Meaning
Refers to a child's small savings or pocket money.
Cultural Background
The phrase reflects the 'Gung-sang' (poverty) era of the 1950s-70s. It's a linguistic fossil of a time when children's health and hygiene were poor, but their small joys were fiercely protected by the community. In the age of YouTube and Twitch, '코 묻은 돈' is frequently used to describe small donations (donas) from younger viewers to streamers, often with a mix of humor and concern. Korean media uses this phrase as a 'moral barometer.' If a company is accused of targeting '코 묻은 돈,' it faces a much harsher public backlash than if it were just accused of being 'expensive.'
Use with '뺏다'
If you want to sound like a native, use it with '뺏다' (to take away) when you see something unfair.
Not for your boss
Never describe your salary as '코 묻은 돈' to your employer; it sounds like you're calling your work 'child's play.'
Meaning
Refers to a child's small savings or pocket money.
Use with '뺏다'
If you want to sound like a native, use it with '뺏다' (to take away) when you see something unfair.
Not for your boss
Never describe your salary as '코 묻은 돈' to your employer; it sounds like you're calling your work 'child's play.'
Heartwarming usage
Don't forget it can be positive! Use it when a child does something big with their small savings.
Test Yourself
Choose the most appropriate situation to use '코 묻은 돈'.
어떤 상황에서 이 표현을 쓸까요?
The phrase is used to criticize taking small amounts of money from the vulnerable.
Fill in the blank to complete the sentence.
어떻게 아이들 ( ) 돈을 뺏을 수 있니?
The fixed idiom is '코 묻은 돈'.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
A: 이번에 새로 나온 게임, 아이템이 너무 비싸요. B: 맞아요. 학생들 ( ) 것 같아요.
In this context, B is agreeing that the game is targeting students' small savings.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
When to use '코 묻은 돈'
Positive
- • Child's gift
- • First savings
- • Charity donation
Negative
- • Corporate greed
- • Scams
- • Bullying
Practice Bank
3 exercises어떤 상황에서 이 표현을 쓸까요?
The phrase is used to criticize taking small amounts of money from the vulnerable.
어떻게 아이들 ( ) 돈을 뺏을 수 있니?
The fixed idiom is '코 묻은 돈'.
A: 이번에 새로 나온 게임, 아이템이 너무 비싸요. B: 맞아요. 학생들 ( ) 것 같아요.
In this context, B is agreeing that the game is targeting students' small savings.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsIn this specific idiom, no. It's a standard cultural expression that even news anchors use.
Yes, it's often used for students (middle/high school) to emphasize their lack of income.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but '거금' (a large sum of money) is the factual opposite.
Yes, similar expressions exist across the peninsula due to shared history.
Related Phrases
푼돈
similarPetty cash / small change
쌈짓돈
similarPocket money kept in a pouch
껌값
similarDirt cheap (price of gum)
피 같은 돈
contrastMoney like blood (very hard-earned)
