B1 Proverb Neutre

가까운 곳의 일을 알기 어렵다.

gakkaun goseui ireul algi eoryeopda.

It's hard to know things nearby.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This proverb means that it is often hardest to see things that are right in front of you.

  • Means: Overlooking obvious truths or items because they are too close to notice.
  • Used in: Finding lost items, realizing obvious solutions, or noticing someone's feelings.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about physical blindness, but cognitive oversight.
Searching everywhere + object in hand = realization

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means it is hard to see things near you. Use it when you find something you lost.
When you look for something but cannot find it, even though it is very close, you can say this. It means the closest things are sometimes the hardest to see.
This proverb describes the irony of human perception. We often focus on distant goals and ignore obvious facts right in front of us. It is commonly used when someone realizes a simple solution after a long search.
The phrase serves as a metaphorical observation on cognitive bias. By highlighting that 'the closest things are the hardest to know,' it encourages individuals to practice mindfulness regarding their immediate environment before seeking complex external explanations.
This idiom functions as a linguistic marker for the 'proximity paradox.' It encapsulates the psychological phenomenon where familiarity breeds oversight. In discourse, it acts as a rhetorical device to acknowledge one's own fallibility when faced with the triviality of a missed solution.
Rooted in the traditional imagery of the 'deungjan' (oil lamp), this proverb provides a profound commentary on the limitations of human sensory and cognitive focus. It posits that the intensity of our outward-directed attention creates a 'blind spot' in our immediate periphery, a concept that resonates across various philosophical traditions regarding the nature of awareness and the irony of human experience.

Signification

It's often difficult to notice or understand problems and situations directly under one's nose.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Reflects the traditional lifestyle where oil lamps were the primary light source.

💡

Use it with humor

It sounds best when you are laughing at your own mistake.

Signification

It's often difficult to notice or understand problems and situations directly under one's nose.

💡

Use it with humor

It sounds best when you are laughing at your own mistake.

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank.

가까운 곳의 일을 알기 ____.

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

The proverb is 'difficult to know'.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

It is neutral and can be used in most situations.

Expressions liées

🔄

등잔 밑이 어둡다

synonym

The area under the lamp is dark.

Où l'utiliser

🔑

Finding lost keys

A: 내 차 키 어디 갔지?

B: 가까운 곳의 일을 알기 어렵다더니, 여기 있네!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Near-sighted Nerd' who can't see his own nose.

Visual Association

Imagine holding a flashlight, but the light is so bright that you can't see the floor right beneath your feet.

Rhyme

Near and clear, but hard to hear.

Story

Min-su searched for his glasses for an hour. He checked the car, the kitchen, and the office. Finally, he looked in the mirror and saw them on his head. He sighed and said, '가까운 곳의 일을 알기 어렵다!'

Word Web

등잔어둡다가까이실수깨달음관찰

Défi

Next time you lose something, say this phrase out loud when you find it.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo.

The Korean version is about perception; the Spanish is about irony of profession.

French moderate

Le cordonnier est toujours le plus mal chaussé.

Focuses on the irony of one's own trade.

German moderate

Der Schuster hat die schlechtesten Schuhe.

Focuses on personal neglect.

Japanese high

灯台下暗し (Tōdai moto kurashi).

Uses a lighthouse instead of an oil lamp.

Arabic moderate

باب النجار مخلع (Bab al-najjar mukhal'a).

Focuses on professional neglect.

Chinese high

灯下黑 (Dēng xià hēi).

None, it is a direct cultural parallel.

Korean high

등잔 밑이 어둡다.

This is the primary idiom; the target phrase is a descriptive version.

Portuguese moderate

Em casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau.

Focuses on professional irony.

Easily Confused

가까운 곳의 일을 알기 어렵다. vs 눈앞이 캄캄하다

Both involve 'eyes' or 'seeing', but this means 'to feel hopeless'.

If you are hopeless, use 캄캄하다. If you missed something obvious, use 가까운 곳의 일을 알기 어렵다.

FAQ (1)

It is neutral and can be used in most situations.

C'tait utile ?

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