A1 Proverb 中性

하늘의 별 따기

haneur-ui byeol ttagi

Picking stars from the sky

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to describe a task that is nearly impossible to achieve, like trying to reach the stars.

  • Means: An extremely difficult or impossible task.
  • Used in: Describing hard goals, rare opportunities, or impossible requests.
  • Don't confuse: It is not used for simple tasks that just require effort.
Star + Reach + Impossible = 하늘의 별 따기

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means something is very, very hard to do. Like catching a star, it is impossible. We use it when we want to say 'no way'.
It describes a task that is almost impossible to complete. If you try to do something very difficult, you can say it is '하늘의 별 따기'. It is a common way to express that a goal is out of reach.
This idiom is used to characterize an objective that is practically unattainable. It conveys a sense of extreme difficulty, often used when discussing competitive scenarios like university admissions or job hunting. It is a figurative expression that emphasizes the gap between the goal and the current reality.
The phrase serves as a hyperbolic expression for tasks that defy standard effort. It is frequently employed in both formal and informal registers to underscore the rarity of success in specific endeavors. By comparing a task to the celestial act of picking a star, the speaker highlights the futility of the attempt.
This proverb functions as a linguistic marker for extreme scarcity or impossibility. It is deeply embedded in the Korean lexicon to describe systemic barriers. Its usage often implies that success is not merely a matter of agency but of extraordinary circumstances. It is a sophisticated way to frame competitive environments.
As a quintessential Korean idiom, it utilizes celestial imagery to delineate the boundaries of human agency. It is a classic example of metaphorical mapping where the domain of 'impossible tasks' is mapped onto the domain of 'celestial acquisition'. It is used to articulate the frustration inherent in high-stakes environments, reflecting a cultural awareness of structural limitations.

意思

An extremely difficult or impossible task.

🌍

文化背景

The phrase is frequently used in the context of the 'Hell Joseon' discourse, reflecting the extreme competition in society. Similar celestial metaphors exist in Chinese and Japanese, showing a shared cultural history.

💡

Use with '만큼'

Add '만큼' (as much as) to compare the difficulty to the idiom.

意思

An extremely difficult or impossible task.

💡

Use with '만큼'

Add '만큼' (as much as) to compare the difficulty to the idiom.

自我测试

Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.

그 일을 끝내는 것은 _________.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 하늘의 별 따기다

The correct idiom is '하늘의 별 따기'.

🎉 得分： /1

视觉学习工具

常见问题

1 个问题

Yes, if the test is extremely difficult.

相关表达

🔄

불가능하다

synonym

Impossible

🔗

어렵다

similar

Difficult

在哪里用

🎫

Concert Tickets

A: 그 콘서트 티켓 샀어?

B: 아니, 매진됐어. 티켓 구하기가 하늘의 별 따기야.

informal
💼

Job Interview

A: 그 대기업에 합격하기 어렵지?

B: 응, 하늘의 별 따기만큼 어려워.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a giant ladder reaching to the moon, but you still can't reach the stars. It's impossible!

Visual Association

A person standing on a mountain, reaching their hand toward a bright, twinkling star that is way too far away.

Rhyme

하늘의 별 따기, 정말 어렵지.

Story

Min-su wanted to win the lottery. His friend said, 'Min-su, that's like picking a star from the sky.' Min-su tried anyway, but he failed. He realized his friend was right.

Word Web

하늘별따다어렵다불가능도전

挑战

Try to use this phrase in a sentence about a difficult task you faced today.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Pedir peras al olmo

Korean focuses on effort/difficulty; Spanish focuses on logical absurdity.

French high

Décrocher la lune

French uses the moon; Korean uses stars.

German partial

Nach den Sternen greifen

German is about ambition; Korean is about impossibility.

Japanese high

星を掴むような話

Usage is nearly identical.

Arabic moderate

أصعب من صعود السماء

Arabic focuses on the movement; Korean focuses on the acquisition.

Easily Confused

하늘의 별 따기 对比 구름 잡는 소리

Both involve the sky.

하늘의 별 따기 is about difficulty; 구름 잡는 소리 is about being unrealistic.

常见问题 (1)

Yes, if the test is extremely difficult.

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