벼락치기
[byeo-rak-chi-gi]
wing it; off the cuff; on the fly
Meaning & context
글자 그대로 번개를 뜻한다. 무슨 일이 임박해서야 준비하는것을 보고 일컫는 말로, 특히 학생들이 시험보기 전, 마지막 순간에 할 때 주로 사용된다.
Literally “a thunderbolt.” This expression is used to describe some hasty preparation, especially with regard to studying at the last minute, or as we say in English: “cram“ or “pull an all-nighter.”
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 124–124. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
공부 거의 하지않기
English
To Study Hardly
벌써 기말고사 기간이네?! 짜식, 공부는 했냐?
It’s final exam week already?! Dude, did you study?
어! 사실, 안했어. 우리 시험 잘 봐야하는데. 안그러면 Mr. Ryan이 우리 F줄거야. 벼락치기가 필요해.
Way! Well, actually no. We need to have a triumphant test or Mr. Ryan is going to fail us. We need a byeorakchigi.
어떻게 하면 학교에 벼락을 만들 수 있을까?... 아 그래. 시험 직전에 과학실에서 폭발을 일으키면 되잖아.
How can we get a thunderbolt in the school?… I know. We could create an explosion in science class just before the exam.
그럼 Ryan은 시험 취소할거고. 즐겨보자!
And Ryan would cancel the test. Party on!
벼락치기없는 벼락. 훌륭해.
A thunderbolt without the byeorakchigi. Excellent!
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