We learned Korean idioms that were used frequently in last two-week classes. At first, I was really confused about the real meaning of those idioms because they were not straightforward. What’s more, idioms always use things that people can see in their daily life to illustrate some important things. In light of this, I think learning Korean idioms is important so that I can get to know more about Korean culture and use Korean idioms in day to day conversations. To be honest, Chinese idioms helped me understand Korean idioms a lot during the classes. Some Chinese idioms have same meanings as Korean idioms that cannot be easily explained by English. I believe that I can really use them in my daily life after understanding them comprehensively. Here are some of the examples of the idioms we have studied in class:
그림의 떡. Literal translation: Pie in the painting. Meaning: referring to untouchable things or something one can only see and not have.
갈수록 태산. Literal translation: As you go there are higher and bigger mountains. Meaning: things are going to get worse and worse, and there will be harder and more difficult barriers to overcome.
미운 놈 떡 하나 더 준다. Literal translation: give one more rice cake to your enemy. Meaning: the more you hate someone the better you should treat them. Aka kill your enemy with kindness.
병 주고 약 준다. Literal translation: to give illness and then medicine. Meaning: first you give someone a punishment then you give them a reward.
누워서 떡 먹기. Literal translation: Like eating cake lying down. Meaning: It is so easy that you can do it while lying down.
작은 고추가 더 맵다. Literal translation: the smaller the pepper, the spicier it is. Meaning: people that look ordinary are better at work/ or have more skills.
지나가던 개가 웃겠다. Literal translation: a passing dog will laugh. Meaning: the joke is so bad, or the situation is so absurd that the dog passing by will laugh.
혼자서 북 치고 장구 친다 / 혼자서 모두 일을 알아서 한다. Meaning: doing everything by yourself.
믿는 도끼에 발등 찍힌다. Literal translation: Be chopped in the foot by the ax you trust. Meaning: used to describe the situation where one is betrayed and hurt by someone or something you trust.
하나를 보면 열을 안다. Literal translation: when you see one, you will know ten. Meaning: able to give examples by looking at one particular case.
하룻강아지 범 무서운 줄 모른다. Literal translation: a puppy isn’t afraid of a tiger. Meaning: one who is ignorant doesn’t understand the situation or how much they should be afraid. One similar phrase in English is fool rush in where angels fear to tread.
Comments
This was a really interesting read since I was learning about Korean idioms as well. While learning more about Korean idioms, I realized that a lot of the idioms used in Korean seemed to have a English counterpart as well. They either had the same meaning or sometimes they would sometimes even say the same things too.
I enjoyed reading your post Yunqi! I also think that Korean idioms are confusing but I have not even gotten to that level. I haven't really learned Chinese or Korean idioms but I always hear my parents incorporate idioms when they speak in Chinese. I think it is interesting that the Chinese idioms help you to understand Korean idioms.