등잔 밑이 어두운 법이다.
deungjan miti eoduun beopida.
It's often dark under the lamp.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A classic proverb about missing the obvious things right in front of you, just like the shadow under a lamp.
- Means: You often fail to notice things that are closest to you.
- Used in: Finding lost items, realizing a friend's feelings, or workplace talent searches.
- Don't confuse: This isn't about physical darkness, but about psychological blind spots.
Explanation at your level:
意思
It's easy to overlook things that are close at hand or right in front of you.
文化背景
The {등잔|燈盞} was more than just a light; it was a symbol of a scholar's late-night study. This proverb reminds scholars that while they seek truth in books, they shouldn't ignore the reality of their own lives. In Korean companies, this is often used during performance reviews or HR meetings to encourage looking for internal candidates before hiring expensive external ones. This is a favorite theme in K-dramas, especially in 'friends-to-lovers' stories where the protagonist searches for love everywhere except with their best friend. Using this proverb about yourself when you make a mistake (like losing your keys) is seen as humble and charming, showing you don't take yourself too seriously.
Use it for self-irony
When you find something you lost, say it to yourself to sound more like a native speaker.
Don't over-explain
Koreans usually just say the first half: '등잔 밑이 어둡다더니...' and let the listener finish the thought.
意思
It's easy to overlook things that are close at hand or right in front of you.
Use it for self-irony
When you find something you lost, say it to yourself to sound more like a native speaker.
Don't over-explain
Koreans usually just say the first half: '등잔 밑이 어둡다더니...' and let the listener finish the thought.
The 'Beob-ida' ending
Use '-법이다' when you want to sound like a wise teacher or an elder giving advice.
Hanja connection
Learning '등하불명' will help you understand news headlines and formal documents.
自我测试
Fill in the blank with the correct proverb form.
안경을 머리에 쓰고 한참 찾았네요. 정말 (______) 어두운 법이에요.
The standard proverb is '등잔 밑이 어둡다'.
Which situation best fits the proverb '등잔 밑이 어둡다'?
다음 중 속담의 의미와 가장 잘 어울리는 상황은?
The proverb refers to missing things that are close by.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
가: 우리 회사에 이런 인재가 있는 줄 몰랐어요. 나: 그러게요. (______).
This proverb is used when realizing someone close has hidden value.
Match the proverb to the modern context.
You realize your childhood friend is actually your soulmate.
Missing a romantic connection with someone close is a classic 'dark lamp base' scenario.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
Proximity vs. Distance
常见问题
12 个问题No, it's generally neutral or friendly. However, don't use it to mock someone who is genuinely upset about losing something important.
Yes! It's very common to use it when you realize a friend or family member has a secret or talent you didn't know about.
It's a traditional Korean oil lamp, usually a small ceramic bowl with a wick, placed on a wooden stand.
'등잔 밑이 어둡다' is much more common in daily speech. '등하불명' is for writing.
'밑이' makes the area under the lamp the subject that 'is dark.' '밑에' would mean 'it is dark *at* the bottom,' which is also okay but less common for the proverb.
Yes, especially when discussing internal resources or overlooked local market trends.
The proverb always uses 'dark' (어둡다), but the meaning is always about 'not seeing' or 'not knowing.'
Yes, it's one of the most well-known proverbs that almost every Korean knows regardless of age.
Then this proverb does not apply. Use '뜻밖의 발견' (unexpected discovery) instead.
You can say '등잔 밑이 어두웠네요' (It was dark under the lamp).
Not a direct one, but people might say '등잔 밑 대박' (Lamp base, wow) in very casual settings.
Yes, if they were hiding nearby or you didn't realize they were in the same building.
相关表达
등하불명
synonymDarkness under the lamp (Hanja version)
낫 놓고 기역자도 모른다
similarNot knowing the letter 'Giyeok' even with a sickle in front of you
엎어지면 코 닿을 데
builds onA place where your nose touches the ground if you fall
구슬이 서 말이라도 꿰어야 보배
contrastEven if you have three bushels of beads, they are only jewels if strung together
在哪里用
Finding a lost phone
A: 내 핸드폰 어디 갔지? 방금까지 여기 있었는데...
B: 야, 네 손에 들고 있잖아.
A: 어? 진짜네. 와, 정말 등잔 밑이 어둡다더니!
Hiring a new employee
팀장: 이번 프로젝트를 맡을 전문가를 외부에서 찾기가 너무 힘드네요.
대리: 팀장님, 사실 저희 팀 지민 씨가 이 분야 전공자예요.
팀장: 정말요? 등잔 밑이 어둡다더니, 바로 옆에 전문가를 두고 멀리서 찾았군요.
Discovering a local restaurant
친구 1: 이 집 떡볶이 진짜 맛있다! 여기 어떻게 알았어?
친구 2: 우리 집 바로 뒷골목인데 오늘 처음 와봤어. 등잔 밑이 어둡더라.
Realizing a friend's crush
민수: 지수가 나를 좋아한다고? 전혀 몰랐어.
영희: 바보야, 지수가 너한테 얼마나 잘해줬는데. 등잔 밑이 어두운 법이야.
Solving a technical bug
개발자 A: 코드를 세 시간 동안 봤는데 오타 하나 때문이었어.
개발자 B: 등잔 밑이 어둡다더니, 제일 쉬운 걸 놓쳤네.
Finding a missing family member
엄마: 우리 막내 어디 갔니? 밖에서 한참 찾았네.
아빠: 식탁 밑에서 자고 있었어요. 등잔 밑이 어둡다니까요.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a flashlight: the beam hits the wall, but the handle in your hand stays in the shadow.
Visual Association
Visualize an old wooden Korean lamp stand in a dark room. A bright flame is at the top, but a perfect circle of black shadow covers the floor right around the base.
Rhyme
등잔 밑은 어둑어둑, 내 물건은 가물가물 (Under the lamp is dark, my stuff is blurry/faint).
Story
A scholar spent three days looking for his favorite brush. He traveled to the next village to buy a new one. When he came home and lit his lamp to write, he found the brush sitting right in the shadow of the lamp stand. He laughed and said, '등잔 밑이 어둡구나!'
Word Web
挑战
Today, whenever you find something you were looking for, say '등잔 밑이 어둡네요' out loud, even if you are alone!
In Other Languages
It's darkest under the lighthouse / Right under your nose
The English 'lighthouse' version is less common than the Korean 'lamp' version.
灯台下暗し (Tōdai moto kurashi)
The Japanese version uses 'Tōdai' which can be confused with a modern lighthouse.
灯下黑 (Dēng xià hēi)
The Chinese version is often used in political contexts to describe corruption near the center of power.
En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo
Focuses on professional irony rather than general proximity blindness.
C'est toujours au pied du phare qu'il fait le plus noir
Used less frequently in daily French conversation than the Korean version.
Den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht sehen
Focuses on scale (big vs small) rather than physical proximity to a specific object.
باب النجار مخلع (Bab al-najjar makhla')
Specific to professional neglect.
Onde menos se espera, daí é que sai
Lacks the 'shadow/darkness' metaphor.
Easily Confused
Both involve 'days' or 'situations' and are common proverbs.
등잔 밑 is about proximity/blindness; 장날 is about bad timing/coincidence.
Both involve limited vision.
등잔 밑 is missing something *near* you; 우물 안 개구리 is not knowing the *wide world*.
常见问题 (12)
No, it's generally neutral or friendly. However, don't use it to mock someone who is genuinely upset about losing something important.
Yes! It's very common to use it when you realize a friend or family member has a secret or talent you didn't know about.
It's a traditional Korean oil lamp, usually a small ceramic bowl with a wick, placed on a wooden stand.
'등잔 밑이 어둡다' is much more common in daily speech. '등하불명' is for writing.
'밑이' makes the area under the lamp the subject that 'is dark.' '밑에' would mean 'it is dark *at* the bottom,' which is also okay but less common for the proverb.
Yes, especially when discussing internal resources or overlooked local market trends.
The proverb always uses 'dark' (어둡다), but the meaning is always about 'not seeing' or 'not knowing.'
Yes, it's one of the most well-known proverbs that almost every Korean knows regardless of age.
Then this proverb does not apply. Use '뜻밖의 발견' (unexpected discovery) instead.
You can say '등잔 밑이 어두웠네요' (It was dark under the lamp).
Not a direct one, but people might say '등잔 밑 대박' (Lamp base, wow) in very casual settings.
Yes, if they were hiding nearby or you didn't realize they were in the same building.
