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Top 50 Korean Idioms for Exams

We've curated 50 essential Korean idioms that frequently appear in Korean language exams, civil service tests, and Chinese character proficiency tests. Check the meaning, Chinese characters, and example sentences for each idiom.

No. Idiom Hanja Meaning ONGO
1 각골난망 刻骨難忘 A kindness carved into one's bones — gratitude never forgotten -
2 각주구검 刻舟求劍 Notching the boat to find a dropped sword — clinging to old ways as the world moves on -
3 감언이설 甘言利說 Sweet words and flattering talk — honeyed persuasion meant to deceive -
4 개과천선 改過遷善 Mending one's faults and turning to good -
5 견물생심 見物生心 Seeing a thing stirs the desire for it -
6 견원지간 犬猿之間 Like dog and monkey — two who simply cannot get along -
7 결초보은 結草報恩 Repaying a kindness even from beyond the grave -
8 경거망동 輕擧妄動 Acting rashly and without thought -
9 고진감래 苦盡甘來 When bitterness ends, sweetness comes — hardship gives way to reward -
10 과유불급 過猶不及 Going too far is as bad as falling short -
11 괄목상대 刮目相對 Rubbing your eyes to look again — astonished at another's rapid growth -
12 교우이신 交友以信 Befriend others with trust at the heart of it -
13 구사일생 九死一生 Nearly dying nine times, surviving once — a narrow escape -
14 군계일학 群鷄一鶴 A single crane among the chickens — one who stands out from the crowd -
15 권선징악 勸善懲惡 Rewarding the good and punishing the wicked -
16 근묵자흑 近墨者黑 Stay near ink and you turn black — we take on the color of our company -
17 금상첨화 錦上添花 Adding flowers to brocade — good fortune heaped upon good fortune -
18 기사회생 起死回生 Rising from the very brink of death back to life -
19 난형난제 難兄難弟 Hard to tell elder from younger — two too evenly matched to rank -
20 노심초사 勞心焦思 Burning one's heart with anxious care -
21 다다익선 多多益善 The more, the better -
22 대기만성 大器晩成 The great vessel is finished late — true talent ripens slowly -
23 동고동락 同苦同樂 Sharing hardship and joy alike -
24 동문서답 東問西答 Asked of the east, answering of the west — a reply beside the point -
25 동병상련 同病相憐 Fellow sufferers take pity on one another -
26 마이동풍 馬耳東風 East wind past a horse's ear — advice that goes in and out unheeded -
27 막역지우 莫逆之友 A friend against whom nothing grates — a bosom companion -
28 명경지수 明鏡止水 A clear mirror, still water — a calm and untroubled mind -
29 무위도식 無爲徒食 Idling and eating without lifting a finger -
30 배은망덕 背恩忘德 Betraying kindness and forgetting favor — rank ingratitude -
31 백골난망 白骨難忘 Unforgotten even when the bones turn to dust — gratitude without end -
32 부화뇌동 附和雷同 Echoing others like thunder — following the crowd without conviction -
33 사필귀정 事必歸正 All things return to what is right in the end — justice will out -
34 삼고초려 三顧草廬 Three visits to the thatched hut — earnest effort to win a worthy person -
35 설상가상 雪上加霜 Frost on top of snow — one misfortune piled on another -
36 수수방관 袖手傍觀 Watching with hands tucked in one's sleeves — standing idly by -
37 심사숙고 深思熟考 Deep and careful deliberation -
38 십시일반 十匙一飯 Ten spoonfuls make one bowl — many small helps add up to plenty -
39 아전인수 我田引水 Drawing water to one's own field — bending everything to one's own advantage -
40 역지사지 易地思之 Trading places to see it from the other side -
41 오매불망 寤寐不忘 Unable to forget, waking or sleeping -
42 와신상담 臥薪嘗膽 Sleeping on brushwood, tasting gall — enduring hardship to settle a score -
43 우이독경 牛耳讀經 Reciting scripture to an ox — words wasted on the unheeding -
44 유비무환 有備無患 Be prepared and you need not worry -
45 이심전심 以心傳心 Heart passing to heart — understanding without a word -
46 일석이조 一石二鳥 One stone, two birds -
47 자업자득 自業自得 Reaping just what one's own deeds have sown -
48 전화위복 轉禍爲福 Misfortune turned into a blessing -
49 좌정관천 坐井觀天 Viewing the sky from the bottom of a well — a narrow outlook -
50 청출어람 靑出於藍 Blue drawn from indigo, yet bluer than the dye — the student surpasses the master -

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