Questions tagged [idiom]
An idiom is a phrase established by usage as having a meaning not necessarily clear from the individual words.
27
questions
0
votes
1
answer
50
views
I am happy that I am finally going to Seoraksan
The following two sentences sound like can be translated in the same way:
저는 설악산에 가 버리다고 행복해요
저는 설악산에 가 버려서 행복해요
Which to me means
I am happy that I am finally going to Seoraksan.
I wonder however ...
- 301
0
votes
1
answer
62
views
Thank you for the food
I had lunch yesterday in a restaurant and I wanted to say "thank you for the food" (after the meal while paying).
What came out of my mouth was
음식이라서 감사합이다
The owner seems to have and ...
- 301
1
vote
1
answer
236
views
How is the word '등' used in this sentence?
등's definition is: a bound noun used to indicate that there are other things of the same kind as the thing that was just mentioned.
우크라이나 수도 키우프 제2 도시 하리코프에 집중 포격을 가하는 등 공격의 고삐를 늦추지 않았습니다.
I can't ...
- 39
0
votes
2
answers
332
views
What does 방구 in 말이야 방구야 mean?
The phrase means something like "Wait, what?" but all the definitions for 방구 seem wrong.
Any help appreciated, thanks.
- 105
1
vote
2
answers
217
views
Don't Spicy Finger Me!
I slapped a Korean friend on the back, and he said, "때리지 마" and something about spicy.
I thought i heard him say 손 or maybe it was 손가락...and the verb 매워.
I asked him about it, and he laughed ...
- 3,285
1
vote
2
answers
311
views
Meaning of 거짓말처럼 in this sentence
In this sentence...i see no reason for lying or lies (untruths):
그런데 마치 엘리야의 기도를 들으셔서 3년 넘은 가뭄을 끝내는 단비가 내렸던 것처럼 기도회 도중에 거짓말처럼 천둥번개와 함께 폭우가 쏟아졌습니다
Is "거짓말처럼" an idiomatic phrase? It seems ...
- 3,285
1
vote
1
answer
116
views
Is it a metaphor? 장마철의 보충수업 기간
I'm trying to read 보건교사 안은영 by 정세랑. Aaaand I got stuck on the first sentence.
장마철의 보충수업 기간, 학교에 들어서는 순간 신발장 냄새가 진했다.
So the papago translation is:
During the rainy season, the smell of shoe rack ...
- 35
1
vote
1
answer
278
views
Meaning of '계산이 떨어진다'
I'd like to know the meaning of 계산이 떨어지다 in '여기에 왜 터를 잡으셨는지 계산이 떨어지는데'. To me, it looks like 'the calculation/reasoning has dropped' which I'm interpreting to mean something similar to 'the penny has ...
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
Meaning/usage of 찰떡같이?
I was watching a drama today and heard the idiom '찰떡같이 말했는데 개떡같이 알아듣는다' being used. What is the meaning of this idiom and when can it be used? Also, what is the general meaning of 찰떡같이? Thanks :)
...
1
vote
1
answer
216
views
봉인해제 meaning/usage
Today, I heard somebody talking about their diet and body transformation. After describing how they've dieted, they proceeded to say '이제 봉인해제'. Literally, I translate this as 'now the seal is the ...
1
vote
2
answers
387
views
What does 시원치 않다 mean?
In the following sentence:
그런데 그렇게 주인공으로 세워 놓고도 팬들의 대접은 시원치 않은 경우가 많다. 각자 자기의 노래를 찾느라 부산하기 때문이다. 여기서는 오로지 노래 실력만이 중요하다.
(Source: 대학 강의 수강을 위한 한국어 읽기 중급2 P.66)
There is no entry in any of my ...
- 2,291
0
votes
2
answers
514
views
Meaning of 걸래는 빨아도 걸래다
Does 걸래는 빨아도 걸래다 have two meanings? Since 빨다 can be used both for "wash" and for "suck", does this also mean something about soaking up water as well as the more obvious meaning to wash in water?
- 3,285
1
vote
2
answers
224
views
How well-known is the term 리즈 시절 ("Leeds season")?
This BBC article defines the Korean understanding of this as:
You refer to someone’s ‘Leeds season’ as the point in their life where things peaked, before going downhill.
I can find other ...
- 13.5k
1
vote
2
answers
832
views
Is there a korean proverb/idiom "호박씨(를) 까다"
I just read a book and see that line about "peel the pumpkin seed" that doesn't fit the context.
I also tried to look it up on naver dict and it seems to means something like "a two faced that ...
- 137
3
votes
1
answer
958
views
What does 도토리 키재기긴 한데 mean?
I've tried to translate this sentence '재보나 마나 도토리들 키재기긴 한데'.
I looked up this phrase '도토리 키재기긴 한데' on Naver to find out it's used pretty often in many different situations.
But I don't understand what ...
- 99
4
votes
2
answers
790
views
"To give someone space"
I was looking for an equal word to say "to give someone space" in Korean but I couldn't find it. Even in Naver. I did find one, it's : 공간을 주다 but I'm not sure if it's the one I'm looking for.
How do ...
- 298
1
vote
1
answer
619
views
Which one is correct: ‘갈 데까지 가다’ or ‘갈 때까지 가다’?
PSY's <강남 스타일 (Gangnam style)>. It's kind of famous, you know. This is what its lyrics say:
지금부터 갈 데까지 가 볼까?
Shall we go all the way through from now on?
But is it really 데 here? Isn't it ...
- 2,805
3
votes
2
answers
702
views
What does "making bread and selling the crumbs" mean?
I only have the English translation of this from a Korean client whose English is not very good. He is not happy with a service provider and used this phrase, is it a Korean idiom or expression?
- 131
3
votes
1
answer
137
views
"Save the day" (like Superman)
Is anyone familiar with the English expression "save the day"? For example, if some situation looks hopeless, you might say some hero like Superman comes and saves the day. Also might be used in ...
- 1,227
3
votes
1
answer
579
views
What is the origin of 바가지를 쓰다?
Where did the idiomatic phrase 바가지(를) 쓰다 (to pay through the nose; to pay for a ripoff) come from? 바가지 itself is orginally a gourd or plastic bowl, but what is the connection between a bowl and a ...
- 2,009
6
votes
5
answers
8k
views
What's the nuance of meaning of 마음을 먹다 (literally, 'to eat one's mind'), and how does the metaphor work?
I've heard '마음을 먹다' translated as to 'make up one's mind' or to 'have a mind' (to do something).
Is it neutral in feeling, or does it imply hiding or deadening one's emotions in preparation for doing ...
- 13.5k
9
votes
2
answers
14k
views
Why is 'long time no see' expressed as 오랜만이에요?
This is something that has been puzzling me for a while: 'long time no see' is often expressed by 오랜만이에요.
오랜 means 'a long time' and 이에요 is the present tense form of the verb 이다. So far so good. But ...
- 2,170
6
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How to say "Why not?" in Korean?
"Why not?" is a colloquial stand-alone answer in English. It can expresses
An answer to a "why" question, explaining that there is no specific reason. For example,
A: Why are you so nice with me ...
- 2,170
4
votes
2
answers
155
views
Are there many (or any) sports idioms in Korean?
Modern English is rich in idioms with their origins in sport - this Wikipedia page gives some examples. Many of these are so ingrained in modern English usage that some people may not be aware of ...
- 13.5k
4
votes
1
answer
597
views
할 말을 잃다 vs 할 말을 잊다
"할 말을 잃다." literally translates to
(Subject) loses (잃다) words (말) to say (말하다).
"할 말을 잊다." is literally
(Subject) forgets (잊다) words (말) to say (말하다).
Both sentences sound ...
user7
6
votes
2
answers
350
views
It takes two to tango
Last night as I was talking about idioms in Korean, a question came up about the English expression "It takes two to tango." Is there a Korean equivalent to this idiom?
If it does exist, how common ...
- 3,934
7
votes
1
answer
333
views
Where does "약방의 감초" originate and what does it mean exactly?
I heard quite often Korean people say "약방의 감초" which literally translates to "licorice (root) of drugstore (pharmacy)" to refer to a person or thing that is indispensable.
Where does this proverb ...
user7