뜻
Trying to survive with a low budget.
문화적 배경
The Dutch are famous for 'Kijken, kijken, niet kopen' (Looking, looking, not buying). This frugality is a point of national pride and makes 'de eindjes aan elkaar knopen' a very common topic of conversation. In Flanders, the phrase is also used, but they might more often use 'de eindjes aan elkaar hangen' or simply 'rondkomen'. The sentiment of 'spaarzaamheid' (thriftiness) is equally strong. In Dutch-speaking Caribbean cultures, financial struggle is often expressed with more religious or community-based metaphors, but 'eindjes knopen' is understood due to the Dutch educational influence. During the 'Hongerwinter' (Hunger Winter) of 1944, this phrase was literal for many who had to use every scrap of material and food to survive.
Use with 'moeite'
It is very common to say 'moeite hebben om...' (to have trouble to...). Example: 'Ik heb moeite om de eindjes aan elkaar te knopen.'
Don't use for physical ropes
If you are actually tying two ropes together, just say 'twee touwen aan elkaar knopen'. Using 'eindjes' makes it an idiom about money.
뜻
Trying to survive with a low budget.
Use with 'moeite'
It is very common to say 'moeite hebben om...' (to have trouble to...). Example: 'Ik heb moeite om de eindjes aan elkaar te knopen.'
Don't use for physical ropes
If you are actually tying two ropes together, just say 'twee touwen aan elkaar knopen'. Using 'eindjes' makes it an idiom about money.
The 'Te' placement
In a 'om...te' construction, 'te' always comes right before 'knopen'. '...om de eindjes aan elkaar **te** knopen.'
셀프 테스트
Vul de juiste vorm van het werkwoord 'knopen' in.
Vorig jaar was ik werkloos en ______ ik de eindjes aan elkaar.
The sentence starts with 'Vorig jaar' (Last year), so we need the past tense singular.
Wat betekent de uitdrukking 'de eindjes aan elkaar knopen'?
Kies het juiste antwoord:
This is the figurative meaning of the idiom.
Maak de dialoog af.
A: Wil je mee naar het concert van Taylor Swift? B: Ik zou wel willen, maar het ticket is 200 euro. Met mijn huidige salaris is het al lastig om ...
The context of not being able to afford a ticket fits perfectly with 'making ends meet'.
Welke situatie past bij de uitdrukking?
In welke situatie gebruik je 'de eindjes aan elkaar knopen'?
This describes a chronic state of financial tightness.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
4 연습 문제Vorig jaar was ik werkloos en ______ ik de eindjes aan elkaar.
The sentence starts with 'Vorig jaar' (Last year), so we need the past tense singular.
Kies het juiste antwoord:
This is the figurative meaning of the idiom.
A: Wil je mee naar het concert van Taylor Swift? B: Ik zou wel willen, maar het ticket is 200 euro. Met mijn huidige salaris is het al lastig om ...
The context of not being able to afford a ticket fits perfectly with 'making ends meet'.
In welke situatie gebruik je 'de eindjes aan elkaar knopen'?
This describes a chronic state of financial tightness.
🎉 점수: /4
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문No, it's not rude. It's a very common and socially acceptable way to talk about financial hardship.
Yes, a small business owner might say this if the company is barely breaking even.
The singular is 'eindje', but the idiom is always used in the plural.
It is always 'aan elkaar'. 'Bij elkaar' would mean gathering them in one place, not connecting them.
Not necessarily. It means you are *avoiding* debt by being very careful, though you might be close to it.
No, you must include 'aan elkaar' for the idiom to be complete.
It's common in journalism, but in a formal scientific report, you'd use 'financieel rondkomen'.
Ik kan de eindjes niet aan elkaar knopen.
The verb 'rondkomen' is the shorter, literal version.
The diminutive emphasizes that the pieces of money/thread are very small and scarce.
관련 표현
rondkomen
synonymTo have enough money for your needs.
het hoofd boven water houden
similarTo survive a difficult situation.
op grote voet leven
contrastTo spend a lot of money and live luxuriously.
de tering naar de nering zetten
similarTo adjust spending to income.
