Nuance Dictionary / People & Relationships
발이 넓다 bari neolda
Possessing a strategic web of industry connections that functions as a high-value corporate asset for sourcing clients and insider intelligence.
What does 발이 넓다 mean?
발이 넓다 (bari neolda) means: Possessing a strategic web of industry connections that functions as a high-value corporate asset for sourcing clients and insider intelligence.
Speakers use this expression to describe someone who maintains extensive business connections and easily gathers industry intelligence. It frequently appears in career and workplace discussions when evaluating a colleague's capacity to source clients or strategic partners.
In professional contexts, this can sound like a practical assessment of someone's market value and ability to open doors, though it occasionally carries a subtle suggestion that relationships might be maintained for instrumental purposes rather than purely personal ones.
In professional contexts, this can sound like a practical assessment of someone's market value and ability to open doors, though it occasionally carries a subtle suggestion that relationships might be maintained for instrumental purposes rather than purely personal ones.
Other sides of 발이 넓다
◆ The Social Hub (Connecting People) — Speakers use this expression to describe someone who maintains an active social presence and easily connects with various circles of friends. It frequently appears in casual conversation when talking about a person's ability to organize gatherings, remember birthdays, and bring acquaintances together from different parts of their life.
Among younger speakers, this can feel like an affectionate nod to the ultimate social coordinator of a friend group, suggesting warmth and high reliability rather than superficial networking.
◆ The Informational Grapevine — Speakers use this expression to describe someone who seems to hear about company rumors, neighborhood events, or the latest gossip before anyone else. It typically highlights a person who maintains a vast web of acquaintances and naturally stays informed about what is happening around them. It is used in casual conversations among friends, coworkers, or acquaintances discussing who has the best access to inside information.
In workplace or social settings, this can sometimes carry a subtle note of caution, as listeners realize that information shared with this person is likely to circulate quickly through the grapevine.
Among younger speakers, this can feel like an affectionate nod to the ultimate social coordinator of a friend group, suggesting warmth and high reliability rather than superficial networking.
◆ The Informational Grapevine — Speakers use this expression to describe someone who seems to hear about company rumors, neighborhood events, or the latest gossip before anyone else. It typically highlights a person who maintains a vast web of acquaintances and naturally stays informed about what is happening around them. It is used in casual conversations among friends, coworkers, or acquaintances discussing who has the best access to inside information.
In workplace or social settings, this can sometimes carry a subtle note of caution, as listeners realize that information shared with this person is likely to circulate quickly through the grapevine.
🎙️ 발이 넓다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [바리 널따]로 소리나요 (경음화, 연음법칙, 자음군단순화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 그분은 업계에 발이 넓어서 필요한 정보를 쉽게 얻을 수 있어요.
geu-bun-eun eop-gye-e bar-i neol-beo-seo pil-yo-han jeong-bo-reul swip-ge eot-eul su isseo-yo.
That person has a wide network in the industry, so they can easily get the information we need.
💡 Describing someone's professional network as an operational asset for gathering information - 마케팅 팀에는 발이 넓은 사람이 꼭 필요합니다.
ma-ke-ting tim-e-neun bar-i neol-beun saram-i kkok pil-yo-ham-ni-da.
The marketing team definitely needs someone with a broad network.
💡 Highlighting networking ability as a key requirement for a business role - 대표님은 워낙 발이 넓으셔서 협력사를 금방 찾으셨어요.
dae-pyo-nim-eun won-ak bar-i neol-beu-syeo-seo hyeop-ryeok-sa-reul geum-bang chat-eu-syeot-eo-yo.
Our CEO has such a vast network that they found a partner company in no time.
💡 Crediting leadership connections with quick business execution
Related words in People & Relationships
빈말 Bin-mal대접 Dae-jeop뒷담화 Dwit-dam-hwa인맥 inmaek입이 무겁다 Ip-i mugeopda