Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
눈에 불을 켜다 Nun-e bul-eul kyeoda
To be hyper-focused and ruthlessly determined to achieve a high-stakes goal.
What does 눈에 불을 켜다 mean?
눈에 불을 켜다 (Nun-e bul-eul kyeoda) means: To be hyper-focused and ruthlessly determined to achieve a high-stakes goal.
Speakers use this expression when someone sets their sights on a goal or resource and pursues it with heavy ambition, greed, or intense concentration. It frequently describes relentless behavior in competitive contexts, such as hunting for money or chasing any available opportunity. It pairs directly with action verbs like 달려들다 when someone rushes toward a target.
This can feel intense and slightly intimidating, painting a picture of someone whose single-minded determination leaves no room for distraction or hesitation.
This can feel intense and slightly intimidating, painting a picture of someone whose single-minded determination leaves no room for distraction or hesitation.
Other sides of 눈에 불을 켜다
◆ The Furious Avenger or Correcter — Speakers use this expression when someone becomes visibly angry and glares or shouts in frustration. It appears in contexts where a person reacts sharply to an unpleasant situation, as seen when Yun-tae yells in anger. The expression pairs with verbal outbursts or confrontational actions.
This can feel intensely dramatic to a listener, often signaling a sudden, sharp escalation from calm to overt hostility.
◆ The Overprotective Parent or Fanatic — Speakers use this expression when someone directs intense focus or desire toward acquiring something, particularly money or opportunity. It appears when describing an aggressive pursuit of personal gain or an unblinking fixation on a target. The phrase often combines with verbs of aggressive action or pursuit, showing a sudden and sharp shift toward an objective.
This can feel somewhat excessive or driven to listeners, often highlighting an almost greedy sharpness in someone's pursuit of their interests.
This can feel intensely dramatic to a listener, often signaling a sudden, sharp escalation from calm to overt hostility.
◆ The Overprotective Parent or Fanatic — Speakers use this expression when someone directs intense focus or desire toward acquiring something, particularly money or opportunity. It appears when describing an aggressive pursuit of personal gain or an unblinking fixation on a target. The phrase often combines with verbs of aggressive action or pursuit, showing a sudden and sharp shift toward an objective.
This can feel somewhat excessive or driven to listeners, often highlighting an almost greedy sharpness in someone's pursuit of their interests.
🎙️ 눈에 불을 켜다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [누네 부를 켜다]로 소리나요 (연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 그는 돈이 생기는 일이라면 눈에 불을 켜고 달려든다.
geuneun don-i saeng-gineun il-iramyeon nun-e bul-eul kyeogo dallyeodeunda.
He jumps at any chance to make money with absolute intensity.
💡 Shows someone aggressively pursuing financial gain. - 그는 시험 합격을 위해 눈에 불을 켜고 공부했다.
geuneun siheom hap-gyeog-eul wihae nun-e bul-eul kyeogo gongbuhaetda.
He studied with burning intensity to pass the exam.
💡 Shows hyper-focus during high-stakes test preparation. - 좋은 자리를 차지하려고 다들 눈에 불을 켜고 있다.
jo-eun jari-reul chajaryeogo dadeul nun-e bul-eul kyeogo itda.
Everyone has their eyes on fire trying to secure a good spot.
💡 Shows fierce competition among multiple parties.
Related words in Social Situations
눈에 익다 Nun-e ikda눈에 띄다 Nun-e tti-da눈을 붙이다 nun-eul붙ida눈이 높다 nun-i nopda눈높이 Nun-no-pi