꿩 먹고 알 먹는다

kkwong meokgo al meokneunda◆idiom

have your cake and eat it too

그는 직장도 다니고 집에서 편안히 일하면서 꿩 먹고 알 먹는다.

He works at a job and works comfortably from home at the same time—he’s having his cake and eating it too.

◆ What It Really Means

To pursue two mutually exclusive goals simultaneously and succeed in both, often in a selfish or unrealistic way.

¶ Literal Meaning

To eat the pheasant and also eat its eggs.

Literal Breakdown

꿩a pheasant (game bird)+먹고eat (and)+알eggs+먹는다eat (present tense)

◇ Mental Image

A person greedily consuming both the meat of a bird and its unhatched eggs, symbolizing an impossible desire to enjoy the fruits of an action while destroying its source.

◈ When to Use

A manager demands high productivity from employees while also refusing to pay overtime, or a student wants to party every night and still ace all exams without studying.

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom is rooted in traditional Korean storytelling and reflects values of harmony and balance. It’s often used in moral lessons about greed and the dangers of overreach.

informal

To enjoy two or more benefits simultaneously that are normally mutually exclusive; to take advantage of a situation in a way that maximizes gain without compromise.

이 회사는 직원들에게 높은 급여를 주면서도 생산성을 유지해서 꿩 먹고 알 먹는다.

The company pays high salaries while maintaining productivity—it’s like having its cake and eating it too.

그녀는 결혼도 하고 직장도 유지하면서 꿩 먹고 알 먹는다.

She’s married and keeps her job—she’s having it both ways.

Often used to criticize someone who seeks excessive advantage without acknowledging trade-offs.

Collocations

꿩 먹고 알 먹으려 하다to try to have it both ways꿩 먹고 알 먹는 소리a selfish demand to have everything

Synonyms

양쪽 다 차지하다 한꺼번에 두 마리 토끼를 잡다

Antonyms

양보하다 포기하다

Related Phrases

토끼 두 마리 잡으려다 한 마리도 못 잡는다proverb

try to catch two rabbits at once and end up catching none

일석이조idiom

kill two birds with one stone

Pro Tip

Cultural Context

This idiom reflects a Confucian-influenced Korean value of moderation and avoiding excess. It’s often used in discussions about fairness, especially when someone is perceived as greedy or opportunistic.

Gold Rule

When to Use

Use this idiom when someone is trying to enjoy multiple mutually exclusive benefits at once, especially when it seems unrealistic or unfair. Avoid using it for genuine win-win situations.

Word Origin

From the Korean folktale where a man kills a pheasant (꿩) and eats it, then also eats its eggs (알), implying an impossible desire to enjoy the outcome of an action while also preserving the source of that outcome. Dates back to at least the 19th century in Korean oral tradition.

Usage Notes

Used when someone tries to gain all benefits from a situation without sacrifice. Often carries a tone of criticism or skepticism toward the person’s motives. Common in workplace, personal life, and social contexts.

Word Breakdown

꿩

pheasant (a type of bird)

noun

먹고

eat (conjunctive form of 먹다)

verb

알

egg(s)

noun

먹는다

eat (present tense)

verb

한영사전