FOUR-CHARACTER IDIOMS · 40
일석이조
一石二鳥 · one stone, two birds
Getting two benefits from one action.
걸어서 출근하면 운동도 되고 돈도 아끼니 일석이조야.Walking to work saves money and counts as exercise — two birds, one stone.- 오리무중五里霧中Completely unclear; nobody knows what's going on.
- 동문서답東問西答An answer that has nothing to do with the question.
- 대기만성大器晩成Great talents bloom late.
- 과유불급過猶不及Overdoing something is as bad as not doing enough.
- 금상첨화錦上添花Something good on top of something already good.
- 설상가상雪上加霜One misfortune piled on another.
- 우유부단優柔不斷Indecisive; can't make up your mind.
- 유비무환有備無患If you're prepared, you won't have trouble.
- 자업자득自業自得You brought it on yourself.
- 인과응보因果應報What you do comes back to you, good or bad.
- 작심삼일作心三日Resolutions that fizzle out fast.
- 고진감래苦盡甘來Hard times end and good times follow.
- 새옹지마塞翁之馬Luck turns unpredictably — bad can become good and back again.
- 십시일반十匙一飯Many small contributions add up to real help.
- 이심전심以心傳心Understanding each other without words.
- 동병상련同病相憐People in the same trouble sympathize with each other.
- 막상막하莫上莫下Neck and neck; too close to call.
- 박장대소拍掌大笑Roaring with laughter.
- 사필귀정事必歸正In the end, the truth wins out.
- 역지사지易地思之Put yourself in the other person's shoes.
- 온고지신溫故知新Learning new things by studying the past.
- 우공이산愚公移山Steady effort can achieve the impossible.
- 일취월장日就月將Improving quickly and steadily.
- 전화위복轉禍爲福A setback that turns out to be a blessing.
- 죽마고우竹馬故友A friend since early childhood.
- 천생연분天生緣分A match made in heaven.
- 청출어람靑出於藍The student surpasses the teacher.
- 칠전팔기七顚八起Never giving up no matter how often you fail.
- 타산지석他山之石Learning from other people's mistakes.
- 표리부동表裏不同Two-faced; saying one thing, meaning another.
- 학수고대鶴首苦待Waiting eagerly and impatiently.
- 호사다마好事多魔Good things often come with setbacks.
- 화룡점정畵龍點睛The finishing touch that completes something.
- 언행일치言行一致Doing what you say.
- 각골난망刻骨難忘A kindness you'll never forget.
- 견물생심見物生心Seeing something makes you want it.
- 다다익선多多益善The more the better.
- 아전인수我田引水Twisting things to suit yourself.
- 용두사미龍頭蛇尾A grand start that fizzles out.