How to use Korean idiom: ‘to lack even broth’ 국물도 없다
What does the Korean idiom ‘to lack even broth‘ mean?
‘I helped him get his business off the ground. But now that the business is doing well, there’s not even any broth for me.’
In an attempt to improve my Korean speaking level, I’m on a mission to learn more idioms. And even if I can’t use them well, at least I can learn something about the history and culture of the language. And some new grammar along the way too. I’m looking for useful expressions that either have a background story we can sink our teeth into or are memorable and not too hard to understand. And having an interest in food, I was drawn to this expression which comes from Korean food culture which, of course, often includes soup.
국물도 없다 ‘to lack even broth’
The Dictionary of Korean Idioms has over 2,000 idiomatic expressions and ‘To lack even broth’ is highlighted as one of the top 121 most frequently used idioms. (Page 76) So it should be a good one to listen out for when watching Korean dramas!
I also looked for example sentences on the Naver online dictionary, then to make this content as accurate as possible, I checked with Mr Kim to get his take on it.
In this post:
1. Find out about the two meanings of this expression: expressing disappointment / giving a warning
2. Practise some example dialogues and sentences.
3. Compare similar expressions.
4. See what Korean Mr Kim thinks about the expression.
5. Learn an essential grammar point to use with this idiom.
Meaning 1 ‘to be left with nothing’ / ‘be left high and dry’
There are two idiomatic meanings for this expression. But in their own way, they both express a LACK of something.
Imagine turning up expecting to get a traditional Korean meal of rice, side dishes, and a soup or stew, full of meat, seafood, or vegetables. But then, to your dismay, you find there’s nothing for you – not even a drop of broth. It would be very disappointing, especially after expecting a tasty meal with lots of goodies. It would be even more disappointing if you thought you deserved the meal and expected it in payment for something you had done.
So the first meaning suggests disappointment or bitterness due to a lack of a reward/compensation when you feel that you deserve something.
Let’s say I helped my friend out and expected to get something back in return but then got nothing at all even though my friend is now reaping the reward of my hard labour. I’ve been ‘left with nothing’. ‘Left high and dry.’ I feel left out and and hard done by because there’s ‘not even any broth for me‘.
Sample dialogue:
당신 한테는 국물도 없네. ‘You were left high and dry!’
The example dialogue involves someone complaining that they helped their uncle set up their business but now, even though the business is doing well, they are not getting any benefit from it at all:
정말 어떻게 삼촌이 나한테 그럴 수가 있지? 이번에 삼촌 가게 공사할 때 내가 얼마나 열심히 도왔는지 당신도 알지?
How could my uncle do this to me? You saw how much I helped him when the shop was under construction.
그러게. 장사도 잘 된다는데, 당신 한테는 국물도 없네.
Literal translation: That’s right. But now the business is doing well, ‘there’s not even any broth for you, is there?
English translation: That’s right. But now the business is doing well, you’ve been left high and dry, haven’t you?
The Dictionary of Korean Idioms (page 76)
Similar Korean Idioms ‘to lack even broth’
콩고물도 없다 ‘there’s not even any soybean powder’
There are some other similar expressions with the same meaning of feeling hard done by and being left empty-handed. In this case, it’s not a lack of soup, it’s a lack of soybean powder!
Incheolmi (인절미) is a kind of rice cake dusted with soybean powder. There’s a lot of powder and some always tends to fall off the rice cake onto your plate (or down your top) when you eat it. But of course the main event is the rice cake itself. So if you say ‘there’s not even any soybean powder‘ for you then you must be feeling pretty let down!
Mr. Kim says…
A very common expression uses this idea of soybean powder dropping off the rice cake, but without actually mentioning the soybean powder. Rather than saying ‘there’s not any soybean powder, I would say…
나 한테는 떨어지는게 아무 것도 없다.
literal translation: There’s nothing falling off for me!
Hmmm. This literal translation sounds odd in English! I wouldn’t be able to guess the meaning! But it makes sense when I get the context of the soybean powder.
English translation: There’s no benefit for me at all.
Sometimes the online dictionary only gives a literal meaning, so it’s handy to check with Mr Kim. And I couldn’t even find this expression in the dictionary at all although apparently it’s quite common in natural conversation!
So that’s already three expressions I’ve learned. (I’m punching the air in triumph)
But let’s get back to the original Korean idiom ‘to lack even any broth’ and move on to the second meaning which rather than disappointment, has a more threatening vibe…
Meaning 2 ‘To show no mercy’
The second meaning of the Korean idiom ‘to lack even broth’ is a kind of warning or threat. There’ll be a lack of sympathy or tolerance if the behaviour doesn’t stop.
Example sentence:
당신, 계속 이런 식이면 국물도 없을 줄 알아!
literal translation: If you keep doing that, there’ll be no broth.
English translation: If you keep doing that, you’ll be sorry.
Mr Kim says…
It’s a common expression but I don’t really use it because it has quite a strong/threatening meaning! It is often used in dramas though.
Essential grammar point:
‘없을 줄 알아’
To turn this expression into a warning, we can use ‘없을 줄 알아’. The verb 알다 ‘to know’ can be translated as ‘remember’ or ‘be aware’.
나한테 한 번만 더 걸리면 국물도 없을 줄 알아.
You know if I catch you one more time, it will be the end of you.
내 말 안 들으면 재미없을 줄 알아.
If you don’t do what I tell you to do, you’ll be sorry. Remember that.
너 엄마 말 안들으면 혼날 줄 알아.
If you don’t listen to me, you know I’ll be angry.
나한테 고마운 줄 알아. 다른 사람같았으면 국물도 없어.
You should be grateful to me. Anyone else would not be so lenient.
Summary
1 There are two ways to use 국물도 없다 ‘to lack even broth’
a. When we feel that we have been unfairly compensated for all our efforts.
b. When we are warning someone that their behaviour is not going to be tolerated!
2 The essential grammar to use is ‘없을 줄 알아’
Keywords:
lack of, disappointment, unfairness, warning.
That’s all for this idiom. In the next post I’ll be learning about language and Korean weddings.
