Nuance Dictionary / Culture & Language
사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다 Sachoni ttangeul samyeon baega apeuda
The dark, self-deprecating humor employees use to mask the stinging envy of a coworker's sudden promotion or bonus.
What does 사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다 mean?
사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다 (Sachoni ttangeul samyeon baega apeuda) means: The dark, self-deprecating humor employees use to mask the stinging envy of a coworker's sudden promotion or bonus.
Speakers use this idiomatic expression to describe envy when a peer experiences an unexpected success or gain. It describes a reaction of secret jealousy rather than genuine celebration for another person's good fortune. It appears as a fixed idiom in general discourse.
In corporate settings among co-workers, this can function as dark humor when a peer receives an unexpected promotion or bonus, mixing genuine envy with shared irony.
In corporate settings among co-workers, this can function as dark humor when a peer receives an unexpected promotion or bonus, mixing genuine envy with shared irony.
🎙️ 사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [사초니 땅을 사면 배가 아프다]로 소리나요 (연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다더니, 친구가 승진하자마자 묘한 기분이 들었다.
Sachoni ttangeul samyeon baega apeudadeoni, chinguga seungjinhajamaja myohan gibuni deureotda.
They say you feel jealous when someone close to you succeeds, and I had a strange feeling the moment my friend got promoted.
💡 A worker reflecting on mixed feelings of envy regarding a peer's promotion. - 동료가 큰 성과급을 받았다는 소식을 들으니 사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다는 속담이 저절로 떠올랐다.
Dongryogakeun seonggwageubeul badatdaneun sosigeul deureuni sachoni ttangeul samyeon baega apeudaneun sokdami jeojeollo tteoolratda.
Hearing that a colleague received a large bonus made the saying about envy naturally come to mind.
💡 An office worker reacting to a peer's unexpected financial bonus. - 남이 잘되는 것을 보고 사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프듯 속상해하기보다 진심으로 축하해 주는 태도가 필요하다.
Nami jaldoeneun geoseul bogo sachoni ttangeul samyeon baega apeudeut soksanghaehagiboda jinsimeuro chukhahae juneun taedoga piryohada.
Rather than feeling resentful of another's success, we need an attitude of genuine congratulation.
💡 A remark on workplace peer comparison and attitude toward others' success.
Related words in Culture & Language
서당 개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다 Seodang gae sam nyeonimyeon pungworeul eupneunda선 Seon손민수 son-min-su수고하세요 Su-go-ha-se-yo탈덕 tal-deok