Meaning
Describing a task that is extremely simple and requires no effort.
Cultural Background
Koreans often use food-related idioms to describe ease, reflecting the importance of food in social bonding. Many East Asian cultures share similar idiomatic structures that use daily life metaphors to simplify complex concepts. Western idioms often focus on food (cake) or leisure activities (walk in the park) to describe ease. Middle Eastern idioms often use basic human needs like water to describe simplicity.
Use it with confidence
This idiom sounds best when you are confident about your ability to do something.
Don't use it for hard tasks
Using it for difficult tasks sounds sarcastic or arrogant.
Meaning
Describing a task that is extremely simple and requires no effort.
Use it with confidence
This idiom sounds best when you are confident about your ability to do something.
Don't use it for hard tasks
Using it for difficult tasks sounds sarcastic or arrogant.
Interchangeable synonyms
Feel free to use '식은 죽 먹기' as a direct alternative.
Natural sounding
Using this idiom will make you sound much more like a native speaker.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct idiom.
그 시험은 공부를 조금만 해도 붙을 수 있을 정도로 _________.
The context implies the exam was easy, so the idiom is the correct choice.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose the correct sentence.
The idiom is a noun phrase used with '이다'.
Match the situation to the correct response.
Your friend asks if a simple task is hard. What do you say?
This is the appropriate response for a simple task.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 이 업무 오늘까지 끝낼 수 있어? B: _________.
The speaker is confident they can finish it easily.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises그 시험은 공부를 조금만 해도 붙을 수 있을 정도로 _________.
The context implies the exam was easy, so the idiom is the correct choice.
Choose the correct sentence.
The idiom is a noun phrase used with '이다'.
Your friend asks if a simple task is hard. What do you say?
This is the appropriate response for a simple task.
A: 이 업무 오늘까지 끝낼 수 있어? B: _________.
The speaker is confident they can finish it easily.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, it is not offensive. It is a common, neutral way to describe ease.
It depends on the company culture. In a very formal interview, it might be too casual. Use '매우 수월합니다' instead.
You don't. It is a noun phrase. Use it with '이다'.
No, it can be used for any task, physical or mental.
No, that would be confusing. Use it only for figurative tasks.
Yes, exactly.
Yes, '식은 죽 먹기' and '누워서 떡 먹기'.
Yes, in casual writing like blogs or social media.
No, it is pure Korean.
Try using it in your daily conversations about simple tasks.
It is casual/neutral.
No, it is for positive situations where something is easy.
Related Phrases
식은 죽 먹기
synonymEating cooled porridge
누워서 떡 먹기
synonymEating rice cake while lying down
손바닥 뒤집기
similarFlipping a palm
식은 죽 먹기보다 쉽다
builds onEasier than eating cooled porridge
