Korean Body-Related Idioms – Express Yourself Naturally in Korean
👀 1. What Are Body-Related Idioms in Korean?
In Korean, idioms using body parts express feelings, personality, or actions through figurative language.
For example, the phrase “귀가 얇다 (gwi-ga yalbda)” literally means “ears are thin,” but actually refers to a person who easily believes what others say.
These expressions are deeply rooted in Korean culture, showing how the human body becomes a mirror of emotion and behavior in daily speech.
💬 2. Common Korean Body Idioms with Meanings and Examples
👂 Ear Idioms
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귀가 얇다 – gwi-ga yalbda – “have thin ears”
→ Easily influenced by others’ opinions.Example: 그는 귀가 얇아서 광고만 보면 바로 사요.
He’s easily influenced by ads and buys everything he sees. -
귀가 따갑다 – gwi-ga ttakabda – “ears burn”
→ Tired of hearing the same thing repeatedly.Example: 담배 끊으라는 말 이제 귀가 따가워요.
I’m tired of hearing “quit smoking” all the time. -
귀에 못이 박히다 – gwi-e mot-i bakhida – “a nail is driven into the ear”
→ Hearing something so many times that it’s annoying.Example: 엄마 말이 귀에 못이 박혔어요.
Mom keeps saying the same thing over and over again.
👀 Eye Idioms
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눈이 높다 – nun-i nopda – “have high eyes”
→ To be picky or have high standards.Example: 그는 눈이 높아서 아무 옷이나 안 입어요.
He’s very picky, so he doesn’t wear just anything. -
눈에 불을 켜다 – nun-e bul-eul kyeoda – “light fire in one’s eyes”
→ To focus intensely or get angry.Example: 세일 소식에 눈에 불을 켜고 쇼핑했어요.
I went shopping fiercely when I saw the sale news. -
눈이 빠지게 기다리다 – nun-i ppajige gidarida – “wait until your eyes fall out”
→ To wait anxiously for something.Example: 택배를 눈이 빠지게 기다렸어요.
I waited forever for my package to arrive.
🧠 Head Idioms
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머리가 좋다 – meoriga jota – “have a good head”
→ To be smart or quick-minded.Example: 그녀는 머리가 좋아서 외국어를 빨리 배워요.
She’s smart, so she learns languages fast. -
머리가 복잡하다 – meoriga bokjaphada – “head is complicated”
→ To have too many thoughts or worries.Example: 요즘 일 때문에 머리가 복잡해요.
My head is full of thoughts these days. -
머리를 식히다 – meorireul sikida – “cool down the head”
→ To take a break and relax.Example: 산책하면서 머리를 식히고 올게요.
I’ll go for a walk to clear my head.
❤️ Heart/Chest Idioms
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가슴이 답답하다 – gaseumi dapdaphada – “chest feels tight”
→ To feel anxious, worried, or heavy-hearted.Example: 좋은 소식이 없어서 가슴이 답답해요.
I feel uneasy because I haven’t heard any good news. -
가슴이 벅차다 – gaseumi beokchada – “chest is full”
→ To feel emotional or overwhelmed with joy.Example: 무대에 섰을 때 가슴이 벅찼어요.
I felt emotional when I stood on the stage. -
가슴에 새기다 – gaseume saegida – “engrave in one’s heart”
→ To remember something deeply.Example: 선생님의 말씀을 가슴에 새겼어요.
I’ll keep my teacher’s words in my heart.
✋ Hand Idioms
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손이 크다 – son-i keuda – “have big hands”
→ To be generous or spend a lot.Example: 그는 손이 커서 음식을 항상 많이 해요.
He’s generous and always cooks too much food. -
손이 빠르다 – son-i ppareuda – “have quick hands”
→ To work fast and efficiently.Example: 그 직원은 손이 빨라서 일이 깔끔해요.
That employee works fast and efficiently. -
손을 놓다 – son-eul nota – “let go of hands”
→ To give up or quit something.Example: 결국 그 프로젝트에 손을 놓았어요.
In the end, we gave up on that project.
👣 Foot Idioms
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발이 넓다 – bal-i neolbda – “have wide feet”
→ To have many connections or acquaintances.Example: 그는 발이 넓어서 모르는 사람이 없어요.
He knows everyone — his network is huge. -
발이 묶이다 – bal-i mukida – “feet are tied”
→ To be stuck and unable to move.Example: 폭설 때문에 공항에서 발이 묶였어요.
I got stuck at the airport because of the heavy snow. -
발 벗고 나서다 – bal beotgo naseoda – “step out barefoot”
→ To actively volunteer or help.Example: 친구가 어려울 때 발 벗고 도와줬어요.
I stepped up to help my friend in need.
👅 Mouth Idioms
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입이 가볍다 – ib-i gabyeopda – “have a light mouth”
→ To talk too much or not keep secrets.Example: 그는 입이 가벼워서 비밀을 못 지켜요.
He can’t keep secrets because he talks too much. -
입에 맞다 – ib-e matda – “suits one’s mouth”
→ To like the taste of something.Example: 이 음식은 제 입에 딱 맞아요.
This food perfectly suits my taste.
📚 3. Tips for Learning Korean Idioms Effectively
✅ Visualize the body part.
Imagine the literal meaning of the idiom (ears, eyes, hands, etc.) and connect it to its figurative sense.
✅ Learn with examples.
Use idioms in context—dialogues, dramas, or short writing practice—to remember them naturally.
✅ Group similar idioms together.
Study by category (ear idioms, eye idioms, etc.) for easier recall.
✅ Useful for TOPIK exams.
Idioms often appear in TOPIK II writing and reading sections. Learning them boosts comprehension and expression.
💡 4. Final Thoughts – Language Reflects the Human Body
Korean body idioms reveal how language captures emotion, personality, and cultural mindset.
Expressions like “눈이 높다 (to have high eyes)” or “손이 크다 (to have big hands)” show that Koreans use physical imagery to describe feelings vividly.
For Korean learners, mastering these idioms adds color and authenticity to everyday conversation.
Next time you hear someone say “가슴이 벅차요” (my heart is full) — you’ll understand not just the words, but the emotion behind them. ❤️
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