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Dictionary › TOPIK 6

TOPIK 6noun

옥석구분

okseokgubun [옥썩꾸분]

옥석구분이 · 옥석구분을

good and bad perishing together, indiscriminate destruction

Example

무리한 단속은 옥석구분의 결과를 낳을 수 있습니다.

Heavy-handed crackdowns can end up harming the innocent along with the guilty.

Word parts

옥 jade석 stone구 together분 burn

Literally 'jade and stone burn together' — fire doesn't care which is precious.

Good to know

Often misused as if 구분 meant 'distinguish'; for sorting good from bad, say 옥석을 가리다 instead.