Korean Dictionary
How to say "Smooth Sailing" in Korean
“Smooth Sailing” in Korean is 순풍에 돛단 배 (pronounced "Sunpunge Dotdan Bae").
순풍에 돛단 배
Sunpunge Dotdan Bae
Usage & Context
Smooth sailing means everything is going well without difficulties. This nautical metaphor is understood in Korean and often used to express that things are proceeding without obstacles.
Example Sentence
이제부터는 순풍에 돛단 배처럼 잘 될 거예요.
From now on it will be smooth sailing.
How to use 순풍에 돛단 배 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Smooth Sailing” is 순풍에 돛단 배, romanized as Sunpunge Dotdan Bae.
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 순풍에 돛단 배.
Pronunciation Guide
The phrase '순풍에 돛단 배' (Sunpunge Dotdan Bae) is pronounced: '순풍' (sun-pung) sounds like 'soon-poong', '에' (e) like 'eh' in 'meh'. '돛단' (dot-dan) sounds like 'doht-dan', with 'doht' having a clear 't' sound at the end. '배' (bae) sounds like 'bay'. The phrase flows smoothly, with a slight emphasis on '순풍' and '배'.
More Example Sentences
Wishing someone good luck with a new venture.
새로운 사업이 순풍에 돛단 배처럼 잘 풀리기를 바랍니다.
I hope the new business goes as smoothly as a ship with a tailwind.
Reassuring someone about a friend or family member's well-being.
그녀의 유학 생활은 순풍에 돛단 배 같아서 걱정할 필요가 없어요.
Her study abroad life is like smooth sailing, so there's no need to worry.
Reflecting on past difficulties and current ease.
처음에는 어려웠지만, 이제는 순풍에 돛단 배처럼 모든 일이 순조롭다.
It was difficult at first, but now everything is smooth sailing.
Cultural Context
This idiom, literally 'a sailboat with a tailwind,' is a common and intuitive metaphor in Korean, much like 'smooth sailing' in English. It perfectly captures the feeling of effortless progress and is often used in encouraging remarks or when describing fortunate turns of events. It evokes a sense of peace and optimism, frequently heard in daily conversations or well-wishes.
Editorial note
We review entries like 순풍에 돛단 배 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
순풍에 돛단 배처럼
like a ship with a tailwind (most common usage)
순풍에 돛단 배 같아
it's like smooth sailing
순풍에 돛단 배이기를
wishing for smooth sailing
Related Expressions
만사형통
Mansahyeongtong
everything goes well (similar, more general)
일사천리
Ilsacheolli
smooth and rapid progress (similar, emphasizes speed)
고난의 연속
Gonanui yeonsok
a series of hardships (antonym)
산 넘어 산
San neomeo san
one difficulty after another (antonym, literally 'mountain after mountain')
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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