눈썰미가 좋다.
nunsseolmiga jota.
To have a good eye.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this to praise someone who learns quickly just by watching or notices small details others miss.
- Means: Having a 'sharp eye' for learning or noticing details.
- Used in: Complimenting a fast learner or someone with great attention to detail.
- Don't confuse: With '눈이 높다' (to have high standards/be picky).
Explanation at your level:
Bedeutung
To be quick at noticing details or having good observational skills.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In traditional Korean apprenticeships, 'learning with the eyes' (눈으로 배우다) was considered the first step of mastery. A student with good 'nun-sseol-mi' was highly favored by masters. K-pop idols often use this phrase in behind-the-scenes content when praising members who learn complex choreography faster than others. In a Korean office, having 'nun-sseol-mi' is seen as a sign of 'sense' (센스). It means you don't need to be told twice, which is a key trait for a 'star employee.' Noticing a friend's small change (like new glasses or a slightly different makeup style) and mentioning their 'nun-sseol-mi' is a common way to build rapport.
The Ultimate Compliment
In Korea, calling someone 'nun-sseol-mi-ga jota' is often more flattering than calling them 'smart' because it implies a natural, intuitive talent.
Don't use with '높다'
Never say '눈썰미가 높다'. It's always '좋다' (good) or '있다' (exists).
Bedeutung
To be quick at noticing details or having good observational skills.
The Ultimate Compliment
In Korea, calling someone 'nun-sseol-mi-ga jota' is often more flattering than calling them 'smart' because it implies a natural, intuitive talent.
Don't use with '높다'
Never say '눈썰미가 높다'. It's always '좋다' (good) or '있다' (exists).
Pair with '손재주'
If someone is good at making things, say '눈썰미도 좋고 손재주도 좋으시네요!' for a double compliment.
Modesty is key
If someone says this to you, a common modest response is '아니에요, 그냥 운이 좋았어요' (No, I was just lucky).
Teste dich selbst
Choose the most natural response to the situation.
Situation: Your friend noticed you changed your earrings, even though they are very small.
'눈썰미가 좋다' is the correct phrase for noticing small visual details.
Fill in the blank with the correct particle.
민수는 눈썰미___ 좋아서 요리를 금방 배워요.
The subject marker '가' is used with the adjective '좋다'.
Match the phrase to the correct context.
Which situation best fits '눈썰미가 좋다'?
Learning a physical skill by watching is the core meaning of '눈썰미'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 와, 이걸 한 번 보고 다 만드셨어요? B: 네, 제가 좀 ( ).
'눈썰미가 좋거든요' explains that the speaker is a quick visual learner.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Eye-related Phrases
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes! It's very common to praise children who are quick to mimic adults by saying '눈썰미가 좋네!'
It can be a bit blunt. It's better to say '저는 눈썰미가 좀 없는 편이에요' about yourself than to say it to someone else.
'관찰력' (observational power) is more formal and scientific. '눈썰미' is more about the practical skill of learning or noticing.
No, it is strictly visual. For hearing, you would use '귀가 밝다' (to have sharp ears).
Yes, if you are thanking a client for noticing a detail, you can say '눈썰미 좋게 알아봐 주셔서 감사합니다.'
No, '썰미' is almost exclusively used in the word '눈썰미'.
No, it is a standard Korean word, though it is very common in casual speech.
You can add '정말' (really) or '워낙' (so/naturally): '눈썰미가 정말 좋으시네요!'
Yes, that is a perfect context for this phrase.
It is typically introduced at the A2 level as part of personality and skill descriptions.
Verwandte Redewendungen
눈치가 빠르다
similarTo be quick-witted socially
손재주가 좋다
builds onTo be good with one's hands
감각이 있다
similarTo have a sense/flair for something
눈이 높다
contrastTo have high standards
어깨너머로 배우다
similarTo learn over someone's shoulder
Wo du es verwendest
Learning a dance move
A: 이 춤 진짜 어려운데 벌써 다 외웠어?
B: 응, 나 눈썰미가 좀 좋거든!
Noticing a new haircut
A: 어? 지수 씨, 머리 조금 자르셨네요?
B: 와, 정말 눈썰미 좋으시네요! 아무도 몰랐는데.
At a cooking class
Teacher: 한 번만 보여드렸는데 똑같이 만드셨네요.
Student: 선생님이 잘 가르쳐 주셔서요. 제가 눈썰미가 좀 있는 편이에요.
Playing a video game
A: 저기 숨어있는 적을 어떻게 봤어?
B: 내가 눈썰미 하나는 끝내주잖아.
Assembling furniture
A: 설명서도 안 보고 이걸 다 조립했어요?
B: 아까 아빠가 하시는 거 봤거든요. 제가 눈썰미가 좋아요.
In a job interview
Interviewer: 본인의 장점이 무엇이라고 생각합니까?
Applicant: 저는 눈썰미가 좋아서 새로운 업무를 빠르게 습득합니다.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Nun' (Eye) + 'Sseol' (like 'Soul' or 'Skill') = Your eye has a soul for skills!
Visual Association
Imagine a person with giant, sparkling eyes watching a master chef chop onions, and then immediately doing it perfectly with their eyes closed.
Rhyme
눈썰미가 좋아, 다들 나를 봐! (Nun-sseol-mi-ga jo-a, da-deul na-reul bwa! - My eye is sharp, everyone look at me!)
Story
A young apprentice named Min-su watched a potter make a vase just once. Without a single word of instruction, Min-su sat down and made the exact same vase. The master shouted, 'Your nun-sseol-mi is amazing!'
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to notice one tiny change in your friend's appearance today and tell them: '눈썰미가 좋아서 알아봤어요!' (I noticed because I have a sharp eye!)
In Other Languages
To be a quick study / To have a sharp eye
Korean uses a specific noun '눈썰미' rather than an adjective-noun combo.
Tener buen ojo
Spanish focuses more on judgment/selection than on mimicry/learning.
Avoir le coup d'œil
French emphasizes the speed of the glance rather than the retention of the skill.
Ein gutes Auge haben
Lacks the specific nuance of 'learning by watching' inherent in the Korean term.
目端が利く (Mehashi ga kiku)
Japanese can sometimes imply being 'shrewd' or 'calculating,' whereas Korean is purely a compliment on skill.
لماح (Lammah)
It's an adjective describing the person rather than a noun-adjective phrase about the 'eye-skill'.
有眼力 (Yǒu yǎnlì)
Often used for 'having good taste' or 'recognizing value' (like an antique dealer).
Ter um olhar apurado
More formal and less about the 'quick learning' of a physical task.
Easily Confused
Learners think it means 'good eye' for details.
Use '눈이 좋다' only for medical eyesight (20/20 vision).
Learners mix up social intuition with visual learning.
Nunchi = feelings/atmosphere. Nun-sseol-mi = seeing/doing.
FAQ (10)
Yes! It's very common to praise children who are quick to mimic adults by saying '눈썰미가 좋네!'
It can be a bit blunt. It's better to say '저는 눈썰미가 좀 없는 편이에요' about yourself than to say it to someone else.
'관찰력' (observational power) is more formal and scientific. '눈썰미' is more about the practical skill of learning or noticing.
No, it is strictly visual. For hearing, you would use '귀가 밝다' (to have sharp ears).
Yes, if you are thanking a client for noticing a detail, you can say '눈썰미 좋게 알아봐 주셔서 감사합니다.'
No, '썰미' is almost exclusively used in the word '눈썰미'.
No, it is a standard Korean word, though it is very common in casual speech.
You can add '정말' (really) or '워낙' (so/naturally): '눈썰미가 정말 좋으시네요!'
Yes, that is a perfect context for this phrase.
It is typically introduced at the A2 level as part of personality and skill descriptions.
