Nuance Dictionary / Sounds & Sensations
아둥바둥 a-dung-ba-dung
Scraping by through sheer, exhausting grit just to stay financially afloat.
What does 아둥바둥 mean?
아둥바둥 (a-dung-ba-dung) means: Scraping by through sheer, exhausting grit just to stay financially afloat.
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How it's actually used
- 월세 내려고 아둥바둥 살았는데 남은 게 없네.
wol-se nae-ryeo-go a-dung-ba-dung sal-at-neun-de nam-eun ge eop-ne.
I scrambled and clawed just to pay rent, but nothing is left.
💡 Reveals the bitter realization that relentless survival effort yields zero financial cushion. - 부모님 도움 없이 아둥바둥 모은 돈이야.
bu-mo-nim do-um eop-si a-dung-ba-dung mo-eun don-i-ya.
This is money I scraped together through sheer, painful struggle without my parents' help.
💡 Highlights the pride mixed with the grueling hardship of self-made survival. - 그렇게 아둥바둥해봐야 빚만 늘어.
geu-reoh-ge a-dung-ba-dung-hae-bwa-ya bit-man neu-reo.
Scraping and struggling like that is only going to pile up more debt.
💡 Used in tough-love warnings when frantic hustle is futile against structural financial ruin.
Related words in Sounds & Sensations
아기자기 a-gi-ja-gi아웅다웅 a-ung-da-ung바글바글 ba-geul-ba-geul반짝 ban-jjak반짝반짝 banjjak-banjjak