[Korean Culture & Language] To have broad bean skins on your eyes

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What does it mean when Koreans say, “You have broad bean skins on your eyes”?“

“눈에 콩깍지가 씌었다 (to have broad bean skins on one’s eyes)” is a metaphor for not being able to see things accurately. It is usually used in situations where someone sees life through rose-colored glasses. 

Ex) 

A: 남자친구가 세상에서 제일 잘생겼다며? (Didn’t you say your boyfriend was the most attractive guy on the planet?)

B: 그랬지… 내가 콩깍지가 씌었었지… (I did… I used to see him through rose-colored glasses)


Some people write “콩깍지가 씌였다,” “콩깍지가 씌이다,” or “콩깍지가 씌인”. However, these are incorrect. They should be written as: “씌었다,” “씐,” and “씌다”.


On the other hand, you say “콩깍지가 벗겨지다” when rose-colored glasses break.

Ex) 처음에 만났을 땐 완벽해 보였는데, 몇번 보다 보니 콩깍지가 벗겨졌어. (I thought he was perfect when I first met him. But as I hang out with him more, the rose-colored glasses broke.)


Below is a meme “to determine if you have rose-colored glasses”.

ioukg

Imagine that your lover walks around with fluorescence pants and a clutch in his/her hands. If you still love them, you can say you have “콩깍지가 씌었다(you see them through rose-colored glasses)”. 

Below is a meme that proves that your “콩깍지가 벗겨졌다(rose-colored glasses broke)”.

Kan een afbeelding zijn van 1 persoon en de tekst '이종석 마빈박사'

https://nl-nl.facebook.com/womenvideos/photos/pcb.2719708074839610/2719708011506283/?type=3&theater

When you have 콩깍지 on your eyes, the guy would look like ‘Lee Jong-suk,’ a popular South Korean actor and model. When 콩깍지 comes off, the same guy would look like ‘Dr. Marvin’ from an old Korean cartoon “Doochi and Ppuccu”.


People who see the world through “콩깍지” are sometimes criticized for being overly optimistic and unable to see life for what it truly is. However, seeing the world through rose-colored glasses gives a general sense of contentment that is rarely disturbed. Have you ever had 콩깍지 for someone? 

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