Korean Four-Character Idioms
일석이조, 작심삼일 — sajaseongeo, explained.
Sajaseongeo are four-character idioms built from Chinese characters (hanja). Koreans use them in speeches, news headlines and everyday chat. Each page gives the hanja, a word-for-word reading, the meaning, when to use it and an example.
All idioms
- 일석이조 一石二鳥Getting two benefits from one action.
- 오리무중 五里霧中Completely unclear; nobody knows what's going on.
- 동문서답 東問西答An answer that has nothing to do with the question.
- 대기만성 大器晩成Great talents bloom late.
- 과유불급 過猶不及Overdoing something is as bad as not doing enough.
- 금상첨화 錦上添花Something good on top of something already good.
- 설상가상 雪上加霜One misfortune piled on another.
- 우유부단 優柔不斷Indecisive; can't make up your mind.
- 유비무환 有備無患If you're prepared, you won't have trouble.
- 자업자득 自業自得You brought it on yourself.
- 인과응보 因果應報What you do comes back to you, good or bad.
- 작심삼일 作心三日Resolutions that fizzle out fast.
- 고진감래 苦盡甘來Hard times end and good times follow.
- 새옹지마 塞翁之馬Luck turns unpredictably — bad can become good and back again.
- 십시일반 十匙一飯Many small contributions add up to real help.
- 이심전심 以心傳心Understanding each other without words.
- 동병상련 同病相憐People in the same trouble sympathize with each other.
- 막상막하 莫上莫下Neck and neck; too close to call.
- 박장대소 拍掌大笑Roaring with laughter.
- 사필귀정 事必歸正In the end, the truth wins out.
- 역지사지 易地思之Put yourself in the other person's shoes.
- 온고지신 溫故知新Learning new things by studying the past.
- 우공이산 愚公移山Steady effort can achieve the impossible.
- 일취월장 日就月將Improving quickly and steadily.
- 전화위복 轉禍爲福A setback that turns out to be a blessing.
- 죽마고우 竹馬故友A friend since early childhood.
- 천생연분 天生緣分A match made in heaven.
- 청출어람 靑出於藍The student surpasses the teacher.
- 칠전팔기 七顚八起Never giving up no matter how often you fail.
- 타산지석 他山之石Learning from other people's mistakes.
- 표리부동 表裏不同Two-faced; saying one thing, meaning another.
- 학수고대 鶴首苦待Waiting eagerly and impatiently.
- 호사다마 好事多魔Good things often come with setbacks.
- 화룡점정 畵龍點睛The finishing touch that completes something.
- 언행일치 言行一致Doing what you say.
- 각골난망 刻骨難忘A kindness you'll never forget.
- 견물생심 見物生心Seeing something makes you want it.
- 다다익선 多多益善The more the better.
- 아전인수 我田引水Twisting things to suit yourself.
- 용두사미 龍頭蛇尾A grand start that fizzles out.
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