Korean has many colorful idioms that sound strange or even hilarious when translated literally. Some are so old-fashioned that even native Koreans may not know them immediately.
Here are five Korean expressions that are especially fun to learn because their literal meanings are very different from what they actually mean.
개 발에 땀난다
A dog’s paws are sweating
Literal meaning : “A dog’s paws are sweating.”
Actual meaning : To be extremely busy, running around and working hard.
The expression paints a funny image of a dog running around so much that even its paws start sweating. It is used to describe someone who is rushing around or working very energetically.
“He has been running around all day. 개 발에 땀난다!”
This expression can sound especially funny to younger Koreans because it is not something everyone hears in everyday conversation.
국으로도 먹고 약으로도 먹는다
You eat it as soup and take it as medicine
Literal meaning : You use it both as soup and as medicine
Actual meaning : To make good use of something in more than one way, or to use something for multiple purposes.
The expression comes from the idea that something is useful enough to serve two completely different purposes. It can be used jokingly when someone finds multiple ways to benefit from the same thing.
“I use this app for studying and for managing my schedule. I use it as soup and medicine!”
The literal image is much funnier than the actual meaning, which is part of the charm of old Korean expressions.
오뉴월 개팔자
A dog’s life in May and June
Literal meaning : A dog’s fate in May and June.
Actual meaning : To live an extremely comfortable and carefree life.
In traditional Korea, dogs could spend warm summer days lying around without having to work. So saying someone has 오뉴월 개팔자 means they have it incredibly easy.
“He sleeps until noon, plays games all afternoon, and doesn't have to work. 오뉴월 개팔자네!”
Interestingly, 개팔자 literally means “a dog’s fate.” In modern Korean, the expression sounds old-fashioned and humorous, which makes it even more fun to use.
가랑잎이 솔잎더러 바스락거린다고 한다
A broadleaf complains to a pine needle for rustling
Literal meaning : “A dry broadleaf says to a pine needle, ‘You are making a rustling sound.’”
Actual meaning : Someone who has the same or an even worse fault criticizes another person for that very fault.
The joke is that both dry leaves make noise when they move. So one leaf criticizing the other for rustling is basically the pot calling the kettle black.
“You are always late, but you're complaining that I was late once? 가랑잎이 솔잎더러 바스락거린다고 하네.”
This is one of those expressions that many Koreans may recognize when they hear it, but probably don't use in everyday conversation. That makes it a surprisingly impressive expression to know.
과부 설움은 홀아비가 안다
A widower understands a widow’s sorrow
Literal meaning : “A widower understands the sorrow of a widow.”
Actual meaning : People who have experienced similar hardships understand each other's feelings best.
It is essentially the Korean equivalent of the idea that “only someone who has been through the same thing can truly understand.”
The expression uses a widow and a widower as examples because both have experienced the loss of a spouse.
“Nobody understood what I was going through until I met someone who had experienced the same thing. 과부 설움은 홀아비가 안다.”
It is quite an old-fashioned expression, so using it naturally can make you sound like you know some surprisingly traditional Korean.
Why These Expressions Are Fun
What makes these Korean idioms interesting is that their literal images are often much stranger than their actual meanings.
A dog sweating through its paws.
A dog living the easy life in early summer.
A leaf criticizing another leaf for making noise.
A widower understanding a widow's sorrow.
Even Koreans may know the meaning without knowing where the expression came from. So if you use one of these naturally in conversation, you might get a reaction like:
“Wait, Koreans actually say that?”
That is exactly what makes old Korean idioms so fun to discover.
