Speak Korean More Naturally

Collocation A1

일을 마시다

To 마시다 일

To 마시다 일

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Idiom B1

입이 가볍다

To be a blabbermouth

To be unable to keep secrets (lit: mouth is light)

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Idiom B1

입이 무겁다

To be discreet

To keep secrets well (lit: mouth is heavy)

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Collocation B1

책을 마시다

To 마시다 책

To 마시다 책

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Idiom A2

밥이 보약이다

Food is medicine

Food is the best medicine (lit: rice is the cure)

Usage: Formality: neutral

Open expression

Expression A1

좋은 아침이에요

Good morning

Good morning

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Expression A1

처음 뵙겠습니다

Nice to meet you

Nice to meet you

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Idiom B2

개도 주인을 본다

Show proper respect

Even a dog knows its master (emphasizes loyalty)

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Idiom B2

목이 빠지게 기다리다

Wait eagerly

To wait anxiously (lit: wait until neck falls off)

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Idiom B2

눈에 불을 켜다

Look high and low

To search intensely (lit: light fire in eyes)

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Idiom B2

돼지 목에 진주

Pearls before swine

Pearls before swine

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Idiom B1

말이 씨가 된다

Be careful what you say

Words can come true (lit: words become seeds)

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Idiom B2

손에 땀을 쥐다

Nail-biting

To be nerve-wracking (lit: sweat in hands)

Usage: Formality: neutral

Open expression

Idiom B1

손이 많이 가다

To be labor-intensive

To require much effort (lit: hands go a lot)

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Idiom B1

식은 죽 먹기

Piece of cake

Piece of cake (lit: eating cold porridge)

Usage: Formality: neutral

Open expression

Idiom B2

새우 등 터진다

Caught in crossfire

Suffer from others' fight (lit: shrimp's back splits)

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Idiom B1

우물 안 개구리

Narrow-minded

A frog in a well (narrow-minded person)

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Expression A1

안녕?

Hi

Hi

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Expression A1

잘 자요

Good night

Good night

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Expression A1

잘 부탁해

Please treat me well

Please treat me well

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Expression A1

잘 부탁드립니다

Please treat me well

Please treat me well

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Expression A1

잘 지내세요?

How are you?

How are you?

Usage: Formality: formal

Open expression

Idiom C1

벼 이삭은 익을수록 고개를 숙인다

Humble wisdom

The wiser you are, the humbler (lit: rice bows as it ripens)

Usage: Formality: neutral

Open expression

Idiom B1

뱀 먹은 소리한다

Speak hoarsely

To speak quietly/hoarsely (lit: sounds like ate a snake)

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Idiom B1

소 잃고 외양간 고친다

Too little too late

Lock the barn after horse is stolen (lit: fix barn after losing cow)

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Idiom B1

꿩 먹고 알 먹는다

Two birds one stone

Kill two birds with one stone (lit: eat pheasant and egg)

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Idiom C1

닭 쫓던 개 지붕 쳐다본다

Miss the boat

Miss opportunity (lit: dog that chased chicken looks at roof)

Usage: Formality: neutral

Open expression

Idiom B1

콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다

You reap what you sow

You reap what you sow (lit: plant beans get beans)

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Expression A1

잘 잤어?

Did you sleep well?

Did you sleep well?

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression

Expression A1

잘 지내?

How are you?

How are you?

Usage: Formality: informal

Open expression