Korean Dictionary
How to say "Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth" in Korean
“Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth” in Korean is 공짜라면 양잿물도 마신다 (pronounced "Gongjjaramyeon Yangjaemuredo Masinda").
공짜라면 양잿물도 마신다
Gongjjaramyeon Yangjaemuredo Masinda
Usage & Context
This Korean proverb humorously says that if it is free, people will even drink lye water. It satirizes the tendency to accept anything free without question.
Example Sentence
공짜라면 양잿물도 마신다고 사람들이 무료 이벤트에 줄을 서요.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, people line up for free events.
How to use 공짜라면 양잿물도 마신다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth” is 공짜라면 양잿물도 마신다, romanized as Gongjjaramyeon Yangjaemuredo Masinda.
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 공짜라면 양잿물도 마신다.
Pronunciation Guide
The phrase "Gong-jja-ra-myeon Yang-jae-mul-do Ma-sin-da" can be broken down. "Gong" sounds like 'song' but with a 'g' start. "Jja" is a tense 'ja' sound, like 'jah' but sharper. "Ra" is like 'rah', and "myeon" like 'myun'. "Yang" is like 'young', "jae" like 'jay', "mul" like 'moo-l', and "do" like 'doe'. "Ma-sin-da" is pronounced 'mah-sin-dah'. Pay attention to the tense 'ㅉ' sounds.
More Example Sentences
Commenting on a friend's tendency to accept free things.
친구는 공짜라면 뭐든지 다 받으려고 해. 공짜라면 양잿물도 마신다더니.
My friend tries to take anything if it's free. It's true what they say, 'if it's free, people will even drink lye water'.
Observing people at a free giveaway event.
품질이 좀 안 좋아도 공짜니까 사람들이 줄을 서서 받아가네. 공짜라면 양잿물도 마신다는 말이 딱 맞다.
Even if the quality isn't great, since it's free, people are lining up to get it. The saying 'if it's free, people will even drink lye water' is spot on.
Discussing participation in a low-value prize event.
이벤트 경품이 별로인데도 다들 신청하는 걸 보면, 역시 공짜라면 양잿물도 마신다는 말이 틀린 게 없어.
Seeing everyone apply for the event prize even though it's not that great, it's clear that the saying 'if it's free, people will even drink lye water' is never wrong.
Cultural Context
This proverb, literally 'If it's free, one would even drink lye water,' humorously highlights the human tendency to accept anything without question if it's offered for free. 'Lye water' (양잿물) is highly toxic, emphasizing the absurdity. It's often used to playfully tease someone who is overly eager for freebies or to acknowledge the widespread appeal of anything gratis in Korean society, where discounts and free samples are highly valued.
Editorial note
We review entries like 공짜라면 양잿물도 마신다 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
공짜라면 사족을 못 써요.
I can't resist anything free.
공짜 좋아하면 대머리 된다던데.
They say if you like free things too much, you'll go bald. (A humorous saying)
공짜는 양잿물도 마신다더니, 진짜네요.
They say people would drink lye water if it's free, and it's true.
Related Expressions
싼 게 비지떡이다
Ssan ge bijitteogida
You get what you pay for (lit. Cheap things are tofu dregs).
눈먼 돈
Nunmeon don
Easy money / Windfall (lit. blind money).
횡재하다
Hoengjaehada
To hit the jackpot / To get a windfall.
득템하다
Deuktemhada
To get a good item (often free or cheap, from '득' (get) + 'item').
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
