B1 Idiom 中性

눈 감을 때까지

nun gam-eul ttae-kka-ji

until one closes eyes

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A poetic way to say 'for the rest of my life' or 'until death'.

  • Means: Until the moment of death.
  • Used in: Romantic promises, deep loyalty, or lifelong goals.
  • Don't confuse: It is not used for short-term tasks like 'until I finish work'.
Closing eyes (death) + time marker = lifelong promise

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means 'until I die'. You use it when you promise to do something for your whole life.
It is an idiom used to express a long-term promise. It literally means 'until I close my eyes', which is a way to talk about the end of life.
This is a common idiom in Korean for expressing lifelong commitment. It uses the euphemism of 'closing eyes' to represent death, making it a poetic way to say 'for the rest of my life'.
The phrase '눈 감을 때까지' serves as a profound temporal marker in Korean discourse. By employing the metaphor of closing one's eyes as a proxy for mortality, speakers convey an unwavering dedication that transcends temporary circumstances, often utilized in romantic or solemn contexts.
Functioning as a fixed idiomatic expression, '눈 감을 때까지' encapsulates the intersection of cultural euphemism and existential commitment. It is a sophisticated linguistic tool used to emphasize the permanence of an action or sentiment, effectively framing the speaker's life as the boundary for their promise.
From a cognitive linguistic perspective, this phrase maps the domain of 'death' onto the domain of 'temporal termination'. By utilizing the metonymy of 'closing eyes' for death, the speaker avoids the harshness of explicit mortality while simultaneously invoking the gravity of a final, irrevocable commitment, thus reinforcing the speaker's ethos.

意思

Until death; for the remainder of one's life.

🌍

文化背景

Euphemisms for death are common to show respect.

💡

Use with caution

Don't use it for small tasks.

意思

Until death; for the remainder of one's life.

💡

Use with caution

Don't use it for small tasks.

自我测试

Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.

나는 ___ 너를 지켜줄 거야.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 눈 감을 때까지

The phrase expresses a lifelong promise.

🎉 得分： /1

常见问题

1 个问题

Only if it's a lifelong career goal.

相关表达

🔄

죽을 때까지

synonym

Until I die

在哪里用

💍

Romantic Proposal

A: 눈 감을 때까지 당신 곁에 있을게요.

B: 고마워요.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine closing your eyes for a nap that lasts forever.

Visual Association

A person looking at a sunset, closing their eyes peacefully, holding a locket.

Story

An old man tells his grandson: 'I have kept this watch safe. I will keep it safe until I close my eyes.' He smiles, knowing his duty is done.

Word Web

죽음평생약속끝영원마지막

挑战

Write three sentences about things you are committed to for life.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Hasta la muerte

Spanish is more direct, while Korean uses the 'closing eyes' euphemism.

French high

Jusqu'à la mort

French is more literal.

German high

Bis ans Lebensende

German focuses on the end of life rather than the act of closing eyes.

Japanese high

死ぬまで

Japanese is more blunt.

Arabic high

حتى الموت

Arabic is very direct.

Chinese high

直到死

Chinese is more literal.

Korean self

눈 감을 때까지

N/A

Portuguese high

Até a morte

Portuguese is more direct.

Easily Confused

눈 감을 때까지 对比 잠들 때까지

Sounds similar to 'until I fall asleep'.

One is for sleep, one is for death.

常见问题 (1)

Only if it's a lifelong career goal.

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