Korean word

장삼이사

Pronunciation

Romanizationchangsamisa

Meaning

  • nounordinary people

Example

그 문제는 장삼이사들에게는 중요하지 않다.keu mun je neun chang sa mi sa deu re ge neun chung yo ha ji an ta

That issue does not matter to ordinary people.

Illustration for 장삼이사 (ordinary people)

More examples

그는 조직 내에서 장삼이사에 불과하다.keu neun cho jik nae e seo chang sa mi sa e pul gwa ha da

He is merely an ordinary person within the organization.

Core concept

A group of ordinary people who are unremarkable and have no special importance.

Common phrases

  • 장삼이사에 불과하다chang sa mi sa e pul gwa ha da

    be merely an ordinary person

  • 장삼이사로 여겨지다chang sa mi sa ro yeo gyeo ji da

    be regarded as an ordinary person

Similar words

평범한 사람들pyeongbeomhan saramdeul: People whose qualities are ordinary and not distinctive.
보통 사람들potong saramdeul: People commonly found in everyday life.
일반인ilbanin: A regular citizen without a special position, qualification, or expertise.
대중taejung: A broad public made up of many people across society.

Definition in Korean

중요하지 않거나 특별하지 않은 평범한 사람들을 이르는 한자성어.chung yo ha ji an keo na teuk ppyeol ha ji a neun pyeong beom han sa ram deu reul i reu neun han ja seong eo

Word origin

The idiom comes from the Chinese placeholder names Zhang San and Li Si, which represent unnamed ordinary people, and entered Korean with this meaning.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it can sound bookish or slightly dismissive, so a neutral phrase such as ordinary people is often safer in polite situations.

Opposites

Word lists with this word