100m 미인
[baek-mi-teo mi-in]
good from far, but far from good; butt-ugly or fugly
The Flashcard
The original illustrated card, front and back.
Meaning & context
“멀리서는 좋지만 좋은것으로부터는 멀다,” 라는 영어식 표현과 비슷하다. 누군가 멀리 떨
어져 있을 때 외모가 예쁨을 이르는 말로, 가까이 있을 때는 아름다움과 거리가 먼 사람을 일컫는 말이다. 특히 화장을 두껍게 하는 여성을 말한다.
Literally “a 100-meter beauty.” Similar to the English expression “good from far but far from good” and related to a “two-o’clock beauty queen,” 100m mi-in suggests that someone may appear pretty from a long way off, but up close is far from beautiful. This also applies to “beer goggles” when drunk and is particularly common for girls who hide behind thick makeup.
From As Much as a Rat’s Tail · book pages 121–121. Original published text; historical references and usage are retained.
STORY TIME
See it in conversation
Korean
화면보호기
English
Screensaver
야 PC, 너 쫓아다니는 여자 아니야? 예쁘다!
Hey PC, isn’t that the girl who’s always chasing you? She’s pretty!
후지쓰? 멀리 있으니까 그렇게 보이는거야. 저여자 100m 미인이야.
Fujitsu? You just think so ‘cause she’s far away. She’s a 100m mi-in.
뭐? 외롭다고 맨날 불평했잖아. 무조건 데이트 해야지.
What? You always complain that you’re lonely. You should date her.
아니라니까! 화면보호기(화장) 하지 않은 저여자 보기 싫어!
No way! I don’t want to see her without her screensaver (makeup).
그건 술 취하면 해결되는거고.
But that can easily be solved by a good pair of beer goggles.
그럼 아침에는?
And in the morning?
아, 그렇구나. 네가 무슨 말 하는건지 이제야 알겠다...
Oh, I see what you mean . . .
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