Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations

시작이 반이다 Sijagi banida

The ultimate internal pep talk when you are procrastinating on a mundane, soul-crushing chore.

What does 시작이 반이다 mean?

시작이 반이다 (Sijagi banida) means: The ultimate internal pep talk when you are procrastinating on a mundane, soul-crushing chore.

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How it's actually used

  • 아, 진짜 하기 싫어… 그래도 시작이 반이니까 일단 이불부터 개자.
    A, jinjja hagi silheo… geuraedo sijagi baninikka ildan ibulbuteo gaeja.
    Ugh, I really don't wanna do this… Well, getting started is half the battle, so let's at least fold the blankets first.
    💡 Reveals the classic internal monologue of bargaining with oneself before doing boring housework.
  • 시작이 반이라더니, 막상 책상에 앉으니까 속이 후련하네.
    Sijagi baniradeoni, maksang chaeksang-e anj-eunikka sogi huryeonhane.
    They say the start is half the battle, and honestly, now that I'm actually at my desk, I feel a weight lifted.
    💡 Spoken with slight surprise that the dreaded task wasn't actually that bad once initiated.
  • 에이, 몰라. 시작이 반이래잖아! 일단 대청소 고고.
    Ei, molla. Sijagi baniraejanha! Ildan daecheongso gogo.
    Screw it. They say starting is half the battle! Let's just go full-on deep cleaning.
    💡 Used to hype oneself up artificially when facing an overwhelmingly messy room.

Related words in Social Situations

싱겁다 sing-geop-da속이 터지다 Sok-i teo-ji-da손에 땀을 쥐다 Son-e ttam-eul jwida손을 놓다 Son-eul noh-da손이 크다 soni keuda

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