Korean Conversation · Level 296
15 words
Korean word
눈엣가시
Pronunciation
Romanizationnunetkkasi
Meaning
- nounthorn in one's side
Example
그 상사는 내 눈엣가시야.keu sang sa neun nae nu net kka si ya
That boss is a thorn in my side.
More examples
팀 내의 불화가 그를 우리에게 눈엣가시로 만들었다.tim nae ui pul hwa ga keu reul u ri e ge nu net kka si ro man deu reot tta
The discord within the team made him a thorn in our side.
Core concept
A persistent irritation that is hard to ignore, whether it is a person or a thing.
Common phrases
내 눈엣가시nae nu net kka si
a thorn in my side
눈엣가시가 되다nu net kka si ga toe da
become a thorn in one's side
Similar words
골칫거리kolchitkkeori: A person or matter that causes trouble and is difficult to deal with.
골칫덩어리kolchittteongeori: A person or thing that creates a heavy burden and is difficult to get rid of.
애물단지aemuldanji: A person or thing that is useless and causes trouble instead of helping.
밉상mipssang: A person whose presence or behavior quickly causes dislike and annoyance.
Definition in Korean
눈엣가시는 보거나 듣기만 해도 마음에 거슬려서 견디기 힘든 사람이나 사물을 가리키는 말.nu net kka si neun po geo na teut kki man hae do ma eu me keo seul lyeo seo kyeon di gi him deun sa ra mi na sa mu reul ka ri ki neun mal
Word origin
It combines native Korean words meaning eye and thorn, creating the image of a thorn that keeps irritating the eye and came to describe a bothersome person or thing.
Usage tips
- In conversation, applying this expression to a person can sound blunt, so the relationship and tone matter more than they would with a simple complaint about an object.
Other meanings
- eyesorenoun