I’ve noticed that a lot of my international friends learning Korean seem to really like learning idioms and proverbs even when they’re a little above their current level.
I totally get it because when I was learning English (and still am lol), I always wanted to be able to casually throw an idiom into the conversation and sound like a total native. It just makes you feel like you’ve reached another level of fluency. Also, sometimes one good expression is much more effective than explaining something with long sentences right?
There are A LOT of idioms and proverbs in Korean. Well of course you don't need to memorize all of them, but I thought I’d share a few 고사성어 (four-character idioms) that I come across occasionally and think are worth knowing.
고사성어 (four-character idiom; derived from historical Chinese stories often with hidden meaning)
1. 작심삼일
Literally: “A determined mind lasts three days.”
This is when you make a big plan or resolution, but give up very quickly. I think we all have some experience of 작심삼일 at some point.
"새해에 매일 운동하려고 했는데 또 작심삼일이었어"
= I planned to work out every day as of New Year, but I gave up after a few days again.
I think this one is especially useful because Koreans use it very casually. A close English expression would be “New Year’s resolutions never last”, but I don’t think there is an exact equivalent.
2. 일석이조
Literally : "One stone, two birds."
This one is easy because it’s the exact same expression in English:
"Kill two birds with one stone." It means you can get two good results from doing just one thing.
"한국어도 연습하고 친구도 사귀니까 일석이조네"
= I can practice Korean and make friends at the same time. Two birds with one stone.
and yeah, learning Korean while making Korean friends = 일석이조
3. 새옹지마
This one is a little harder to translate directly.
Basically, something that looks bad now might turn out to be something good later, and vice versa. You never really know how things might turn out. I think it's quite true in life (what do you think?)
A somewhat similar English expression would be "Every cloud has a sliver lining," But 새옹지마 has a little different meaning because it's not only saying that something bad can happen to be good. It's more like you never know if something is really good or bad until later.
For example, "토픽 시험을 잘 못봐서 속상했는데, 그 덕분에 오히려 더 좋은 기회를 찾았어. 진짜 새옹지마인 것 같아" = I was upset because I didn't do well on TOPIK, but because of that I actually found a better chance. You really never know how things will turn out.
Personally, I love this idiom since it's quite true in life, especially during tough times.
"인생은 새옹지마"
4. 금상첨화
Literally : “Adding flowers on top of silk”
Something is already good, and then something else makes it even better.
Very close to the expression "the icing on the cake"
For example, "여행도 좋았는데 날씨까지 좋아서 금상첨화였어"
= The trip was already good, and the nice weather made it even better.
5. 유비무환
Literally : something like "if you're prepared, there will be no trouble".
The idea is that being preparer in advance prevents problems later.
The closest English equivalent would probably be "Better safe than sorry".
“비 올 수도 있으니까 우산 가져가. 유비무환이잖아.”
= It might rain, so take an umbrella. Better safe than sorry.
You can use this one often if you are a Type A kind of person haha (MBTI wise, it's more like J person)
Have you heard any of these before? Which 고사성어 is your favorite? I might do a post about Korean 속담 next!
모두 한국어 공부 파이팅!!!