Signification
To feel dizzy or faint, often from exhaustion or shock.
Contexte culturel
The 'Barley Hump' (보릿고개) was a time of extreme hunger. This idiom preserves the memory of how malnutrition affected the vision of ancestors. In modern Korea, this phrase is a badge of 'hard work.' Saying you worked until the sky turned yellow shows your dedication. K-dramas often use this phrase to heighten the drama when a character receives life-altering bad news. Koreans often use color-based metaphors for health. 'Yellow' is for dizziness, 'Black' is for hopelessness, and 'White' (머릿속이 하얘지다) is for forgetting everything.
Use with -더니
Pair this with '-더니' to explain the cause. '밤을 새웠더니 하늘이 노래지네요.'
Don't use for sunsets
Even if the sunset is yellow, using this phrase will make people think you are sick.
Signification
To feel dizzy or faint, often from exhaustion or shock.
Use with -더니
Pair this with '-더니' to explain the cause. '밤을 새웠더니 하늘이 노래지네요.'
Don't use for sunsets
Even if the sunset is yellow, using this phrase will make people think you are sick.
Drama usage
Watch for this in K-dramas when a character gets a medical diagnosis or loses money.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
어제 너무 무리해서 운동을 했더니 갑자기 ( ) 노래졌어요.
The idiom is '하늘이 노래지다'.
Which situation is most appropriate for '하늘이 노래지다'?
다음 중 '하늘이 노래지다'를 사용하기 가장 좋은 상황은?
The idiom is used for shock or despair.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 어제 야근 많이 했어? 나: 응, 새벽 3시에 퇴근하는데 진짜 ( ).
Yellow (노래지다) is the correct color for exhaustion in this idiom.
Match the idiom to the feeling.
Match '하늘이 노래지다' with its core feeling.
It represents physical dizziness or mental shock.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Color Idioms in Korean
Banque d exercices
4 exercices어제 너무 무리해서 운동을 했더니 갑자기 ( ) 노래졌어요.
The idiom is '하늘이 노래지다'.
다음 중 '하늘이 노래지다'를 사용하기 가장 좋은 상황은?
The idiom is used for shock or despair.
가: 어제 야근 많이 했어? 나: 응, 새벽 3시에 퇴근하는데 진짜 ( ).
Yellow (노래지다) is the correct color for exhaustion in this idiom.
Match '하늘이 노래지다' with its core feeling.
It represents physical dizziness or mental shock.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it is a standard idiom. You can use it with anyone as long as you use the correct politeness level (e.g., 노래졌어요 vs 노래졌다).
No, that is not an idiom. It would only describe a literal red sky.
'어지럽다' is a simple medical term for dizziness. '하늘이 노래지다' is more descriptive and emotional.
Yes, though they might use it more hyperbolically for things like 'I'm so hungry.'
No, it is almost exclusively for negative shock or exhaustion.
Not necessarily. It describes the *feeling* of your vision failing.
Yes, '하늘이 노래지는 듯한 충격을 받았습니다' is a very formal way to use it.
Only if you are explaining a serious health issue or a very grave situation. It's a bit dramatic for standard emails.
It comes from '노랗다' (yellow).
Linguistically no, but a literal yellow sky from dust can be confusing for learners.
Expressions liées
눈앞이 캄캄하다
similarTo have no hope for the future.
정신을 잃다
builds onTo lose consciousness.
기절초풍하다
similarTo be scared out of one's wits.
어지럽다
synonymTo be dizzy.
맥이 풀리다
similarTo lose one's energy/strength.
