Lesson 2

Four-Character Idioms (사자성어)

Learn Sino-Korean four-character idioms used in daily life and writing.

Using 사자성어 in Sentences

사자성어 can be used as: (1) Noun: 시행착오가 필요해요 (Trial and error is needed). (2) With 이다: 자업자득이에요 (It's self-inflicted). (3) With 하다 (some): 우왕좌왕하다 (to be in confusion). (4) As modifier: 이심전심의 관계 (a telepathic relationship).

그 결과는 자업자득이라고 할 수 있습니다.geu gyeolgwaneun jaeobjakdeukirago hal su itseumnidaThat result can be called self-inflicted.

일석이조의 효과를 거두었습니다.ilseogijoeui hyogwareul geodueotseumnidaWe achieved a two-birds-one-stone effect.

~(으)ㄴ/는 끝에 — After (doing) / At the end of

Noun + 끝에 or Verb (past modifier) + 끝에 means 'after going through ~'. Expresses arriving at a result after a process. 고민 끝에 (after much deliberation), 노력한 끝에 (after making efforts).

오랜 고민 끝에 유학을 결심했어요.oraen gomin kkeute yuhageul gyeolsimhaesseoyoAfter long deliberation, I decided to study abroad.

많이 연습한 끝에 시험에 합격했어요.mani yeonseuphan kkeute siheome hapgyeokhaesseoyoAfter practicing a lot, I passed the exam.

일석이조ilseogijokilling two birds with one stone

Examples운동하면서 음악을 들으면 일석이조예요.undonghaimyeonseo eumageul deuremyeon ilseogijoyeyoListening to music while exercising is killing two birds with one stone.

자업자득jaeobjakdeukreap what you sow / self-inflicted

Examples공부를 안 했으니까 자업자득이지.gongbureul an haesseunnikka jaeobjakdeugyijiYou didn't study, so you reaped what you sowed.

우왕좌왕uwangjwawangright and left in confusion / in a dither

Examples갑자기 비가 와서 사람들이 우왕좌왕했어요.gapjagi biga waseo saramdeuri uwangjwawanghaesseoyoIt suddenly rained and people were running around in confusion.

시행착오sihaengchagotrial and error

Examples여러 번의 시행착오 끝에 성공했어요.yeoreo beonui sihaengchago kkeute seongonghaesseoyoAfter much trial and error, I succeeded.

이심전심isimjeonsimheart-to-heart understanding / telepathy

Examples오래된 친구라서 이심전심으로 통해요.oraedoen chinguraseo isimjeonsimeuro tonghaeyoWe've been friends so long, we understand each other without words.

동고동락donggodongnakshare joys and sorrows together

Examples팀원들과 동고동락하며 프로젝트를 완성했어요.timwondeulgwa donggodongnahamyeo peurojekteureul wanseonghaesseoyoWe completed the project sharing all the ups and downs with our team.