Korean word

막상막하

Pronunciation

Romanizationmakssangmaka

Meaning

  • adjectiveneck and neck

Example

두 후보의 지지율은 막상막하다.tu hu bo ui chi ji yu reun mak ssang ma ka da

The two candidates' support ratings are neck and neck.

Illustration for 막상막하 (neck and neck)

More examples

막상막한 경기에서 관중은 마지막까지 긴장했다.mak ssang ma kan kyeong gi e seo kwan jung eun ma ji mak kka ji kin jang haet tta

In the neck-and-neck match, the spectators were tense until the end.

Core concept

Two sides stay so close that neither clearly pulls ahead.

Common phrases

  • 막상막한 경기mak ssang ma kan kyeong gi

    neck-and-neck match

  • 막상막한 접전mak ssang ma kan cheop jjeon

    close-fought contest

  • 막상막한 승부mak ssang ma kan seung bu

    neck-and-neck contest

Similar words

팽팽하다paengpaenghada: Remaining evenly balanced in strength, points, or influence, with neither side pulling ahead.
비슷하다piseutada: Sharing many features or qualities without being exactly the same.
대등하다taedeunghada: Having nearly equal status or ability, so the sides are well balanced.

Definition in Korean

두 대상의 차이가 거의 없어 우열이나 승부를 가리기 어려운 상태를 나타내는 형용사.tu tae sang ui cha i ga keo ui eop sseo u yeo ri na seung bu reul ka ri gi eo ryeo un sang tae reul na ta nae neun hyeong yong sa

Word origin

The expression comes from a Sino-Korean phrase meaning that neither side is above or below the other, which developed into the sense of evenly matched competitors.

Usage tips

  • It usually describes a close contest with a small gap, not a perfectly equal result, so it works well for races, elections, and competitions.

Opposites

  • 압도적apttojeokoverwhelmingadjective
  • 일방적ilbangjeokone-sidedadjective

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