Korean word

자승자박

Pronunciation

Romanizationchaseungjabak

Meaning

  • nouna trap of one's own making

Example

스스로 자승자박에 갇히지 마.seu seu ro cha seung ja ba ge ka chi ji ma

Don't get caught in your own trap.

Illustration for 자승자박 (a trap of one's own making)

More examples

완벽을 고집하면 자승자박에 빠질 수 있다.wan byeo geul ko ji pa myeon cha seung ja ba ge ppa jil ssu it tta

If you insist on perfection, you can fall into a trap of your own making.

Core concept

A person is caught in difficulties created by their own words or actions.

Common phrases

  • 자승자박에 빠지다cha seung ja ba ge ppa ji da

    fall into a trap of one's own making

  • 자승자박에서 벗어나다cha seung ja ba ge seo peo seo na da

    escape from a trap of one's own making

Similar words

자업자득chaeopjjadeuk: Having to face the results caused by one's own behavior.
자충수chachungsu: A self-defeating move that turns against the person who made it.
자초chacho: Causing an unpleasant result through one's own conduct.

Definition in Korean

스스로 한 말이나 행동 때문에 자기 자신이 곤란한 처지에 빠지는 상태를 이르는 말.seu seu ro han ma ri na haeng dong ttae mu ne cha gi cha si ni kol lan han cheo ji e ppa ji neun sang tae reul i reu neun mal

Word origin

This Sino-Korean idiom comes from the image of someone tying and binding themselves with their own rope, which developed into its figurative meaning.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it often sounds critical, so it fits a pointed comment about someone's choices rather than a neutral description of bad luck.

Opposites

Word lists with this word