A1 Idiom Neutre

찬밥 더운밥 가릴 때가 아니다.

chanbap deounbap garil ttaega anida.

No time to be picky.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This phrase means you are in a situation where you must accept whatever is available, regardless of your personal preferences.

  • Means: You cannot afford to be choosy or selective in a difficult situation.
  • Used in: Job hunting, emergency situations, or when resources are extremely limited.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about being indecisive; it is about having no options.
Empty bowl + Urgent deadline = No room for pickiness

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means you cannot choose. You must take what you have because you are in a hurry or have no other options.
When you are in a difficult situation, you cannot be picky about what you get. This idiom tells people to accept the current offer.
Used when resources are limited or time is pressing, this idiom suggests that personal preferences are secondary to the necessity of the moment. It is a common way to advise someone to be realistic.
This expression serves as a pragmatic reminder that in times of scarcity, the luxury of choice is forfeited. It is frequently employed in professional or survival contexts to encourage immediate action over deliberation.
Rooted in the socio-economic necessity of historical Korea, this idiom functions as a rhetorical device to underscore the urgency of a situation. It effectively communicates that one's agency is constrained by external circumstances, necessitating a compromise on personal standards.
The phrase serves as an idiomatic manifestation of situational determinism. By invoking the binary of 'warm' vs 'cold' rice, it linguistically frames the act of selection as a privilege that is currently unavailable, thereby compelling the interlocutor to adopt a strategy of immediate, non-selective acceptance.

Signification

A situation where one cannot afford to be choosy; beggars can't be choosers.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Rice is the foundation of Korean meals. The distinction between warm and cold rice is a deep-seated cultural memory.

💡

Use it in moderation

It's a strong phrase. Don't use it to dismiss someone's valid concerns.

Signification

A situation where one cannot afford to be choosy; beggars can't be choosers.

💡

Use it in moderation

It's a strong phrase. Don't use it to dismiss someone's valid concerns.

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank with the correct verb.

지금은 찬밥 더운밥 _____ 때가 아니에요.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 가릴

The idiom uses '가리다' to mean 'to distinguish/pick'.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

Only if you are joking about your lack of options!

Expressions liées

🔗

찬밥 신세

similar

Being treated like cold rice (ignored).

Où l'utiliser

💼

Job Hunting

Friend: The salary is quite low.

You: I know, but it's not the time to be picky.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a hungry person staring at a bowl of cold rice; they don't care if it's cold or warm, they just need to eat!

Visual Association

A person in a suit (job hunting) eating a simple meal, looking determined.

Story

Min-su was unemployed for months. His friend offered him a low-paying job. Min-su hesitated, but his mom said, 'Min-su, it's not the time to be picky.' He took the job and eventually succeeded.

Word Web

찬밥 (cold rice)더운밥 (warm rice)가리다 (to distinguish/pick)때 (time)상황 (situation)처지 (circumstance)

Défi

Write three sentences using this phrase for different scenarios (job, food, help).

In Other Languages

Spanish partial

A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.

Korean focuses on the necessity of the situation, Spanish on the nature of the gift.

French high

Faute de grives, on mange des merles.

The French version uses birds as a metaphor for food quality.

German high

In der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen.

The German version is more extreme/dramatic.

Japanese high

背に腹は代えられない

The Japanese version is more about physical sacrifice.

Arabic moderate

المضطر يركب الصعب

Arabic focuses on the action taken, Korean on the lack of choice.

Chinese high

饥不择食

The Chinese version is a four-character idiom (chengyu).

Korean self

찬밥 더운밥 가릴 때가 아니다

N/A

Portuguese high

Quem tem fome, não escolhe comida.

Portuguese is more literal about hunger.

Easily Confused

찬밥 더운밥 가릴 때가 아니다. vs 찬밥 신세

Both use 'cold rice'.

One is about being ignored, the other is about not being able to choose.

FAQ (1)

Only if you are joking about your lack of options!

C'tait utile ?

Commentaires (0)

Connectez-vous pour Commenter
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !