Korean Dictionary · Level C2

Korean C2 Vocabulary

All 709 CEFR C2 words, each with romanization, meaning, and an example sentence.

• 미봉책 mibongchaek — stopgap measure
• 일사천리 ilsacheolli — smooth and swift progress
• 진퇴양난 jintwoeyangnan — dilemma
• 유비무환 yubimuhwan — being prepared avoids trouble
• 새옹지마 saeongjima — blessing in disguise
• 자업자득 jaeopjadeuk — reaping what you sow
• 이심전심 isimjeonsim — mutual understanding without words
• 온고지신 ongojisin — learning from the past
• 우여곡절 uyeogokjeol — twists and turns
• 학수고대 haksugodae — eagerly awaiting
• 절체절명 jeolchejeolmyeong — critical, desperate situation
• 고육지책 goyukjichaek — painful compromise measure
• 시행착오 sihaengchak-o — trial and error
• 안목 anmok — discerning eye
• 저력 jeoryeok — latent strength
• 통섭 tongseop — consilience
• 백문불여일견 baengmunburyeoilgyeon — seeing is believing
• 괄목상대 gwalmoksangdae — remarkable improvement
• 대기만성 daegimanseong — great talent matures late
• 전화위복 jeonhwawibok — turning misfortune into a blessing
• 사면초가 samyeonchoga — besieged on all sides
• 오리무중 orimujung — utterly in the dark
• 설상가상 seolsanggasang — one misfortune on top of another
• 금상첨화 geumsangcheomhwa — icing on the cake
• 다다익선 dadaikseon — the more the better
• 과유불급 gwayubulgeup — too much is as bad as too little
• 감언이설 gam-eoniseol — sweet talk / honeyed words
• 표리부동 pyoribudong — duplicity
• 아전인수 ajeoninsu — self-serving interpretation
• 견물생심 gyeonmulsaengsim — seeing something breeds desire
• 결자해지 gyeoljahaeji — whoever tied the knot should untie it
• 청출어람 cheongchureoram — the student surpasses the teacher
• 형설지공 hyeongseoljigong — diligent study amid hardship
• 마이동풍 maidongpung — turning a deaf ear
• 우이독경 uidokgyeong — reading scripture to an ox — futile advice
• 조삼모사 josammosa — deceiving with a trivial rearrangement
• 호시탐탐 hositamtam — watching intently for a chance
• 와신상담 wasinsangdam — enduring hardship to achieve revenge
• 권토중래 gwontojungnae — returning stronger after defeat
• 백절불굴 baekjeolbulgul — indomitable spirit
• 초지일관 chojiilgwan — consistent from start to finish
• 유유상종 yuyusangjong — birds of a feather flock together
• 동병상련 dongbyeongsangnyeon — fellow sufferers sympathize
• 역지사지 yeokjisaji — putting yourself in another's place
• 인지상정 injisangjeong — ordinary human feeling
• 안하무인 anhamuin — arrogantly looking down on everyone
• 후안무치 huanmuchi — brazen shamelessness
• 좌불안석 jwabul-anseok — too anxious to sit still
• 노심초사 nosimchosa — fretting with worry
• 전전긍긍 jeonjeon-geunggeung — trembling with apprehension
• 속수무책 soksumuchaek — utterly helpless
• 자포자기 japojagi — giving up on oneself
• 타산지석 tasanjiseok — a lesson drawn from another's fault
• 일취월장 ilchwiwoljang — rapid, steady progress
• 괄시 gwalsi — contemptuous slighting
• 기지 giji — quick wit
• 반추 banchu — rumination / mulling over
• 소회 sohoe — one's personal reflections
• 편린 pyeollin — a fragment / glimpse
• 여운 yeoun — lingering resonance
• 각골난망 gakgollanmang — gratitude carved into one's bones
• 감개무량 gamgaemuryang — overwhelmed with emotion
• 감지덕지 gamjideokji — deeply grateful for even a little
• 갑론을박 gamnoneulbak — heated back-and-forth argument
• 개과천선 gaegwacheonseon — turning over a new leaf
• 거두절미 geodujeolmi — cutting to the chase
• 격세지감 gyeoksejigam — sense that an era has passed
• 견강부회 gyeon-gangbuhoe — far-fetched rationalization
• 견원지간 gyeonwonjigan — like cats and dogs
• 경거망동 gyeong-geomangdong — rash and thoughtless behavior
• 고군분투 gogunbuntu — struggling alone against odds
• 고립무원 gorimmuwon — isolated with no help
• 고진감래 gojingamnae — hardship is followed by sweetness
• 골육상잔 goryuksangjan — fratricidal strife
• 과대망상 gwadaemangsang — delusions of grandeur
• 교각살우 gyogaksaru — ruining the whole while fixing a flaw
• 구사일생 gusailsaeng — narrow escape from death
• 구우일모 guuilmo — a trifling part of a vast whole
• 군계일학 gungyeilhak — standing head and shoulders above
• 궁여지책 gung-yeojichaek — last-resort expedient
• 권선징악 gwonseonjing-ak — rewarding good and punishing evil
• 근묵자흑 geunmukjaheuk — you become like those you keep company with
• 금과옥조 geumgwaokjo — an inviolable rule held sacred
• 금시초문 geumsichomun — hearing something for the first time
• 기고만장 gigomanjang — puffed up with arrogance
• 기사회생 gisahoesaeng — miraculous recovery from the brink
• 난공불락 nan-gongbullak — impregnable
• 난형난제 nanhyeongnanje — too close to call
• 낭중지추 nangjungjichu — talent that cannot stay hidden
• 내우외환 naeuoehwan — troubles within and without
• 노발대발 nobaldaebal — flying into a rage
• 다사다난 dasadanan — eventful and troubled
• 단도직입 dandojigip — getting straight to the point
• 대동소이 daedongso-i — much the same with minor differences
• 독불장군 dokbuljanggun — a lone wolf who ignores others
• 동고동락 donggodongnak — sharing joys and sorrows together
• 동상이몽 dongsang-imong — same bed, different dreams
• 두문불출 dumunbulchul — shutting oneself indoors
• 등화가친 deunghwagachin — autumn, the season fit for reading
• 막상막하 maksangmakha — neck and neck
• 만시지탄 mansijitan — regret that it comes too late
• 명실상부 myeongsilsangbu — living up to one's name
• 목불인견 mokburin-gyeon — too awful to look at
• 무용지물 muyongjimul — a useless thing
• 무위도식 muwidosik — living idly off others
• 문전성시 munjeonseongsi — thronged with visitors
• 미사여구 misayeogu — flowery empty rhetoric
• 박학다식 bakhakdasik — broadly learned
• 반신반의 bansinban-ui — half believing, half doubting
• 발본색원 balbonsaegwon — rooting out a problem entirely
• 방약무인 bang-yangmuin — behaving as if no one else is there
• 배은망덕 bae-eunmangdeok — ingratitude toward a benefactor
• 백년해로 baengnyeonhaero — growing old together
• 부화뇌동 buhwanoedong — blindly following the crowd
• 분골쇄신 bun-golswaesin — giving one's utmost, body and soul
• 불철주야 bulcheoljuya — day and night without rest
• 비일비재 biilbijae — far from rare, all too common
• 사상누각 sasangnugak — a castle built on sand
• 사필귀정 sapilgwijeong — right prevails in the end
• 산전수전 sanjeonsujeon — having been through it all
• 삼고초려 samgochoryeo — persistent courting of a talent
• 상전벽해 sangjeonbyeokhae — dramatic transformation over time
• 선견지명 seon-gyeonjimyeong — foresight
• 설왕설래 seorwangseollae — words going back and forth inconclusively
• 소탐대실 sotamdaesil — losing much by grasping at little
• 수수방관 susubanggwan — standing idly by
• 순망치한 sunmangchihan — when one falls, the other suffers
• 시시비비 sisibibi — sorting right from wrong
• 신출귀몰 sinchulgwimol — appearing and vanishing unpredictably
• 실사구시 silsagusi — seeking truth from facts
• 심기일전 simgiiljeon — making a fresh mental start
• 십시일반 sipsiilban — many small contributions making one whole
• 아비규환 abigyuhwan — scene of utter chaos and agony
• 애지중지 aejijungji — treasuring dearly
• 어부지리 eobujiri — profiting from others' quarrel
• 언중유골 eonjung-yugol — a barb hidden in casual words
• 엄동설한 eomdongseolhan — the depths of a bitter winter
• 연목구어 yeonmokgueo — seeking the impossible
• 오매불망 omaebulmang — unable to forget waking or sleeping
• 오월동주 owoldongju — enemies forced into the same boat
• 외유내강 oeyunaegang — gentle outside, strong inside
• 요지부동 yojibudong — immovable, unshakable
• 용두사미 yongdusami — strong start, weak finish
• 우공이산 ugong-isan — perseverance moves mountains
• 위풍당당 wipungdangdang — imposing and dignified
• 유명무실 yumyeongmusil — existing in name only
• 유일무이 yuilmui — one and only, unique
• 은인자중 eun-injajung — keeping a low profile and biding time
• 음풍농월 eumpungnongwol — idle poetic enjoyment of nature
• 읍참마속 eupchammasok — punishing a favorite for the greater good
• 이구동성 igudongseong — speaking with one voice
• 이열치열 iyeolchiyeol — fighting fire with fire
• 인과응보 in-gwaeungbo — karmic retribution
• 인산인해 insan-inhae — a sea of people
• 일거양득 ilgeoyangdeuk — killing two birds with one stone
• 일도양단 ildoyangdan — cutting a matter decisively in two
• 일망타진 ilmangtajin — rounding up all at once
• 일면식 ilmyeonsik — even a passing acquaintance
• 일벌백계 ilbeolbaekgye — making an example of one to warn many
• 일사불란 ilsabullan — perfectly orderly
• 일석이조 ilseogijo — two birds with one stone
• 일언지하 ireonjiha — flatly, in a single word
• 일장춘몽 iljangchunmong — a fleeting spring dream
• 일촉즉발 ilchokjeukbal — on a hair trigger
• 일편단심 ilpyeondansim — unwavering single-hearted devotion
• 임기응변 imgieungbyeon — improvising to fit the moment
• 입신양명 ipsinyangmyeong — rising in the world and making a name
• 자가당착 jagadangchak — self-contradiction
• 자격지심 jagyeokjisim — a nagging sense of inadequacy
• 자승자박 jaseungjabak — caught in one's own trap
• 자화자찬 jahwajachan — singing one's own praises
• 작심삼일 jaksimsamil — a resolution lasting only three days
• 적반하장 jeokbanhajang — the offender scolding the victim
• 적재적소 jeokjaejeokso — the right person in the right place
• 전무후무 jeonmuhumu — unprecedented and unrepeatable
• 전인미답 jeoninmidap — where no one has gone before
• 절차탁마 jeolchatakma — polishing oneself through diligence
• 점입가경 jeomipgagyeong — getting more interesting — or more absurd
• 정정당당 jeongjeongdangdang — fair and square
• 조령모개 joryeongmogae — constantly changing rules
• 좌충우돌 jwachung-udol — blundering about in all directions
• 주객전도 jugaekjeondo — putting the cart before the horse
• 주마간산 jumagansan — a hasty, superficial look
• 주마등 jumadeung — images flashing by like a revolving lantern
• 중구난방 junggunanbang — everyone talking at cross purposes
• 지피지기 jipijigi — know the enemy and know yourself
• 진수성찬 jinsuseongchan — a lavish feast
• 천고마비 cheon-gomabi — crisp autumn weather
• 천신만고 cheonsinman-go — untold hardship
• 천양지차 cheonyangjicha — a world of difference
• 천재일우 cheonjaeilu — a once-in-a-lifetime chance
• 천편일률 cheonpyeonillyul — monotonously uniform
• 철두철미 cheolducheolmi — thorough from head to toe
• 청천벽력 cheongcheonbyeongnyeok — a bolt from the blue
• 촌철살인 choncheolsarin — a short remark that cuts to the heart
• 추풍낙엽 chupungnagyeop — falling helplessly like autumn leaves
• 칠전팔기 chiljeonpalgi — rising again after every fall
• 쾌도난마 kwaedonanma — cutting through a tangle decisively
• 탁상공론 taksanggongnon — impractical armchair theorizing
• 태연자약 taeyeonjayak — perfectly composed
• 파란만장 paranmanjang — full of dramatic ups and downs
• 파죽지세 pajukjise — irresistible momentum
• 팔방미인 palbangmiin — a jack of all trades
• 풍전등화 pungjeondeunghwa — a candle in the wind — precarious
• 풍비박산 pungbibaksan — scattered to pieces
• 피골상접 pigolsangjeop — emaciated, skin and bones
• 함흥차사 hamheungchasa — someone sent who never returns
• 허심탄회 heosimtanhoe — open and frank
• 허장성세 heojangseongse — empty show of strength
• 현모양처 hyeonmoyangcheo — wise mother and good wife
• 호가호위 hogahowi — borrowing another's power to bully
• 호구지책 hogujichaek — means of bare subsistence
• 호연지기 hoyeonjigi — a broad, noble spirit
• 혼비백산 honbibaeksan — scared out of one's wits
• 화룡점정 hwaryongjeomjeong — the finishing touch
• 화중지병 hwajungjibyeong — a pie in the sky
• 확고부동 hwakgobudong — firm and unshakable
• 환골탈태 hwan-goltaltae — complete transformation for the better
• 회자정리 hoejajeongni — those who meet must part
• 횡설수설 hoengseolsuseol — rambling incoherently
• 후회막급 huhoemakgeup — regret beyond remedy
• 흥망성쇠 heungmangseongsoe — rise and fall, waxing and waning
• 희로애락 huiroaerak — joys and sorrows of life
• 구밀복검 gumilbokgeom — honey on the lips, a sword in the heart
• 금의환향 geumuihwanhyang — returning home in glory
• 난상토론 nansangtoron — free-for-all debate
• 동분서주 dongbunseoju — rushing about in every direction
• 명약관화 myeong-yakgwanhwa — as clear as day
• 무소불위 musobulwi — all-powerful, unchecked
• 백년대계 baengnyeondaegye — a plan for a century ahead
• 불문곡직 bulmun-gokjik — without asking right or wrong
• 가늠 ganeum — a rough estimate or reckoning
• 가책 gachaek — pangs of conscience
• 각광 gakgwang — the limelight
• 간극 gan-geuk — a gulf between two things
• 간과 gan-gwa — overlooking something important
• 갈무리 galmuri — tidying away and wrapping up
• 감내 gamnae — bearing something hard
• 감안 gam-an — taking into consideration
• 개탄 gaetan — deploring
• 객기 gaekgi — reckless bravado
• 거장 geojang — a master, a maestro
• 거취 geochwi — whether one stays or goes
• 건재 geonjae — still standing strong
• 격조 gyeokjo — refinement, class
• 견지 gyeonji — a standpoint one holds to
• 결례 gyeollye — a breach of etiquette
• 결핍 gyeolpip — deficiency, want
• 겸허 gyeomheo — humility
• 경외 gyeong-oe — awe and reverence
• 경종 gyeongjong — an alarm bell, a warning
• 계략 gyeryak — a scheme, a ploy
• 고배 gobae — the bitter cup of defeat
• 고찰 gochal — careful examination
• 고초 gocho — hardship and suffering
• 곡절 gokjeol — complications behind a matter
• 골자 golja — the gist, the core point
• 공허 gongheo — emptiness, hollowness
• 과오 gwao — a fault, a wrong committed
• 관록 gwallok — authority earned by long experience
• 관망 gwanmang — watching from the sidelines
• 관성 gwanseong — inertia, force of habit
• 괴리 goeri — divergence between two things
• 교두보 gyodubo — a bridgehead, a foothold
• 구설 guseol — unwelcome gossip about one
• 구심점 gusimjeom — a rallying center
• 궁리 gungni — turning a problem over in one's mind
• 궤도 gwedo — an established track or orbit
• 귀감 gwigam — a model worth emulating
• 귀결 gwigyeol — the outcome something arrives at
• 규합 gyuhap — rallying people together
• 균열 gyunyeol — a crack, a rift
• 백년하청 baengnyeonhacheong — waiting for something that will never come
• 기미 gimi — a faint sign of something coming
• 기치 gichi — a banner, a proclaimed cause
• 기틀 giteul — the groundwork, the base
• 낌새 kkimsae — an inkling that something is up
• 남발 nambal — issuing something recklessly often
• 낭패 nangpae — an embarrassing fiasco
• 노고 nogo — toil and effort expended
• 목불식정 mokbulsikjeong — utterly unlettered
• 각주구검 gakjugugeom — clinging to a method the situation has outgrown
• 눈총 nunchong — disapproving stares
• 능사 neungsa — the be-all and end-all
• 다반사 dabansa — an everyday occurrence
• 단상 dansang — stray reflections
• 단초 dancho — the first thread of a solution
• 답보 dapbo — a standstill
• 대세 daese — the prevailing trend
• 도량 doryang — magnanimity, breadth of mind
• 도외시 dooesi — dismissing as irrelevant
• 독선 dokseon — self-righteousness
• 동요 dongyo — wavering, unsettledness
• 두각 dugak — conspicuous distinction
• 등한시 deunghansi — neglecting something
• 만연 manyeon — rampant spread
• 맹점 maengjeom — a blind spot, a loophole
• 면모 myeonmo — an aspect of someone's character
• 명분 myeongbun — a justifying cause
• 모색 mosaek — groping for a way forward
• 무산 musan — coming to nothing
• 묵과 mukgwa — letting something pass in silence
• 문외한 munoehan — a complete layman
• 미덕 mideok — a virtue
• 연모 yeonmo — quiet romantic yearning
• 미증유 mijeung-yu — unprecedented in history
• 수주대토 sujudaeto — waiting idly for a lucky repeat
• 방증 bangjeung — indirect corroborating evidence
• 백미 baengmi — the finest part, the highlight
• 번영 beonyeong — prosperity
• 변모 byeonmo — a change in appearance or character
• 보루 boru — the last bastion
• 서정 seojeong — lyricism
• 본보기 bonbogi — an example set for others
• 부침 buchim — ups and downs of fortune
• 분기점 bun-gijeom — a turning point
• 불식 bulsik — dispelling doubts entirely
• 비견 bigyeon — being on a par with
• 비약 biyak — an unwarranted leap in reasoning
• 사족 sajok — a superfluous addition
• 산실 sansil — the cradle where something is born
• 상충 sangchung — mutual conflict
• 서슬 seoseul — an intimidating edge in one's manner
• 구습 guseup — an old entrenched custom
• 설파 seolpa — expounding a view forcefully
• 소산 sosan — the fruit of something
• 소양 soyang — cultivated grounding in a subject
• 흉중 hyungjung — what one holds in one’s breast
• 수순 susun — the expected sequence of steps
• 숙원 sugwon — a long-cherished wish
• 시금석 sigeumseok — a touchstone, a test case
• 신조 sinjo — a personal credo
• 실마리 silmari — a thread leading to an answer
• 심경 simgyeong — one's inner state of mind
• 심산 simsan — what one is quietly calculating
• 아량 aryang — generous tolerance
• 아성 aseong — an established stronghold
• 안배 anbae — judicious allocation
• 암묵 ammuk — tacit, unspoken
• 애환 aehwan — the joys and sorrows of ordinary life
• 미인박명 miinbangmyeong — great beauty, short life
• 어폐 eopye — a misleading way of putting it
• 후폭풍 hupokpung — the backlash that follows
• 연민 yeonmin — compassionate pity
• 열망 yeolmang — ardent longing
• 염두 yeomdu — the front of one's mind
• 영감 yeong-gam — inspiration
• 노마지지 nomajiji — the seasoned wisdom of an old hand
• 오기 ogi — stubborn pride that refuses to yield
• 온상 onsang — a hotbed
• 옹호 ongho — advocacy, defense of a position
• 와중 wajung — the thick of a turbulent situation
• 유화 yuhwa — a conciliatory softening
• 요체 yoche — the essential point
• 우려 uryeo — apprehension, concern
• 우회 uhoe — taking a roundabout route
• 명망 myeongmang — prestige and repute
• 위선 wiseon — hypocrisy
• 유대 yudae — a binding tie
• 유업 yueop — the lifework one leaves behind
• 계도 gyedo — a period of guidance before enforcement
• 윤곽 yun-gwak — the outline of something
• 은닉 eunnik — concealment
• 응어리 eung-eori — a knot of unresolved resentment
• 의구심 uigusim — a lingering doubt
• 이면 imyeon — the hidden other side
• 이질감 ijilgam — a sense of not belonging
• 인습 inseup — inherited convention
• 일가견 ilgagyeon — considerable expertise of one's own
• 일갈 ilgal — a single sharp rebuke
• 일단락 ildallak — coming to a provisional close
• 일말 ilmal — a trace, a shred
• 일탈 iltal — deviation from the norm
• 자취 jachwi — traces left behind
• 잔재 janjae — lingering vestiges
• 잣대 jatdae — a yardstick for judgment
• 심모원려 simmowollyeo — deep and far-reaching forethought
• 저의 jeoui — an ulterior motive
• 저해 jeohae — hindrance to progress
• 적나라 jeongnara — bare and unvarnished
• 전락 jeollak — sinking to a lower state
• 전유물 jeonyumul — the exclusive preserve of some group
• 절충 jeolchung — a blended compromise
• 정수 jeongsu — the quintessence
• 정점 jeongjeom — the peak, the apex
• 제고 jego — raising or enhancing
• 조명 jomyeong — shedding light on a subject
• 조짐 jojim — an early sign of what's coming
• 종용 jong-yong — pressing someone to do something
• 주춧돌 juchutdol — a cornerstone
• 중용 jung-yong — the golden mean
• 지론 jiron — a view one has long held
• 지평 jipyeong — a horizon of possibility
• 진면목 jinmyeonmok — one's true colors
• 진위 jinwi — authenticity, truth or falsity
• 힐난 hillan — reproachful censure
• 집대성 jipdaeseong — a comprehensive compilation
• 착시 chaksi — an optical illusion
• 참상 chamsang — a harrowing scene of devastation
• 처신 cheosin — how one conducts oneself
• 척도 cheokdo — a measure or standard
• 첩경 cheopgyeong — the surest shortcut
• 청사진 cheongsajin — a blueprint for the future
• 초석 choseok — a foundation stone
• 촉매 chokmae — a catalyst
• 추이 chui — the course developments take
• 추태 chutae — disgraceful behavior
• 축적 chukjeok — accumulation over time
• 출사표 chulsapyo — a declaration of entering the fray
• 의중 uijung — what someone has in mind
• 치부 chibu — a shameful thing one hides
• 퇴조 toejo — an ebbing away, decline
• 쾌거 kwaegeo — a splendid feat
• 타개 tagae — breaking through an impasse
• 탄식 tansik — a sigh of lament
• 통찰 tongchal — penetrating insight
• 퇴색 toesaek — fading of meaning or color
• 파격 pagyeok — a striking break from convention
• 소요 soyo — public disturbance
• 편승 pyeonseung — riding on someone else's momentum
• 폄하 pyeomha — belittling, disparagement
• 표류 pyoryu — drifting without direction
• 풍조 pungjo — a prevailing social tendency
• 필치 pilchi — a writer's distinctive touch
• 하소연 hasoyeon — a plaintive outpouring of grievances
• 함구 hamgu — keeping one's mouth shut
• 해빙 haebing — a thaw in relations
• 행보 haengbo — the moves one is making
• 향배 hyangbae — which way things will turn
• 허구 heogu — fiction, fabrication
• 혜안 hyean — far-seeing wisdom
• 넋두리 neokduri — a rambling lament
• 노릇 noreut — the part one has to play
• 눈엣가시 nunetgasi — a thorn in one's side
• 볼멘소리 bolmensori — a sulky complaint
• 어깃장 eogitjang — deliberate contrariness
• 억지 eokji — unreasonable insistence
• 엄포 eompo — an empty threat
• 옥신각신 oksin-gaksin — squabbling back and forth
• 우격다짐 ugyeokdajim — forcing something through by sheer insistence
• 으름장 eureumjang — a menacing threat
• 이골 igol — being thoroughly inured to something
• 트집 teujip — a fault picked for no good reason
• 핀잔 pinjan — a curt scolding
• 화풀이 hwapuri — venting anger on someone else
• 흠집 heumjip — a blemish or scratch
• 두둔 dudun — taking someone's side protectively
• 뒷북 dwitbuk — reacting long after the fact
• 딴전 ttanjeon — feigning inattention
• 몽니 mongni — spiteful obstinacy
• 뭇매 munmae — a public drubbing
• 밑천 mitcheon — one's stock of capital or resources
• 방편 bangpyeon — an expedient means
• 담력 damnyeok — nerve, guts
• 벼락치기 byeorakchigi — last-minute cramming
• 본때 bontae — a lesson that shows someone what's what
• 부아 bua — anger welling up inside
• 분수 bunsu — one's proper station
• 새치기 saechigi — cutting in line
• 생색 saengsaek — making a show of a small favor
• 설움 seoreum — welling sorrow at being wronged
• 손사래 sonsarae — waving one's hand in refusal
• 시늉 sinyung — going through the motions
• 실랑이 sillang-i — a drawn-out wrangle
• 심통 simtong — a sulky, ill temper
• 앙금 anggeum — the sediment of lingering ill feeling
• 애물단지 aemuldanji — a burden one can neither keep nor discard
• 엄살 eomsal — exaggerating one's pain or difficulty
• 운신 unsin — room to move or maneuver
• 옹고집 onggojip — pigheaded stubbornness
• 요령 yoryeong — the knack for doing something
• 인심 insim — the warmth and generosity of people
• 자초지종 jachojijong — the whole story from beginning to end
• 잔꾀 jankkoe — petty cunning
• 주눅 junuk — being cowed into timidity
• 지레짐작 jirejimjak — jumping to a conclusion too soon
• 짜임새 jjaimsae — structural coherence
• 채근 chaegeun — pressing someone to hurry
• 청승 cheongseung — a pitiable, dreary air
• 타박 tabak — nitpicking blame
• 텃세 teotse — hostility from insiders toward newcomers
• 푸념 punyeom — grumbling to no one in particular
• 한풀이 hanpuri — releasing long-held grief or resentment
• 허울 heoul — a hollow outer shell
• 호들갑 hodeulgap — an overblown fuss
• 홀대 holdae — cold, slighting treatment
• 흥정 heungjeong — haggling over terms
• 희소식 huisosik — welcome news
• 갈피 galpi — one's bearings amid confusion
• 결딴 gyeolttan — utter ruin
• 고집불통 gojipbultong — utterly immovable stubbornness
• 골칫거리 golchitgeori — a persistent headache
• 군더더기 gundeodeogi — superfluous excess
• 굴레 gulle — a yoke one cannot shake off
• 기색 gisaek — a sign showing on one's face
• 넉살 neoksal — brazen, unembarrassed affability
• 노파심 nopasim — excessive worry over trifles
• 눈속임 nunsogim — a trick on the eye
• 덤터기 deomteogi — being saddled with someone else's blame
• 뒤끝 dwitkkeut — a lingering grudge after a quarrel
• 등쌀 deungssal — relentless nagging pressure
• 만감 man-gam — a flood of mixed emotions
• 말미 malmi — a granted interval of time
• 면목 myeonmok — face, standing before others
• 무례 murye — rudeness
• 물의 murui — public scandal or outcry
• 반색 bansaek — showing open delight at someone
• 백기 baekgi — the white flag of surrender
• 뱃심 baetsim — gut nerve
• 부지기수 bujigisu — too many to count
• 불호령 bulhoryeong — a thunderous rebuke
• 비아냥 bianyang — sneering sarcasm
• 살얼음판 sareumpan — thin ice, a precarious footing
• 상책 sangchaek — the best course of action
• 성화 seonghwa — incessant pestering
• 수완 suwan — shrewd practical ability
• 심혈 simhyeol — one's heart and soul poured in
• 아우성 auseong — a clamor of voices
• 안간힘 an-ganhim — a desperate straining effort
• 애당초 aedangcho — from the very outset
• 억척 eokcheok — dogged, tireless toughness
• 여념 yeomnyeom — thought for anything else
• 열의 yeorui — earnest zeal
• 옥석 okseok — the good and the worthless mixed together
• 우환 uhwan — trouble or illness in the family
• 위엄 wieom — dignity that commands respect
• 이력 iryeok — one's accumulated track record
• 자만 jaman — conceited complacency
• 절치부심 jeolchibusim — gnashing one's teeth in determination
• 종지부 jongjibu — a final full stop
• 가일층 gailcheung — one step further still
• 각고 gakgo — painstaking, grinding effort
• 문경지교 mun-gyeongjigyo — a friendship one would die for
• 간담 gandam — one's innards — seat of courage
• 간청 gancheong — an earnest plea
• 갈구 galgu — craving, thirsting for
• 강구 gang-gu — devising measures
• 개진 gaejin — setting forth one's views
• 거창 geochang — grandiose in scale
• 격변 gyeokbyeon — violent upheaval
• 격상 gyeoksang — raising in rank or status
• 견인 gyeonin — pulling something forward
• 결의 gyeorui — firm resolve
• 경도 gyeongdo — being strongly drawn to something
• 승계 seunggye — succession to a position
• 고취 gochwi — instilling and inspiring
• 공고 gonggo — solid and firmly established
• 공표 gongpyo — official public announcement
• 관철 gwancheol — pushing a demand through to the end
• 교란 gyoran — throwing into disorder
• 구가 guga — openly enjoying a peak period
• 구현 guhyeon — giving concrete form to an idea
• 궁극 gung-geuk — the ultimate end
• 권위 gwonwi — recognized authority
• 귀추 gwichu — how a matter will turn out
• 규탄 gyutan — public denunciation
• 극명 geungmyeong — starkly clear
• 근간 geun-gan — the backbone of something
• 기승 giseung — running rampant unabated
• 기여 giyeo — a contribution made
• 낙관 nakgwan — taking an optimistic view
• 난관 nan-gwan — a formidable obstacle
• 남루 namnu — shabbiness of dress
• 능동 neungdong — acting on one's own initiative
• 답습 dapseup — following the old rut uncritically
• 도약 doyak — a leap to a higher stage
• 독보 dokbo — standing in a class of one
• 매개 maegae — serving as a medium between
• 명맥 myeongmaek — a thin thread of continuity
• 모태 motae — the womb something grew from
• 묘미 myomi — the subtle charm of a thing
• 미명 mimyeong — a fine-sounding pretext
• 박탈 baktal — stripping away a right
• 반열 banyeol — the ranks of the distinguished
• 발로 ballo — an outward expression of an inner feeling
• 방기 banggi — abandoning a duty
• 백안시 baegansi — regarding someone coldly
• 범람 beomnam — flooding, overabundance
• 병행 byeonghaeng — carrying out in parallel
• 부각 bugak — coming into prominence
• 부단 budan — ceaseless
• 분수령 bunsuryeong — a watershed moment
• 불가피 bulgapi — unavoidable
• 비호 biho — shielding someone from consequences
• 퇴출 toechul — being pushed out entirely
• 산재 sanjae — being scattered here and there
• 서막 seomak — the opening act
• 선봉 seonbong — the vanguard
• 섭렵 seomnyeop — reading or sampling widely
• 세태 setae — the manners of the times
• 이합집산 ihapjipsan — factions splitting apart and regrouping
• 수렴 suryeom — gathering opinions in, converging
• 시사 sisa — hinting at, implying
• 신봉 sinbong — devout adherence to a belief
• 안착 anchak — settling in safely
• 압권 apgwon — the standout best part
• 양산 yangsan — churning out in quantity
• 여실 yeosil — vividly true to reality
• 영속 yeongsok — perpetual continuation
• 예속 yesok — subjugation to another
• 왜소 waeso — smallness, feeling diminished
• 요원 yowon — far off and out of reach
• 우열 uyeol — which is superior and which inferior
• 원용 wonyong — invoking another's words in support
• 융화 yunghwa — harmonious blending
• 응집 eungjip — cohesion, drawing together
• 의연 uiyeon — steadfastly composed
• 이완 iwan — slackening, loosening
• 인멸 inmyeol — destroying evidence
• 일임 ilim — entrusting entirely to someone
• 비분강개 bibun-ganggae — indignant grief at injustice
• 잠식 jamsik — gradual encroachment
• 저변 jeobyeon — the broad grassroots base
• 전철 jeoncheol — the same mistaken path as before
• 점철 jeomcheol — being studded throughout with
• 제어 jeeo — keeping under control
• 대동단결 daedongdan-gyeol — uniting across differences for a common cause
• 종식 jongsik — bringing to a definitive end
• 주도권 judogwon — the initiative, the upper hand
• 준거 jun-geo — a criterion to judge by
• 지양 jiyang — deliberately steering away from
• 지향 jihyang — orienting oneself toward
• 진작 jinjak — invigorating, boosting
• 질타 jilta — sharp public censure
• 착안 chagan — hitting upon an idea
• 천착 cheonchak — digging deeply into a subject
• 촉진 chokjin — promoting and speeding up
• 추앙 chuang — veneration
• 치하 chiha — commendation from above
• 탈피 talpi — shedding an old form
• 감탄고토 gamtan-goto — keeping what suits you, discarding what doesn't
• 결초보은 gyeolchoboeun — repaying a kindness even after death
• 경천동지 gyeongcheondongji — earth-shaking
• 골몰 golmol — being absorbed in one thing
• 교언영색 gyoeonyeongsaek — flattering words and ingratiating looks
• 구태의연 gutaeuiyeon — stuck in outdated ways
• 기상천외 gisangcheonoe — wildly outlandish
• 다정다감 dajeongdagam — warm and tender-hearted
• 대의명분 daeuimyeongbun — a great and justifying cause
• 동가홍상 donggahongsang — same price, so take the better one
• 마부작침 mabujakchim — grinding an iron rod into a needle — persistence
• 만사형통 mansahyeongtong — everything going smoothly
• 명불허전 myeongbulheojeon — the reputation is well deserved
• 무릉도원 mureungdowon — an earthly paradise
• 박리다매 bangnidamae — small margins, high volume
• 방방곡곡 bangbanggokgok — every corner of the land
• 백년가약 baengnyeon-gayak — the marriage vow of a lifetime
• 백해무익 baekhaemuik — all harm and no benefit
• 불가항력 bulgahangnyeok — force majeure, beyond one's power
• 비몽사몽 bimongsamong — half asleep, half awake
• 사분오열 sabunoyeol — split into warring factions
• 산해진미 sanhaejinmi — delicacies of land and sea
• 삼삼오오 samsamoo — in small clusters of twos and threes
• 생사고락 saengsagorak — sharing life and death, joy and pain
• 선남선녀 seonnamseonnyeo — fine young men and women
• 소인배 soinbae — a petty-minded person
• 수구초심 suguchosim — longing for one's birthplace
• 시기상조 sigisangjo — premature, too early
• 우문현답 umunhyeondap — a wise answer to a foolish question
• 안분지족 anbunjijok — contentment with one's lot
• 약육강식 yagyukgangsik — the law of the jungle
• 어불성설 eobulseongseol — utterly illogical talk
• 억하심정 eokhasimjeong — what grudge could possibly motivate this
• 언감생심 eon-gamsaengsim — how could one even dare think it
• 오합지졸 ohapjijol — a disorganized rabble
• 옥상옥 oksang-ok — a redundant layer on top
• 좌고우면 jwagoumyeon — dithering while looking every way
• 유구무언 yugumueon — having no excuse to offer
• 유아독존 yuadokjon — regarding oneself as supreme
• 이실직고 isiljikgo — confessing the plain truth
• 일확천금 ilhwakcheon-geum — a sudden fortune at one stroke
• 임전무퇴 imjeonmutoe — never retreating in battle
• 자문자답 jamunjadap — asking and answering oneself
• 재기발랄 jaegiballal — sparkling with wit
• 전전반측 jeonjeonbancheuk — tossing and turning all night
• 조변석개 jobyeonseokgae — changing morning and evening
• 좌지우지 jwajiuji — controlling something at will
• 주경야독 jugyeong-yadok — working by day and studying by night
• 중과부적 jung-gwabujeok — hopelessly outnumbered
• 지지부진 jijibujin — dragging on with no progress
• 청렴결백 cheongnyeomgyeolbaek — spotless integrity
• 추호 chuho — the slightest bit
• 침소봉대 chimsobongdae — blowing a small thing out of proportion
• 토사구팽 tosagupaeng — discarding someone once they're no longer useful
• 파안대소 paandaeso — breaking into a broad laugh
• 팔자 paljja — one's lot in life
• 평지풍파 pyeongjipungpa — trouble stirred up out of nothing
• 포복절도 pobokjeoldo — doubling over with laughter
• 표변 pyobyeon — an abrupt about-face in attitude
• 풍월 pungwol — knowledge picked up by mere exposure
• 허무맹랑 heomumaengnang — utterly absurd and baseless
• 호구 hogu — an easy mark, a sucker
• 혹세무민 hoksemumin — deceiving the world and misleading the people
• 홍일점 hong-iljeom — the one woman among many men
• 화기애애 hwagiaeae — warm and convivial
• 흥청망청 heungcheongmangcheong — squandering extravagantly
• 희희낙락 huihuinangnak — merrily delighting
• 각자도생 gakjadosaeng — each fending for themselves
• 경국지색 gyeonggukjisaek — beauty that could topple a kingdom
• 계륵 gyeryuk — something too minor to keep, too wasteful to toss
• 기개 gigae — spirit, mettle
• 논박 nonbak — point-by-point refutation
• 뇌리 noeri — the recesses of one's mind
• 반향 banhyang — repercussions, resonance
• 야심 yasim — ambition
• 예단 yedan — judging prematurely
• 숙고 sukgo — deep deliberation
• 각인 gagin — being engraved on the mind
• 심사숙고 simsasukgo — long and careful deliberation