거두절미

Sino-Korean word from 去頭截尾 (“removing the head, severing the tail”).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

거두절미 • (geodujeolmi) (hanja 去頭截尾) (four-character idiom from Classical Chinese)

1. cutting to the chase; saying only the essentials; saying only what ought to be said

   Synonym: 단도직입(單刀直入) (dandojigip)

   • 1981, 김원우 [gimwonu], 무기질 청년 [mugijil cheongnyeon], →ISBN:

     좀 장황하나 나로서는 거두절미할 성질이 아닌 것 같아서이다.

     Jom janghwanghana naroseo-neun geodujeolmihal seongjir-i anin geot gataseo-ida.

     It is a bit long-winded, but because I am not the kind to say only the essentials.

2. removing the context of something said; reporting something in a partial way
   • 2008, “정병국의원, 'YTN 발언 일부언론 거두절미 보도 유감' [jeongbyeongguguiwon, YTN bareon ilbueollon geodujeolmi bodo yugam]”, in Yangpyeong Baegun Sinmun‎:

     일부언론 거두절미 보도 유감

     ilbueollon geodujeolmi bodo yugam

     non-contextualized reporting of certain media outlets is regrettable

3. (literally, now rare) severing the head and tail; severing the tips (in cooking)
   • late 19th c., 是(시)議(의)全(전)書(서) [Siuijeonseo]:

     닭젹은 거두 졀미ᄒᆞ고 ᄇᆡ 갈너 젼쳬로 어여 ᄌᆡ여 구어 쓰ᄃᆡ […]

     dakjeog-eun geodu jeolmihago bae galleo jeonche-ro eoyeo jaeyeo gueo sseudae [ … ]

     for roast chicken, cut off the head and the tail and split its belly, and cut out slices from the whole and have it measured and roasted