Korean expressions quiz
Your textbook never taught you these.
Could you keep up at a noraebang, on the subway, on a date or with friends? Let’s see how many of these you’d catch.
10 expressionsbeginner to advancedabout 2 minutesno sign-up
Word for word: “to have wide feet”
So what does it really mean? Tap an answer to start.
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Korean expressions quiz
The 10 expressions in this quiz
Word for word, they make no sense. Here’s what people in Korea actually mean by them.
발이 넓다bari neolda
BeginnerWord for word: “to have wide feet”
To know lots of people
민수는 발이 넓어서 어디를 가도 아는 사람이 있어. Minsu knows so many people, he runs into someone he knows wherever he goes.
Fine at work눈이 높다nuni nopda
BeginnerWord for word: “to have high eyes”
To have high standards
언니는 눈이 너무 높아서 아직 남자 친구가 없어. My sister has such high standards that she still doesn’t have a boyfriend.
With friends식은 죽 먹기sigeun juk meokgi
BeginnerWord for word: “eating cold porridge”
A piece of cake
이 정도 문제는 식은 죽 먹기지. A problem like this is a piece of cake.
Fine at work미역국을 먹다miyeokgugeul meokda
IntermediateWord for word: “to eat seaweed soup”
To fail an exam
이번 시험에서 또 미역국을 먹었어. I flunked the exam again.
With friends바가지를 쓰다bagajireul sseuda
IntermediateWord for word: “to wear a gourd bowl”
To get ripped off
관광지 앞에서 택시를 탔다가 바가지를 썼어. I took a taxi outside a tourist spot and got ripped off.
With friends손이 크다soni keuda
IntermediateWord for word: “to have big hands”
To be generous with portions
우리 엄마는 손이 커서 음식을 항상 너무 많이 하셔. My mum’s so generous she always cooks way too much.
Fine at work눈코 뜰 새 없다nunko tteul sae eopda
IntermediateWord for word: “no time to open your eyes and nose”
To be crazy busy
요즘 회사 일 때문에 눈코 뜰 새 없이 바빠. Work has me crazy busy these days.
Fine at work김칫국부터 마시다gimchitgukbuteo masida
AdvancedWord for word: “to drink the kimchi soup first”
To get ahead of yourself
아직 합격 발표도 안 났는데 김칫국부터 마시지 마. The results aren’t even out yet, don’t get ahead of yourself.
With friends뒷북치다dwitbukchida
AdvancedWord for word: “to beat the drum afterwards”
To be late to the news
그거 다 아는 얘기야. 이제 와서 뒷북치지 마. Everyone knows that already. You’re a bit late with that one.
With friends고구마goguma
AdvancedWord for word: “sweet potato”
Painfully frustrating (slang)
그 드라마 주인공 너무 고구마야. 보는 내내 답답해. The main character in that drama is so frustrating. It drives me mad the whole time.
With friends
Questions
Are these expressions still used?
Yes, every day. The quiz leaves out anything dated or crude, and every answer tells you where it’s safe to say: fine at work, with friends, or best avoided.
Why does the quiz go from beginner to advanced?
The first three are common and you’ll hear them early on. The last three need nuance, like sarcasm or mood, which is where most learners lose the thread.
What do I get if I unlock the 15?
A free deck with all 25 expressions, added for you when you finish setting up: the 10 from the quiz (the ones you missed first, each with its example), then the 15 new ones. Every card has audio and comes back for review just before you’d forget it.
Do I need to read Hangul?
No. Every expression shows its romanization too, so you can play before you know Hangul. The examples are in Hangul, each with an English line.