까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다
ko phrase 00031
Bad timing
بهطور تحتاللفظی: 까마귀 (crow) 날자 (as soon as it flies) 배 (pear) 떨어진다 (falls)
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- A coincidence that makes an innocent person look guilty.
- Literal meaning: A crow flies and a pear falls.
- Used to explain away suspicious timing or accidental blame.
معنی
It describes a situation where you are unfairly blamed for something just because you were there when it happened. It's that awkward moment when a total coincidence makes you look guilty.
مثالهای کلیدی
3 از 6Walking into a room just as a vase breaks
제가 들어오자마자 화분이 깨지다니, 정말 까마귀 날자 배 떨어지는 격이네요.
The vase broke as soon as I walked in; it's truly a 'crow flies and pear falls' situation.
Texting a friend who just had a breakup
위로하려고 전화했는데 하필 그때 울고 있었다니... 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다더니 딱 그 상황이네.
I called to comfort you but you were crying right then... they say the crow flies and the pear falls, and that's exactly it.
A computer crashing right when a boss walks by
부장님이 오시니까 컴퓨터가 멈췄어요. 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다더니 억울해요!
The computer froze just as the manager arrived. It's like the crow and the pear; I'm so misunderstood!
زمینه فرهنگی
The phrase originates from ancient fables where the crow was unfairly blamed for the pear's fall. In Korean culture, crows are traditionally seen as birds of ill-omen, which adds to the 'suspicious' nature of the coincidence. It highlights the Korean philosophical acceptance that sometimes appearances do not reflect reality.
Shorten it for speed
In casual texts, you can just say '오비이락이네' to sound smart and concise.
Don't use for real faults
If you actually caused the problem, using this phrase will make you sound like you are making a dishonest excuse.
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- A coincidence that makes an innocent person look guilty.
- Literal meaning: A crow flies and a pear falls.
- Used to explain away suspicious timing or accidental blame.
What It Means
Imagine a crow sitting on a tree branch. The second it takes flight, a pear falls to the ground. The crow didn't touch the pear. It didn't peck at it. But to anyone watching, it looks like the crow caused the fall. This phrase is all about bad timing. It is used when two unrelated events happen together. This coincidence makes an innocent person look responsible for a mishap.
How To Use It
You use 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다 when you feel wrongly accused. It is a perfect defense when circumstances look suspicious. You can say it to clear the air. It shifts the focus from 'guilt' to 'bad luck.' Use it when you walk into a room and something breaks. Or when you send a text and the recipient's phone dies. It adds a poetic touch to your explanation. It shows you know the situation looks bad but isn't your fault.
When To Use It
Use this during misunderstandings with friends or family. It works great when you are the 'unlucky' party. If you enter a store and the alarm goes off, this is your phrase. If you borrow a car and the engine light turns on, say this. It is very common in daily conversation. It helps de-escalate tension with a bit of traditional wisdom. Use it when you want to emphasize that life is full of weird coincidences.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this if you actually did something wrong. It is not an excuse for negligence. If you actually kicked the pear tree, don't blame the crow! Also, avoid using it in extremely serious legal settings. It is an idiom, not a forensic defense. Don't use it if the events aren't actually related in time. The timing must be 'instant' for the metaphor to work.
Cultural Background
In Korean folklore, crows are often seen as omens of bad luck. Pears are valuable fruits. Combining them creates a vivid image of a 'misunderstood' bad omen. This proverb has been used for centuries in Korea. It reflects a cultural understanding of 'fate' and 'coincidence.' Koreans value the idea that not everything is within our control. Sometimes, the universe just aligns in a way that makes us look bad.
Common Variations
You might hear people shorten it to just 오비이락 (Obi-irak). This is the Hanja (Chinese character) version of the same phrase. 오 (crow), 비 (fly), 이 (pear), 락 (fall). The Hanja version sounds a bit more academic or formal. Using the full Korean version feels more natural and conversational. Both carry the exact same weight and meaning in modern society.
نکات کاربردی
The phrase is neutral but leans toward a slightly literary or proverbial tone. In very casual speech, it can be used humorously to deflect blame for small accidents.
Shorten it for speed
In casual texts, you can just say '오비이락이네' to sound smart and concise.
Don't use for real faults
If you actually caused the problem, using this phrase will make you sound like you are making a dishonest excuse.
The Crow's Reputation
In Korea, seeing a crow in the morning was traditionally considered bad luck for the whole day, which is why the crow is the 'villain' of this phrase.
مثالها
6제가 들어오자마자 화분이 깨지다니, 정말 까마귀 날자 배 떨어지는 격이네요.
The vase broke as soon as I walked in; it's truly a 'crow flies and pear falls' situation.
Used to deflect immediate suspicion in a lighthearted way.
위로하려고 전화했는데 하필 그때 울고 있었다니... 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다더니 딱 그 상황이네.
I called to comfort you but you were crying right then... they say the crow flies and the pear falls, and that's exactly it.
Expressing sympathy for the awkward timing of a call.
부장님이 오시니까 컴퓨터가 멈췄어요. 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다더니 억울해요!
The computer froze just as the manager arrived. It's like the crow and the pear; I'm so misunderstood!
Explaining a professional mishap that looks like laziness.
난 그냥 지나가던 길이었는데! 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다더니 내가 범인으로 몰리네.
I was just passing by! Like the crow and the pear, I'm being framed as the culprit.
Defending oneself against a group of friends.
스위치를 켰을 뿐인데 정전이라니, 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다더니 참 타이밍 안 좋네.
I just flipped the switch and the power went out; talk about bad timing, just like the crow and the pear.
Commenting on a funny, harmless coincidence.
이번 사건은 오비이락(烏飛梨落)의 상황으로, 오해가 없으시길 바랍니다.
This incident is a case of 'crow flies and pear falls,' so I hope there is no misunderstanding.
Using the Hanja version for a more serious, formal tone.
خودت رو بسنج
Choose the correct phrase to explain a suspicious coincidence.
내가 사과를 만지자마자 썩은 부분이 보였어. 정말 ___ 격이야.
The speaker touched the apple and it happened to show a rotten part at that exact moment, making them look responsible.
Complete the Hanja version of the idiom.
이런 억울한 상황을 사자성어로 ___이라고 합니다.
Obi-irak (오비이락) is the four-character Hanja equivalent of the crow and pear idiom.
🎉 امتیاز: /2
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Formality of '까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다'
Used with close friends when joking about bad luck.
완전 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다네!
Standard usage in daily life and storytelling.
까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다더니 상황이 참...
Using the Hanja version '오비이락' in documents.
그야말로 오비이락이라 할 수 있습니다.
When to use the Crow and Pear Idiom
Accidental Blame
Walking into a crime scene
Tech Failure
Wi-Fi cuts out during your turn
Social Awkwardness
Entering a room when people stop talking
Physical Mishaps
A shelf falls when you walk past
بانک تمرین
2 تمرینها내가 사과를 만지자마자 썩은 부분이 보였어. 정말 ___ 격이야.
The speaker touched the apple and it happened to show a rotten part at that exact moment, making them look responsible.
이런 억울한 상황을 사자성어로 ___이라고 합니다.
Obi-irak (오비이락) is the four-character Hanja equivalent of the crow and pear idiom.
🎉 امتیاز: /2
سوالات متداول
10 سوالNo, it means you are innocent but the timing makes you look guilty. It's used specifically for coincidences like 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다.
Usually, no. This phrase has a negative connotation of being wrongly suspected or having bad luck. For good luck, you'd use different expressions.
Yes! 오비이락 is the Hanja version. It's often used in news headlines or formal writing.
It's not rude, but use a polite ending like ~격이네요. It helps explain a situation without sounding like you're talking back.
People often add ~격이다 (it's like...) or ~더니 (as they say...). For example, 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다더니 진짜네!
Pears were very common in traditional Korean orchards. The weight of a large Korean pear makes it a perfect candidate for 'falling' suddenly.
Yes, you can use it to comfort a friend who is being unfairly blamed. It shows you believe they are innocent.
Not at all. While it's an old proverb, Koreans of all ages use it frequently in modern life.
The phrase doesn't care about the crow's feelings! It focuses only on the simultaneous timing of the flight and the fall.
Most Koreans know this by heart. If you're talking to a non-native, you might need to explain the 'crow and pear' imagery.
عبارات مرتبط
오비이락 (Obi-irak) - Hanja version
머피의 법칙 (Murphy's Law) - Similar concept of bad luck
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까 (No smoke without fire) - The opposite logic
억울하다 (Eogul-hada) - To feel victimized/unfairly treated
