In this article, I will be introducing you to some of the funniest Korean idioms.
As you know, idioms are words or phrases that have figurative meanings that cannot always be understood from the literal meanings of the individual words.
Some examples of idioms in the U.S. are phrases like raining cats and dogs, out of the blue, dead as a doornail, hold your horses, cool as a cucumber, etc.
Similar to the above-mentioned idioms, there are countless idioms in the Korean language that people use on a regular basis. I have picked out 12 of them that I think you will find very interesting.
1. 들었다 놨다
들었다 놨다 [드럳따 놛따] literally translates as “pick up and put down (repeatedly).”
The expression 들었다 놓다 can mean causing a commotion, strongly influencing someone, or stirring someone’s emotions. In a romantic context, 들었다 놨다 can describe someone making your heart flutter or playing with your feelings; it is not limited to romance.
Example:
사랑은 우리의 심장을 들었다 놨다 합니다.
Love picks up and puts down our hearts (plays with our heartstrings).
There’s a popular K-pop song called “들었다 놨다” made popular by Sunny Hill and Daybreak in 2013. Take a look at the fun music video!
2. 깨가 쏟아지다
깨가 쏟아지다 [깨가 쏘다지다] literally translates as “sesame seeds rain down.”
This phrase usually refers to a romantic couple’s close relationship that is obvious to the observer. The sesame imagery evokes a sweet, affectionate relationship; the exact origin should not be treated as certain. Check out this YouTube link that explains the phrase (dialogue is in Korean). The video offers an account of the phrase’s origin. This one is a bit tricky to translate, but the closest meaning I can come up with is “obviously in love.”
Example:
그들은 깨가 쏟아지는 신혼부부예요.
They are a newlywed couple pouring sesame seeds (obviously in love).
3. 귀신이 곡할 노릇이다
귀신이 곡할 노릇이다 [귀시니 고칼 로르시다] literally translates as “a ghost would cry over this,” meaning that even a ghost will be frustrated enough to cry.
This phrase is used when something unexpected happens that puzzles everyone.
Example:
분명히 일 분 전까지만 해도 바로 여기에 있었는데 귀신이 곡할 노릇이네요.
It was here just a minute ago, and a ghost would cry over this (I’m clueless as to what happened).
4. 나사가 풀리다
나사가 풀리다 literally translates as “the screw becomes loose.” However, the Korean phrase has a slightly different meaning than the English “loose screw.”
In Korean, this can describe someone whose attention or discipline has slipped. The English expression “have a screw loose” usually suggests eccentric or irrational behavior, so it is not an exact match. Both expressions can sound disparaging when used about someone else.
Example:
감기 때문에 나사가 약간 풀렸어요.
Because of my cold, my screw is a little loose (my focus is a little off).
5. 눈에 넣어도 아프지 않다
눈에 넣어도 아프지 않다 [누네 너어도 아프지 안타] literally translates as “does not hurt even when inserted into the eye.”
Korean people use this expression to talk about someone they love dearly, such as their children. The phrase is similar to “the apple of my eye” in English.
Example:
이 아이는 눈에 넣어도 아프지 않을 딸이에요.
This child is my daughter who wouldn’t hurt even if put into my eyes. (This child is my daughter who is precious to me.)
6. 바가지를 긁다
바가지를 긁다 [바가지를 극따] literally translates as “to scratch a bowl.”
This phrase is used to describe the act of nagging someone, especially between a married couple. It is traditionally associated with a wife nagging her husband and can sound dismissive or sexist. 마누라 in the example is a colloquial word for one’s wife and may sound disrespectful depending on context.
Example:
집에 있으면 마누라가 하루 종일 바가지를 긁어요.
When I stay home, my wife scratches a bowl (nags me) all day long.
Cultural background:
The traditional Korean 바가지 is a bowl made out of a gourd. You can see photos of them in this article on The National Folk Museum of Korea’s website.
According to an article in Whitepaper, a Korean newspaper, one proposed origin connects 바가지를 긁다 with folk rituals during cholera outbreaks. This is an origin story, not a firmly established etymology. When someone got infected with cholera, people used to call upon a priestess to perform a ceremony to chase the bad spirits away.
The ceremony involved scratching a 바가지 vigorously to make a lot of noise. It was believed that the loud and obnoxious noise would be effective in chasing the disease away.
In this account, the irritating sound provides the link to the figurative meaning “nagging.”
Fascinating, don’t you think?
7. 바가지를 쓰다 / 씌우다
This phrase also has to do with 바가지 (bowl made out of a gourd). 쓰다 means “to wear on the head,” and 씌우다 means “to put on/over someone or something else.” So the two phrases literally translate as:
바가지를 쓰다 – to wear a bowl on one’s head
바가지를 씌우다 – to put a bowl over someone’s head
The figurative meaning of this phrase is to get ripped off or to rip someone off.
Example:
차를 급하게 사느라 바가지를 썼어요.
I put a bowl over my head (got ripped off) because I was in a hurry to buy a car.
그 가게 주인이 손님들한테 바가지를 씌웠어요.
The store owner put a bowl over (ripped off) the customers.
8. 하늘이 노랗다
하늘이 노랗다 [하느리 노라타] literally translates as “the sky is yellow.”
This phrase is used to describe the state of not being able to see clearly because of fatigue or shock.
Example:
갑자기 해고를 당해서 하늘이 노래지네요.
The sky is turning yellow because I got fired suddenly.
하루 종일 굶었더니 하늘이 노랗게 보여요.
I haven’t eaten all day, and the sky looks yellow.
9. 비행기를 태우다
비행기를 태우다 literally translates as “to give someone an airplane ride.”
The phrase means to over-compliment someone (insincerely). The meaning is very similar to the word “flatter.”
Example:
저를 비행기에 태우는 것을 보니 다른 뜻이 있는 것 같아요.
Giving me a ride on the airplane makes me think there’s an ulterior motive.
10. 김칫국을 마시다
김칫국을 마시다 [김치꾸글 마시다] literally translates as “to drink kimchi soup.”
This phrase is very similar to the English phrase “counting chickens before they hatch,” and used when something (good) is assumed prematurely. If you assume you will be getting a gift from someone when that person has not even thought about it, you are “drinking kimchi soup.”
Example:
보너스 나온다는 소식도 없는데 김칫국부터 마시지 마세요.
There is no news of a bonus, so don’t start drinking the kimchi soup.
Cultural background:
The phrase 김칫국을 마신다 is shortened from the original 떡 줄 사람은 생각도 않는데 김칫국부터 마신다. The original phrase translates as “the person with the rice cakes is not even thinking about sharing, but you are already drinking kimchi soup.”
Rice cakes are a common Korean snack made of rice flour. The chewy and sticky rice cakes are sometimes hard to swallow without drinking something with them. Traditionally, kimchi or kimchi soup is thought to go well with snacks like rice cakes and roasted sweet potatoes (another popular snack).
So the original phrase figuratively means that someone is “counting chickens before they hatch.”
Eventually, the shorter version 김칫국을 마신다 became just as widely used.
11. 바람맞다
바람맞다 [바람맏따] literally translates as “to be hit by the wind.”
This phrase is used to indicate that one was stood up by someone they were supposed to meet.
Example:
점심 먹으러 나갔다가 친구한테 바람맞았어요.
I went out for lunch, but my friend stood me up.
12. 파김치가 되다 / 녹초가 되다
파김치가 되다 literally translates as “to turn into green onion kimchi.”
녹초가 되다 means “to become completely exhausted.” 녹초 does not mean a wilted plant here. The National Hangeul Museum explains the image as a melted candle.
Both of the above phrases are used when someone is exhausted with no energy to stand up straight. They can be used interchangeably.
Example:
그가 하루 종일 일하고 파김치가 되어서 들어왔어요.
After working all day, he came home like green onion kimchi (exhausted).
운동을 너무 심하게 했더니 녹초가 됐어요.
I exercised too hard and was completely exhausted.
Conclusion
Idioms in every language are extremely interesting and fun to learn, like the 12 Korean idioms I have shared with you here. Of course, there are countless others that are commonly used. Have you encountered any other idioms that you thought were funny?
Please share any other Korean idioms that you have learned by leaving a comment below!
Don’t forget to check out these articles for more Korean words and phrases:
The 10 Most Beautiful Native Korean Words
30 Useful Korean Transitional Phrases For Essay Writing
열심히 공부하세요! 화이팅!!