Korean Dictionary
How to say "Once in a Blue Moon" in Korean
“Once in a Blue Moon” in Korean is 아주 드물게 (pronounced "Aju Deumulge").
아주 드물게
Aju Deumulge
Usage & Context
Once in a blue moon means very rarely. This concept is expressed in Korean through the phrase aju deumulge meaning very rarely or occasionally.
Example Sentence
그 친구는 아주 드물게 연락해요.
That friend contacts me once in a blue moon.
How to use 아주 드물게 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Once in a Blue Moon” is 아주 드물게, romanized as Aju Deumulge.
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 아주 드물게.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'ah-joo deu-mool-geh' — 'ah-joo' rhymes with 'who,' and 'deu-mool' starts with a soft 'duh' sound (like 'duh' in 'duck' but shorter). End with 'geh' like 'get' without the t.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
아주 드물게
a-ju deu-mul-ge
Neutral-polite phrase suitable for conversation, writing, and formal settings alike
Casual (반말)
가뭄에 콩 나듯
ga-mum-e kong na-deut
Idiom literally meaning 'like beans sprouting in a drought' — used casually for something that happens very rarely
More Example Sentences
talking about a family member who lives far away
형은 아주 드물게 집에 와요.
My older brother comes home once in a blue moon.
encouraging someone to take a rare chance
이런 기회는 가뭄에 콩 나듯 와요.
An opportunity like this comes once in a blue moon.
discussing a reclusive celebrity with a friend
그 가수는 방송에 가물에 콩 나듯 나와요.
That singer appears on TV once in a blue moon.
Cultural Context
Korean has a wonderfully vivid equivalent to 'once in a blue moon': 가뭄에 콩 나듯 — literally 'like beans sprouting in a drought.' It paints a stronger picture than the plain 아주 드물게 and is the go-to expression when you want to sound more native and literary. You'll hear it often on variety shows and in news commentary when hosts describe something that rarely happens.
Editorial note
We review entries like 아주 드물게 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
아주 드물게 만나요.
We meet once in a blue moon.
가뭄에 콩 나듯 연락해요.
They contact me once in a blue moon.
이런 일은 드물어요.
Something like this is rare.
Related Expressions
가끔
ga-kkeum
sometimes / occasionally
좀처럼
jom-cheo-reom
rarely / hardly ever
자주
ja-ju
often (antonym)
어쩌다 한 번
eo-jjeo-da han beon
once in a while
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Once in a Blue Moon and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
