Proverbs

Question 1

속담

Answer 1

proverb

Question 2

하늘의 별 따기

Answer 2

picking a star from the sky (the goal you’re trying to achieve is beyond your ability)

Question 3

원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다

Answer 3

even monkeys fall from trees (nobody’s perfect; even an expert can make a mistake)

Question 4

티끌 모아 태산

Answer 4

specks of dust gather to become a mountain (many drops make a shower)

Question 5

천 리 길도 한 걸음부터

Answer 5

even a journey of 1,000 li starts with the first step (don’t rush; it’s the start that matters)

Question 6

자식 이기는 부모 없다

Answer 6

there’s no parent that can win against their child (no parent can change their kid’s mind once they’ve decided to do it)

Question 7

입에 쓴 약이 병에는 좋다

Answer 7

good/effective medicine tastes bitter (even though the process may be difficult, the result will be worth the suffering)

Question 8

윗물이 맑아야 아랫물이 맑다

Answer 8

the water at the top must be clear in order for the water below to be clear (elders should act well/set a good example)

Question 9

오르지 못할 나무는 쳐다 보지 마라

Answer 9

don’t stare at a tree you can’t climb (don’t try to do something that’s too hard for you)

Question 10

열번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다

Answer 10

there’s no tree that won’t fall after ten strokes (even hard work can be accomplished if you keep at it)

Question 11

어깨가 무겁다

Answer 11

for one’s shoulders to be heavy (to feel burdened with responsibility)

Question 12

앓던 이가 빠진 것 같다

Answer 12

like a rotten tooth to have fallen out (relief after solving a big problem that’d been bothering them)

Question 13

아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까

Answer 13

where there’s smoke, there’s fire (원인이 없으면 결과가 있을 수 없음)

Question 14

아는 길도 물어서 가라

Answer 14

be careful even on familiar paths (be cautious even when doing something you’re familiar with)

Question 15

싼 게 비지떡

Answer 15

you get what you pay for (cheap products are bad)

Question 16

실패는 성공의 어머니

Answer 16

failure is the mother of success

Question 17

식은 죽 먹기

Answer 17

piece of cake

Question 18

누워서 떡 먹기

Answer 18

piece of cake

Question 19

시간/세월이 약이다

Answer 19

time heals all wounds

Question 20

시간은 금이다

Answer 20

time is gold

Question 21

수박 겉 핥기

Answer 21

licking the outside of the watermelon (not going into depth/not doing the important thing they should be doing)

Question 22

쇠귀(소귀)에 경 읽기

Answer 22

recite a sutra in a cow’s ear (like talking to a wall)

Question 23

산 넘어 산

Answer 23

out of the frying pan, into the fire

Question 24

보기 좋은 떡이 먹기에도 좋다

Answer 24

good appearances are important

Question 25

배보다 배꼽이 크다

Answer 25

when something basic needs more attention/costs more (기본이 되는 것보다 덧붙이는 것이 더 많거나 큰 경우)

Question 26

밑 빠진 독에 물 붓기

Answer 26

pouring water in a bottomless jug (there’s no positive outcome to what you’re doing)

Question 27

믿는 도끼에 발등 찍힌다

Answer 27

getting stabbed in the top of the foot by an axe you trust (getting stabbed in the back)

Question 28

모르는 게 약이다

Answer 28

ignorance is bliss

Question 29

말 속에 뼈가 있다

Answer 29

there are bones within words (when there’s a hidden meaning/critique in their seemingly casual comment)

Question 30

땅 짚고 헤엄치기

Answer 30

swimming while touching the ground (piece of cake)

Question 31

등잔 밑이 어둡다

Answer 31

it’s dark below a beacon (it’s hard to know what happens close to you)

Question 32

돌다리도 두둘겨 보고 건너라

Answer 32

knock even on a stone bridge before crossing it (look before you leap)

Question 33

도토리 키 재기

Answer 33

measuring the height of acorns (when two people argue that one is better than the other, but in reality there’s no big difference)

Question 34

남의 떡이 더 커 보인다

Answer 34

the grass is greener on the other side

Question 35

꿩 대신 닭

Answer 35

a chicken instead of a pheasant (better than nothing; when you have to use a substitute that’s not quite as good as the original)

Question 36

긁어 부스럼 만들기

Answer 36

creating a boil by scratching (being unnecessarily involved and just making it worse)

Question 37

그림의 떡

Answer 37

a pipe dream/pie in the sky (something you’ll never obtain/attain)

Question 38

공든 탑이 무너지랴

Answer 38

a tower made with great effort won’t fall (one’s efforts will be rewarded)

Question 39

계란으로 바위 치기

Answer 39

hitting rocks with eggs (can’t win no matter how hard you try)

Question 40

겉 다르고 속 다르다

Answer 40

the inside and outside are different (appearances are deceptive)

Question 41

갈수록 태산이다

Answer 41

the next mountain is always bigger (work that becomes harder as it proceeds)

Question 42

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다

Answer 42

treat others how you want to be treated (speak kindly to others in order to be spoken kindly to)

Question 43

가는 날이 장날

Answer 43

as luck would have it (while doing something else, you end up with something unexpected)

Question 44

찬물도 위아래가 있다

Answer 44

everything has an order you should follow

Question 45

시작이 반이다

Answer 45

starting is half the battle

Question 46

가재는 게 편이다

Answer 46

the crayfish sides with the crab (birds of a feather flock together)

Question 47

낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다

Answer 47

the walls have ears; 말 조심

Question 48

귀신도 모르다

Answer 48

not even ghosts know (to have absolutely no idea)

Question 49

김치국부터 마시지 말라

Answer 49

don’t get ahead of yourself/don’t count your chickens before they hatch

Question 50

짚신도 짝이 있다

Answer 50

even a straw shoe has a match (there’s someone for everyone)