Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when someone is worried about not hearing back; it suggests that silence means everything is going smoothly.
- Means: Lack of news indicates that no problems or accidents have occurred.
- Used in: Reassuring friends or family who haven't received a call or letter.
- Don't confuse: Do not use this when an immediate response is professionally required.
あなたのレベルに合った解説：
意味
If you haven't heard anything, it usually means nothing bad has happened.
文化的背景
In Korea, military service is mandatory for men. During this time, communication is limited. Families often use this proverb to cope with the long periods of silence from their sons. Historically, news was carried by foot or horse. 'No news' literally meant no one had died or been arrested, which were the main reasons to send a messenger. Despite the proverb, 'Ghosting' (잠수 타다) is a major social issue. Younger generations might find this proverb frustrating if used to excuse a lack of text replies. In a 'Pali-pali' (fast-fast) work culture, this proverb is almost never used. Silence from a subordinate is usually seen as a sign of a problem being hidden.
Use for Reassurance
This is best used when someone else is worrying. It shows you are a calm and supportive friend.
Not for Business
Never use this to justify why you haven't sent a report to your boss. It will be taken as a lack of responsibility.
Use for Reassurance
This is best used when someone else is worrying. It shows you are a calm and supportive friend.
Not for Business
Never use this to justify why you haven't sent a report to your boss. It will be taken as a lack of responsibility.
The 'Army' Context
If you have a Korean friend with a brother or boyfriend in the army, this phrase is very culturally appropriate to use.
自分をテスト
Fill in the blanks to complete the proverb.
무소식이 ( ).
'희소식' (Hee-so-sik) means 'happy/good news' and is the standard second half of this proverb.
In which situation is it MOST appropriate to use this phrase?
Which situation fits '무소식이 희소식'?
This is a classic case of routine absence where silence implies safety.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
가: 아들이 군대 가서 연락이 없네요. 걱정돼요. 나: ( ). 너무 걱정 마세요.
The context of worrying about a lack of contact from a son in the army perfectly matches this proverb.
Choose the sentence that uses the phrase correctly in a formal context.
Which is the correct formal usage?
'-입니다' is the formal polite ending.
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
練習問題バンク
5 問題무소식이 ( ).
'희소식' (Hee-so-sik) means 'happy/good news' and is the standard second half of this proverb.
Which situation fits '무소식이 희소식'?
This is a classic case of routine absence where silence implies safety.
가: 아들이 군대 가서 연락이 없네요. 걱정돼요. 나: ( ). 너무 걱정 마세요.
The context of worrying about a lack of contact from a son in the army perfectly matches this proverb.
Which is the correct formal usage?
'-입니다' is the formal polite ending.
🎉 スコア： /5
よくある質問
10 問Not at all! While it's an old proverb, it's used daily in modern Korea to handle the stress of constant connectivity.
Yes, you can say it jokingly if a friend asks why you haven't called: '무소식이 희소식이지!'
There isn't a direct proverb opposite, but '비보' (sad news) is what people fear when there is no news.
Yes, 'Hee' ({喜|희}) specifically means joy or happiness.
Absolutely. It's very common to text this to a worried friend.
Both are okay, but '무소식이' is the standard idiomatic form.
Use '무소식이 희소식입니다'.
Yes, this is a traditional Korean proverb used across the entire peninsula.
Then the proverb was wrong! It's an optimistic assumption, not a guarantee.
Yes, if the results are delayed, you can use it to stay positive.
関連フレーズ
무소식이 상팔자
similarNo news is the best luck.
잠수 타다
contrastTo go underwater (to ghost someone).
안부를 묻다
builds onTo ask after someone's well-being.
소식이 끊기다
similarTo lose touch.
どこで使う？
Waiting for exam results
Student: 아직 불합격 통보가 안 왔어요. 너무 떨려요.
Teacher: 무소식이 희소식이라잖아요. 조금 더 기다려 봐요.
Checking on a child abroad
Father: 우리 딸, 미국 가서 연락이 너무 없네. 무슨 일 있나?
Mother: 무소식이 희소식이겠지 뭐. 잘 지내니까 연락 안 하는 거야.
Hospital test results
Patient: 검사 결과가 왜 이렇게 안 나오죠? 무서워요.
Nurse: 원래 무소식이 희소식이에요. 큰 문제 있으면 벌써 연락 갔을 거예요.
Old friends catching up
Friend A: 우리 진짜 오랜만이다! 그동안 왜 연락 안 했어?
Friend B: 무소식이 희소식이지! 나 사고 안 치고 잘 살았어.
Business report delay
Manager: 거래처에서 아직 확답이 없습니까?
Assistant: 네, 하지만 무소식이 희소식이라고, 거절은 아닌 것 같습니다.
Dating anxiety
Person A: 소개팅한 사람한테 답장이 5시간째 없어.
Person B: 에이, 무소식이 희소식일 리가 없잖아. 그냥 딴 거 해.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of a 'Moo' (Cow) who is 'So-sik' (Silent/No news). A silent cow is a happy cow! Moo-So-Sik = Hee-So-Sik.
視覚的連想
Imagine an empty mailbox (무소식) that is glowing with a bright, happy golden light (희소식). The emptiness itself is what makes it glow.
Rhyme
소식이 없으면 (If there's no news), 걱정도 없네 (There's no worry too).
Story
A young man travels to the big city of Seoul. He promises to write only if he needs money or is in trouble. Months pass. His mother smiles and says, '무소식이 희소식,' knowing her son is working hard and staying out of trouble.
In Other Languages
English has the exact equivalent: 'No news is good news.' Japanese uses '便りがないのは良い便り' (Tayori ga nai no wa yoi tayori), which carries the same sentiment.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try to go one full day without checking your messages from one specific person. At the end of the day, tell yourself '무소식이 희소식' and see how it affects your anxiety level.
Review this phrase on Day 1, 3, 7, and 14. Focus on the Hanja roots 'Mu' (None) and 'Hee' (Joy).
発音
The 'k' at the end is an unreleased stop.
The 'ui' (희) sound can be tricky; it often sounds like 'hee' in fast speech.
フォーマル度スペクトル
무소식이 희소식입니다. (General statement)
무소식이 희소식이에요. (General statement)
무소식이 희소식이지. (General statement)
무소식이 상팔자지 뭐. (General statement)
The phrase is a Sino-Korean construction. 'Mu' ({無|무}) means 'without', 'So-sik' ({消息|소식}) means 'news' or 'breath', and 'Hee' ({喜|희}) means 'joy'. It reflects a time when information was scarce and usually negative.
豆知識
The word 'So-sik' ({消息|소식}) literally translates to 'dissolving and breathing,' referring to the ebb and flow of information like breath.
文化メモ
In Korea, military service is mandatory for men. During this time, communication is limited. Families often use this proverb to cope with the long periods of silence from their sons.
“군대 간 아들에게서 연락이 없어도 무소식이 희소식이라 믿어요.”
Historically, news was carried by foot or horse. 'No news' literally meant no one had died or been arrested, which were the main reasons to send a messenger.
“한양에 간 선비가 소식이 없으니 무소식이 희소식인 게지요.”
Despite the proverb, 'Ghosting' (잠수 타다) is a major social issue. Younger generations might find this proverb frustrating if used to excuse a lack of text replies.
“요즘 애들한테 무소식이 희소식이라고 하면 화낼걸요?”
In a 'Pali-pali' (fast-fast) work culture, this proverb is almost never used. Silence from a subordinate is usually seen as a sign of a problem being hidden.
“회사에서는 무소식이 불길한 소식일 때가 많아요.”
会話のきっかけ
부모님께 얼마나 자주 연락드려요? 무소식이 희소식이라고 생각하시나요?
친구와 연락이 끊겼을 때 '무소식이 희소식'이라고 믿고 기다리는 편인가요?
현대 사회에서도 '무소식이 희소식'이라는 말이 여전히 유효하다고 생각하세요?
よくある間違い
무소식이 나쁜 소식
무소식이 희소식
L1 Interference
무소식은 희소식이에요
무소식이 희소식이에요
L1 Interference
Using it when someone is actually missing in a disaster.
Wait for official news.
L1 Interference
무소식이 희소식이다 (to a superior)
무소식이 희소식이지요/입니다
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
No news is good news
The Korean version is often used to explain the lack of contact from children to parents specifically.
便りがないのは良い便り
The Japanese version uses the word 'Tayori' (correspondence) specifically.
La falta de noticias es una buena noticia
Often phrased as 'Que no haya noticias son buenas noticias'.
Pas de nouvelles, bonnes nouvelles
It is even more clipped and short than the Korean version.
Keine Nachrichten sind gute Nachrichten
German speakers might prefer more direct updates in professional contexts compared to Koreans.
平安无事
Focuses more on the state of 'peace' than the 'news' itself.
عدم وجود أخبار هو خبر جيد
Cultural preference for active reassurance over passive silence.
Ausência de notícias, boas notícias
The word 'ausência' (absence) is more formal than 'mu' (none).
Spotted in the Real World
“무소식이 희소식이라잖아. 별일 없을 거야.”
A mother comforting another mother whose son hasn't called from his boarding house.
“무소식이 희소식이라 믿고 싶지만...”
A song about a breakup where the singer tries to convince himself that no news is good news.
“경제 지표 발표 지연... 무소식이 희소식일까?”
An article discussing delayed economic data.
間違えやすい
Learners might think this just means 'happy news' in any context.
While it does mean happy news, in this proverb, it specifically refers to the *absence* of news being happy.
Mixing up 'news' (소식) with 'rumor' (소문).
So-sik is factual/personal; So-mun is gossip/public.
よくある質問 (10)
Not at all! While it's an old proverb, it's used daily in modern Korea to handle the stress of constant connectivity.
practical tipsYes, you can say it jokingly if a friend asks why you haven't called: '무소식이 희소식이지!'
usage contextsThere isn't a direct proverb opposite, but '비보' (sad news) is what people fear when there is no news.
comparisonsYes, 'Hee' ({喜|희}) specifically means joy or happiness.
basic understandingAbsolutely. It's very common to text this to a worried friend.
practical tipsBoth are okay, but '무소식이' is the standard idiomatic form.
grammar mechanicsUse '무소식이 희소식입니다'.
grammar mechanicsYes, this is a traditional Korean proverb used across the entire peninsula.
cultural usageThen the proverb was wrong! It's an optimistic assumption, not a guarantee.
usage contextsYes, if the results are delayed, you can use it to stay positive.
usage contexts
