Using 사자성어 (4-character idioms) | Advanced Level (TOPIK 5–6)

Using 사자성어 (4-character idioms) | Advanced Level (TOPIK 5–6)
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Do you know that mastering 사자성어 can make your Korean sound truly sophisticated?

These four-character idioms, rooted in Chinese classics, are frequently used in Korean news headlines, literature, and even business contexts. In this post, I’ll share essential 사자성어, explain their meanings, and show you how to use them naturally in daily and academic settings — knowledge that will definitely help in TOPIK 5–6 preparation and advanced conversations.

📚 Table of Contents

💡 What are 사자성어?

사자성어 (四字成語) literally means “four-character idioms.” They originated from classical Chinese but are deeply embedded in Korean language and culture. These idioms encapsulate wisdom, moral lessons, or vivid descriptions in just four syllables, often used in essays, speeches, and newspapers to convey complex ideas succinctly.

Example: ‘고진감래’ (go-jin-gam-rae) – “Sweetness follows bitterness,” meaning hardships are followed by happiness.

📖 Essential 사자성어 with Meanings

1. 고진감래 (苦盡甘來)
go-jin-gam-rae – Sweet comes after bitterness.
Used to encourage someone enduring hardship: “힘든 시기지만 고진감래야.” (“It’s tough now, but sweetness will follow.”)

2. 자수성가 (自手成家)
ja-su-seong-ga – To succeed by one’s own effort.
Often appears in biographies or news about entrepreneurs.

3. 십시일반 (十匙一飯)
sip-si-il-ban – Ten spoons make one meal.
Represents collective effort; everyone’s small help creates big results.

4. 사필귀정 (事必歸正)
sa-pil-gwi-jeong – Justice will prevail.
Used in legal or moral discussions to express belief in fairness.

5. 역지사지 (易地思之)
yeok-ji-sa-ji – Put yourself in another’s shoes.
Great for interpersonal relationships and empathy discussions.

🗣 Practice Dialogue

A: 이번 프로젝트 너무 힘들어. 포기하고 싶어.
I-beon peurojekteu neo-mu him-deu-reo. Po-gi-ha-go si-peo.
This project is so tough. I want to give up.

B: 힘내! 고진감래라는 말도 있잖아.
Him-nae! Go-jin-gam-rae-ra-neun mal-do it-ja-na.
Cheer up! Remember the saying “Sweetness comes after bitterness.”

🧩 Quick Check: Which 사자성어 would you use to describe helping others during hard times?

🌏 Did You Know?

Over 3,000 사자성어 are documented in Korean dictionaries, but only about 300 are frequently used in news, education, and literature. Interestingly, TOPIK advanced reading sections often include at least one 사자성어 in context questions, making them valuable for test preparation and cultural understanding alike.

📦 Final Thoughts

Mastering 사자성어 will not only make your Korean sound elegant but also deepen your understanding of Korean values and history. Try incorporating one idiom a week into your speaking or writing practice. The more you use them, the more natural they will feel in conversations or essays.

I hope that while reading various posts on my blog, you’ll learn Korean and grow to love Korea. As a Korean, I sincerely wish for that. Please come back anytime to discover new expressions and cultural insights!

🔗 Related Posts

  • Korean Proverbs and Their Everyday Use
    Learn how Korean proverbs enrich daily expressions and cultural understanding.

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    learn korean idioms, advanced korean expressions, korean TOPIK 5-6 vocabulary, 한국어 사자성어, 한국어 고급 표현, aprender coreano avanzado, 韓国語 四字熟語, expresiones coreanas avanzadas, topik 공부, korean cultural idioms

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