A1 Idiom 中性

귀가 번쩍 뜨이다.

Gwiga beonjjeok tteuida.

Suddenly pay attention.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase when you hear something so interesting or surprising that you immediately focus all your attention on it.

  • Means: To suddenly become alert and listen intently to something exciting.
  • Used in: Hearing gossip, learning about a great deal, or hearing unexpected news.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about physical pain; it is about mental engagement.
Surprise + Focused Attention = 귀가 번쩍 뜨이다

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means you hear something interesting and start listening very carefully.
When you hear news that you really like, your ears 'perk up'. You use this to show you are now paying full attention.
It describes a sudden shift in focus. When someone mentions something beneficial or surprising, your attention is immediately captured, and you listen intently.
This idiom metaphorically represents the physiological response to high-interest stimuli. It is used to signal that the speaker has become fully engaged due to the relevance of the information provided.
The phrase functions as an idiomatic marker of cognitive engagement. It suggests that the information received has bypassed passive hearing and triggered an active, evaluative listening state.
Linguistically, this is a somatic metaphor where the sensory organ (ear) is personified as having agency. It captures the intersection of auditory perception and emotional arousal, indicating a sudden alignment between the listener's interests and the speaker's content.

意思

To suddenly become alert and listen intently.

🌍

文化背景

Koreans often use body-part idioms to express emotions. Listening is considered a more active, respectful, and important skill than in some Western cultures.

💡

Use it with '소식'

It sounds very natural to say '귀가 번쩍 뜨이는 소식' (news that makes my ears perk up).

意思

To suddenly become alert and listen intently.

💡

Use it with '소식'

It sounds very natural to say '귀가 번쩍 뜨이는 소식' (news that makes my ears perk up).

自我测试

Which situation is best for this phrase?

When do you use '귀가 번쩍 뜨이다'?

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： When you hear exciting news

It describes sudden interest.

🎉 得分： /1

视觉学习工具

常见问题

1 个问题

Usually no. It is for exciting or interesting news.

相关表达

🔄

귀가 솔깃하다

synonym

To be tempted by what one hears.

🔗

귀를 기울이다

similar

To listen carefully.

在哪里用

🤫

Office Gossip

A: Did you hear who is getting promoted?

B: No! 귀가 번쩍 뜨이네, 말해봐!

informal
🛍️

Shopping Sale

A: Everything in this store is 70% off.

B: 와, 귀가 번쩍 뜨이는 소식인데!

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine your ears have little antennas that pop up like a rabbit's when you hear 'money' or 'secrets'.

Visual Association

A person sitting at a boring desk suddenly jumping up with giant ears when they hear the word 'vacation'.

Story

Min-su was bored in class. Suddenly, the teacher said, 'The final exam is canceled.' Min-su's ears perked up (귀가 번쩍 뜨였다). He sat up straight and didn't miss a word.

Word Web

듣다 (to listen)관심 (interest)소식 (news)집중 (focus)솔깃하다 (to be tempted)번쩍 (suddenly)

挑战

Next time you hear something interesting today, say '귀가 번쩍 뜨이네!' to yourself.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

poner las orejas de punta

Spanish uses 'poner' (to put), while Korean uses '뜨이다' (to be opened).

French high

dresser l'oreille

French focuses on the action of the ear; Korean focuses on the suddenness of the opening.

German moderate

die Ohren spitzen

German implies a sharpening of focus, whereas Korean implies a sudden opening.

Japanese high

耳をそばだてる

Japanese is more formal/literary than the common Korean usage.

Arabic low

أرهف سمعه

Arabic is more abstract; Korean is highly visual/physical.

Easily Confused

귀가 번쩍 뜨이다. 对比 귀가 먹다

Sounds like an ear idiom.

This means to be deaf or to not listen at all.

常见问题 (1)

Usually no. It is for exciting or interesting news.

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