Signification
To become accustomed to a task or tool through practice.
Contexte culturel
The concept of 'Sonsmat' ({손맛|手味}), or 'the taste of the hand,' is related. It's the idea that a cook's unique skill and familiarity with ingredients make the food special. In Korean companies, 'Sasu' ({사수|射手} - mentor) will often tell a 'Busu' ({부수|副手} - mentee) to wait until their 'hand ripens' before trying to change the process. Traditional Korean crafts like 'Onggi' (pottery) emphasize that the clay must 'know' the hand, and the hand must 'know' the clay. Modern Koreans use this phrase frequently for digital skills, like fast texting or gaming, showing how traditional metaphors adapt to technology.
Use with '아직'
This phrase is very commonly used with '아직' (yet) to humbly say you are still learning: '아직 손에 안 익었어요.'
Don't use for people
You can't say a person is 'ripe to your hand.' Use '친하다' (to be close) instead.
Signification
To become accustomed to a task or tool through practice.
Use with '아직'
This phrase is very commonly used with '아직' (yet) to humbly say you are still learning: '아직 손에 안 익었어요.'
Don't use for people
You can't say a person is 'ripe to your hand.' Use '친하다' (to be close) instead.
The '에' vs '이' rule
Both '일이 손에 익다' and '손이 일에 익다' are used, but '일이 손에 익다' (The work is accustomed to the hand) is slightly more common.
Humble Brag
In Korea, saying '이제 좀 손에 익네요' is a polite way to show you've mastered something without sounding arrogant.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of '손이 익다'.
매일 연습했더니 이제 기타가 좀 ( ).
The past tense '익었어요' is used to show the completed state of becoming familiar.
Which situation best fits the phrase '손에 안 익어서 그래요'?
A: Why are you typing so slowly? B: ( )
'손에 안 익다' is used when a new tool or task is still unfamiliar.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
가: 이 일 시작한 지 얼마 안 됐는데 벌써 잘하시네요! 나: 아니에요, 아직 ( ).
The speaker is being humble, saying they haven't fully gotten the hang of it yet.
Choose the most natural sentence.
Which of these is correct?
The idiom is for physical tasks/tools, not for memorizing words or names.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Familiarity Types
Banque d exercices
4 exercices매일 연습했더니 이제 기타가 좀 ( ).
The past tense '익었어요' is used to show the completed state of becoming familiar.
A: Why are you typing so slowly? B: ( )
'손에 안 익다' is used when a new tool or task is still unfamiliar.
가: 이 일 시작한 지 얼마 안 됐는데 벌써 잘하시네요! 나: 아니에요, 아직 ( ).
The speaker is being humble, saying they haven't fully gotten the hang of it yet.
Which of these is correct?
The idiom is for physical tasks/tools, not for memorizing words or names.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsOnly for the physical parts, like 'typing in Korean' or 'pronouncing difficult sounds.' For general knowledge, use '익숙해지다'.
익숙하다 is a general adjective for 'familiar.' 손이 익다 is a more vivid, idiomatic way to describe physical mastery.
No, it's very natural and professional to say '업무가 손에 익었습니다' (I've gotten the hang of the work).
No, that would be '손을 데다' (to burn one's hand). In this context, it only means ripening/familiarity.
Yes! It's perfect for things like 'swinging a golf club' or 'dribbling a ball.'
You can say '손에 익히려고 노력 중이에요.'
Yes, it is a standard Korean idiom used across the peninsula.
Yes, '새 차가 손에 익다' means you've gotten used to the handling and controls of the new car.
You could say '손에 설다' (to be unfamiliar/unripe) or '서툴다' (clumsy).
It is used by everyone! It's a very common, timeless idiom.
Expressions liées
눈에 익다
similarTo be familiar to the eye
귀에 익다
similarTo be familiar to the ear
손을 씻다
contrastTo wash one's hands of something
몸에 배다
builds onTo be soaked into the body
손이 서툴다
contrastTo be clumsy with one's hands
