Bedeutung
To be extremely busy, having no time for anything else or to rest.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Pali-pali' culture is deeply ingrained. Being busy is often seen as a sign of social importance and diligence. During the 'Chuseok' or 'Seollal' holidays, the phrase is used to describe the labor of women in the kitchen, highlighting traditional gender roles in labor. Japan shares a similar work ethic. While Korea uses 'eyes and nose', Japan uses 'spinning eyes'. Both cultures emphasize the physical manifestation of overwork, reflecting the high-pressure corporate environments of East Asia. In the US, 'hustle culture' is a modern equivalent. However, Americans might use 'I'm swamped' or 'I'm slammed'. The Korean idiom feels slightly more descriptive of the physical state of the person. German culture values efficiency. Being 'busy around the ears' suggests a high volume of communication and tasks, which aligns with the German emphasis on clear, constant professional coordination.
Use with '없이'
The most natural way to use this is as an adverb: '눈코 뜰 새 없이 바쁘다'.
Spelling Alert
Don't write '새' as '세'. '새' is the contraction of '사이'.
Bedeutung
To be extremely busy, having no time for anything else or to rest.
Use with '없이'
The most natural way to use this is as an adverb: '눈코 뜰 새 없이 바쁘다'.
Spelling Alert
Don't write '새' as '세'. '새' is the contraction of '사이'.
Empathy Tool
Use this to show empathy to a coworker who looks tired. It shows you recognize their hard work.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
요즘 프로젝트 때문에 눈코 뜰 ___ 없어요.
'새' is the correct contraction of '사이' (time/gap).
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose the most natural sentence:
The idiom is used for people being busy during a high-activity event like a sale.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 이번 주말에 같이 등산 갈까요? 나: 미안해요. 이번 주에 마감이 많아서 ________________.
The speaker is giving a reason why they cannot go, using the present tense '없거든요'.
Match the situation to the phrase.
Which situation best fits '눈코 뜰 새 없다'?
This represents extreme, frantic busyness.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Busy vs. Swamped
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgaben요즘 프로젝트 때문에 눈코 뜰 ___ 없어요.
'새' is the correct contraction of '사이' (time/gap).
Choose the most natural sentence:
The idiom is used for people being busy during a high-activity event like a sale.
가: 이번 주말에 같이 등산 갈까요? 나: 미안해요. 이번 주에 마감이 많아서 ________________.
The speaker is giving a reason why they cannot go, using the present tense '없거든요'.
Which situation best fits '눈코 뜰 새 없다'?
This represents extreme, frantic busyness.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, but it still implies you are exhausted. Even if you are busy with a fun project, it means you have no time to rest.
No, it's a standard idiom. However, saying 'I'm too busy' to a boss's request should be done carefully. Use '눈코 뜰 새 없이 바빠서 그런데...' as a soft opener.
It's usually used for a current state or a general period. For the future, you'd say '내일은 눈코 뜰 새 없이 바쁠 것 같아요'.
It likely comes from fishing net terminology ('eyes' and 'noses' of the net), but modern Koreans think of it as not having time to blink or breathe.
'Bappayo' is just 'busy'. 'Nun-ko tteul sae eopda' is 'extremely, frantically busy'.
No, only for people or busy places.
Yes, it is a common Korean idiom used across the peninsula.
Technically yes, but it's almost never used. You would just say '한가해요' (I'm free).
No, it's a 'Gwan-yong-gu' (idiomatic phrase), not a 'Saja-seong-eo' (four-character hanja idiom).
It's very common in both! You'll see it in news headlines and hear it in casual conversation.
Verwandte Redewendungen
정신없다
similarTo be frantic/mindless
바쁘다
similarTo be busy
손이 모자라다
similarTo be short-handed
한가하다
contrastTo be at leisure
틈이 없다
similarTo have no gap/crack
