귀가 먹다.

The Korean phrase '귀가 먹다' (gwi-ga meok-da) literally translates to 'the ear eats' or 'the ear is eaten.' To understand its idiomatic meaning of 'to have impaired hearing' or 'to pretend not to hear,' we need to delve into the historical and cultural context of the words '귀' (gwi, ear) and '먹다' (meok-da). '귀' (gwi) has maintained its core meaning of 'ear' throughout its history in the Korean language. It is a fundamental anatomical term, and its usage in various idioms often relates to listening, understanding, or attention. '먹다' (meok-da) is a highly versatile verb in Korean with a primary meaning of 'to eat' or 'to consume.' However, like many verbs in agglutinative languages, '먹다' has expanded its semantic range to include various figurative meanings, often implying a state of being consumed, covered, or blocked. For instance, '나이를 먹다' (na-i-reul meok-da) means 'to age' (literally, 'to eat age'), and '겁을 먹다' (geob-eul meok-da) means 'to be frightened' (literally, 'to eat fear'). In the context of '귀가 먹다,' the verb '먹다' is used metaphorically to describe a state where the ear's ability to function properly is impaired or 'consumed.' This can be interpreted in two main ways: 1. **Impaired Hearing (Literal Derivation):** In this sense, '먹다' signifies that the ear's capacity to hear has been diminished or 'eaten away' by some factor, such as age, illness, or injury. It suggests that sound is no longer being processed effectively by the ear, hence the impairment. This usage aligns with the idea of a sensory organ being 'blocked' or 'unable to receive' input. 2. **Pretending Not to Hear (Figurative Derivation):** This interpretation extends the metaphorical use of '먹다.' Here, the ear is not physically impaired, but it acts as if it is. The 'eating' or 'consuming' of sound is a deliberate act of ignoring or shutting out what is being said. It's a way of saying that the ear is 'closed off' or 'unresponsive' to incoming information, similar to how one might 'eat' or 'absorb' a blow, meaning to endure it without reacting. This can also be linked to the idea of someone being 'deaf to' certain advice or requests. Historically, idioms often arose from observations of everyday life and natural phenomena. The concept of an organ's function being 'eaten' or 'consumed' is a vivid way to express a loss or blockage of its normal operation. This idiom likely developed as a common and easily understandable way to describe both literal hearing loss and the act of deliberate inattention. The evolution of '먹다' to encompass these broader meanings showcases the dynamic nature of language and how core verbs can become central to expressing a wide array of concepts beyond their original literal interpretations. The phrase '귀가 먹다' therefore stands as a testament to this linguistic flexibility, conveying complex ideas about hearing and attention through a deceptively simple combination of words.