TOPIK TOPIK Korean Expressions and Idioms 1 β Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the Korean expression 'λ°μ΄ λλ€' literally mean, and what does it actually convey?
- 'Big hands' β to be hardworking
- 'Wide feet' β to have a wide social network (Correct answer)
- 'Long arms' β to be influential
- 'Big eyes' β to be observant
Correct answer: 'Wide feet' β to have a wide social network
'λ°μ΄ λλ€' literally means 'to have wide feet' but idiomatically means someone has a broad social network or knows many people.
Question 2: What does 'λμ΄ λλ€' mean in Korean?
- To be tall
- To have high standards or be picky (Correct answer)
- To be far-sighted
- To be ambitious in business
Correct answer: To have high standards or be picky
'λμ΄ λλ€' means 'to have high eyes' and idiomatically means having high standards, often regarding romantic partners.
Question 3: Which Korean expression means 'to turn a blind eye' or 'to pretend not to see'?
- κ·κ° μλ€
- λͺ¨λ₯΄λ μ²νλ€
- λμ κ°λ€ (Correct answer)
- λ°μ λΉΌλ€
Correct answer: λμ κ°λ€
'λμ κ°λ€' literally means 'to close one's eyes' and is used to mean ignoring or overlooking something intentionally.
Question 4: What does the idiom 'μμ΄ ν¬λ€' convey in Korean?
- To be generous or cook/buy in large quantities (Correct answer)
- To be physically strong
- To be skilled with tools
- To be greedy
Correct answer: To be generous or cook/buy in large quantities
'μμ΄ ν¬λ€' (big hands) idiomatically means being generous, especially cooking large amounts of food.
Question 5: What does 'κ·κ° μλ€' (thin ears) mean as a Korean idiom?
- To be a good listener
- To be easily influenced by others' opinions (Correct answer)
- To have hearing problems
- To be secretive
Correct answer: To be easily influenced by others' opinions
'κ·κ° μλ€' describes someone who is easily swayed or influenced by what they hear from others.
Question 6: The Korean expression 'λ°°λ³΄λ€ λ°°κΌ½μ΄ λ ν¬λ€' is used when:
- Someone eats too much
- The side cost or effort exceeds the main purpose (Correct answer)
- A person is very clumsy
- Someone is extremely humble
Correct answer: The side cost or effort exceeds the main purpose
'λ°°λ³΄λ€ λ°°κΌ½μ΄ λ ν¬λ€' (the belly button is bigger than the belly) means the incidental cost or effort is greater than the main thing.
What does the Korean expression 'λ°μ΄ λλ€' literally mean, and what does it actually convey?