비현실적이다
When something is 비현실적이다 (bihyeonsiljeogida), it means it's not based on reality or practical considerations. You might use it to describe ideas, plans, or even situations that seem too good to be true or simply don't make sense in the real world.
For example, if someone suggests a plan that requires an impossible amount of money or time, you could say it's 비현실적이다. It often carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that something is impractical or unlikely to succeed because it ignores reality. Think of it as meaning "unrealistic" or "impractical."
When something is 비현실적이다 (bihyeonsiljeogida), it means it's unrealistic or impractical. It often describes ideas, plans, or situations that are too idealistic or fanciful to actually happen. You might use this word if someone suggests a solution that sounds good in theory but wouldn't work in real life, or if a story describes something that simply couldn't occur.
비현실적이다 in 30 Seconds
- B1
- idealistic
- impractical
§ 비현실적이다 vs. 비실용적이다
When you're learning Korean, it's really helpful to understand the nuances between similar words. Let's look at 비현실적이다 and 비실용적이다, as they often cause confusion for English speakers. While both can relate to things not being 'real' or 'practical,' they refer to different aspects.
- DEFINITION
- 비현실적이다 (비현실적이다): Not realistic or practical; idealistic or fanciful. It describes something that doesn't align with reality, often in a dreamy or impractical way.
- DEFINITION
- 비실용적이다 (비실용적이다): Impractical, not useful, or inconvenient. It describes something that might be theoretically possible but is difficult or inefficient to use in practice.
The key difference is that 비현실적이다 focuses on whether something is detached from reality or too idealistic, whereas 비실용적이다 focuses on its lack of practical use or convenience. Think of it this way:
- A plan to build a house on the moon without any current technology is 비현실적이다. It's simply not possible given our current reality.
- A plan to drive a massive truck through a tiny alleyway to deliver a small package might be 비실용적이다. It might be physically possible, but it's not a practical or efficient way to do it.
그의 꿈은 너무 비현실적이다. (His dream is too unrealistic.)
그 방법은 시간 낭비라서 비실용적이다. (That method is a waste of time, so it's impractical.)
§ 비현실적이다 vs. 공상적이다
Another pair that might seem similar is 비현실적이다 and 공상적이다. Both relate to things not being grounded in reality, but they have slightly different connotations.
- DEFINITION
- 비현실적이다 (비현실적이다): Not realistic or practical; idealistic or fanciful. As we've discussed, it describes something that is far from what's possible or observable in the real world.
- DEFINITION
- 공상적이다 (공상적이다): Fanciful, visionary, or imaginary. It specifically refers to something that exists purely in imagination or fantasy, often with a sense of being dreamy or whimsical.
Here, the difference lies in the source of the unreality. 비현실적이다 can describe something that is objectively impossible or simply very unlikely in reality. 공상적이다, on the other hand, often points to something that is a product of someone's imagination or fantasy, not necessarily impossible, but definitely not real.
- A painting of a flying elephant is 공상적이다. It's from imagination.
- The idea that we can breathe underwater without any equipment is 비현실적이다. It contradicts biological reality.
그의 이야기는 항상 공상적이다. (His stories are always fanciful/imaginary.)
그런 이상적인 세상은 비현실적이다. (Such an ideal world is unrealistic.)
§ When to use 비현실적이다
You should use 비현실적이다 when you want to convey that something:
- Is not aligned with what is possible or observable in the real world.
- Is overly idealistic or too optimistic to actually happen.
- Is based on an incorrect understanding of reality.
- Seems dreamlike, almost too good or too strange to be true.
It's a versatile word for describing situations, ideas, or even sensory experiences that defy your expectation of reality.
그의 계획은 너무 비현실적이다고 생각합니다. (I think his plan is too unrealistic.)
그 경치는 마치 꿈처럼 비현실적이었다. (The scenery was unreal like a dream.)
Keep practicing these distinctions, and you'll become much more confident in expressing yourself accurately in Korean!
How Formal Is It?
"그의 제안은 현 상황에 비추어 볼 때 비현실적입니다. (His suggestion is unrealistic given the current situation.)"
"네 계획은 좀 비현실적인 것 같아. (Your plan seems a bit unrealistic.)"
"그렇게 될 리가 없어, 말도 안 돼. (There's no way that'll happen, it's absurd.)"
"이건 마치 꿈같아! 진짜 일어난 일이야? (This is like a dream! Did it really happen?)"
"그 아이디어는 현실성 제로야. (That idea has zero realism.)"
Grammar to Know
Korean adjectives often end in -다 (-da) in their dictionary form. To use them in a sentence, you need to conjugate them.
비현실적이다 (dictionary form) -> 비현실적이에요 (polite present tense)
To connect an adjective to a noun, you can use -(으)ㄴ (-(eu)n) after the adjective stem.
비현실적인 생각 (an unrealistic thought)
To say something 'is' an adjective, you can use the structure 'Noun이/가 (adjective)다'.
그것은 비현실적이다. (That is unrealistic.)
To express 'because' with an adjective, you can use -아서/어서 (-aseo/eoseo).
너무 비현실적이어서 믿을 수 없어요. (Because it's too unrealistic, I can't believe it.)
To modify a verb with an adjective, you often need to use an adverbial form of the adjective. For adjectives ending in -하다 (-hada), you can often change it to -하게 (-hage).
비현실적으로 보이다. (To seem unrealistic.)
Examples by Level
그녀의 아이디어는 너무 비현실적이라서 실행하기 어려울 거예요.
Her idea is too unrealistic, so it will be difficult to implement.
그의 꿈은 다소 비현실적이지만, 열정은 대단해요.
His dream is somewhat unrealistic, but his passion is amazing.
이 계획은 현재로서는 비현실적이라고 생각해요.
I think this plan is unrealistic for now.
영화 속 이야기는 비현실적이지만, 감동적이었어요.
The story in the movie was unrealistic, but it was touching.
현실과 비현실적인 기대를 구분하는 것이 중요해요.
It's important to distinguish between reality and unrealistic expectations.
그녀는 비현실적인 목표를 세우는 경향이 있어요.
She has a tendency to set unrealistic goals.
이런 비현실적인 생각은 빨리 버리는 게 좋아요.
It's good to quickly abandon such unrealistic thoughts.
그의 주장은 현실성이 떨어지고 비현실적이었어요.
His argument lacked realism and was unrealistic.
Often Confused With
This is the direct opposite, meaning 'to be realistic'.
This is a noun meaning 'a sense of unreality' or 'surrealism'.
Similar to '환상적이다', meaning 'dreamlike' or 'ethereal', usually with a beautiful connotation.
Idioms & Expressions
"꿈만 같다"
Like a dream; refers to something incredibly wonderful or surreal.
정말 꿈만 같아요. (It's truly like a dream.)
neutral"허황되다"
To be groundless, fantastic, or absurd; often used for plans or hopes.
그 계획은 좀 허황돼요. (That plan is a bit absurd.)
neutral"현실과 동떨어진"
Detached from reality.
현실과 동떨어진 생각은 하지 마세요. (Don't have thoughts detached from reality.)
neutral"말도 안 되는"
Unbelievable, ridiculous; literally 'doesn't make sense'.
말도 안 되는 소리 하지 마세요. (Don't say such ridiculous things.)
informal"뜬구름 잡는 이야기"
Chasing after clouds; refers to unrealistic or impractical talk.
그건 뜬구름 잡는 이야기예요. (That's talk about chasing clouds.)
informal"공상에 빠지다"
To fall into fantasy/daydreaming.
그는 늘 공상에 빠져 있어요. (He's always lost in daydreams.)
neutral"비현실적인 이야기"
An unrealistic story; can refer to fiction or an implausible account.
그건 좀 비현실적인 이야기인데요. (That's a bit of an unrealistic story.)
neutral"망상에 사로잡히다"
To be caught up in delusions.
그는 망상에 사로잡혀 있어요. (He's caught up in delusions.)
neutral"황당무계하다"
To be preposterous, absurd, or incredible.
정말 황당무계한 소리예요. (That's a truly preposterous thing to say.)
formal"현실성이 없다"
To lack realism or practicality.
그 계획은 현실성이 없어요. (That plan lacks realism.)
neutralEasily Confused
Both can describe something that isn't real. '비현실적이다' implies a lack of realism, while '환상적이다' often means fantastic or wonderful, like a fantasy.
'비현실적이다' focuses on the *unreal* aspect, often with a neutral or slightly negative connotation (e.g., 'that plan is unrealistic'). '환상적이다' emphasizes the *dreamlike* or *amazing* quality, usually positive (e.g., 'a fantastic view').
그들의 계획은 너무 비현실적이다. (Their plan is too unrealistic.) / 이 경치는 정말 환상적이다! (This scenery is truly fantastic!)
Both relate to things that are imaginary. '비현실적이다' is about something not matching reality, whereas '공상적이다' specifically refers to something related to imagination or daydreaming.
'비현실적이다' is broader, covering anything not based in reality. '공상적이다' implies something born purely from imagination, often without a practical basis, similar to 'fanciful'.
그의 생각은 좀 비현실적이야. (His idea is a bit unrealistic.) / 그는 공상적인 이야기를 좋아한다. (He likes fanciful stories.)
They look and sound very similar. '비현실적이다' is an adjective, while '비현실' is a noun.
'비현실적이다' means 'to be unrealistic'. '비현실' means 'unreality' or 'something that is not real'. One describes, the other is a thing.
그 이야기는 너무 비현실적이다. (That story is too unrealistic.) / 그는 비현실을 꿈꾼다. (He dreams of unreality.)
Both suggest something cannot be achieved. '비현실적이다' means not realistic, while '실현 불가능하다' means impossible to realize or achieve.
'비현실적이다' implies that something is not grounded in reality or practicality. '실현 불가능하다' is stronger; it means something literally *cannot* be done or brought to fruition.
그 아이디어는 비현실적이다. (That idea is unrealistic.) / 이 계획은 실현 불가능하다. (This plan is impossible to realize.)
Both can describe something that is not 'normal' or 'average'. '비현실적이다' implies impracticality, while '이상적이다' implies a perfect, often unattainable, ideal.
'비현실적이다' highlights that something isn't real or practical in the current world. '이상적이다' describes something as perfect or exemplary, often serving as a goal, even if difficult to achieve.
그녀의 기대는 비현실적이었다. (Her expectations were unrealistic.) / 그는 이상적인 배우자를 찾고 있다. (He is looking for an ideal spouse.)
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsThink about the parts: '비' means 'not', '현실' means 'reality', and '적이다' makes it an adjective. So, literally, it means 'not reality-like'. Visualizing something completely out of this world can help it stick.
It's tricky. While a dream might feel real, '비현실적이다' usually refers to something that isn't practical or grounded in reality. If you mean the dream itself was fantastical, then yes. But if you mean it felt incredibly vivid, there might be a better word for that.
It can be, but not always. It depends on the context. If you're talking about unrealistic goals, it's negative. But if you're talking about a dreamlike beautiful scene, it could be positive, implying it's 'unrealistically beautiful'.
'환상적이다' is generally positive and means fantastic or dreamy in a good way. '비현실적이다' can be neutral or negative, suggesting something is impractical or just not real. Think of '환상적이다' as a wonderful fantasy, and '비현실적이다' as just not realistic.
You can use it like any other adjective. For example: 그의 계획은 비현실적이다. (His plan is unrealistic.) or 그 풍경은 너무 비현실적으로 아름다웠다. (The scenery was unrealistically beautiful.)
Yes, it can. If someone is always dreaming and never acts practically, you could say they are '비현실적인 사람' (an unrealistic person).
Not really a specific idiom, but it's often used with words like '꿈' (dream) or '계획' (plan) to emphasize their impracticality. For example, 비현실적인 꿈 (an unrealistic dream).
Instead of saying '그 아이디어는 비현실적이에요,' which can be direct, you might say something like, '그 아이디어가 조금 현실성이 떨어지는 것 같아요' (I think that idea is a bit lacking in realism) or '실현하기에는 조금 어려운 점이 있을 것 같아요' (It seems like there might be some difficulties in making it happen).
Not really in a conversational way. '비현실적' on its own is an adjective, and adding '이다' makes it a descriptive verb. Shortening it further would change its grammatical function or make it sound incomplete.
The opposite would be '현실적이다' (realistic or practical). You can also use '실용적이다' (practical, useful) depending on the nuance.
Test Yourself 54 questions
그의 계획은 너무 ___.
The plan is described as 'too something', and '비현실적이다' fits the context of being unrealistic, which is often a negative comment on a plan.
어린아이의 꿈은 종종 ___.
Children's dreams are often imaginative and not bound by reality, making '비현실적이다' the most suitable word.
너무 ___ 생각은 하지 마세요.
This sentence advises against thinking too much about something. '비현실적이다' implies thoughts that are not grounded in reality, which fits the advice.
그것은 단지 ___ 희망사항일 뿐이다.
The sentence states 'it is just a wish', implying the wish is not likely to come true, hence '비현실적이다' is appropriate.
그녀의 제안은 조금 ___.
If a proposal is 'a little something', and it's being evaluated, '비현실적이다' suggests it might not be practical or feasible.
우리는 ___ 목표를 세워야 합니다.
This sentence is a bit tricky. While the target word is '비현실적이다', the context implies setting goals that are the opposite. To make it fit the A2 level, '현실적이다' is the correct answer here, as it's the direct opposite and a common comparison. The exercise asks for a blank to be filled, and '현실적이다' is often contrasted with '비현실적이다'. (Note: This might seem like it's testing '현실적이다' more than '비현실적이다', but it serves to reinforce the concept by contrasting it.)
Choose the sentence where '비현실적이다' is used correctly.
'비현실적이다' describes something that is not realistic, like a dream. The other options don't make sense in Korean.
Which word is an antonym (opposite) of '비현실적이다'?
'현실적이다' means realistic, which is the opposite of '비현실적이다' (unrealistic).
Complete the sentence: 그 이야기는 너무 ___ 믿기 어려웠다. (That story was too ___ to believe.)
If a story is hard to believe, it's likely because it's unrealistic. '비현실적이어서' fits best here.
A plan that is '비현실적이다' is easy to achieve. (계획이 비현실적이면 달성하기 쉽다.)
If a plan is unrealistic, it is usually difficult to achieve, not easy.
If someone says '그의 생각은 비현실적이다', it means his ideas are practical. (누군가 '그의 생각은 비현실적이다'라고 말하면, 그의 생각이 실용적이라는 뜻이다.)
'비현실적이다' means not practical, so his ideas would not be practical.
It is good to have '비현실적인' goals sometimes to challenge yourself. (가끔 자신에게 도전하기 위해 비현실적인 목표를 세우는 것이 좋다.)
While challenging goals are good, '비현실적인' implies they are not achievable, which isn't generally considered good for setting goals.
Choose the sentence where '비현실적이다' is used correctly.
The word '비현실적이다' describes a dream that is not realistic. The other options use the adjective incorrectly or in a way that doesn't fit the meaning.
Which of the following situations would best be described as '비현실적이다'?
Building a house on the moon is a highly unrealistic and fanciful idea, fitting the definition of '비현실적이다'.
What is the opposite meaning of '비현실적이다'?
The opposite of 'not realistic' is 'realistic'.
If someone's expectations are '비현실적이다', they are likely to be disappointed.
If expectations are not realistic, they are unlikely to be met, leading to disappointment.
A very practical person would often have '비현실적이다' plans.
A practical person would likely have realistic plans, not unrealistic ones.
It's usually a good thing to have '비현실적이다' goals in business.
In business, realistic and practical goals are generally preferred over unrealistic ones.
He has a very unrealistic plan.
We were chasing an unrealistic dream.
She has unrealistic expectations.
Read this aloud:
비현실적인 생각은 하지 마세요.
Focus: 비현실적인 (bihyeonsiljeogin)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
그것은 정말 비현실적인 이야기였어요.
Focus: 비현실적인 (bihyeonsiljeogin) 이야기 (iyagi)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
비현실적인 목표는 세우지 않는 것이 좋아요.
Focus: 세우지 않는 것이 좋아요 (seuji annneun geosi johayo)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
다음 중 '비현실적이다'의 의미와 가장 가까운 것은 무엇인가요?
'비현실적이다'는 현실적이지 않거나 실용적이지 않다는 의미입니다. 따라서 '현실과 동떨어져 있다'가 가장 가깝습니다.
친구가 꿈꾸는 직업이 너무 이상적이고 현재 상황과는 맞지 않을 때, 이 꿈은 '_________.' 라고 말할 수 있습니다.
이 문맥에서 '비현실적이다'는 현재 상황에 맞지 않는 이상적인 꿈을 설명하는 데 적합합니다.
그의 계획은 너무 완벽해서 현실성이 없어 보였다. 이 문장에서 '비현실적이다'와 가장 잘 어울리는 단어는?
'비현실적이다'는 현실성이 없거나 이상적인 것을 의미하므로, '이상적이다'가 가장 적절한 선택입니다.
새로운 프로젝트 아이디어가 너무 혁신적이고 기존의 틀을 깨는 것이라면, 그것은 '비현실적이다'라고 말할 수 있다.
혁신적이고 기존의 틀을 깨는 것이 항상 '비현실적이다'를 의미하지는 않습니다. 때로는 그것이 새로운 현실을 만들어낼 수도 있습니다. '비현실적이다'는 현실성이 없거나 실현 불가능할 때 사용됩니다.
어떤 사람의 목표가 현재의 능력이나 상황을 고려하지 않고 너무 높은 이상만을 추구한다면, 그 목표는 '비현실적이다'고 표현할 수 있다.
'비현실적이다'는 현실적인 기반 없이 이상만을 추구하는 경우에 적절하게 사용될 수 있습니다.
밤하늘의 별을 손으로 잡으려는 어린아이의 꿈은 '비현실적이다'고 할 수 있다.
별을 손으로 잡는 것은 물리적으로 불가능한 일이므로 '비현실적이다'는 올바른 표현입니다.
Listen for the reason why his plan might not succeed.
What effect can unrealistic goals have?
What is important to distinguish?
Read this aloud:
비현실적인 꿈을 꾸는 것은 좋지만, 현실적인 계획도 필요해요.
Focus: 비현실적인 (bi-hyeon-sil-jeok-in)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
그녀의 이야기는 너무 비현실적이어서 믿기 힘들었어요.
Focus: 믿기 힘들었어요 (mit-gi him-deul-eoss-eo-yo)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
이 아이디어는 다소 비현실적이지만, 흥미롭네요.
Focus: 흥미롭네요 (heung-mi-rop-ne-yo)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Listen to how '비현실적이다' is used to describe a plan that no one agreed with.
Listen for the connection between '비현실적인 기대' (unrealistic expectations) and disappointment.
This sentence emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between 'reality' and 'unreality'.
Read this aloud:
비현실적인 목표를 세우는 것은 시간 낭비입니다.
Focus: 비현실적인 (bi-hyeon-sil-jeok-in)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
그의 이상적인 생각은 때로는 비현실적으로 들립니다.
Focus: 비현실적으로 (bi-hyeon-sil-jeok-eu-ro)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
이런 비현실적인 상황에서 어떻게 해야 할까요?
Focus: 비현실적인 (bi-hyeon-sil-jeok-in)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
다음 문맥에서 '비현실적이다'가 가장 적절하게 사용된 것은 무엇입니까?
'비현실적이다'는 실현 불가능하거나 현실성이 떨어진다는 의미입니다. 제안이 현실성이 없다는 맥락이 가장 적절합니다.
다음 중 '비현실적이다'와 의미가 가장 가까운 단어는 무엇입니까?
'비현실적이다'는 현실과 동떨어져 환상적이라는 의미를 내포합니다.
다음 상황에서 '비현실적이다'를 사용하여 가장 자연스러운 문장을 만드세요.
가장 간결하고 자연스러운 표현입니다. 다른 문장들은 중복되거나 어색합니다.
아침 식사로 금으로 만든 팬케이크를 먹는 것은 비현실적인 일이다.
금으로 만든 팬케이크는 현실적으로 불가능하거나 매우 비합리적인 생각입니다.
친구가 로또 1등에 당첨되어 백만장자가 되었다면, 그의 상황은 비현실적이라고 할 수 없다.
로또 1등 당첨은 매우 드물고 예상하기 어려운 일이므로 '비현실적이다'고 표현할 수 있습니다.
과학자들이 시간 여행 기술을 개발하는 것은 현재로서는 비현실적인 목표이다.
시간 여행은 현재 기술 수준에서는 불가능하다고 여겨지므로 비현실적인 목표입니다.
This sentence means 'Her plan is unrealistic.' We need to order the words to form a grammatically correct Korean sentence.
This sentence translates to 'His dream is so unrealistic that it's difficult to achieve.' The words should be arranged in this order to make sense.
This sentence means 'The story of that novel was very unrealistic.' Arrange the words to form a coherent sentence.
/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Use 비현실적이다 to describe things that are not realistic or practical, often because they are too idealistic or fantastical.
- B1
- idealistic
- impractical
Example
그의 이상은 현실과는 너무 비현실적이다.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More general words
몇몇
A2An unspecified small number of; some or a few.
조금
A1A little/a bit
적게
A1A little / Few
약간
A2A little; slightly; somewhat.
많이
A1A lot/much
잠시
A2For a moment; briefly.
잠깐
A2For a short time; a moment.
아까
A2A little while ago, earlier.
대해
A2About, concerning.
~에 대해서
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
