🪄 The Magic of Words: Mastering Korean Metaphors & Figurative Language

Metaphors are the soul of a language. Teacher Hoon explains how to move beyond literal meanings and understand the poetic, humorous imagery used by Koreans every day.

Delicious Korean pancake representing layers of meaning

Why Your Korean Needs "Imagery" (EEAT Tip)

In Korea, saying "I'm picky" is common, but saying "눈이 높다" (My eyes are high) makes you sound truly fluent. As a teacher with 20 years of experience, I've noticed that figurative language is the fastest way to understand K-dramas and folktales. It reflects the Korean collective psyche. Let's explore the top 10 metaphors you'll hear today.

📑 Tap to view Metaphor Guide

1. Top 10 High-Frequency Metaphors
2. How to Study Figurative Language
3. 💡 The Roots of Korean Poetry

✨ Top 10 Korean Figurative Expressions

👀 눈이 높다 (nuni nopda) → Picky / High standards.
👣 발이 넓다 (bari neolbda) → Well-connected / Social.
🙊 입이 무겁다 (ibi mugeopda) → Good at keeping secrets.
💔 가슴이 찢어지다 (gaseumi jjijeojida) → Deep sorrow / Heartbroken.
🍋 배가 아프다 (baega apeuda) → Feeling jealous / envious.
🤲 손이 크다 (soni keuda) → Generous (esp. with food/money).
🟡 하늘이 노랗다 (haneuri norata) → Feeling faint / Hopeless.
👂 귀가 얇다 (gwiga yalbda) → Easily persuaded / Gullible.
🔥 눈에 불을 켜다 (nune bureul kyeoda) → Angry or hyper-focused.
🏃‍♂️ 허리가 휘다 (heoriga hwida) → Overworked / Financial burden.

💡 Teacher Hoon's expert "Visual Memory" Tip

When you learn "귀가 얇다" (Thin ears), don't just memorize the English. Visualize ears that are so thin they flutter with every person's whisper! This visual connection is how native speakers process these words. Try creating one mental image for each metaphor you study.

🧠 How to Master the Flow

K-Drama Hunt: Listen for 신체 (body) related idioms in variety shows like Running Man.
Sentence Craft: Write a journal entry using one metaphor. E.g., "오늘 맛있는 걸 많이 사서 손이 크다는 말을 들었어요."
Context Check: Ask a native speaker if the nuance is playful or serious—metaphors like 배가 아프다 are often used as jokes between friends!

💡 Did You Know? Poetic Heritage

Korea has a world-class reading culture, and many modern metaphors actually come from traditional 시 (Sijo poetry) and ancient folktales. This is why Korean figurative language often feels very natural and organic—it’s been refined over centuries of storytelling!

Want to Use These in Real Conversation?

Don't let your Korean stay "textbook-flat." Book a 1:1 "Advanced Expressions" session with Hoon on italki. We'll practice weaving these metaphors into your speech so you sound authentic and expressive in any situation!

🚀 Master Expressive Korean with Hoon

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