Korean Four-Character Idioms
견물생심
見物生心
Word for word
“seeing a thing gives rise to desire”
What it means
Seeing something makes you want it.
When you'd use it
Why you shouldn't go shopping when you're bored.
Example
구경만 하려 했는데 견물생심이라고 결국 샀어.I only meant to look, but seeing it made me want it — I bought it.
A Korean proverb with a similar idea
참새가 방앗간을 그냥 지나치랴 →Frequently asked questions
What does 견물생심 (見物生心) mean?
견물생심 (見物生心) is a Korean four-character idiom: seeing something makes you want it.
What are the Chinese characters in 견물생심?
견물생심 is written 見物生心 in hanja (Chinese characters), literally “seeing a thing gives rise to desire”.
When do Koreans use 견물생심?
Typical use: why you shouldn't go shopping when you're bored.
How do you use 견물생심 in a sentence?
“구경만 하려 했는데 견물생심이라고 결국 샀어.” means “I only meant to look, but seeing it made me want it — I bought it.”
Is there a Korean proverb that means the same as 견물생심?
Yes — the proverb “참새가 방앗간을 그냥 지나치랴” is close in meaning to 견물생심: Nobody can resist their favorite temptation.