A1 Idiom Neutre

제 발 저리다.

Je bal jeorida.

One's own leg is numb.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This idiom describes someone who acts defensively because they feel guilty about a secret or wrongdoing.

  • Means: A guilty person reveals their own secret by acting overly defensive.
  • Used in: Situations where someone is accused or feels suspicious without direct evidence.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about physical numbness in the feet (pins and needles).
Guilty secret + Nervous reaction = '제 발 저리다'

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means you feel guilty. If you did something wrong, you feel nervous. You act in a way that shows you are guilty. It is like a thief who is afraid.
When someone feels guilty, they often act strangely. They might get angry or defensive even if nobody accused them. We say they are '제 발 저리다'. It is a common way to describe someone who is hiding a secret and is afraid of being found out.
This idiom describes the psychological state of a person who has committed a wrongdoing and is subsequently hyper-aware of their surroundings. Because of their internal guilt, they interpret neutral comments as accusations, leading them to react defensively. This reaction, ironically, often confirms the suspicion they were trying to hide.
The idiom '제 발 저리다' serves as a linguistic marker for the projection of guilt. It captures the irony where an individual's attempt to conceal a transgression results in the involuntary disclosure of that very transgression through defensive posturing. It is frequently employed in social commentary to highlight how guilty parties often inadvertently implicate themselves through their own nervous behavior.
In Korean, '제 발 저리다' functions as a cognitive metaphor linking physical discomfort to moral culpability. It encapsulates the phenomenon of 'self-incrimination through anxiety.' By reacting to non-existent accusations, the subject demonstrates a lack of emotional regulation, which serves as a tell-tale sign of their underlying guilt. This idiom is deeply embedded in the cultural understanding of the 'guilty conscience' as an inescapable psychological burden.
The idiom '제 발 저리다' provides a fascinating case study in the embodiment of abstract emotions. It posits that moral transgression creates a state of hyper-vigilance, which manifests as physical 'pins and needles'—a metaphor for the inability to remain still or composed. From a sociolinguistic perspective, it acts as a social sanction against those who cannot maintain a 'poker face.' The phrase effectively bridges the gap between internal cognitive dissonance and external behavioral output, illustrating the Korean cultural emphasis on the transparency of one's moral character.

Signification

A guilty conscience makes one feel uneasy or defensive.

🌍

Contexte culturel

The concept of '눈치' (reading the room) makes this idiom very powerful in social settings.

💡

Watch the context

Only use this when someone is acting defensive without a clear reason.

Signification

A guilty conscience makes one feel uneasy or defensive.

💡

Watch the context

Only use this when someone is acting defensive without a clear reason.

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.

아무도 그를 의심하지 않았는데, 그가 먼저 화를 냈다. 그는 ________.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 제 발 저렸다

The context describes someone acting defensively due to guilt.

🎉 Score : /1

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

Yes, you can say '제가 제 발 저렸네요' (I was acting guilty/defensive).

Expressions liées

🔄

찔리다

synonym

To feel guilty/pricked by conscience.

Où l'utiliser

💼

Office Gossip

A: Someone in this office is stealing snacks.

B: Why are you looking at me? I didn't do it!

A: 제 발 저린가 보네.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a thief who is so scared that his feet start tingling, making him walk funny and get caught!

Visual Association

A person standing in a room, sweating, looking at the door, and nervously tapping their feet because they hid something under the rug.

Story

Min-su broke a vase. When his mom walked in and asked 'Who made this mess?', Min-su immediately yelled 'It wasn't me!'. His mom hadn't even looked at him yet. Min-su was '제 발 저린' because he was so guilty he couldn't stay quiet.

Word Web

도둑범인죄책감불안변명실토

Défi

Next time you see a character in a movie acting defensive, say '제 발 저리다' out loud.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

El que las hace, las paga

Korean emphasizes the nervous reaction; Spanish emphasizes the inevitable punishment.

French high

Qui se sent morveux, se mouche

The imagery is different (snot vs. numb feet).

German high

Getroffene Hunde bellen

German uses a dog metaphor; Korean uses a thief metaphor.

Japanese moderate

図星を突かれる

Japanese focuses on the accuracy of the accusation; Korean focuses on the internal guilt.

Arabic high

يكاد المريب أن يقول خذوني

Arabic is more direct about the desire to be caught.

Chinese high

做贼心虚

Chinese focuses on the heart/mind; Korean focuses on the feet.

Korean identical

도둑이 제 발 저리다

None.

Portuguese moderate

Quem deve, teme

Portuguese focuses on the fear; Korean focuses on the defensive reaction.

Easily Confused

제 발 저리다. vs 발이 저리다

Literal vs Idiomatic.

If you are sitting on your legs, it's literal. If you are acting guilty, it's the idiom.

FAQ (1)

Yes, you can say '제가 제 발 저렸네요' (I was acting guilty/defensive).

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