[Korean Culture & Language] To see through colored glasses

Hello, this is Uptempo Marketers!


‘Seeing life through rose-colored glasses’ usually means to focusing solely on pleasant elements of life rather than being realistic. 


In Korea, ‘색안경을 끼고 보다(To see through colored glasses)’ means ‘to look at things with prejudice, usually in a sarcastic or pessimistic manner’


Ex)

A: 왜 고아라는 걸 숨겼어?
Why did you hide that you were an orphan?

B: 남들이 색안경을 끼고 날 대할까 봐 걱정이 되어서.
I was afraid that people would treat me with prejudice (treat/see me with colored glasses on)

왜: why
고아: orphan
숨기다: hide
남들: others
색안경: colored glasses
걱정: afraid


Ex) 네가 전과자라는 게 알려지면 다들 색안경을 끼고 볼 것이다.

When others find out you’re an ex-convict, they will pass judgment on you (with colored glasses on)

전과자: ex-convict
알려지다: to be known
다들: everyone


One of STAYC’s most recent songs is titled ‘색안경 (Stereotype)’.

The following is the chorus part of the song:

색안경을 끼고 보지 마요
Please do not see me through the colored glasses (Please do not judge me based on my appearance)

난 좀 다른 여자인데
I’m not like the other women

겉은 화려해도 아직 두려운 걸 you should know
Even though I appear to be dazzling, I’m still afraid.

너무 세게 안으면 숨 막혀요
If you hug me too tight, I can’t breath

Have you ever viewed anything or anyone through colored glasses?

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