Signification
To hear the same thing repeatedly, to the point of annoyance.
Contexte culturel
Nagging (잔소리) is often seen as a sign of intimacy. If someone doesn't care about you, they won't nag you. Thus, this idiom is frequently used in close-knit families. The 'callus in the ear' metaphor is shared across China, Japan, and Korea, showing a common linguistic heritage regarding how repetition is perceived. With the rise of K-Pop and dramas, this phrase often appears in lyrics about lovers who are tired of hearing excuses or 'I love you' when it feels empty. In hierarchical Korean companies, a subordinate might use this phrase (carefully) to signal they have fully internalized a superior's repeated instructions.
Use with '-도록'
The most natural way to use this is '귀에 못이 박히도록 들었다'.
Don't use with 'Bosses'
Telling your boss you've heard their advice 'until your ears are calloused' can sound very rude.
Signification
To hear the same thing repeatedly, to the point of annoyance.
Use with '-도록'
The most natural way to use this is '귀에 못이 박히도록 들었다'.
Don't use with 'Bosses'
Telling your boss you've heard their advice 'until your ears are calloused' can sound very rude.
Nagging is Love
Remember that in Korea, this phrase often appears in contexts of family affection, even if it sounds negative.
The 'Scab' Alternative
If you want to sound even more annoyed, use '귀에 딱지가 앉다'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
어머니께 공부하라는 소리를 귀에 ___ 들었어요.
The standard idiom is '귀에 못이 박히도록' (until a callus is stuck in the ear).
Which situation is most appropriate for this idiom?
When would you say '귀에 못이 박히도록 들었어요'?
The idiom is used for annoying repetition.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 일찍 일어나야 성공한다고 내가 말했지? 나: 아빠, 그 말은 정말 ___.
The speaker is responding to a repeated piece of advice from their father.
Match the idiom to its literal meaning.
귀에 못이 박히다
'못' here refers to a callus, and '박히다' means to be embedded.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Ear Idioms Comparison
Banque d exercices
4 exercices어머니께 공부하라는 소리를 귀에 ___ 들었어요.
The standard idiom is '귀에 못이 박히도록' (until a callus is stuck in the ear).
When would you say '귀에 못이 박히도록 들었어요'?
The idiom is used for annoying repetition.
가: 일찍 일어나야 성공한다고 내가 말했지? 나: 아빠, 그 말은 정말 ___.
The speaker is responding to a repeated piece of advice from their father.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
'못' here refers to a callus, and '박히다' means to be embedded.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsWhile '못' can mean nail, in this idiom it originally refers to a callus (hardened skin). However, many Koreans visualize a nail because it's the same word.
It is neutral to informal. It's fine with friends and family, but use caution with superiors as it expresses annoyance.
No, this idiom is only for hearing (듣다). For seeing, you would use different expressions.
'딱지' (scab) is considered a bit stronger and more informal than '못' (callus).
Yes, if you've listened to it so much that you're almost tired of it, you can say '귀에 못이 박히도록 들었다'.
You can make it formal by using '들었습니다' at the end, but the idiom itself remains casual in nature.
'박히다' is passive. The callus 'is stuck' or 'gets embedded' in your ear; you don't put it there yourself.
Only if you want to emphasize that you've perfectly memorized a repeated instruction, but it's risky.
Very common. You will hear it in almost every family-themed K-drama.
Usually no. It almost always implies that the repetition is a bit too much or annoying.
Expressions liées
귀에 딱지가 앉다
synonymA scab forms on the ear
귀가 따갑다
similarEars are stinging
한 귀로 듣고 한 귀로 흘리다
contrastIn one ear and out the other
입에 거품을 물다
builds onTo foam at the mouth
귀를 기울이다
contrastTo lean one's ear
