Eon-jung-yu-gol

言

말씀 언

中

가운데 중

有

있을 유

骨

뼈 골

Character by character

Meaning

There is bone inside the words — a hard meaning hidden in an ordinary remark.

Origin

A phrase settled in Korean usage, for a sharp intent wrapped in a soft tone.

How it is used

Used when a smiling comment carried a criticism.

Hanja言中有骨

Simplified言中有骨

Korean reading언중유골

Pinyinyán zhōng yǒu gǔ

Frequently asked questions

Q. What does Eon-jung-yu-gol mean?

言中有骨 · There is bone inside the words — a hard meaning hidden in an ordinary remark.

Q. Where does Eon-jung-yu-gol come from?

A phrase settled in Korean usage, for a sharp intent wrapped in a soft tone.

Q. How is Eon-jung-yu-gol used?

Used when a smiling comment carried a criticism.

Idioms in the same group

寸鐵殺人 Chon-cheol-sa-rinKill with an inch of steel — pierce the vital point with a few words.以心傳心 I-sim-jeon-simMind transmits to mind — understanding without a word spoken.甘言利說 Gam-eon-i-seolSweet words and seemingly advantageous talk — the language of enticement.有口無言 Yu-gu-mu-eonYou have a mouth but nothing to say.一言之下 Il-eon-ji-haSettled in a single word — a flat, immediate response.語不成說 Eo-bul-seong-seolThe words do not add up to a statement — it makes no sense.

The idioms used in Korea mix phrases from the Chinese classics with ones coined in Korea. Where an expression is not used in China, the entry says so.