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 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Paint orchids (난을 치다) Paint orchids in East Asian painting Paint orchids (난초를 치다) Paint orchids in East Asian painting

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Get something without effort (날로 먹다) Disparagingly, accomplish a task or obtain something without making an effort. get something without effort (생으로 먹다) A disparaging expression for accomplishing a task or taking possession of something without effort.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

set a date (날을 받다) To set the date of a wedding. Set a date (날을 잡다) Set a wedding date

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

day and night (낮이고 밤이고) Always, at all times. Day and night (낮이나 밤이나) Always, continually

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Be completely unfamiliar (낯설고 물설다) Be away from home with everything very strange and awkward. Be in wholly unfamiliar surroundings (산 설고 물 설다) Be away from home, with everything very unfamiliar and awkward.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Show consideration for someone's standing (낯을 보다) Take someone's dignity or social standing into account. consider someone’s dignity (얼굴을 보다) To take someone’s standing or dignity into account.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

You do your thing, I’ll do mine (너는 너고 나는 나다) Literally, you and I have no relation; a selfish attitude of utter indifference to others and pursuing only one’s own interests every person for themselves (너면 너고 나면 나다) An expression for a selfish attitude of complete indifference to others and concern only for one’s own interests, meaning that you and I have nothing to do with each other.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Pour out words uninhibitedly (넋이야 신이야) Figuratively, freely pour out everything one wishes to say. Pour out words without restraint (신이야 넋이야) Figuratively, say everything one wants to say without restraint

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Incur someone’s anger (노여움을 사다) Anger someone and suffer the effects oneself incur someone’s wrath (노염을 사다) To anger another person and suffer the consequences.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

A heart made jumpy by a fright (놀란 가슴) A pounding heart triggered even by minor things because of a previous fright. A spirit made jumpy by a fright (놀란 혼) A pounding heart triggered even by minor things because of a previous fright.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

behave like an unruly foal (놓아기른 망아지 놀듯) A figurative expression for an uncultivated, ill-mannered person or such behavior, likening it to a foal raised loose in the fields or its manner of playing. behave like an unruly foal (놓아먹인 망아지 놀듯) A figurative expression for an uncultivated, ill-mannered person or such behavior, likening them to a foal raised loose in the fields or its manner of playing.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Hardly enough to go around (누구 입에 붙이겠는가) Said when something to be shared among many people is too little. hardly enough to go around (누구 코에 바르겠는가) An expression used when there is too little of something to distribute to many people.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Everyone without exception (누구 할 것 없이) Everyone, with no distinction as to who. Without exception (누구를 막론하고) Everyone, without distinguishing anyone

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Be unbearable to watch (눈 뜨고 볼 수 없다) Be unable to bear looking because the scene is horrific or offensively embarrassing be unbearable to watch (눈 뜨고는 못 보다) To be unable to bear a scene because it is horrific or embarrassingly offensive.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

fall out of favor (눈 밖에 나다) To lose trust and become disliked. Fall out of favor (눈에 나다) Lose trust and come to be disliked.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Die and be buried (눈깔에 흙이 들어가다) A vulgar expression for dying and being buried in the ground be dead and buried (눈에 흙이 들어가다) To die and be buried in the ground.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

fail to see the obvious (눈깔이 삐다) A coarse, reproachful expression used when someone misperceives something obvious. Misjudge something obvious (눈이 삐다) A reproachful expression used when someone misperceives the obvious

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Stare with anger or aloofness (눈살이 꼿꼿하다) Open one’s eyes straight ahead in fury or aloofness Stare with anger or aloofness (눈썹이 꼿꼿하다) Open one’s eyes straight ahead in fury or aloofness

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Be dizzyingly busy or fast (눈알이 핑핑 돌다) Figuratively, be so busy or fast that awareness cannot keep up. Be dizzyingly busy or fast (눈이 핑핑 돌아가다) Figuratively, be so busy or fast that awareness cannot keep up.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

linger before one’s mind’s eye (눈앞에 어른거리다) For memories of a person, event, or the like to come to mind. Linger before the mind’s eye (눈에 아른거리다) Have a memory of a person, event, or the like come to mind

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Beauty is in the beholder's eye (눈에 안경) Even a worthless object looks good if it pleases its owner. Beauty is in the beholder's eye (제 눈에 안경) Even a worthless object looks good if it pleases oneself.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

have a venomous glare (눈에 칼날이 서다) To flash one’s eyes viciously and glare. Glare venomously (눈에 칼을 세우다) Flash one’s eyes and glare viciously

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

Cling and plead (다랑귀를 떼다) Clutch with both hands and hang on, unwilling to let go Cling tightly; plead persistently (다랑귀를 뛰다) Grasp with both hands, hang on, and try not to let go.

Illustration shared by 2 Korean idioms

2 idioms share this illustration

have lucky timing for a meal (다리가 길다) To be fortunate enough to happen upon a meal and get to eat. Arrive just in time for food (발이 길다) Be lucky enough to happen upon a place where food is being eaten