Korean Dictionary
How to say "Sudden Pauper" in Korean
“Sudden Pauper” in Korean is 벼락거지 (pronounced "byeolak geoji").
벼락거지
byeolak geoji
Usage & Context
Someone who suddenly becomes poor due to failed investments or bad luck. Used to describe people who lose their wealth quickly.
Example Sentence
주식 실패해서 벼락거지 됐어.
I became a sudden pauper due to stock failure.
How to use 벼락거지 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Sudden Pauper” is 벼락거지, romanized as byeolak geoji.
Usage tip
Use slang only with friends or people who already speak casually with you. It can sound rude in formal Korean.
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 벼락거지.
Pronunciation Guide
'벼락거지' is pronounced 'byeol-lak geo-ji'. 'Byeol-lak' sounds like 'byuh-lahk', where 'byeol' is like 'byul' in 'bamboo' but with a 'y' sound, and 'lak' is like 'luck' with a harder 'l' and a short 'a'. 'Geo-ji' sounds like 'guh-jee', with 'geo' like 'guh' in 'gull' and 'ji' like 'jee' in 'jeep'. The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Friends discussing recent market news and its impact.
코인 폭락으로 벼락거지 된 사람들이 많다고 하더라.
They say there are many people who became sudden paupers due to the crypto crash.
Someone feeling left behind by economic trends and wealth accumulation.
나만 빼고 다 부자 된 것 같아서 벼락거지 된 기분이야.
It feels like everyone but me got rich, so I feel like a sudden pauper.
A cautionary piece of advice given to a new investor.
벼락거지 안 되려면 무리한 투자는 피해야지.
To avoid becoming a sudden pauper, you should avoid reckless investments.
Cultural Context
'벼락거지' is a compound of '벼락' (byeolak, lightning bolt/sudden) and '거지' (geoji, beggar). It describes someone who suddenly finds themselves in poverty, not necessarily due to their own fault, but often because they failed to keep up with rising asset prices (like real estate) or lost money in speculative investments, while others around them got richer. This term emerged during periods of rapid wealth disparity, especially during the real estate boom, where those who couldn't afford to buy property felt like they had suddenly become poor relative to their peers.
Editorial note
We flag slang like 벼락거지 for register and audience, since Korean slang can shift quickly and may sound rude outside close friendships.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
벼락거지 될 뻔했어.
I almost became a sudden pauper.
나만 벼락거지 된 것 같아.
It feels like only I became a sudden pauper.
벼락거지 신세.
The plight of a sudden pauper.
Related Expressions
거지
geoji
beggar, pauper
벼락부자
byeolak buja
sudden rich person (antonym)
상대적 박탈감
sangdaejeok baktalgam
relative deprivation
영끌
yeong kkul
all in (often leads to 벼락거지 if failed)
More Slang Words
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