Korean Dictionary
How to say "All that Glitters is not Gold" in Korean
“All that Glitters is not Gold” in Korean is 빛 좋은 개살구 (pronounced "Bit Joheun Gaesalgu").
빛 좋은 개살구
Bit Joheun Gaesalgu
Usage & Context
Bit joheun gaesalgu literally means a wild apricot that looks good. This Korean proverb means that appearances can be deceiving and things may not be as good as they look.
Example Sentence
겉만 보고 판단하지 마세요, 빛 좋은 개살구일 수 있어요.
Do not judge by appearances only, it may be all that glitters is not gold.
How to use 빛 좋은 개살구 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “All that Glitters is not Gold” is 빛 좋은 개살구, romanized as Bit Joheun Gaesalgu.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 빛 좋은 개살구.
Pronunciation Guide
"Bit" sounds like "beet" but with a soft 't' at the end. "Joheun" is pronounced "joh-eun," with 'joh' like "toe" and 'eun' like "eun" in "fun" but with rounded lips. "Gae" is like "gay," and "salgu" is "sahl-goo," with 'sahl' like "sal" in "salmon" and 'goo' like "goo" in "goose."
More Example Sentences
Criticizing a place that looks appealing but lacks quality.
그 식당은 인테리어는 화려한데, 맛은 별로였어. 딱 빛 좋은 개살구였지.
That restaurant had fancy decor, but the taste wasn't great. It was exactly all that glitters is not gold.
Advising someone against making superficial judgments.
겉모습만 보고 판단하면 안 돼. 빛 좋은 개살구일 수도 있어.
You shouldn't judge just by appearances. It might be all that glitters is not gold.
Expressing disappointment with a product that looks good but performs poorly.
새로 산 스마트폰이 디자인은 예쁜데 기능이 너무 부족해. 빛 좋은 개살구네.
My new smartphone has a pretty design, but the functions are too lacking. It's all that glitters is not gold.
Cultural Context
This proverb, literally 'a wild apricot that looks good,' is widely used in Korea to caution against judging things solely by their outward appearance. It's a common expression in daily conversations, often used when someone has been deceived by something that looked appealing but turned out to be disappointing or lacking in quality. You might hear it in K-dramas when a character realizes a seemingly perfect person or situation has a hidden flaw or is not what it seems.
Editorial note
We review entries like 빛 좋은 개살구 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
빛 좋은 개살구야
It's all that glitters is not gold (casual)
빛 좋은 개살구일 수 있어요
It could be all that glitters is not gold (polite)
겉만 번지르르하다
Only the outside is flashy/glossy
Related Expressions
겉과 속이 다르다
Geotgwa sogi dareuda
Different on the outside and inside (deceptive)
겉모습만 보고 판단하다
Geotmoseupman bogo pandanhada
To judge only by appearance
허울만 좋다
Heoulman jota
Only the shell is good (superficially good)
속 빈 강정
Sok bin gangjeong
Empty inside (looks good but is worthless)
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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