Meaning and Usage
눈감다 literally means 'to close the eyes.' It is commonly used in everyday situations when someone physically closes their eyes to rest, endure pain, or sleep.
Figurative Use
Beyond the literal meaning, 눈감다 is often used figuratively to mean 'to turn a blind eye' or 'to overlook' something intentionally, especially when ignoring problems or faults.
Common Collocations
- 눈감고 지나가다: to overlook or ignore something deliberately
- 눈감고 참다: to endure something by closing one's eyes (figuratively, to tolerate)
- 눈감으면 코 베어 간다: a proverb meaning if you close your eyes, someone will take advantage of you
Register and Politeness
눈감다 is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but the surrounding sentence structure will determine the overall politeness.
Learner Tips
Be careful not to confuse 눈감다 with 눈감기다, which is the passive form meaning 'to have one's eyes closed' or 'to be put to rest.' Also, remember the figurative use often implies ignoring or tolerating something rather than just physically closing eyes.