Why a fire on your foot means you're out of time

Where the picture shows up in 불

1. 1

   lit to give light

   불 좀 켜 주세요.

   bul jom kyeo ju-se-yo

   Could you turn the light on?

   Electric light is simply 불 too.

2. 2

   turning the strength down

   가스불 좀 줄여 주세요.

   ga-seu-bul jom ju-ryeo ju-se-yo

   Please turn the gas down a bit.

3. 3

   spreading on its own

   아까 저 건물에 불이 났어요.

   a-kka jeo geon-mu-re bu-ri na-sseo-yo

   That building caught fire earlier.

4. 4

   catching onto feelings

   회의 때 괜히 불을 붙였어요.

   hoe-ui ttae gwaen-hi bu-reul bu-chyeo-sseo-yo

   I stirred things up for nothing in the meeting.

5. 5

   spread right up to you

   이제 발등에 불이 떨어졌어요.

   i-je bal-deung-e bu-ri tteo-reo-jeo-sseo-yo

   It's urgent now — no time left.

   The picture: the fire has reached your foot, so you move this second.