귀가 얇다

gwi-ga yal-taidiom
easily swayed by others

그는 귀가 얇아서 친구의 말 한마디에 쉽게 마음이 변한다.

He is easily swayed by others, so he changes his mind at the slightest word from a friend.


What It Really Means
to be easily influenced or convinced by others' words
Literal Meaning
one's ears are thin
Literal Breakdown
ear+subject marker+얇다thin
Mental Image
Imagine ears so thin that sounds (words) pass through effortlessly, making the person easily influenced.
When to Use
A person changes their opinion after hearing a single persuasive comment from a friend or colleague.
Cultural Note
This idiom reflects the Korean cultural value of respecting others' opinions, but also highlights the negative aspect of being overly passive or lacking independent judgment.
informal

to be easily influenced or convinced by what others say

그녀는 귀가 얇아서 모든 사람들의 조언을 곧이곧대로 믿는다.

She is so easily swayed that she takes everyone's advice at face value.

그는 귀가 얇아서rumor에 쉽게 넘어간다.

He is gullible and easily falls for rumors.

Often used to describe someone who lacks strong convictions or is overly trusting of others' opinions.

Related Phrases

귀가 가렵다idiom
to suspect someone is talking about you
귀가 밝다idiom
to have sharp hearing or be well-informed

Pro Tip

Avoid literal translation

The phrase '귀가 얇다' does not refer to physical ear thickness. Focus on the metaphorical sense of being easily influenced by others' words.

Gold Rule

Context matters

Use '귀가 얇다' for people who are easily swayed by others' opinions or advice, not for those who are simply polite or agreeable.

Word Origin

The phrase combines '귀' (ear) and '얇다' (thin), metaphorically implying that one's ears are 'thin' or 'soft,' making it easy for sounds (words) to pass through and influence them.

Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in both casual and semi-formal contexts to describe someone who is easily influenced by others' words. It carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting a lack of critical thinking or strong personal beliefs.

Word Breakdown

ear
noun
+
subject marker
particle
+
얇다
thin
adjective
한영사전