Korean Idioms and korean proverb

Korean Proverb and Birthstones 탄생석



Korean Proverb: 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다.
Literal Meaning: If the outgoing words are beautiful, then the incoming words will be beautiful, too.
Usage: Used to encourage someone to be nice to others if they want others to be nice to them.
English Equivalent: Nice words for nice words.
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Korean Proverb: 가랑비에 옷 젖는 줄 모른다.
Literal Meaning: You do not realize your clothes are getting wet in a drizzle.
Usage: Often used when you realize that you have nickel-and-dimed yourself to where you have no money left.
English Equivalent: Many drops make a flood.
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Korean Proverb: 가려운 곳을 긁어 주다.
Literal Meaning: You scratch where it itches
Usage: Used when someone does something to satisfy your need without your having asked the person.
English Equivalent: That is just what I needed. / You read my mind.
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Korean Proverb: 가재는 게 편이라.
Literal Meaning: The crayfish sides with the crab.
Korean Meaning: 모양이 비슷하고 서로 인연 있는 것끼리 편을 든다는 말
Usage: Used to describe how people with similar traits and backgrounds tend to stick together and side with each other.
The Korean proverb implies that a crayfish and a crab would side with each other because they look similar.
English Equivalent: Like attracts like. Birds of a feather flock together.
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Korean Proverb: 개미 구멍으로 둑도 무너진다.
Literal Meaning: An ant hole can cause a levee to collapse.
Usage: Used to warn that even little things, if ignored, can cause diaster.
English Equivalent: A little leak can sink a great ship.
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Korean Proverb: 개천에서 용 난다.
Literal Meaning: A dragon rises from a small stream.
Korean Meaning: 미천한 집안에서 뛰어난 인물이 나는 경우에 이르는 말
Usage: Used to describe a great man with humble beginnings.
Oriental myths talk about dragons rising up from the depths of the sea, so it would be unexpected and quite amazing if one were to rise up from a shallow stream.
English Equivalent: From rags to riches.
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Korean Proverb: 거미 새끼같이 흩어진다.
Literal Meaning: They scatter like baby spiders.
Usage: Used to describe people, animals, or insects running away from something in all directions.
When hundreds of baby spiders hatch out of their egg sac, they do not hang around to introduce themselves, but scatter "in all directions" (사방 팔방으로). It is interesting that Koreans say "spiders" and English-speakers say "flies."
English Equivalent: They scatter like flies.
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Korean Proverb: 거지도 부지런하면 더운 밥 얻어 먹는다.
Literal Meaning: If diligent, even a beggar can get warm rice.
Usage: Used to say that diligence pays off.
Koreans used to, and many still do, get up early to make their rice for the day. If a beggar, with rice bowl in hand, starts begging early enough, he might be able to get some of this warm morning rice, but if he waits too long, the rice will cool down and, as a result, be less appetitizing.
English Equivalent: The early bird catches the worm.
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Korean Proverb: 거짓말도 방편.
Literal Meaning: Lying is also a means (to an end).
Usage: Used to suggest that lying could be a solution to a problem.
English Equivalent: The end justifies the means.
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Korean Proverb: 걱정도 팔자다.
Literal Meaning: Worrying is your destiny.
Korean Meaning: 하지 않아도 될 걱정을 자꾸 할 때, 비웃는 뜻으로 이르는 말.
Usage: Used to tease someone who worries about everything, including insignificate things.
English Equivalent: A worrywart.
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Korean Proverb:고생 끝에 낙이 온다.
Literal Meaning: At the end of hardship comes happiness.
Usage: Used to encourage someone to keep working hard and not give up.
English Equivalent: Hard work brings success.
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Korean Proverb: 고양이에게 생선을 맡기다.
Literal meaning: Entrust the cat with a fish.
Usage: Used to express your doubts about entrusting something to someone who could be easily tempted to abuse that trust.
English Equivalent: Have the fox guard the henhouse.
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Korean Proverb: 곧은 나무 먼저 찍힌다.
Literal Meaning: The straight, upright tree is the first to be cut down.
Korean Meaning: 똑똑하고 강직한 사람이 일찍 죽거나 사회에서 먼저 도태된다.
Usage: Used to lament the death of an intelligent, upright person.
English Equivalent: The good die young.
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Korean Proverb: 공자 앞에서 문자 쓴다.
Literal Meaning: Writing Chinese characters in front of Confucius.
Usage: Used to point out the arrogance of someone trying to teach or best an expert in the field.
English Equivalent: To teach a fish how to swim.
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Korean Proverb: 구르는 돌에는 이끼가 끼지 않는다.
Literal Meaning: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Korean Meaning: 굴러야 더러운 이끼가 앉지 않는다는 뜻으로, 사람이 쉬지 않고 활동해야만 발전이 있다는 말.
Usage: Used to suggest that an active person will have a more fulfilling life.
English Equivalent: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
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Korean Proverb: 궁하면 통한다.
Literal Meaning: If one is desperate, one will find a way.
Korean Meaning: 몹시 궁박한 처지에 이르게 되면 도리어 펴일 길이 생긴다는 말.
Usage: Often used explain one's motivations for coming up with an innovative solution to a problem.
English Equivalent: Want makes wit; Necessity is the mother of invention.
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Korean Proverb: 그림의 떡.
Literal Meaning: A picture of rice cake.
Usage: Used to describe something that you desire, but cannot have.
English Equivalent: Pie in the sky.
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Korean Proverb: 그 아비에 그 아들.
Literal Meaning: A son takes after the father.
Usage: Used when the actions of a person reminds the speaker of that person's father.
English Equivalent: Like father, like son.
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Korean Proverb:기지도 못하면서 뛰려고 한다.
Literal Meaning: Try to run before you can crawl.
Usage: Used to say that someone is not yet ready for a difficult task or job and should try taking it step by step.
English Equivalent: Try to run before you can walk.
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Korean Proverb: 길고 짧은 것은 대어 보아야 안다.
Literal Meaning: You have to measure it to know if it is too long or too short.
Korean Meaning: 잘하고 못하는 것은 실지로 겨루어 보아야 안다.
Usage: Used to encourage someone who is unsure if he or she has the ability or skills needed to do a certain task or meet a certain challenge to accept the task or challenge to find out for sure.
English Equivalent: You will never know until you try.
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Korean Proverb: 김치국부터 마시지 말라.
Literal Meaning: Do not drink your kimchi soup first.
Usage: Used to warn someone not to get ahead of him- or herself in a project or in planning for the future.
Kimchi soup is spicy and is usually eaten with rice to help reduce the sting; therefore, this proverb suggests that a person wait for the rice to arrive before drinking the soup because the person might be in a fix if the rice arrives late or not at all.
English Equivalent: Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.


Korean Proverb: 나무만 보고 숲을 보지 않는다.
Literal Meaning: You see only the trees, but not the forrest.
Usage: Often used to tell someone to look at the bigger picture instead of focusing only on the details.
English Equivalent: You cannot see the forrest for the trees.
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Korean Proverb: 남의 떡이 커보인다.
Literal Meaning: Another person's rice cake looks big.
Usage: Used to remind someone that envy may be clouding his or her judgment.
English Equivalent: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
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Korean Proverb: 낫 놓고 기억자도 모른다
Literal Meaning: Lay down a sickle and still not recognize the letter ㄱ.
Korean Meaning: 아주 무식하다.
Usage: Used to describe a very ignorant person.
The Korean proverb suggests that if a person lays down a sickle and still cannot recognize the letter ㄱ, then that person is very ignorant since the shape of the letter ㄱ and a sickle are similar.
English Equivalent: Not know A from B.
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Korean Proverb: 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다.
Literal Meaning: Birds hear the words spoken in the day, and the mice those at night.
Korean Meaning: 비밀로 한 일도 남들이 알게 된다.
Usage: Used to warn someone to be careful about what he or she says since one never knows who may be listening.
English Equivalent: Walls have ears.
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Korean Proverb: 놓친 고기가 커 보인다.
Literal Meaning: The fish that looks the biggest is the one that gets away.
Usage: Used to suggest to someone that maybe he or she is exaggerating his or her lose.
English Equivalent: It is always the big one that gets away.
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Korean Proverb: 눈 감으면 코 베어먹을 세상
Literal Meaning: It is a world where people will cut off your nose and eat it if you close your eyes.
Korean Meaning: 세상인심이 몹시 험악하고 각박하다는 말
Usage: Used to warn of or express your frustration with a world that is heartless and cruel.
English Equivalent: a dog-eat-dog world
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Korean Proverb: 눈에는 눈, 이에는 이
Literal Meaning: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Usage: Used to justify your reason for wanting to get revenge on someone. This saying can be found in the old testament of the Bible.
English Equivalent: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
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Korean Proverb: 눈엣가시
Literal Meaning: A thorn in one's eye
Usage: Usually used to to describe someone who causes someone pain or irritation or someone who is a nuisance.
눈엣가시 is a noun that is a shortened form of 눈에 있는 가시. It is interesting that Koreans say "thorn in the eye," but Americans say "a thorn in the side."
English Equivalent: A thorn in one's side.
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Korean Proverb: 달도 차면 기운다
Literal Meaning: Even the moon wanes when it is full.
Usage: Used to say that no one can expect to be popular or at their best forever.
The cycle of the moon means that after it grows (waxes) full ,it then begins to shrink (wane) to a new moon. 차다 means "to be full," and 기울다 means "to shrink." The moon's cycle can be compared to the life cycle of man.
English Equivalent: Every tide has it ebb.
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Korean Proverb: 도토리 키 재기
Literal Meaning: Measuring the height of acorns
Korean Meaning: 여러 대상이 모두 보잘것없어 비교할 만한 상태가 아닌데도 굳이 낫고 못함을 따져서 가리려 한다는 말.
Usage: Used to describe a situation where people are arguing about the differences between things that are essentially the same.
English Equivalent: Splitting hairs.
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Korean Proverb: 독 안에 든 쥐
Literal Meaning: A mouse in an earthen jar
Korean Meaning: 아무리 애를 써도 벗어날 수 없는 처지의 비유.
Usage: Used to describe a situation in which there is little or no hope for escape.
Koreans use large earthen jars to store various kimchis and pastes. The jars usually bow out near the top and then come back in to form fairly narrow openings. If a mouse were to get into one of these jars, it would have very little hope of getting out.
English Equivalent: A rat in a trap.
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Korean Proverb: 돌다리도 두드려 보고 건너라.
Literal Meaning: Even a stone bridge should be tested by banging on it before crossing.
Korean Meaning: 잘 아는 일이라도 세심한 주의를 기울여 하라.
Usage: Used to warn someone to be careful and to not take things for granted.
English Equivalent: Look before you leap. / Better safe than sorry.
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Korean Proverb: 두 손뼉이 맞아야 소리가 난다.
Literal Meaning: The palms of "two" hands have to meet to make a (clapping) sound.
Usage: Used to explain that some things cannot be done by one person alone.
손뼉 refers to the surface of the hand that is made up of both the palm of the hand (손바닥) and the fingers (손가락).
English Equivalent: It takes two to tango.
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Korean Proverb: 뜻이 있는 곳에 길이 있다
Literal Meaning: Where there's a will, there's a way.
Korean Meaning: 아무리 어려운 문제가 있어도 의지만 있으면 해결이 있다.
Usage: Actually, this proverb seems to be a direct translation of the Western proverb, which is used to remind people that no matter how hopeless a situation may look, there is always a solution if one just keeps looking.
Besides meaning "meaning," 뜻 cannot also mean "will."
English Equivalent: Where there's a will, there's a way.
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Korean Proverb: 뚝배기보다 장맛이 좋다
Literal Meaning: The taste of (soybean or red pepper) paste is better than the earthen bowl it comes in
Korean Meaning: 겉모양에 비하여 내용이 훌륭하다.
Usage: Used to describe something that is better on the inside than it looks on the outside.
A 뚝배기 is an "earthenware bowl" Koreans use to store their soybean paste (뙨장) and red pepper paste (고추장), two staples of the Korean diet.
English Equivalent: Appearances can be deceiving.

Korean Proverb: 말보다 증거
Literal Meaning: Proof is better than words.
Usage: Used to tell someone that you need to see it to believe it.
English Equivalent: Don't just say it, prove it.
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Korean Proverb: 말하기는 쉬워도 행동하기는 어렵다.
Literal Meaning: Though it is easy to say, it is difficult to do.
Usage: Usually used to tell someone that a plan or task will be harder to carry out than it sounds.
English Equivalent: (It is) easier said than done.
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Korean Proverb: 망건 쓰자 파장된다.
Literal Meaning: Just as one puts on one's headband, the state examination ends.
Korean Meaning: 하고자 하는 일을 준비하다가 그만 때을 놓쳐 그 뜻을 이루지 못 하였다는 뜻.
Usage: Used to describe a situation where an opportunity has expired just as one finished preparing to take advantage of that opportunity.
Koreans have a tradition of wearing headbands as a symbol of their determination to overcome a difficult situation or to win a difficult struggle, such as workers striking for better pay and conditions. Students preparing for difficult state examinations in both old and modern Korea have also been known to wear such headbands to show their determination to pass the exams. Phrases such as 필승 (certain victory) are often written on the headbands.
English Equivalent: Too little, too late. Muddle away one's opportunities.
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Korean Proverb: 매끝에 정든다.
Literal Meaning: Affection (love) is at the end of a whip (switch).
Korean Meaning: 매를 맞거나 꾸지람을 들은 뒤에 더 사이가 가까워진다.
Usage: Used to explain how a child and a parent or other loved one often become closer after the child is punished for misbehaving.
English Equivalent: Spare the rod and spoil the child.
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Korean Proverb: 먼 친척보다 가까운 이웃이 낫다.
Literal Meaning: A close neighbor is better than a far-off relative.
Korean Meaning: 이웃끼리 서로 친하게 지내면 먼 곳에 있는 일가보다도 더 친하다는 뜻입니다.
Usage: Used to describe the importance of having good neighbors
English Equivalent: A good neighbor is better than a brother far off.
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Korean Proverb: 모로 가도 서울만 가면 된다.
Literal Meaning: It does not matter how you go, as long as you go to Seoul.
Korean Meaning: 어떠한 수단 방법을 쓰든지 목적만 이루면 된다.
Usage: Used when one wants to say that achieveing a goal is more important than how it is done.
English Equivalent: The end justifies the means.
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Korean Proverb: 모르면 약이요 아는 게 병
Literal Meaning: Ignorance is medicine; knowledge is sickness.
Korean Meaning: 전혀 모르면 차라리 마음이 편하나 조금 알고 있는 것은 걱정거리만 된다는 말.
Usage: Used to argue the benefits of keeping bad news from someone or of not having to worry about some problem because one does not know about the problem.
English Equivalent: Ignorance is bliss.
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Korean Proverb: 무소식이 희소식이다.
Literal Meaning: No news is good news.
Usage: Often used to reassure someone who has not received any news from a loved one who is away somewhere.
English Equivalent: No news is good news.
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Korean Proverb: 물 밖에 난 고기.
Literal Meaning: A fish out of water
Usage: Used to describe someone who is out of his or her environment and, therefore, looks or feels awkward or cannot perform to the best of his or her abilities
English Equivalent: A fish out of water.
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Korean Proverb: 물에 빠지면 지푸라기라도 잡는다.
Literal Meaning: A drowning man will grasp at straws
Korean Meaning: 아주 급한 상황이 되면 보잘것없는 것에라도 의지하게 된다는 뜻입니다.
Usage: Used to describe a person who is desperate. A person will do almost anything in a desperate situation.
English Equivalent: A drowning man will grasp at straws. Grasping for straws.
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Korean Proverb: 백지장도 맞들면 낫다.
Literal Meaning: It is better to lift together, even when it is a blank sheet of paper.
Usage: Used to tell someone that no matter what the job is, it is always easier when you work together.
English Equivalent: Many hands make light work. Two heads are better than one.
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Korean Proverb: 빛 좋은 개살구
Literal Meaning: A wild apricot with beautiful color.
Korean Meaning: 겉만 번지르르하고 실속이 없음을 이르는 말.
Usage: Used to describe something that looks good on the outside, but is lacking on the inside.
A wild apricot may look delicious, but is more sour than a regular apricot.
English Equivalent: Looks are deceiving. All that glitters is not gold.
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Korean Proverb: 사공이 많으면 배가 산으로 간다.
Literal Meaning: A ship will go to the mountain if there are too many captains.
Korean Meaning: 주관하는 사람이 없이 여러 사람이 이러쿵저러쿵 자기 주장만 하면 일을 이루기 어렵다.
Usage: Used to describe a situation where a lack of leadership leads to confusion.
English Equivalent: Too many cooks spoil the broth. / Too many chiefs and not enough indians.
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Korean Proverb: 선무당이 사람 잡는다.
Literal Meaning: An inexperienced shaman causes people pain.
Usage: Used to comment on or to warn people about a person who is pretending to know more than he or she really does.
무당 means "shaman," and "선" means "inexperienced," so 선무당 means an "inexperienced (novice) shaman." 사람을 잡는다 means "to give people pain by using words, labor, or a whip."
English Equivalent: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
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Korean Proverb: 세 살 적 버릇이 여든까지 간다.
Literal Meaning: Habits (learned) at three last until one is eighty.
Korean Meaning: 어릴 때 몸에 밴 나쁜 버릇은 쉽게 고쳐지지 않는다.
Usage: Used to warn that bad habits should be corrected early in life since they are very difficult to correct in later life.
English Equivalent: What's learned in the cradle is carried to the grave.
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Korean Proverb: 시작이 반이다
Literal Meaning: Starting is half the job.
Korean Meaning: 일은 처음에 시작하기가 어렵지, 일단 시작하면 끝마치는 것은 그리 어렵지 않다는 말.
Usage: Used to encourage someone by saying that just starting a task is the hardest part.
English Equivalent: Well begun is half done.
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Korean Proverb: 식은 죽 먹기
Literal Meaning: Like eating cold rice porridge
Korean Meaning: 거리낌없이 아주 쉽게 예사로 하는 모양.
Usage: Used to express confidence in one's ability to do something.
죽 is a watered-down rice gruel that Koreans often eat when they are sick since it is easy to eat and digest. It is Korea's version of the American chicken-soup remedy. Even though 죽 is easy to eat, it is even easier when it is cold since one does not have to worry about scalding the inside of one's mouth.
English Equivalent: A piece of cake. / Mere child's play.
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Korean Proverb: 실패는 성공의 어머니
Literal Meaning: Failure is the mother of success
Usage: Used to comfort someone that has failed at something.
English Equivalent: Failure teaches success.


Korean Proverb: 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까?
Literal Meaning: Will smoke come out of an unlit chimney?
Usage: Used to express your suspicion of someone or something based on some kind of evidence.
English Equivalent: Where there is smoke, there is fire.
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Korean Proverb: 아는 길도 물어 가라.
Literal Meaning: Ask first, then go, even on a road you know.
Korean Meaning: 쉬운 일도 신중하게 최선을 다해야 한다.
Usage: Used to advise someone to not take a task for granted and to always do his or her best.
English Equivalent: Never take things for granted. / Better safe than sorry.
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Korean Proverb: 엎친데 덮친다
Literal Meaning: Be hit when one is down.
Korean Meaning: 어려운 일 또는 불행한 일을 당하고 있는데, 또 겹쳐 다른 불행이 닥친다는 말.
Usage: Used to describe a situation where it seems one misfortune follows another
English Equivalent: Be hit when one is down./ Adding insult to injury. / Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
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Korean Proverb: 옷이 날개다.
Literal Meaning: Your clothes are your wings.
Usage: Used to show the importance of dressing well.
English Equivalent: Clothes make the man.
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Korean Proverb: 우는 아이 젖 준다
Literal Meaning: They give the breast to the crying child.
Usage: Used to remind someone that sometimes you have to make some noise to get what you want.
English Equivalent: The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
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Korean Proverb: 울며 겨자 먹기
Literal Meaning: Cry while eating mustard seed
Korean Meaning: 싫은 일을 좋은 척하며 억지로 하는 경우를 이르는 말
Usage: Used when someone is forced to do something he or she would whether not do, but pretends to enjoy it, anyway. (Mustard seed is hot and spicy and is used for seasoning.)
English Equivalent: Grin and bear it.
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Korean Proverb: 이 없으면 잇몸으로 살지
Literal Meaning: If you do not have any teeth, then live by using your gums.
Usage: Used to say that whether than complaining about not having something, one should spend their time trying to make do with what is available.
English Equivalent: Make do with what you have.
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Korean Proverb: 일이 많으면 근심도 많다
Literal Meaning: If there is a lot of work, there is also a lot of worries.
Korean Meaning: 해야 할 일이 많으면 많을 수록 그로 인한 근심도 따라서 많아진다는 뜻.
Usage: Used to explain that good fortune comes with a price. The more work one does; the more money one makes. However, it also means more worries.
Other words can be substituted for 일. See the following examples:
재산이 많으면 근심도 많다.
The more possessions, the more worries.
아들이 많으면 근심도 많다.
The more sons, the more worries.
English Equivalent: The more work, the more worries.
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Korean Proverb: 일찍 일어나면 복이 있다.
Literal Meaning: There is happiness if you get up early.
Usage: Used to describe the benefits of getting up early.
English Equivalent: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, weathy, and wise./ The early bird catches the worm.
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Korean Proverb: 작은 고추가 맵다
Literal Meaning: It is the small pepper that is hot.
Usage: Often used to warn someone not to underestimate someone simply based on his or her size.
English Equivalent: The best things come in small packages.
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Korean Proverb: 잠을 자야 꿈을 꾸지.
Literal Meaning: You must sleep before you can dream.
Usage: Used to remind people that things do not just happen; you have to work for them.
English Equivalent: You must sow before you reap. No cause, no effect.
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Korean Proverb: 제눈에 안경이다
Literal Meaning: Glasses (made) for your eyes (only).
Usage: Often used to express disagreement with a friend who has commented on the attractiveness of someone by suggesting that the glasses or filter that the friend is using to judge the person does not fit your eyes.
English Equivalent: Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
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Korean Proverb: 줍는 사람이 임자다.
Literal Meaning: The person who picks it up is the owner.
Usage: Used when someone claims to be the owner of something another person has found. The finder is arguing that possession gives him or her the right to ownership.
English Equivalent: Finders keepers, losers weepers.
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Korean Proverb: 첫술에 배부르랴?
Literal Meaning: Can one's hunger be satisfied with the first spoonful of food?
Korean Meaning: 무슨 일이든지 처음부터 단번에 만족할 수는 없다는 말.
Usage: Used to remind someone that some things take time, and that one should not rush to judgment nor give up too easily.
English Equivalent: Rome was not built in a day.
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Korean Proverb: 털어서 먼지 안 나는 사람 없다.
Literal Meaning: If you brush them off, you will find that everyone has some dust.
Korean Meaning: 누구든지 결점을 찾으려고 뜯어보면 허물이 없는 사람은 없다.
Usage: Used to remind people that no one is perfect.
English Equivalent: No one is perfect. / Everyone has a skeleton or two in his closet./ Everyone has a weak spot.
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Korean Proverb: 피는 물보다 진하다
Literal Meaning: Blood is thicker than water.
Usage: Used to say that all friendships come second to family.
English Equivalent: Blood is thicker than water.
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Korean Proverb: 헌 짚신도 짝이 있다.
Literal Meaning: Even an old straw shoe has a mate.
Usage: Used to comfort someone who has yet to find a mate by saying "there is someone out there for you."
The peasants of Old Korea used to wear shoes made from rice straw.
English Equivalent: Every Jack has his Jill.
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Korean Proverb: 호랑이도 제말하면 온다.
Literal Meaning: If you talk about a tiger, it will come.
Usage: Used when someone shows up after having just talked about him or her.
Tigers used to roam Korea and terrorize the people. In fact, Seoul used to close her gates at night to keep tigers and other uninvited visitors out.
English Equivalent: Speak of the devil
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Korean Proverb: 호미로 막을 것을 가래로 막는다.
Literal Meaning: Use a long-handled shovel to stop something that could have been stopped with a short-handled spade.
Korean Meaning: 적은 힘을 들여서 해결할 수 있는 일을 기회를 놓쳐 큰 힘을 들이게 된다.
Usage: Used to lament putting off dealing with a problem, which gave it time to go from a small problem to a big one.
A 호미 is a short-handled spade with a curved and pointed blade. A 가래 is a long-handled shovel with a pointed blade. The proverb implies that it is better weed a garden when the weeds are young whether than waiting for them to get bigger and stonger.
English Equivalent: A stitch in time saves nine.

Birthstones 탄생석

January
석류석
garnet

February
자수정
amethyst

March
녹수정 (혈석)
aquamarine (bloodstone)

April
다이아몬드
diamond

May
에메랄드
emerald

June
진주 (월장석)
pearl (moonstone)

July
루비
ruby

August
감람석
peridot

September
사파이어
sapphire

October
단백석 (전기석)
opal (tourmaline)

November
황옥
yellow topaz

December
터키옥
turquoise

콩가루 (soybean flour)

콩가루 집안이다
a family troubled by domestic violence

콩가루가 되다
be destroyed and turned to dust
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바가지 (a dipper made of plastic or half a gourd)

바가지를 긁다
to nag

바가지를 쓰다
to be overcharged

바가지를 씌우다
to overcharge someone

바가지를 차다
to fall into poverty
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배꼽 (navel; bellybutton)

배꼽을 빼다
to laugh very hard (slightly vulgar)

배꼽을 쥐다
to burst out laughing

배꼽이 빠지도록 웃다
laugh oneself into convulsions

배꼽이 웃다
to be ridiculous, childish, laughable, or absurd
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카인 (Cain--the son of Adam and Eve)

카인의 후예
a cursed group; used to refer to convicts

칼 (knife)

칼을 맞다
be attacked with a knife

칼을 품다
harbor murderous intentions

칼 (a cangue; a pillory)

칼을 쓰다
wear a cangue; be pilloried

칼자루 (the handle of a knife)

칼자루를 잡다
have an advantage over an opponent; have the final say

칼자루를 쥐다
have an advantage over an opponent; have the final say

칼침 (thrust of a knife)

칼침을 맞다
be stabbed

코 (nose)

코가 꿰이다
be restricted or hindered by something or someone

코가 납작해지다
be shamed by someone; lose one's nerve

코가 높다
to put on airs; to act proud

코가 빠지다
to lose one's nerve or spirit

코가 삐뚤어지게 마시다
drink until one is very drunk

코가 세다
to be stubborn and ignore what others say

코를 골다
to snore

코를 맞대다
to be nose-to-nose with someone

코를 찌르다
to be offensive to one's nose


코를 풀다
to blow one's nose

코 먹은 소리
to speak through one's nose; to nazalize

코 묻은 돈
used to make fun of the pocket change kids carry around

코에 걸다
to brag about something

코앞에 (under one's nose)

코앞에 닥치다
be close at hand; be imminent

코침 (tickle a person's nose)

코침을 주다
tickle a person's nose

코허리 (narrow part of the nose at the base)

코허리가 시다
be almost moved to tears; be touched with compassion

코허리가 시큼하다
be almost moved to tears; be touched with compassion

콧구멍 (a nostril)

콧무멍만하다
a very small hole or something with a very small width

콧김 (the breath from the nose)

콧김이 세다
to have a strong influence on others

콧대 (the bridge or ridge of the nose)

콧대가 높다
put on airs; to be puffed up with pride

콧대가 세다
to be stubborn and ignore what others say

콧대를 꺾다
put a person in his or her place; knock a person down a peg

콧대를 세우다
act arrogant and conceited

콩가루 (soybean flour)

콩가루가 되다
be destroyed and turned to dust

콩나물 (bean sprouts)

콩나물 시루 같다
be packed like sardines; be jammed up

콩노굿 (a bean blossom)

콩노굿 일다
the flower of a bean blooms

콩멍석 (a straw mat with beans laid on it)

콩멍석 같다
welts on the skin from a whip or bug bites

콩밥 (bean-mixed rice)

콩밥을 먹다
serve time in jail or prison

콩밥을 먹이다
send a person to jail

쾌재 (a feeling of relief or joy)

쾌재를 부르다
shout with joy

큰마음 (a big heart; a generous heart; a great desire)

큰 마음 먹다
be generous; finally make a difficult decision

큰문 (the main entrance)

큰문을 잡다
usher a distinguished guest in and out the door

큰물 (a heavy flood; an overflow)

큰물이 지다
have a flood; be flooded

큰불 (a big fire; a holocaust)

큰불을 놓다
set a big fire; fire a shot from a powerful gun (when hunting big game)

큰상 (a formal table of food for an honored guest)

큰상을 받다
be honored with a feast

큰집 (home of the family head)

큰집 드나들듯
to frequent a place so often that one feels very familiar with it

큰춤 (a full-dress dance)

큰춤을 보다
enjoy the pleasure of being the guest of honor at a formal dress
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코앞에 (under one's nose)

코앞에 닥치다
be close at hand; be imminent

코침 (tickle a person's nose)

코침을 주다
tickle a person's nose

코허리 (narrow part of the nose at the base)

코허리가 시다
be almost moved to tears; be touched with compassion

코허리가 시큼하다
be almost moved to tears; be touched with compassion

콧구멍 (a nostril)

콧무멍만하다
a very small hole or something with a very small width

콧김 (the breath from the nose)

콧김이 세다
to have a strong influence on others

콧대 (the bride or ridge of the nose)

콧대가 높다
put on airs; to be puffed up with pride

콧대가 세다
to be stubborn and ignore what others say

콧대를 꺾다
put a person in his or her place; knock a person down a peg

콧대를 세우다
act arrogant and conceited
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팔자 (fate; destiny)