Korean word

불리

Pronunciation

Romanizationpulli

Meaning

  • noundisadvantage

Example

우리는 초반의 불리를 극복했다.u ri neun cho ba nui pul li reul keuk ppo kaet tta

We overcame our early disadvantage.

Illustration for 불리 (disadvantage)

More examples

팀은 역전으로 불리를 만회했다.ti meun yeok jjeo neu ro pul li reul man hoe haet tta

The team made up for its disadvantage by turning the game around.

Core concept

A weaker position in a competition, where the conditions favor the opponent.

Common phrases

  • 초반의 불리cho ba nui pul li

    early disadvantage

  • 불리를 극복하다pul li reul keuk ppo ka da

    overcome a disadvantage

  • 불리를 만회하다pul li reul man hoe ha da

    make up for a disadvantage

Similar words

열세yeolse: A state of trailing an opponent in a contest or competition.
불이익puriik: An adverse consequence or less favorable treatment caused by an action or situation.

Definition in Korean

경쟁이나 대결에서 상대에 비해 손해를 보거나 유리하지 않은 처지나 상황을 뜻하는 명사.kyeong jaeng i na tae gyeo re seo sang dae e pi hae son hae reul po geo na yu ri ha ji a neun cheo ji na sang hwang eul tteu ta neun myeong sa

Word origin

불리 (bulri, "disadvantage") comes from the Sino-Korean elements 불 (bul, "not") and 리 (ri, "benefit"), which together suggest that an advantage is missing.

Usage tips

  • The noun is useful for labeling the situation itself, while everyday Korean often describes a person or position with a related adjective form instead.

Opposites

Related words

  • 불리하다pullihadabe at a disadvantageverb
  • 불리함pullihamdisadvantagenoun
  • 불리하게pullihagedisadvantageouslyadverb

Word lists with this word