The purpose of this study is to survey Chinese students’ understanding of Korean metaphorical expressions and examine factors that influence the understanding. The survey of 34 Chinese students showed their understanding of targeting metaphorical expressions such as ‘time,’ ‘discussion,’ ‘love,’ ‘mind,’ ‘business,’ and ‘life/history/politics.’ The result of this study identifies some factors that have an impact on the understanding of the expressions. The factors include several differences in 1) the metaphorical expressions between Korean and Chinese, 2) the focus in correspondence of components, and 3) the level of difficulty in vocabulary or sentences. This paper analyzes the similarities and differences in metaphorical expression between Korean and Chinese languages. For example, ‘to raise/let down the curtain’ in Korean corresponds to ‘to open/close the curtain(開幕/閉幕)’in Chinese. It was the moving in the vertical direction in korean, on the other hand, it was the horizontal moving in chinese. In relation to ‘anger,’ Chinese students had difficulties in understanding the meaning in Korean because the relevant metaphor in Korean focuses on the state of ‘liquid heat in the bowl’ whereas the corresponding Chinese expression is based on the state of gas. Another factor relates to the level of difficulty in vocabulary or sentences which were too high. One of the primary causes was a homonym and the students have more trouble in understanding Korean metaphors of Korean origin rather than Sino-Korean.