Looking up...
“지난 여름에 홍수가 나서 많은 피해를 입었다.”
Last summer, a flood caused a lot of damage.
An overflow of water that submerges land which is usually dry.
홍수로 인해 도로가 침수되었다.
The road was submerged due to the flood.
홍수 피해를 줄이기 위한 대책이 필요하다.
Measures to reduce flood damage are needed.
A large quantity of something that overwhelms or inundates.
그의 인기는 홍수처럼 밀려왔다.
His popularity came in like a flood.
Used metaphorically to describe overwhelming amounts of something (e.g., popularity, requests).
'홍수' refers to large-scale natural disasters, while '물난리' can describe both natural floods and man-made water damage (e.g., a burst pipe). For example, '홍수' is used for typhoon-related flooding, whereas '물난리' might describe a flooded basement due to plumbing issues.
Use '홍수' only for natural, large-scale flooding events. For minor water incidents, use '물난리' or '침수'.
From Middle Korean '홍' (洪, meaning 'big' or 'great') + '수' (水, meaning 'water'), literally 'great water'. The term has been used in Korean since the Joseon Dynasty to describe large-scale flooding.
1. In Korean, '홍수' refers to natural flooding caused by heavy rain, dam failure, or river overflow. It is not used for localized water accumulation (e.g., a burst pipe). 2. The figurative use (e.g., '홍수처럼 밀려오다') is common in media and literature to describe overwhelming emotions or events. 3. Avoid using '홍수' for minor water incidents; use '물난리' or '침수' instead.