Nuance Dictionary / Quantity, Generosity, & Limits
쥐꼬리만 하다 jwi-kko-ri-man-ha-da
As small as a mouse's tail; an insultingly small amount, almost always referring to a paycheck
What does 쥐꼬리만 하다 mean?
쥐꼬리만 하다 (jwi-kko-ri-man-ha-da) means: As small as a mouse's tail; an insultingly small amount, almost always referring to a paycheck.
A very common, self-deprecating expression for a tiny salary.
How it's actually used
- 물가는 계속 오르는데 월급은 쥐꼬리만 해서 살 수가 없다.
mulganeun gyesok oreuneunde wolgeubeun jwikkoriman haeseo sal suga eopda.
Prices keep going up, but my paycheck is so tiny I can barely survive.
💡 The ultimate groan about a small salary. - 그렇게 힘들게 일하는데 보람도 없이 월급이 쥐꼬리만 하네.
geureoke himdeulge ilhaneunde boramdo eopsi wolgeubi jwikkoriman hane.
I work so hard for it, but the salary is insultingly small with no sense of reward.
💡 Used to express deep frustration over low pay. - 열심히 일하는데 월급은 매달 쥐꼬리만 해서 한숨만 나와요.
yeolsimhi ilhaneunde wolgeubeun maedal jwikkoriman haeseo hansumman nawayo.
I work hard, but my monthly paycheck is so tiny like a mouse's tail that I just sigh.
💡 A very common colloquial expression to complain about a pitifully small salary.
Related words in Quantity, Generosity, & Limits
수두룩하다 su-du-ruk-ha-da한도 끝도 없다 han-do-kkeut-do-eop-da얄짤없다 yal-jjal-eop-da빠듯하다 ppa-deut-ha-da감질(이) 나다 gam-jil-i-na-da