Sharing creative work can be vulnerable, and sometimes the best way to handle a less-than-perfect result is with humor! This guide covers how Koreans might jokingly talk about a painting they made that didn’t turn out well, focusing on self-deprecating humor among friends.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 이거 내가 그린 건데 완전 망했어.
Pronunciation: i-geo nae-ga geu-rin geon-de wan-jeon mang-haess-eo.
Meaning: I painted this, but it’s a complete disaster. (Lit: This is what I drew, but it’s totally ruined/failed.)
Self-Deprecating Jokes About Art
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Expression: 내가 지난주에 그린 그림인데, 좀 웃기지?
Pronunciation: nae-ga ji-nan-ju-e geu-rin geu-rim-in-de, jom ut-gi-ji?
Meaning: This is the picture I painted last week, isn’t it kind of funny/ridiculous? -
Expression: 미술에는 영 소질이 없나 봐.
Pronunciation: mi-sul-e-neun yeong so-jil-i eop-na bwa.
Meaning: It seems I have absolutely no talent for art. -
Expression: 이거 보고 웃어도 돼. 나도 웃겨.
Pronunciation: i-geo bo-go us-eo-do dwae. na-do ut-gyeo.
Meaning: You can laugh when you see this. I find it funny too. -
Expression: 초등학생이 그린 것 같지 않아?
Pronunciation: cho-deung-hak-saeng-i geu-rin geot gat-ji an-a?
Meaning: Doesn’t it look like an elementary school student drew it? -
Expression: 나름 열심히 그렸는데 결과가 이래.
Pronunciation: na-reum yeol-sim-hi geu-ryeot-neun-de gyeol-gwa-ga i-rae.
Meaning: I tried my best to draw it, but this is the result. -
Expression: 이건 예술 작품이 아니라 그냥 낙서야, 낙서.
Pronunciation: i-geon ye-sul jak-pum-i a-ni-ra geu-nyang nak-seo-ya, nak-seo.
Meaning: This isn’t a work of art, it’s just scribbling, scribbling. -
Expression: 다시는 붓을 잡지 말아야겠어.
Pronunciation: da-si-neun bus-eul jap-ji mal-a-ya-gess-eo.
Meaning: I should probably never pick up a paintbrush again. -
Expression: 이 그림의 제목은 ‘실패작’이야.
Pronunciation: i geu-rim-ui je-mok-eun ‘sil-pae-jak’-i-ya.
Meaning: The title of this painting is ‘Failure’. -
Expression: 추상화라고 우겨볼까?
Pronunciation: chu-sang-hwa-ra-go u-gyeo-bol-kka?
Meaning: Should I try to insist it’s abstract art? -
Expression: 내 눈에만 이상한 거 아니지?
Pronunciation: nae nun-e-man i-sang-han geo a-ni-ji?
Meaning: It’s not just my eyes that find this weird, right? -
Expression: 이거 그리면서 무슨 생각했는지 모르겠어.
Pronunciation: i-geo geu-ri-myeon-seo mu-seun saeng-gak-haet-neun-ji mo-reu-gess-eo.
Meaning: I don’t know what I was thinking while drawing this.
Reacting to a Friend’s Joke (Playful or Polite)
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Expression: 에이, 왜 그래~ 그래도 개성 있는데?
Pronunciation: e-i, wae geu-rae~ geu-rae-do gae-seong it-neun-de?
Meaning: Aw, come on~ Still, it has personality, doesn’t it? (Polite disagreement) -
Expression: ㅋㅋㅋ 솔직히 좀 웃기긴 하다.
Pronunciation: keu-keu-keu sol-jik-hi jom ut-gi-gin ha-da.
Meaning: Hahaha, honestly it is a bit funny. (Playfully agreeing) -
Expression: 아니야, 그렇게 나쁘지 않아!
Pronunciation: a-ni-ya, geu-reot-ge na-ppeu-ji an-a!
Meaning: No, it’s not that bad! (Reassuring) -
Expression: 너만의 스타일이 있는 거지.
Pronunciation: neo-man-ui seu-ta-il-i it-neun geo-ji.
Meaning: It just means you have your own style. (Polite interpretation) -
Expression: 괜찮아, 다음엔 더 잘 그리면 되지!
Pronunciation: gwaen-chan-a, da-eum-en deo jal geu-ri-myeon doe-ji!
Meaning: It’s okay, you can just draw better next time! (Encouraging) -
Expression: 음… 독특하네.
Pronunciation: eum… dok-teuk-ha-ne.
Meaning: Hmm… It’s unique. (Neutral, slightly ambiguous) -
Expression: 그래? 난 괜찮아 보이는데?
Pronunciation: geu-rae? nan gwaen-chan-a bo-i-neun-de?
Meaning: Really? It looks okay to me? (Expressing a different opinion) -
Expression: 피카소도 처음엔 욕 먹었대.
Pronunciation: pi-ka-so-do cheo-eum-en yok meok-eot-dae.
Meaning: They say even Picasso was criticized at first. (Humorous encouragement) -
Expression: 하하, 너 정말 솔직하다.
Pronunciation: ha-ha, neo jeong-mal sol-jik-ha-da.
Meaning: Haha, you’re really honest. (Acknowledging their self-criticism) -
Expression: 뭐 어때, 재미로 그린 거잖아.
Pronunciation: mwo eo-ttae, jae-mi-ro geu-rin geo-jan-a.
Meaning: So what, you drew it for fun, right? (Downplaying the importance) -
Expression: 이게 너의 매력이야.
Pronunciation: i-ge neo-ui mae-ryeok-i-ya.
Meaning: This is your charm. (Playful compliment)
Related Vocabulary
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Expression: 그림
Pronunciation: geu-rim
Meaning: Painting, drawing, picture -
Expression: 미술
Pronunciation: mi-sul
Meaning: Art -
Expression: 망하다
Pronunciation: mang-ha-da
Meaning: To be ruined, to fail, to mess up -
Expression: 웃기다
Pronunciation: ut-gi-da
Meaning: To be funny, laughable, ridiculous -
Expression: 소질
Pronunciation: so-jil
Meaning: Talent, aptitude -
Expression: 작품
Pronunciation: jak-pum
Meaning: Work (of art), piece -
Expression: 낙서
Pronunciation: nak-seo
Meaning: Scribble, doodle -
Expression: 붓
Pronunciation: but
Meaning: Paintbrush -
Expression: 실패작
Pronunciation: sil-pae-jak
Meaning: Failure (as in a failed work) -
Expression: 추상화
Pronunciation: chu-sang-hwa
Meaning: Abstract painting -
Expression: 개성
Pronunciation: gae-seong
Meaning: Individuality, personality, uniqueness -
Expression: 독특하다
Pronunciation: dok-teuk-ha-da
Meaning: To be unique, peculiar
Korean Culture Notes
Self-Deprecating Humor: Making fun of oneself, especially among close friends, is a common form of humor in Korea. It can be seen as a sign of humility and approachability. Joking about a failed attempt at something creative, like painting, fits well within this cultural context.
Modesty: Even if the painting isn’t truly terrible, a Korean friend might downplay their skills or the quality of their work out of modesty. Accepting compliments too readily can sometimes be seen as boastful.
Friendship Dynamics: The level of joking and honesty depends heavily on the closeness of the friendship. With very close friends, more direct and playful teasing (like agreeing the painting is funny) is acceptable. With acquaintances, a more polite and encouraging response is usually preferred.
Importance of Effort: Phrases like 나름 열심히 그렸는데… (na-reum yeol-sim-hi geu-ryeot-neun-de… – I tried my best, but…) acknowledge the effort put in, even if the result isn’t perfect. Recognizing the effort can be as important as commenting on the outcome.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minjun (A) shows his friend Sora (B) a painting he attempted last week.
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Expression: A: 소라야, 이거 내가 지난주에 그린 그림인데 한번 봐봐.
Pronunciation: So-ra-ya, i-geo nae-ga ji-nan-ju-e geu-rin geu-rim-in-de han-beon bwa-bwa.
Meaning: Sora, take a look at this picture I painted last week. -
Expression: B: 오, 뭔데? (그림을 본다) 어…
Pronunciation: O, mwon-de? (Geu-rim-eul bon-da) Eo…
Meaning: Oh, what is it? (Looks at the painting) Uh… -
Expression: A: ㅋㅋㅋ 웃기지? 완전 망했어. 초등학생이 그린 것 같아.
Pronunciation: keu-keu-keu ut-gi-ji? wan-jeon mang-haess-eo. cho-deung-hak-saeng-i geu-rin geot gat-a.
Meaning: Hahaha, funny right? It’s a total disaster. Looks like an elementary school kid drew it. -
Expression: B: 에이, 왜 그래~ 그래도 뭔가 독특한 매력이 있는데? 너만의 스타일이야.
Pronunciation: e-i, wae geu-rae~ geu-rae-do mwon-ga dok-teuk-han mae-ryeok-i it-neun-de? neo-man-ui seu-ta-il-i-ya.
Meaning: Aw, come on~ Still, it has a kind of unique charm, doesn’t it? It’s your own style. -
Expression: A: 스타일은 무슨. 그냥 미술에 소질이 없는 거지. 다시는 붓 안 잡으려고.
Pronunciation: seu-ta-il-eun mu-seun. geu-nyang mi-sul-e so-jil-i eop-neun geo-ji. da-si-neun but an jab-eu-ryeo-go.
Meaning: Style, what style. It just means I have no talent for art. I’m planning not to pick up a brush again. -
Expression: B: ㅋㅋㅋ 너무 극단적이다! 재미로 그린 거잖아. 괜찮아, 다음엔 더 잘 그릴 수 있을 거야!
Pronunciation: keu-keu-keu neo-mu geuk-dan-jeok-i-da! jae-mi-ro geu-rin geo-jan-a. gwaen-chan-a, da-eum-en deo jal geu-ril su iss-eul geo-ya!
Meaning: Hahaha, that’s too extreme! You just drew it for fun, right? It’s okay, you’ll be able to draw better next time!
Practice Tips
Practicing these kinds of humorous, self-deprecating phrases can make your Korean sound much more natural among friends! Try describing a small, harmless mistake you made recently using similar phrasing~ For example, if you cooked something that didn’t taste great, you could adapt “완전 망했어” (wan-jeon mang-haess-eo – It’s a complete disaster) or “소질이 없나 봐” (so-jil-i eop-na bwa – It seems I have no talent). Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself a little; it’s a great way to connect with Korean friends! Keep practicing these expressions! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/You can do it!)
