Korean Idioms That Are Too Relatable
Literal translation: Words are easy.
Actual usage: Easier said than done.
Rather than being taken literally as “words are easy” think of this Korean expression as having the same meaning as the English “easier said than done.”
If a task is easier to talk about than to do, then the words to speak are formed much easier than the action of accomplishing the task.
A: Losing weight is not difficult at all.
B: Have you tried doing it? It is really hard for me.
A: You just have to exercise every day.
B: Yeah… It is easier said than done.
Literal translation: to pretend to have been born and brought up well
This Korean idiom is used to brag about anything and everything: yourself, your skills, your parents, siblings, money, etc.
Since no one likes someone who brags or shows off a lot, if someone says “잘난 척하다” to you, it’s never a good thing.
B: Why? Something good happened?
A: I got the highest mark in my Korean test.
A: I’ve already expected it!
B: You’re bragging again!
Literal translation: to give disease and then give medicine.
Actual usage: to say something hurtful to someone and then to say something nice to cover it up.
Saying something without thinking almost always causes a problem, whether it is making something worse or hurting someone’s feelings. Often times, people try to fix the problem or cover up the damage.
This Korean idiom can also be used if a person says something hurtful, then quickly tries to come up with something to cover up his/her thoughtlessness; however, it is already too late.
A: 난 생머리가 더 잘 어울리는 거 같아. 어, 근데, 옷도 샀어? 그건 잘 어울리네.
A: Did you curl your hair?
B: Yeah. How does it look like? Do you like it?
A: I think you looked prettier with straight hair. Did you buy new clothes too? It suits you well.
B: Forget it. Are you trying to comfort me after you hurt my feelings?
Literal translation: to be playing, to be hanging out.
Actual usage: to be not working at the moment; what you’re doing or saying is pathetic.
놀고 있다 can be used in two different ways: neutral and negative. In a neutral context, it is used to express that someone is doing the opposite of working, such as “playing around”, “fooling around”, “not working” “not focusing on what he/she has to do” or is “jobless”.
For a negative context, it is used when you are making fun of or laughing at someone for trying too hard to accomplish something, or the way they are going about is meaningless and childish.
B: I am studying for my Math test tomorrow.
A: Why is the TV on then?
B: I was just bored. I am studying while watching TV.
A: Get out of here. Focus on one thing!
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