Like a "lab mouse," it can also be used to allude to a situation involving testing or experimentation. It's also appropriate for describing quiet, inconspicuous movement.

In Western fairy tales, like the mice that pull Cinderella's carriage, they often appear as small, powerless but helpful friends. In contrast, it can represent extreme embarrassment, as in the Korean proverb "I wish I could hide in a mouse hole," showing how the image of being small and weak is used differently across cultures.