속담: Korean Expressions 2

하늘의 별 따기: Like plucking a star from the sky (to be virtually impossible)

뜻: 계획이나 목표에 성공하는 것이 불가능한 것 같을 때

Meaning: Achieving a goal seems impossible

보기:

하늘의 별 따기만큼 중국어 잘 말하기가 어려워요.

Speaking Chinese well seems so difficult — it’s virtually impossible.

제일 좋은 한국 대학교에 입학하기는 하늘의 별 따기에요.

Entering the best Korean universities seems almost impossible.

배보다 배꼽이 더 크다: Your navel is bigger than your stomach (the costs outweigh the benefits)

뜻: 중요하지 않은 것이 원하는 것보다 더 크거나 비싸요.

Meaning: The unimportant parts of something you want will cost you more than the thing itself

보기:

— 엠스터뎀에서 파리까지인 비행기표가 무려 10유로였어요!

— I bought a plane ticket from Amsterdam to Paris for €10!

— 그래요?

— Really?

— 글쎄요… 표는 10유로 인데 좌석을 선택하기가 5유로 이고, 식사가 10유로 이고, 여분의 가방이 10유로에요.

— Well… the ticket was €10, but choosing a seat was €5, the meal was €10 and my extra bag cost €10.

배보다 배꼽이 더 크네요. 열차표가 더 싸요!

— The costs outweigh the benefits. A train ticket is cheaper!

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