눈이 높다

nuni nopda◆idiom

to be picky

그는 결혼 상대에 눈이 너무 높아서 아직 결혼을 안 했다.

He's so picky about his marriage partner that he hasn't married yet.

◆ What It Really Means

to have unreasonably high standards or be excessively selective about something, often leading to missed opportunities

¶ Literal Meaning

to have high eyes

Literal Breakdown

눈eyes+이subject marker+높다to be high

◇ Mental Image

The image of someone with physically high-set eyes looking down on everything below them, symbolizing their elevated standards and disdain for anything not meeting those standards.

◈ When to Use

A person rejecting multiple job offers because none meet their ideal salary, company culture, or location. Or someone refusing to date anyone who isn't tall, wealthy, or has a specific job title.

◉ Cultural Note

In Korean culture, where harmony and social hierarchy are valued, being 'picky' is often seen as a negative trait because it can disrupt group harmony or social expectations. The idiom reflects this cultural emphasis on fitting in rather than standing out with individual preferences.

informal

to have high standards and be selective about something, often to the point of being unrealistic

그녀는 취업할 때 회사에 눈이 너무 높아서 좋은 기회도 놓치곤 한다.

She's so picky about companies when job hunting that she often misses good opportunities.

그는 음식에 눈이 높아 어떤 음식도 마다하지 않는다.

He's so picky about food that he refuses anything.

Commonly used for romantic partners, jobs, food, or material possessions. Implies excessive selectivity rather than reasonable standards.

Collocations

눈이 높다to be picky눈이 낮다to have low standards눈이 높아서 문제다the problem is being too picky

Synonyms

선택이 까다롭다 기준이 높다 요구가 많다

Antonyms

눈이 낮다 만족을 잘하다 잘난 체하다

Related Phrases

마음에 들다phrase

to be to one's liking

기준을 세우다phrase

to set standards

만족시키다verb

to satisfy

Pro Tip

Common contexts

This idiom is most frequently used when talking about romantic partners ('결혼 상대'), jobs ('직장'), or food ('음식'). For material possessions, it often refers to luxury items ('고가의 물건').

Gold Rule

Don't confuse with literal '눈이 높다'

The idiomatic meaning is completely different from the literal sense of 'having high eyes' (e.g., someone's eyes being positioned high on their face). Always consider the context.

Usage Notes

Often used in personal contexts (relationships, career choices). Can carry a slightly negative connotation implying unreasonable demands. The '눈이' (eyes) metaphorically represent one's judgment or preference.

Word Breakdown

눈

eyes (metaphorically representing judgment or preference)

root

이

subject marker (indicates the subject of the sentence)

particle

높다

to be high/tall

adjective

한영사전