A1 Idiom Neutral 1 min read

발에 채이다.

bare chaeida.

To be abundant / common.

Practice it

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use '발에 채이다' to describe something so common that you encounter it everywhere you go.

  • Means: To be extremely common or abundant.
  • Used in: Describing trends, common items, or ubiquitous people.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about actual physical tripping, but metaphorical abundance.
Many items + walking path = tripping over them (metaphorically)

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means something is very common. You see it everywhere. You can use it when there are too many of the same thing.
Use this idiom when you want to say that an item or person is so common that you encounter them constantly. It implies that the thing is not rare at all.
This idiom is used to describe ubiquity. When you say something is '발에 채이다', you are suggesting that it is so abundant that it is impossible to avoid, similar to how you would trip over objects scattered on the ground.
The phrase '발에 채이다' serves as a metaphorical expression for high frequency. It is typically employed in casual discourse to diminish the perceived value or rarity of an object by emphasizing its overwhelming presence in a given environment.
Linguistically, this is a passive construction used to denote extreme commonality. It functions as a hyperbole, suggesting that the subject is so pervasive that it occupies the physical space of the speaker's path, thereby creating a sense of triviality regarding the subject's rarity.
This idiom exemplifies the intersection of physical movement and abstract quantification in Korean. By mapping the spatial experience of 'tripping' onto the cognitive domain of 'abundance', it provides a vivid, idiomatic way to express saturation within a social or economic context, often carrying a subtle tone of dismissiveness.

Meaning

To be so numerous that one trips over them; to be very common.

🌍

Cultural Background

Koreans value being unique, so calling something '발에 채이다' is a way to criticize its lack of originality.

💡

Use with '정도로'

Adding '정도로' (to the extent that) makes the sentence sound more natural.

💡

Use with '정도로'

Adding '정도로' (to the extent that) makes the sentence sound more natural.

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.

요즘은 스마트폰이 __________ 정도로 많다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 발에 채일

The idiom for being very common is '발에 채이다'.

🎉 Score: /1

Visual Learning Aids

Practice Bank

2 exercises
Choose the correct answer Fill Blank

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase. Fill Blank A1

요즘은 스마트폰이 __________ 정도로 많다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 발에 채일

The idiom for being very common is '발에 채이다'.

🎉 Score: /2

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

Only if you are being slightly rude or dismissive.

Related Phrases

🔄

흔해 빠지다

synonym

To be dirt common

Where to Use It

☕

Coffee Shop Overload

A: 여기 근처에 카페가 정말 많네.

B: 응, 진짜 발에 채일 정도로 많아.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine walking through a field of shoes; you are constantly tripping over them because there are so many!

Visual Association

A busy street where every step you take hits a coffee cup. You are 'kicking' them as you walk.

Story

Min-su wanted to buy a unique hat. He went to the mall, but every shop had the exact same one. He sighed and told his friend, 'These hats are everywhere, I'm literally tripping over them!'

In Other Languages

English: 'A dime a dozen'. Spanish: 'Hasta en la sopa' (Even in the soup).

Word Web

흔하다많다흔해 빠지다도처에널려 있다

Challenge

Look around your room and find something you have too many of. Say: '[Item]이/가 발에 채일 정도로 많아요.'

Review in 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month.

Pronunciation

Stress Even stress.

Standard pronunciation.

Pronounced as written.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
이런 제품은 도처에 널려 있습니다.

이런 제품은 도처에 널려 있습니다. (Describing product availability)

Neutral
이런 제품은 발에 채일 정도로 많습니다.

이런 제품은 발에 채일 정도로 많습니다. (Describing product availability)

Informal
이런 거 발에 채일 정도로 많아.

이런 거 발에 채일 정도로 많아. (Describing product availability)

Slang
이런 거 널리고 널렸어.

이런 거 널리고 널렸어. (Describing product availability)

The phrase comes from the physical act of walking on a path filled with small objects like stones. Because you are constantly hitting them with your feet, you realize there are too many of them.

Modern:

Fun Fact

It is often used in a slightly annoyed tone.

Cultural Notes

Koreans value being unique, so calling something '발에 채이다' is a way to criticize its lack of originality.

“그 디자인은 이제 발에 채일 정도로 흔해.”

Conversation Starters

“

요즘 유행하는 것 중에 발에 채일 정도로 흔한 게 뭐가 있을까요?

Common Mistakes

✗

그 사람은 발에 채여요.

✓

그 사람은 흔해요.

wrong context
Using it for a specific person can sound like you are calling them 'trash' or 'garbage' that is cluttering the floor.

L1 Interference

0 1

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Hasta en la sopa

The imagery is different (tripping vs. food).

French moderate

À la pelle

Focuses on the act of collecting rather than walking.

German moderate

Wie Sand am Meer

Focuses on nature/quantity rather than human movement.

Japanese Very Similar

掃いて捨てるほど

Focuses on cleaning/discarding.

Arabic Different

أكثر من الهم على القلب

Focuses on emotional weight.

Chinese moderate

比比皆是

Less physical, more formal.

Korean self

발에 채이다

N/A

Portuguese Different

Mato

Focuses on nature.

Spotted in the Real World

📺

(2015)

“요즘은 이런 거 발에 채일 정도로 많아.”

Talking about common household items.

Easily Confused

발에 채이다. vs 발에 치이다

Sounds very similar and uses the same body part.

치이다 implies being bothered or pushed, while 채이다 implies just being common.

Frequently Asked Questions (1)

Only if you are being slightly rude or dismissive.

usage contexts

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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