Four-character idioms (사자성어) are classical Chinese expressions used in Korean. These concise phrases convey profound meanings and are commonly used in formal speech, writing, and education.
Structure and Origin
What is 사자성어?
Characteristics:
- Exactly four Chinese characters (Hanja)
- Often from classical Chinese texts
- Each character has meaning
- Together create deeper message
- Used in Korean with Korean pronunciation
Reading:
- Read in Korean (not Chinese)
- Often need explanation
- Context determines usage
- Show education and culture
Common 사자성어 for Daily Life
일석이조 (一石二鳥)
Characters: 一 (one) 石 (stone) 二 (two) 鳥 (bird)
Meaning: Kill two birds with one stone
Usage: Getting two benefits from one action
Example: 운동도 하고 친구도 만나니 일석이조네요 (Exercising and meeting friends - killing two birds with one stone)
전화위복 (轉禍爲福)
Characters: 轉 (turn) 禍 (disaster) 爲 (become) 福 (fortune)
Meaning: A blessing in disguise / Turn misfortune into fortune
Usage: When bad situation leads to good outcome
Example: 회사에서 해고됐지만 전화위복이 되어 더 좋은 직장을 찾았어요 (Got fired but it was a blessing in disguise, found a better job)
역지사지 (易地思之)
Characters: 易 (change) 地 (place) 思 (think) 之 (it)
Meaning: Put yourself in someone else's shoes
Usage: Encouraging empathy
Example: 역지사지해서 생각해 봐. 네가 그 입장이라면? (Put yourself in their shoes. What if you were them?)
동고동락 (同苦同樂)
Characters: 同 (together) 苦 (suffering) 同 (together) 樂 (joy)
Meaning: Share both hardships and joys together
Usage: About close relationships through thick and thin
Example: 우리는 동고동락한 친구야 (We've been through thick and thin together)
자업자득 (自業自得)
Characters: 自 (self) 業 (action) 自 (self) 得 (obtain)
Meaning: You reap what you sow / Get what you deserve
Usage: When someone faces consequences of their actions
Example: 거짓말하다 들켰으니 자업자득이야 (Got caught lying, you reap what you sow)
Education and Learning
각골난망 (刻骨難忘)
Characters: 刻 (carve) 骨 (bone) 難 (difficult) 忘 (forget)
Meaning: Unforgettable / Carved into bones (deep gratitude)
Usage: Expressing deep gratitude or unforgettable memory
Example: 선생님의 은혜는 각골난망입니다 (Teacher's kindness is deeply unforgettable)
백년대계 (百年大計)
Characters: 百 (hundred) 年 (year) 大 (big) 計 (plan)
Meaning: Long-term plan / Plan for hundred years
Usage: About education or important long-term planning
Example: 교육은 백년대계입니다 (Education is a long-term investment)
온고지신 (溫故知新)
Characters: 溫 (warm) 故 (old) 知 (know) 新 (new)
Meaning: Learn new things by studying the old
Usage: About learning from history
Example: 온고지신이라고 옛것을 배우면 새것을 알게 돼요 (Learning the old teaches you the new)
박학다식 (博學多識)
Characters: 博 (wide) 學 (learning) 多 (many) 識 (knowledge)
Meaning: Well-learned and knowledgeable
Usage: Praising someone's extensive knowledge
Example: 그 교수님은 박학다식하세요 (That professor is very knowledgeable)
Work and Success
일취월장 (日就月將)
Characters: 日 (day) 就 (accomplish) 月 (month) 將 (grow)
Meaning: Rapid progress / Improving day by day
Usage: About rapid improvement
Example: 한국어 실력이 일취월장하네요 (Your Korean is improving rapidly)
수고하셨습니다 Related: 노심초사 (勞心焦思)
Characters: 勞 (labor) 心 (heart) 焦 (burn) 思 (think)
Meaning: Worry oneself sick / Anxious concern
Usage: Deep worry about something
Example: 시험 결과를 노심초사하며 기다렸어요 (Waited anxiously for exam results)
낙숫물이 바위를 뚫듯: 우공이산 (愚公移山)
Characters: 愚 (foolish) 公 (old man) 移 (move) 山 (mountain)
Meaning: Perseverance can accomplish anything
Usage: About persistent effort
Example: 우공이산이라고 꾸준히 하면 이룰 수 있어요 (With perseverance, anything is possible)
와신상담 (臥薪嘗膽)
Characters: 臥 (lie) 薪 (firewood) 嘗 (taste) 膽 (gall)
Meaning: Endure hardship to achieve revenge/goal
Usage: Extreme determination and sacrifice
Example: 와신상담하며 재기를 준비했어요 (Endured hardship to prepare for comeback)
Relationships and Ethics
금상첨화 (錦上添花)
Characters: 錦 (brocade) 上 (on) 添 (add) 花 (flower)
Meaning: Icing on the cake / Adding flowers to brocade
Usage: Making something good even better
Example: 승진했는데 보너스까지 받으니 금상첨화네요 (Got promoted and bonus - icing on the cake)
언행일치 (言行一致)
Characters: 言 (words) 行 (actions) 一 (one) 致 (match)
Meaning: Practice what you preach / Words match actions
Usage: About integrity and consistency
Example: 정치인은 언행일치해야 해요 (Politicians should practice what they preach)
유유상종 (類類相從)
Characters: 類 (similar) 類 (similar) 相 (mutual) 從 (follow)
Meaning: Birds of a feather flock together
Usage: Similar people gather together
Example: 유유상종이라고 친구를 보면 그 사람을 알 수 있어요 (Birds of a feather flock together)
오비이락 (烏飛梨落)
Characters: 烏 (crow) 飛 (fly) 梨 (pear) 落 (fall)
Meaning: Unfortunate coincidence / Wrong place, wrong time
Usage: Being suspected without cause
Example: 오비이락으로 억울하게 의심받았어요 (Got suspected by unfortunate coincidence)
Wisdom and Philosophy
새옹지마 (塞翁之馬)
Characters: 塞 (frontier) 翁 (old man) 之 (of) 馬 (horse)
Meaning: You never know how things will turn out / Blessing may be curse, curse may be blessing
Usage: About unpredictability of fortune
Example: 새옹지마라고 지금은 나빠도 나중에 좋을 수 있어요 (You never know, things might turn out well)
호사다마 (好事多魔)
Characters: 好 (good) 事 (matter) 多 (many) 魔 (devil)
Meaning: Good things come with difficulties
Usage: Obstacles in good plans
Example: 호사다마라고 결혼 준비하는데 문제가 많네요 (Good things have obstacles - wedding prep has issues)
청출어람 (靑出於藍)
Characters: 靑 (blue) 出 (come out) 於 (from) 藍 (indigo)
Meaning: Student surpasses teacher / Blue comes from indigo but is bluer
Usage: About exceeding one's teacher
Example: 제자가 청출어람이 되었어요 (Student surpassed the teacher)
허허실실 (虛虛實實)
Characters: 虛 (empty) 虛 (empty) 實 (real) 實 (real)
Meaning: Mix of truth and falsehood / Feint and attack
Usage: Strategic deception
Example: 허허실실 전략으로 상대를 혼란시켰어요 (Confused opponent with mix of feint and truth)
Emotions and Attitudes
희로애락 (喜怒哀樂)
Characters: 喜 (joy) 怒 (anger) 哀 (sorrow) 樂 (pleasure)
Meaning: Human emotions / All emotions of life
Usage: About full range of feelings
Example: 인생의 희로애락을 함께 나눠요 (Share all emotions of life together)
고진감래 (苦盡甘來)
Characters: 苦 (bitter) 盡 (end) 甘 (sweet) 來 (come)
Meaning: After hardship comes happiness / Sweet after bitter
Usage: Hope after difficulty
Example: 고진감래라고 힘든 시기가 지나면 좋은 날이 올 거예요 (After hardship comes happiness)
좌불안석 (坐不安席)
Characters: 坐 (sit) 不 (not) 安 (comfortable) 席 (seat)
Meaning: Can't sit still / On pins and needles
Usage: Extreme anxiety or nervousness
Example: 면접 결과를 기다리느라 좌불안석이에요 (Anxious waiting for interview results)
칠전팔기 (七顚八起)
Characters: 七 (seven) 顚 (fall) 八 (eight) 起 (rise)
Meaning: Fall seven times, rise eight / Never give up
Usage: About resilience and perseverance
Example: 칠전팔기의 정신으로 다시 도전해요 (With spirit of never giving up, try again)
Social Commentary
각자도생 (各自圖生)
Characters: 各 (each) 自 (self) 圖 (seek) 生 (life)
Meaning: Every man for himself / Fend for yourself
Usage: Modern society's individualism
Example: 요즘은 각자도생이라 자기만 챙기는 세상이에요 (These days everyone just looks out for themselves)
동상이몽 (同床異夢)
Characters: 同 (same) 床 (bed) 異 (different) 夢 (dream)
Meaning: Same bed, different dreams / Different goals despite appearing united
Usage: About apparent unity hiding different motives
Example: 결혼했지만 동상이몽이에요 (Married but have different dreams)
작심삼일 (作心三日)
Characters: 作 (make) 心 (heart/mind) 三 (three) 日 (day)
Meaning: Determination lasts only three days / Short-lived resolution
Usage: About failing to keep commitments
Example: 운동하겠다고 했지만 작심삼일이었어요 (Said I'd exercise but gave up after three days)
Business and Strategy
삼고초려 (三顧草廬)
Characters: 三 (three) 顧 (visit) 草 (grass) 廬 (hut)
Meaning: Visit three times to recruit talent / Persistent recruitment
Usage: Earnestly seeking someone's help
Example: 삼고초려 끝에 그 인재를 영입했어요 (After persistent attempts, recruited that talent)
주객전도 (主客顚倒)
Characters: 主 (main) 客 (guest) 顚 (overturn) 倒 (fall)
Meaning: Putting the cart before the horse / Priorities reversed
Usage: When secondary becomes primary
Example: 수단이 목적이 되어 주객전도되었어요 (Means became end - priorities reversed)
이심전심 (以心傳心)
Characters: 以 (with) 心 (heart) 傳 (transmit) 心 (heart)
Meaning: Mind-to-mind communication / Mutual understanding without words
Usage: Unspoken understanding
Example: 오래 사귀니 이심전심으로 통해요 (After dating long, we understand without words)
Using 사자성어 in Modern Korean
In Conversation
Casual usage:
- 일석이조네 (That's killing two birds)
- 작심삼일이야 (Three-day resolution)
- 각자도생이지 뭐 (Every man for himself)
Formal usage:
- -라는 사자성어가 있듯이 (As the idiom says)
- -인 셈이죠 (It's like the saying)
In Writing
Essays and articles:
- Opening with 사자성어 for impact
- Concluding with wisdom
- Supporting arguments
Business:
- Presentations
- Mission statements
- Leadership messages
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: Using without knowing meaning
Can sound pretentious
✅ Correct: Understand before using
Know context and meaning
❌ Incorrect: Overusing in casual speech
Sounds unnatural
✅ Correct: Use when appropriate
Match formality level
Cultural Notes
Educational Importance
In Korea:
- Taught in school
- Part of cultural literacy
- Used in exams (CSAT)
- Shows education level
When to Use
Appropriate:
- Formal speeches
- Written documents
- Showing wisdom
- Making points memorable
Less appropriate:
- Very casual conversation
- With non-Korean speakers
- When precision needed
Generational Differences
Older generation:
- Use more frequently
- Know more idioms
- Expect understanding
Younger generation:
- Use less often
- Know common ones
- More casual alternatives
Summary Table
| 사자성어 | Characters | Meaning | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 일석이조 | 一石二鳥 | Two birds one stone | Daily |
| 전화위복 | 轉禍爲福 | Blessing in disguise | Comfort |
| 역지사지 | 易地思之 | Put in someone's shoes | Empathy |
| 자업자득 | 自業自得 | Reap what you sow | Consequences |
| 고진감래 | 苦盡甘來 | After bitter comes sweet | Hope |
| 작심삼일 | 作心三日 | Three-day resolution | Failure |
| 언행일치 | 言行一致 | Actions match words | Integrity |
| 새옹지마 | 塞翁之馬 | Never know outcome | Philosophy |
| 청출어람 | 靑出於藍 | Student surpasses teacher | Achievement |
| 칠전팔기 | 七顚八起 | Fall seven rise eight | Perseverance |