B1 Idiom ニュートラル

콧대가 꺾이다

kotdaega kkeokida

one's pride is broken

Phrase in 30 Seconds

To have one's excessive pride or arrogance suddenly diminished by a reality check.

  • Means: To lose one's high-and-mighty attitude after a failure or setback.
  • Used in: Describing someone who was boastful but then failed, or a humbling experience.
  • Don't confuse: '콧대가 높다' (to be arrogant/snobbish) with '콧대가 꺾이다' (the process of losing that arrogance).
High nose (pride) + Reality check = Humbled person

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means someone was acting too proud, but now they are not. It is like when you think you are the best, but you lose a game.
When someone is very arrogant, we say they have a 'high nose.' If something bad happens to them and they stop being arrogant, we say their 'nose bridge is broken.' It means they were humbled.
In Korean, '콧대가 꺾이다' describes the process of losing one's arrogance. It is used when someone who was acting superior faces a situation that forces them to be humble. It is a common way to describe a change in attitude after a failure.
This idiom utilizes the metaphor of the nose as a symbol of pride. When someone's 'nose bridge' is 'broken,' it signifies that their inflated self-image has been punctured by reality. It is frequently used in social contexts to describe the humbling of an arrogant individual.
The idiom '콧대가 꺾이다' serves as a sociocultural marker for the rejection of hubris. By equating the physical structure of the nose with the psychological construct of ego, the phrase provides a visceral description of the transition from arrogance to humility. It is a nuanced expression often employed when the speaker perceives a deserved correction of another's social posturing.
From a cognitive linguistics perspective, '콧대가 꺾이다' maps the domain of physical integrity onto the domain of social status and ego. The 'high nose' represents a vertical orientation of superiority, while the 'breaking' of this structure represents a forced downward shift in social standing or self-perception. This idiom is deeply embedded in the Korean cultural ethos, which prioritizes the regulation of individual pride to maintain social equilibrium, often manifesting as a form of 'schadenfreude' when an arrogant individual is brought down to earth.

意味

To be humbled or have one's arrogance or confidence severely diminished.

🌍

文化的背景

The nose is a central feature of the face in Korea, and 'high nose' is a beauty standard, but also a metaphor for pride.

🎯

Context is key

Only use this when the person was actually acting arrogant before.

意味

To be humbled or have one's arrogance or confidence severely diminished.

🎯

Context is key

Only use this when the person was actually acting arrogant before.

自分をテスト

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.

그는 항상 잘난 척하더니 이번 실패로 ________.

✓ 正解！ ✗ おしい！ 正解: 콧대가 꺾였다

The context implies he was humbled after a failure.

🎉 スコア： /1

ビジュアル学習ツール

よくある質問

1 問

Yes, if you want to admit you were wrong and have been humbled.

関連フレーズ

🔗

콧대가 높다

contrast

To be arrogant

🔗

기세가 꺾이다

similar

To lose momentum

どこで使う？

💼

Office Rivalry

A: 김 대리가 이번 프로젝트 망쳤대.

B: 잘난 척하더니 드디어 콧대가 꺾였네.

informal
⚽

Sports Competition

A: 상대 팀이 전반전에 엄청 거만하더라.

B: 후반전에 우리가 이겨서 콧대를 꺾어줬지.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a person with a very long, high nose (Pinocchio-style) who trips and hits the floor, breaking the nose. That's their pride breaking!

Visual Association

Imagine a peacock with a very tall, stiff neck (nose) suddenly bowing its head low because it lost a fight.

Rhyme

Pride is high, nose is long, failure comes, pride is gone.

Story

Min-su thought he was the best soccer player. He bragged all week. Then, he missed the winning goal in the final minute. As he walked off the field, his teammates whispered, 'His 콧대가 꺾였네.'

Word Web

오만 (arrogance)겸손 (humility)자존심 (pride)실패 (failure)현실 (reality)꺾이다 (to be broken)

チャレンジ

Write three sentences about a time you saw someone acting arrogant and then failing.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Bajar los humos

Spanish focuses on 'smoke/heat' while Korean focuses on the 'nose'.

French moderate

Rabaisser le caquet

French focuses on speech/noise, Korean on physical appearance.

German moderate

Jemanden auf den Boden der Tatsachen zurückholen

German is more literal about the 'reality check' aspect.

Japanese very_high

鼻をへし折る

None, the cultural metaphor is shared.

Arabic moderate

كسر شوكته

Arabic uses a 'thorn' metaphor.

Chinese moderate

挫其锐气

Chinese uses the concept of 'sharpness' vs 'dullness'.

Korean self

콧대가 꺾이다

None.

Portuguese moderate

Baixar a crista

Portuguese uses an animal metaphor.

Easily Confused

콧대가 꺾이다 対 콧대가 높다 vs 콧대가 꺾이다

Learners mix the state (high) with the action (broken).

High = Arrogant. Broken = Humbled.

よくある質問 (1)

Yes, if you want to admit you were wrong and have been humbled.

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