This is the 15623rd most frequent Korean word.
보릿고개를
"보릿고개를" refers to the "barley hump," symbolizing a period of hardship or food scarcity before the barley harvest.
The term is used metaphorically to denote a period of hardship experienced and overcome.
보릿고개를 힘겹게 넘겼어요.
I barely crossed the tough times of scarcity.
The term refers to historical context where the phrase directly relates to the actual food scarcity experienced.
옛날에는 많은 사람들이 보릿고개를 경험했어요.
Many people experienced the times of scarcity in the past.
The phrase is applied to denote a situation requiring determination and effort to improve circumstances.