WORDROW Korean Idioms

Shared illustrations

298 idiom groups

These idioms share illustrations because one scene can help explain their meanings. Sharing an illustration does not mean the idioms have the same meaning. Compare their definitions and examples.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

Be unable to bring oneself to depart (발걸음이 떨어지지 않다) Be unable to leave readily because attachment, regret, concern, or worry keeps one uneasy Be unable to bring oneself to leave (발길이 떨어지지 않다) Be unable to leave readily because attachment, regret, concern, or worry keeps one uneasy be unable to bring oneself to leave (발이 떨어지지 않다) To be unable to leave readily because attachment, lingering feelings, anxiety, or worry prevents peace of mind.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

be reluctant to go (발길이 내키지 않다) To be unable to act readily because one feels reluctant or awkward. be reluctant to visit (발길이 무겁다) To be unable to act readily because one feels reluctant or awkward. Be reluctant to go (발이 내키지 않다) Be unwilling or awkward and therefore unable to act readily

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

Show immaturity (비린내가 나다) Show an attitude or air of mental or physical immaturity. Show immaturity (젖내가 나다) Show an attitude or air of mental or physical immaturity. show immaturity (젖비린내가 나다) To display an attitude or appearance of mental or physical immaturity.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

relax without worries (사지를 펴다) To feel at ease without anxiety or worry. relax (오금을 펴다) To live at ease with peace of mind. Live an easy life (팔자가 늘어지다) Have no worries or concerns and live comfortably

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

have one’s hair turn white (서리가 내리다) For the hair to turn white. Turn white-haired (서리를 이다) Have one's hair turn white. have white hair (서릿발을 이다) For the hair to turn white.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

Make the first move (선손을 쓰다) Begin before someone else. Act first (선수를 쓰다) Begin before others Strike first (선수를 치다) Begin before someone else.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

not lift a finger (손가락 하나 까딱 않다) A reproachful expression for brazenly idling without doing any work. Not lift a finger (손끝 하나 까딱 안 하다) Critically express that someone brazenly idles without doing anything. Not lift a finger (손톱 하나 까딱하지 않다) Critically express that someone brazenly idles without doing anything.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

Have a stinging hand; be capable; have an unlucky touch (손끝이 맵다) Cause great pain even with a light blow. have a stinging hand or work deftly (손때가 맵다) To cause great pain even with a light strike of the hand. have a stinging or deft hand (손이 맵다) To cause great pain even with a light hand strike.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

be meticulous and deft (손끝이 야무지다) To work thoroughly and very carefully. Be deft and meticulous (손끝이 여물다) Work without gaps and with great care Be thorough and meticulous (손이 여물다) Work with no gaps and great care.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

Work quickly; sell readily (손이 빠르다) Handle work quickly. Work quickly (손이 싸다) Handle work quickly Work quickly (손이 재다) Handle work quickly.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

Calculate one's interests (수판을 놓다) Calculate gains and losses in a matter. calculate the advantages (주판알을 튀기다) To calculate the gains and losses involved in a matter. Calculate gains and losses (주판을 놓다) Calculate the benefits and costs of an affair

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

have substance (씨가 먹다) For words or actions to be coherent and substantial. Have some damned sense (씨알머리가 박히다) A vulgar expression for words or actions making sense and having substance. Have sense and substance (씨알이 먹다) Of words or actions, be coherent and substantial.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

What do I care? (알 게 뭐야) Express that one does not care what happens. why should I care? (알 게 뭐예요) A more polite form of an expression meaning that one does not care what happens. What concern is it of mine? (알 게 뭡니까) A highly respectful form, toward the listener, of saying that one does not care how something turns out

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

serve time in prison (콩밥 맛을 보다) Colloquially, to live in prison. End up in prison (콩밥 신세를 지다) Vulgarly, be imprisoned Serve time in prison (콩밥을 먹다) Vulgarly, be imprisoned

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

Roll up one's sleeves (팔소매를 걷다) Get ready to jump into a task and work actively. roll up one’s sleeves (팔소매를 걷어붙이다) To prepare to plunge into a task and work actively. Roll up one’s sleeves (팔을 걷어붙이다) Prepare to plunge into something and work actively

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

double over laughing (허리가 끊어지다) To laugh uncontrollably, as if about to topple over. Double over laughing (허리를 잡다) Laugh uncontrollably as though about to fall over. hold one’s sides laughing (허리를 쥐고 웃다) To laugh uncontrollably, as if about to topple over.

Illustration shared by 3 Korean idioms

3 idioms share this illustration

Click one's tongue (혀끝을 차다) Show displeasure or regret. Click one's tongue (혀를 갈기다) A vulgar expression for showing displeasure or regret by clicking one's tongue. click one’s tongue (혀를 차다) To express displeasure or regret.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Take aim; assess; check a scale (가늠을 보다) Aim at a target. take aim or assess (가늠을 잡다) To aim at a target.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

settle on a course (가닥을 잡다) To put an atmosphere, situation, thought, or the like in order according to reason or logic. Take a coherent direction (가닥이 잡히다) For an atmosphere, situation, thought, or the like to become ordered according to reason or logic

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Be unable to move (가도 오도 못하다) Become unable to leave a place or move. be stranded (오도 가도 못하다) To become unable to change one’s location or move from a place.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

be desperately poor or overstretched (가랑이가 찢어지다) A figurative expression for living in extreme poverty. Live in grinding poverty (똥구멍이 찢어지다) Figuratively, live in extreme poverty

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Drop the mask (가면을 벗다) Abandon a falsely assumed appearance and reveal one’s true identity Reveal one's true self (탈을 벗다) Abandon a falsely contrived appearance and reveal one's original self.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

strike one’s heart (가슴을 치다) To receive a great emotional shock. Receive a severe emotional shock (흉벽을 치다) Receive a great emotional shock.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Toy with someone (가지고 놀다) Slang: mock or belittle a person. toy with someone (갖고 놀다) Colloquially, to mock or demean a person.