Korean Idioms and Proverbs related to 입 (mouth)

입이 가볍다 to have a light mouth
=> 말이 많고 비밀을 잘 지키지 않다.
To be talkative and frequently leak a secret.

입이 무겁다 to have a heavy mouth
=> 말이 많지 않고 비밀을 잘 지키다.
To not talk much and keep a secret.

입이 싸다: have a cheap mouth
=> 말이 많고 비밀을 잘 지키지 않다.
To be talkative and frequently leak a secret.

입이 짧다 to have a short mouth
=> 못 먹거나 싫어하는 음식이 많고 적게 먹다.
To hate or be unable to eat so many kinds of food and eat little.

입이 달다 to have a sweet mouth
=> 입맛이 돌고 음식이 맛있다.
To have a good appetite and enjoy food.

입 밖에 내다 to take something out of one’s mouth
=> 속마음이나 비밀을 말하다.
To confess one’s real feelings or intentions, or secrets.

입(을) 다물다 to shut one’s mouth
=> 하던 말을 그치거나 비밀을 지키기 위해 말을 하지 않다.
To stop talking or refrain from talking to keep a secret.

입(을) 막다 to block someone’s mouth
=> 듣기 싫은 말이나 자기에게 불리한 말을 하지 못하게 하다.
To force someone to stop talking about something that one does not want to hear or is against oneself.

입(을) 모으다 to gather mouths
=> 여러 사람이 어떤 일에 대해 똑같이 말하다.
For many people to say the same thing about something.

입만 살다: Only the mouth is alive
=> 행동은 하지 않으면서 말만 잘하다.
To talk about something in a plausible manner without putting it into action.

입만 아프다: One’s mouth only hurts
=> 아무리 말을 해도 이해하지 못하거나 받아들이지 않다.
For someone to be unable to understand or refuse to accept something that has been repeatedly said.

See also  Korean Idioms and Proverbs related to 이 (Teeth)

입에 달라붙다 to stick to one’s mouth
=> 음식이 아주 맛있다.
For food to be very delicious.

입에 담다 to contain something in one’s mouth
=> 입 밖에 내어 말을 하다.
To speak out.

입에 대다: to touch something to one’s mouth
=> 음식을 먹거나 마시다.
To eat or drink something.

입에 붙다 to stick to one’s mouth
=> 자주 말하여 습관이 되다.
For something to grow into a habit as it has been repeatedly said.

(Proverb) 입에 쓴 약이 몸에 좋다: Bitter medicine is good for your body
=> 다른 사람의 충고나 비판이 그 자리에서는 듣기 싫지만 그 뜻을 잘 생각해 보면 도움이 된다는 말.
An expression meaning another person’s advice or criticism may hurt for the moment, but it will eventually benefit you if you try to understand what it really means.

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