Korean Dictionary
How to say "Have an Ace Up Your Sleeve" in Korean
“Have an Ace Up Your Sleeve” in Korean is 비장의 무기가 있다 (pronounced "Bijangui Mugiga Itda").
비장의 무기가 있다
Bijangui Mugiga Itda
Usage & Context
Having an ace up your sleeve means having a secret advantage or surprise tactic held in reserve. This concept is well understood in Korean competitive and business contexts.
Example Sentence
걱정하지 마세요, 비장의 무기가 있어요.
Do not worry, I have an ace up my sleeve.
How to use 비장의 무기가 있다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Have an Ace Up Your Sleeve” is 비장의 무기가 있다, romanized as Bijangui Mugiga Itda.
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 비장의 무기가 있다.
Pronunciation Guide
비장의 (bee-jahng-wee) sounds like 'bee' in 'bee', 'jahng' like 'jangly' without 'ly', and 'wee' like 'we'. 무기가 (moo-gee-gah) sounds like 'moo' in 'moon', 'gee' in 'geese', and 'gah' in 'car'. 있다 (eet-dah) sounds like 'eat' followed by 'dah' in 'data'.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
비장의 무기가 있어요
Bijangui Mugiga Isseoyo
Standard polite form, commonly used.
Casual (반말)
비장의 무기가 있어
Bijangui Mugiga Isseo
Standard casual form.
More Example Sentences
Reassuring a friend before a challenge.
걱정 마, 나한테는 아직 비장의 무기가 있어.
Don't worry, I still have an ace up my sleeve.
Observing a competitor in sports or business.
상대 팀은 비장의 무기를 숨기고 있는 것 같아.
It seems the opposing team is hiding an ace up their sleeve.
Identifying a key advantage in a work project.
이 프로젝트 성공을 위한 비장의 무기는 바로 우리 팀워크야.
The ace up our sleeve for this project's success is our teamwork.
Cultural Context
The concept of a 'secret weapon' or 'hidden card' is very common in Korean competitive environments, from academic rivalries to K-pop group comebacks. It implies strategic thinking and the ability to surprise opponents. This phrase is often used when someone is confident about an outcome because they have a decisive, undisclosed advantage, much like a 'hidden card' (히든카드, hideun kadeu) in a game.
Editorial note
We review entries like 비장의 무기가 있다 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
비장의 무기를 꺼내다
to pull out one's ace up the sleeve
비장의 무기를 사용하다
to use one's ace up the sleeve
비장의 무기가 필요하다
to need an ace up one's sleeve
Related Expressions
숨겨진 카드
sumgyeojin kadeu
a hidden card
히든카드
hideun kadeu
hidden card (Konglish)
필살기
pilsalgi
special move, ultimate technique (often from games/anime)
속수무책이다
soksumuchegida
to be helpless, to have no options
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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