Nuance Dictionary / Emotions & Feelings
피도 눈물도 없다 pido nunmoldo eopda
The cold-blooded enforcement of corporate bottom lines at the total expense of human empathy.
What does 피도 눈물도 없다 mean?
피도 눈물도 없다 (pido nunmoldo eopda) means: The cold-blooded enforcement of corporate bottom lines at the total expense of human empathy.
Speakers reach for this phrase when describing a complete absence of compassion or sympathy in a person, landlord, or institution. It appears in contexts where individuals or entities pursue financial gain or strict outcomes while completely disregarding human hardship or suffering. It often describes individuals or organizations carrying out harsh business practices or decisions without regard for human cost.
When applied to corporate policies or superiors, the expression can sound like an indictment of systemic coldness, framing administrative efficiency as a deliberate lack of basic human empathy.
When applied to corporate policies or superiors, the expression can sound like an indictment of systemic coldness, framing administrative efficiency as a deliberate lack of basic human empathy.
Other sides of 피도 눈물도 없다
◆ Hyper-Competitive Rivalry — Speakers use this expression to describe a person who shows zero hesitation or leniency in situations requiring absolute ruthlessness. It appears when evaluating competitive drives in games, matches, or high-stakes rivalries where mercy would mean losing. The phrase functions as a fixed adjectival description modifying someone's character or approach to a contest.
While the literal meaning points to a lack of basic human warmth, in competitive contexts this absence of mercy can shift from a moral failing to a compliment, framing the person as formidable, highly focused, and entirely serious about winning.
◆ The 'Cold-Blooded' Archetype — Speakers reach for this expression when characterizing someone whose behavior is defined by a complete absence of empathy or mercy. It frequently appears as a fixed descriptive phrase applied to ruthless individuals in narratives of conflict or hardship, such as harsh landlords or figures engaging in cruel enterprises. The phrase functions as a standalone judgment on a person's entire disposition rather than a temporary emotional state.
In storytelling and gossip, this label can evoke a stark, black-and-white view of a person, framing them not merely as strict or difficult, but as fundamentally detached from basic human feeling.
While the literal meaning points to a lack of basic human warmth, in competitive contexts this absence of mercy can shift from a moral failing to a compliment, framing the person as formidable, highly focused, and entirely serious about winning.
◆ The 'Cold-Blooded' Archetype — Speakers reach for this expression when characterizing someone whose behavior is defined by a complete absence of empathy or mercy. It frequently appears as a fixed descriptive phrase applied to ruthless individuals in narratives of conflict or hardship, such as harsh landlords or figures engaging in cruel enterprises. The phrase functions as a standalone judgment on a person's entire disposition rather than a temporary emotional state.
In storytelling and gossip, this label can evoke a stark, black-and-white view of a person, framing them not merely as strict or difficult, but as fundamentally detached from basic human feeling.
🎙️ 피도 눈물도 없다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [피도 눈물도 업따]로 소리나요 (경음화, 자음군단순화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 피도 눈물도 없는 주인은 이 추악하고 무서운 장사를 위해 사람으로서는 차마 못 할 노릇을 한다.
pi-do nunmul-do eopneun juin-eun i chu-ak-hago museoun jangsa-reul wihae saram-eurosaneun chama mot hal noreuseul handan.
A landlord without a shred of pity or tears does things no human being could bear to do for the sake of this ugly and terrifying trade.
💡 Describes a landlord acting with absolute ruthlessness for profit. - 그 회사는 이익을 위해서라면 피도 눈물도 없는 구조조정을 감행했다.
geu hoesa-neun iigeul wihaeseoramyeon pi-do nunmul-do eopneun gujojojeongeul gamhaetda.
The company carried out ruthless restructuring without an ounce of mercy when it came to profit.
💡 Describes a corporate policy prioritizing financial results over worker welfare. - 실적만 따지는 그 상사는 피도 눈물도 없는 사람으로 소문이 나 있다.
siljeokman ttajineun geu sangsa-neun pi-do nunmul-do eopneun saram-euro somuni na itda.
That superior, who only cares about performance metrics, has a reputation as someone with zero mercy.
💡 Describes a manager focused strictly on numbers rather than employee well-being.
Related words in Emotions & Feelings
설마 seolma심심하다 sim-sim-ha-da속이 시원하다 Sogi siwonhada속이 타다 Sogi tada속마음 Sok-ma-eum