A2 Idiom 중립

콧대가 높다.

kotdaega nopda.

Be arrogant/haughty.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use '콧대가 높다' to describe someone who is arrogant, snobbish, or acts superior to others.

  • Means: To be proud, haughty, or condescending toward others.
  • Used in: Describing snobbish people or someone who rejects others easily.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about physical nose size, but social attitude.
High chin + looking down = 콧대가 높다

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means someone is proud. They think they are better than others. We use it when someone acts like a snob.
In Korean, '콧대가 높다' literally means 'the nose bridge is high.' Figuratively, it describes a person who is arrogant or condescending. It is often used when someone becomes famous or rich and starts acting like they are superior to their friends.
This idiom is used to characterize individuals who exhibit haughty behavior. It suggests that the person looks down on others, often because they perceive themselves as having higher social status. It is frequently used in the context of someone whose attitude has changed negatively due to increased success or popularity.
The idiom '콧대가 높다' serves as a social critique of arrogance. It implies a lack of humility, which is a significant social transgression in Korean culture. It is commonly applied to people who are perceived as 'difficult' or 'snobbish,' often implying that they are selective in their social interactions to the point of being exclusionary.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, '콧대가 높다' functions as a metaphor mapping physical verticality onto social hierarchy. By describing someone as having a 'high nose,' the speaker positions the subject as looking down upon others, thereby reinforcing the cultural expectation of horizontal social relations and egalitarian interaction. It is a powerful tool for labeling non-conformity to the cultural ideal of modesty.
The idiom '콧대가 높다' is a prime example of embodied cognition, where the physical orientation of the nose—a prominent facial feature—serves as a proxy for the psychological state of hubris. In Korean discourse, the phrase acts as a moral judgment, signaling that the subject has breached the implicit social contract of humility. Its usage is highly context-dependent, often employed to enforce social norms by stigmatizing those who exhibit perceived superiority, thereby functioning as a mechanism for social leveling within the community.

뜻

To be proud and condescending, looking down on others.

🌍

문화적 배경

In Korea, humility is a core virtue. Calling someone '콧대가 높다' is a way to socially sanction them for breaking this norm. Similar to 'looking down one's nose,' this idiom reflects a universal human tendency to associate physical height with social status. Be careful! In Japanese, '鼻が高い' is a compliment (pride in a good way), whereas in Korean, it is an insult. The nose is a central symbol of pride and honor in many Middle Eastern cultures, making the 'nose in the sky' metaphor very common.

🎯

Context is Key

Always check if you are talking about beauty or attitude before using this phrase.

⚠️

Don't be Rude

This is a negative label. Don't use it to describe someone you want to be friends with.

뜻

To be proud and condescending, looking down on others.

🎯

Context is Key

Always check if you are talking about beauty or attitude before using this phrase.

⚠️

Don't be Rude

This is a negative label. Don't use it to describe someone you want to be friends with.

💬

Humility First

Remember that Korean culture values modesty; this phrase is a strong critique of someone who lacks it.

셀프 테스트

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

그는 인기가 많아지더니 ___________.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: 콧대가 높아졌어요

When someone becomes popular, they often become arrogant (콧대가 높아지다).

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the sentence that correctly uses the idiom.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: 그는 콧대가 높아서 아무도 안 만나요.

Arrogant people are often isolated because they are difficult to approach.

Complete the dialogue.

A: 쟤 왜 저렇게 잘난 척해? B: ___________.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: 원래 콧대가 높잖아

This confirms that the person has always been arrogant.

Match the situation to the phrase.

Someone who thinks they are better than everyone else.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: 콧대가 높다

The definition of the idiom is to be arrogant or condescending.

🎉 점수: /4

시각 학습 자료

자주 묻는 질문

12 질문

Yes, it is almost always used to criticize someone's arrogance.

Only if you are gossiping with a close friend. Never say it to your boss.

'콧대가 높다' is an idiom, while '오만하다' is a formal adjective.

You use the phrase '콧대를 꺾다'.

No, it has nothing to do with height.

Because the nose bridge is the most prominent part of the face.

No, that is not a standard phrase.

Only in informal discussions about competitors or difficult partners.

Then you say '코가 높다' (physical beauty).

Yes, very common when a character is being a snob.

Yes, if the company is being difficult or arrogant.

No, it can be used for anyone.

관련 표현

🔗

콧대를 꺾다

contrast

To humble someone

🔗

잘난 척하다

similar

To act superior

🔗

콧대가 세다

similar

To be stubborn/proud

🔗

오만하다

similar

To be arrogant

어디서 쓸까?

🎤

Gossip about a celebrity

A: 그 배우 요즘 왜 그래?

B: 인기 좀 얻더니 콧대가 너무 높아졌어.

informal
💔

Dating advice

A: 그 사람한테 고백할까?

B: 아니, 콧대가 높아서 거절할걸?

informal
💼

Workplace complaint

A: 새로 온 팀장님 어때?

B: 콧대가 높아서 의견을 안 들어줘.

neutral
🙄

Describing a snob

A: 왜 쟤랑 안 놀아?

B: 쟤는 콧대가 너무 높아서 같이 있으면 피곤해.

informal
👑

Humble brag

A: 나 이번에 대기업 합격했어!

B: 오, 이제 콧대 좀 높아지겠는데?

informal
📉

Reflecting on change

A: 그 친구 예전엔 안 그랬는데.

B: 성공하고 나서 콧대가 많이 높아졌지.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a person with a nose so high they can't even see the ground—they are looking down on everyone!

Visual Association

A person walking with their chin pointed at the ceiling, ignoring everyone around them.

Story

Min-su was a kind student. But after he won the national contest, he changed. He started walking with his nose in the air. His friends whispered, 'Min-su's nose has become very high (콧대가 높아졌어).' He stopped saying hello to his old friends.

Word Web

오만하다 (arrogant)잘난 척하다 (to act superior)거만하다 (haughty)겸손하다 (humble - antonym)콧대를 꺾다 (to humble)콧대가 세다 (stubborn/proud)

챌린지

For one day, observe people in movies or dramas and identify who acts like they have a 'high nose.'

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Creerse la última coca-cola del desierto

Korean uses a physical body part metaphor; Spanish uses a consumer product metaphor.

French high

Avoir la grosse tête

French focuses on the head size; Korean focuses on the nose bridge height.

German high

Sich für etwas Besseres halten

German is a direct description of attitude; Korean is a figurative idiom.

Japanese low

鼻が高い (Hana ga takai)

The valence is opposite; Japanese is positive pride, Korean is negative arrogance.

Arabic high

أنفه في السماء (Anfuhu fi al-sama')

Arabic emphasizes the height of the nose; Korean emphasizes the bridge of the nose.

Chinese moderate

目中无人 (Mù zhōng wú rén)

Chinese focuses on the 'gaze' (not seeing others); Korean focuses on the 'nose' (looking down).

Korean high

잘난 척하다

One is an action (pretending), the other is a state of being (arrogant).

Portuguese high

Ter o nariz empinado

The usage is nearly identical in both cultures.

Easily Confused

콧대가 높다. 대 코가 높다

Learners often use this to describe attitude, but it is purely physical.

Use '코가 높다' for beauty, '콧대가 높다' for attitude.

콧대가 높다. 대 콧대가 낮다

Learners think this means 'humble', but it is not a standard idiom.

Use '겸손하다' for humble.

자주 묻는 질문 (12)

Yes, it is almost always used to criticize someone's arrogance.

Only if you are gossiping with a close friend. Never say it to your boss.

'콧대가 높다' is an idiom, while '오만하다' is a formal adjective.

You use the phrase '콧대를 꺾다'.

No, it has nothing to do with height.

Because the nose bridge is the most prominent part of the face.

No, that is not a standard phrase.

Only in informal discussions about competitors or difficult partners.

Then you say '코가 높다' (physical beauty).

Yes, very common when a character is being a snob.

Yes, if the company is being difficult or arrogant.

No, it can be used for anyone.

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