body or mind Illustration of the first meaning of “날개가 돋치다”: For merchandise to meet favorable demand and sell rapidly 4 meanings Take wing For merchandise to meet favorable demand and sell rapidly Illustration of the first meaning of “날개를 펴다”: Vigorously unfold thoughts, emotions, momentum, or the like. Shared · 2 Spread one's ideas or imagination Vigorously unfold thoughts, emotions, momentum, or the like. Illustration of the first meaning of “날로 먹다”: Disparagingly, accomplish a task or obtain something without making an effort. Shared · 2 Get something without effort Disparagingly, accomplish a task or obtain something without making an effort. Illustration of the first meaning of “날밤을 새우다”: Stay awake all night needlessly and fruitlessly Stay up all night for no purpose Stay awake all night needlessly and fruitlessly Illustration of the first meaning of “날을 가리다”: Choose a lucky day for marriage, a funeral, moving, or the like. Choose an auspicious day Choose a lucky day for marriage, a funeral, moving, or the like. Illustration of the first meaning of “날을 받다”: To set the date of a wedding. 2 meanings Shared · 2 set a date To set the date of a wedding. Illustration of the first meaning of “날을 세우다”: Sharpen the cutting edge of a tool. 2 meanings Sharpen an edge; focus one's mind Sharpen the cutting edge of a tool. Illustration of the first meaning of “날을 잡다”: Set a wedding date 2 meanings Shared · 2 Set a date Set a wedding date Illustration of the first meaning of “날을 지우다”: To spend a day doing something. pass the day To spend a day doing something. Illustration of the first meaning of “날이 새다”: Have no prospect because the time for accomplishing the task has passed. Be too late to hope Have no prospect because the time for accomplishing the task has passed. Illustration of the first meaning of “날이 서다”: For a tool’s edge to become sharp. 3 meanings be sharp For a tool’s edge to become sharp. Illustration of the first meaning of “날이면 날마다”: On every day without exception Every single day On every day without exception Illustration of the first meaning of “날탕을 치다”: Do things haphazardly or roughly without concrete calculation. 2 meanings Act haphazardly; squander or smash Do things haphazardly or roughly without concrete calculation. Illustration of the first meaning of “날품을 팔다”: Work for wages paid by the day Work for daily wages Work for wages paid by the day Illustration of the first meaning of “남 좋은 일을 하다”: For the result of one’s work to benefit others alone, bringing oneself no gain. do work that benefits only others For the result of one’s work to benefit others alone, bringing oneself no gain. Illustration of the first meaning of “남대문 구멍 같다”: Figuratively, of an opening, be very large. Be a huge opening Figuratively, of an opening, be very large. Illustration of the first meaning of “남대문이 열리다”: Figuratively, have the zipper or buttons at the front of a man’s trousers unfastened and open Have one’s fly open Figuratively, have the zipper or buttons at the front of a man’s trousers unfastened and open Illustration of the first meaning of “남북이 나다”: For the front and back of the skull to protrude. have a protruding skull For the front and back of the skull to protrude. Illustration of the first meaning of “남상을 지르다”: For a woman’s face to look like a man’s. have a masculine face For a woman’s face to look like a man’s. Illustration of the first meaning of “남에 없는”: Exceptionally special or extreme, unlike others. exceptional Exceptionally special or extreme, unlike others. Illustration of the first meaning of “남의 등을 쳐 먹다”: Take others’ property through vicious, cunning deeds Exploit and rob others Take others’ property through vicious, cunning deeds Illustration of the first meaning of “남의 말을 하다”: Gossip or criticize others behind their backs. Gossip about others Gossip or criticize others behind their backs. Illustration of the first meaning of “남의 밑에 들다”: To lag behind others. fall behind others To lag behind others. Illustration of the first meaning of “남의 밑에 들어가다”: Work while subject to another person’s orders Work under someone Work while subject to another person’s orders Illustration of the first meaning of “남의 집을 살다”: Work for another household while eating and sleeping there. Work as a live-in servant Work for another household while eating and sleeping there. Illustration of the first meaning of “납작코가 되다”: Have one’s dignity, pride, or the like damaged Lose face Have one’s dignity, pride, or the like damaged Illustration of the first meaning of “낫기는 개코가 나아”: A coarse expression meaning that something is not better in the slightest. better, my ass A coarse expression meaning that something is not better in the slightest. Illustration of the first meaning of “낫살이나 건사하다”: Disparagingly, grow older. Get on in years Disparagingly, grow older. Illustration of the first meaning of “낭패를 보다”: Suffer a frustrating or embarrassing setback. Suffer a setback Suffer a frustrating or embarrassing setback. Illustration of the first meaning of “낮과 밤을 잊다”: Lose awareness of time passing while doing something Lose track of day and night Lose awareness of time passing while doing something Illustration of the first meaning of “낮과 밤이 따로 없다”: Continue a task without resting. Work day and night Continue a task without resting. Illustration of the first meaning of “낮이고 밤이고”: Always, at all times. Shared · 2 day and night Always, at all times. Illustration of the first meaning of “낮이나 밤이나”: Always, continually Shared · 2 Day and night Always, continually Illustration of the first meaning of “낮잠 자다”: Remain carefree without doing what one should 2 meanings Idle away or lie unused Remain carefree without doing what one should Illustration of the first meaning of “낯가죽이 두껍다”: Feel no shame and lack a sense of propriety. Shared · 5 Be brazen Feel no shame and lack a sense of propriety.