[Korean Idiom Learning] A Candle's Light Doesn't Reach Underneath It

Out of sight, out of mind

Understanding the Korean Idiom '등잔 밑이 어둡다'

Have you ever heard the Korean idiom '등잔 밑이 어둡다'?

'등잔' refers to a small container that held a lamp in the past, before electricity was widely available.

'등불' can refer to anything that provides light in a dark place.

Things like candles or oil lamps would fall under this category.

In essence, '등잔' and '등불' can be considered equivalent to a fluorescent light in today's context.

So, what does '등잔 밑이 어둡다' mean?

When you light a lamp, the area around it becomes bright.

However, due to the lamp's shadow, the area directly beneath it becomes darker.

If there's a needle or thread under the lamp, it would be difficult to find.

It becomes hard to find something even when it's close by.

Therefore, the idiom '등잔 밑이 어둡다' is used when you can't find something that's right in front of you,

or when you fail to understand the true feelings of someone close to you.

Story Behind the Korean Idiom '등잔 밑이 어둡다'

While I'm not someone who loses things easily, I have experienced acting 'like the area under the lamp is dark' quite a few times.

I did it again recently.

I was on the phone with a friend and went into a convenience store to buy coffee.

After buying the coffee and walking to the bus stop, I realized my phone was gone!

So, I told my friend, "I think I left my phone at the convenience store."

My friend on the call said, "Go back to the convenience store quickly!"

While rushing back to the convenience store, a sudden thought hit me.

‘What am I using to make this call?’

That's right. I was holding my phone while looking for my phone.

I told my friend on the call,

"Hey, I'm talking to you on my phone right now!" and we both laughed for a while.

Actually, there are many such instances.

I put my phone in my back pocket and then search for it.

I put my glasses on my head and then look for them.

Am I the only one who does this?

What do you say in such situations?

“Out of sight, out of mind.” That's what we say.

Applying the Korean Idiom '등잔 밑이 어둡다'

- I couldn't find my keys even though they were right in front of me. It was truly a case of 'out of sight, out of mind'!

- I was so busy that I didn't even realize what was happening to Dad. I guess I was 'blind to what was right in front of me'.

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