별것

In a sentence

• 저 친구는 별것 없이 그냥 좋은 사람이에요.

  That friend is just a good person without anything exceptional.

  Here, '별것' is used to mean 'something special,' indicating that the person lacks extraordinary traits but is admirable nonetheless.

• 별것이라고 생각했는데, 알고 보니 별거 아니었어요.

  I thought it was something special, but it turned out to be nothing much.

  Here, '별것' conveys the meaning of 'something noteworthy,' and the sentence examines the contrast between initial expectations and the reality.

• 그 프로젝트는 별것 아닌 것처럼 보여도 꽤 중요해요.

  That project seems like nothing much, but it is quite important.

  In this sentence, '별것' means 'something remarkable.' The speaker notes the deceptive simplicity or apparent unimportance of the project.