🔮 Superstitions in Korea: Numbers, Dreams, and Symbols
Ever wondered why some elevators in Korea skip the 4th floor? Or why Koreans avoid giving shoes as gifts? Korean superstitions are deeply rooted in history and language, and they still influence everyday life. Let’s explore the fascinating world of Korean beliefs about numbers, dreams, and symbols.
📚 Table of Contents
1. Unlucky Numbers: The Fear of 4
In Korean, the number 4 (사, “sa”) sounds like the word for “death” (사, 死). As a result, many buildings skip the 4th floor, or label it “F” instead of “4.”
- Elevator buttons: 1, 2, 3, F, 5...
- Hospital rooms rarely use 4
- Some people avoid phone numbers or license plates with 4
2. Dreams That Predict the Future
Koreans believe that certain dreams can predict good or bad luck. For example:
- 🐷 Dreaming of a pig = wealth & luck
- 💩 Dreaming of poop = financial luck (seriously!)
- 🌊 Dreaming of water = life changes or birth
Some people even buy lucky dreams from others in exchange for money!
3. Symbolic Gifts and Taboos
Certain items are considered unlucky or inappropriate as gifts:
- 🥿 Shoes: It means the person might walk away from your life
- ✂️ Scissors/Knives: Can “cut” relationships
- 🎁 Clocks: Symbolize the end or death
4. Key Vocabulary and Example Sentences
- 미신 (mi-shin) – superstition
- 꿈 (kkum) – dream
- 숫자 (sut-ja) – number
- 죽음 (juk-eum) – death
- 선물 (seon-mul) – gift
한국어: 한국에서는 4라는 숫자가 죽음을 뜻해서 피합니다.
발음: han-guk-e-seo-neun sa-ra-neun sut-ja-ga juk-eum-eul tteut-hae-seo pi-ham-ni-da
영어: In Korea, people avoid the number 4 because it symbolizes death.
한국어: 돼지 꿈을 꾸면 복이 온다고 해요.
발음: dwae-ji kkum-eul kku-myeon bo-gi on-da-go hae-yo
영어: They say if you dream of a pig, good fortune will come.
한국어: 신발을 선물하면 떠난다는 말이 있어요.
발음: shin-bal-eul seon-mul-ha-myeon tteo-nan-da-neun mal-i i-sseo-yo
영어: There’s a saying that giving shoes as a gift means the person will leave.
5. 🤔 Did you know?
The Korean lottery office often sees more winners during certain dream seasons! After Chuseok or New Year’s, people rush to buy lottery tickets based on good dream omens. Dream books, called 꿈 해몽 책, are even sold in convenience stores!
6. Discuss Superstitions with a Korean Tutor
👉 Book a lesson with me on italki and let’s talk about Korean traditions, dreams, and everyday language.
