Korean word

산전수전

Pronunciation

Romanizationsanjeonsujeon

Meaning

nountrials and tribulations

Example

그녀는 산전수전을 겪어 왔어요.keu nyeo neun san jeon su jeo neul kyeo kkeo wa sseo yo

She has been through trials and tribulations.

Illustration for 산전수전 (trials and tribulations)

More examples

산전수전을 겪어 본 사람은 작은 일에 흔들리지 않는다.san jeon su jeo neul kyeo kkeo pon sa ra meun cha geun i re heun deul li ji an neun da

A person who has been through trials and tribulations is not shaken by small things.

Core concept

A life path marked by hardship after hardship, leaving someone seasoned by experience.

Common phrases

산전수전을 겪어 본 사람san jeon su jeo neul kyeo kkeo pon sa ram
a person who has been through trials and tribulations
산전수전을 겪어 왔다san jeon su jeo neul kyeo kkeo wat tta
has been through trials and tribulations

Similar words

고생kosaeng: The suffering and effort involved in getting through a difficult time.
시련siryeon: A hard experience that puts a person's abilities or courage to the test.
고난konan: Very serious hardship that brings deep suffering.
역경yeokkkyeong: A serious obstacle that makes success much harder to achieve.

Definition in Korean

산전수전은 여러 가지 고생과 시련을 많이 겪음을 이르는 말.san jeon su jeo neun yeo reo ka ji ko saeng gwa si ryeo neul ma ni kyeo kkeu meul i reu neun mal

Word origin

The Sino-Korean word 산전수전 (sanjeonsujeon, "battles on land and water") joins images of fighting in different settings to suggest enduring many hardships.

Usage tips

In conversation, it often describes someone with hard-won life experience, so it can express respect or sympathy rather than frustration about one bad event.

Opposites

순탄함suntanhamsmoothnessnoun