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Korean Idioms, Proverbs & Four-Character Sayings

+200 XP

~35 min

Speak like a native by mastering the most common Korean proverbs (속담), four-character idioms (사자성어), and idiomatic expressions (관용구). Learn what each one literally means, when to use it, and the cultural story behind it.

คำศัพท์ (14)

속담

sokdam

proverb; folk saying

한국 속담에는 조상들의 지혜가 담겨 있어요. — Korean proverbs contain the wisdom of our ancestors.

★★★☆☆

발이 넓다

bari neolda

to be well-connected (lit. 'feet are wide')

그 선배는 발이 넓어서 모르는 사람이 없어요. — That senior is so well-connected that there's no one he doesn't know.

★★★☆☆

눈치가 빠르다

nunchiga ppareuda

to be quick to read the situation; socially perceptive

눈치가 빨라서 분위기를 금방 파악해요. — Being quick-witted, she grasps the mood right away.

★★★☆☆

바가지를 쓰다

bagajireul sseuda

to get ripped off; to be overcharged

관광지에서 바가지를 써서 기분이 나빴어요. — I got ripped off at the tourist spot and felt bad about it.

★★★☆☆

그림의 떡

geurimui tteok

pie in the sky; something desirable but unattainable (lit. 'rice cake in a painting')

그 집은 너무 비싸서 나한테는 그림의 떡이에요. — That house is so expensive it's just pie in the sky for me.

★★★☆☆

고생 끝에 낙이 온다

gosaeng kkeute nagi onda

Joy comes after hardship; no pain, no gain

고생 끝에 낙이 온다니까 조금만 더 참아 보자. — Since joy comes after hardship, let's endure just a bit more.

★★★☆☆

우물 안 개구리

umul an gaeguri

a frog in a well; someone with a narrow worldview

해외에 나가 보니 내가 우물 안 개구리였더라고요. — After going abroad, I realized I'd been a frog in a well.

★★★☆☆

사자성어

sajaseongeo

four-character idiom (Sino-Korean)

면접에서 사자성어를 적절히 쓰면 인상이 좋아요. — Using four-character idioms appropriately in an interview makes a good impression.

★★★★☆

관용구

gwanyonggu

idiomatic expression; idiom

'발이 넓다'는 인맥이 많다는 뜻의 관용구예요. — 'To have wide feet' is an idiom meaning to have many connections.

★★★★☆

발 없는 말이 천 리 간다

bal eomneun mari cheolli ganda

Rumors spread fast (lit. 'words without feet travel a thousand li')

발 없는 말이 천 리 간다더니, 소문이 벌써 퍼졌어요. — As they say 'words travel a thousand li,' the rumor has already spread.

★★★★☆

유유상종

yuyusangjong

Birds of a feather flock together (four-character idiom)

유유상종이라더니 둘이 성격이 똑같네요. — Like the saying 'birds of a feather,' those two have the same personality.

★★★★☆

일석이조

ilseogijo

killing two birds with one stone (four-character idiom)

운동하면서 살도 빠지니 일석이조네요. — I lose weight while exercising, so it's killing two birds with one stone.

★★★★☆

유비무환

yubimuhwan

Preparedness prevents trouble (four-character idiom)

유비무환이라고, 미리 준비해 두면 안심이에요. — As 'preparedness prevents trouble' goes, getting ready in advance is reassuring.

★★★★☆

금상첨화

geumsangcheomhwa

icing on the cake; the cherry on top (lit. 'flowers added to brocade')

맛도 좋은데 가격까지 싸니 금상첨화예요. — It tastes great and it's cheap too, so it's the icing on the cake.

★★★★★

Grammar Patterns

관용구: 신체 부위 + 형용사/동사 Body-part idioms (발이 넓다, 손이 크다, 입이 무겁다)

Many Korean idioms (관용구) combine a body part with a verb or adjective, and the meaning is figurative, not literal. '발이 넓다' (feet are wide) = well-connected; '손이 크다' (hands are big) = generous/serves big portions; '입이 무겁다' (mouth is heavy) = good at keeping secrets; '귀가 얇다' (ears are thin) = easily persuaded. Learn them as fixed chunks — never translate word-for-word.

그 사람은 발이 넓어서 어디서든 아는 사람을 만나요. — He's so well-connected that he meets someone he knows everywhere.

geu sarameun bari neoreoseo eodiseodeun aneun sarameul mannayo.

우리 엄마는 손이 커서 항상 음식을 많이 해요. — My mom is generous, so she always makes a lot of food.

uri eommaneun soni keoseo hangsang eumsigeul mani haeyo.

비밀은 그에게 말해도 돼. 입이 무거우니까. — You can tell him the secret — he's good at keeping his mouth shut.

bimireun geuege malhaedo dwae. ibi mugeounikka.

속담 인용: ~다고/~라고 하더니, ~다더니 Quoting a proverb: '~다더니' / '~라고 하더니' (as the saying goes...)

To cite a proverb when reality matches it, Koreans attach '~다더니' or '~(이)라고 하더니' to the saying, meaning 'just as the proverb said... (and now I see it's true).' Pattern: [proverb] + 다더니 + [the matching situation]. It adds a knowing, idiomatic tone and is extremely common in real speech.

고생 끝에 낙이 온다더니 드디어 합격했어요. — Just as they say joy comes after hardship, I finally passed.

gosaeng kkeute nagi ondadeoni deudieo hapgyeokaesseoyo.

발 없는 말이 천 리 간다더니 벌써 다 알더라고요. — As the saying 'rumors travel fast' goes, everyone already knew.

bal eomneun mari cheolli gandadeoni beolsseo da aldeoragoyo.

유유상종이라더니 친구들이 다 비슷하네요. — Like 'birds of a feather,' all the friends are alike.

yuyusangjongiradeoni chingudeuri da biseutaneyo.

사자성어 + (이)다 / (으)로 서술 Using 사자성어 as predicates and adverbs (~예요 / ~(으)로)

Four-character idioms (사자성어) are Sino-Korean nouns, so they slot into sentences like any noun. As a predicate use '~(이)예요/이에요' (이게 일석이조예요 = this is killing two birds with one stone). As a comment use '~(이)네요'. To describe how something happens, some take '~(으)로' or appear with 하다. They make speech sound educated and concise — common in essays, interviews, and toasts.

운동도 하고 친구도 만나니 일석이조예요. — I exercise and meet friends, so it's two birds with one stone.

undongdo hago chingudo mannani ilseogijoyeyo.

디자인도 좋은데 기능까지 좋으니 금상첨화네요. — The design is good and the features too, so it's the icing on the cake.

dijaindo joeunde gineungkkaji joeuni geumsangcheomhwaneyo.

유비무환의 자세로 항상 미리 준비합니다. — With a 'preparedness prevents trouble' attitude, I always prepare in advance.

yubimuhwanui jasero hangsang miri junbihamnida.

แบบทดสอบ (6 questions)

Question 1 of 6

What does the idiom '발이 넓다' (literally 'feet are wide') actually mean?

'발이 넓다'는 관용구의 실제 뜻은 무엇일까요?

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