Proverbs Flashcards
속담
proverb
하늘의 별 따기
picking a star from the sky (the goal you’re trying to achieve is beyond your ability)
원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다
even monkeys fall from trees (nobody’s perfect; even an expert can make a mistake)
티끌 모아 태산
specks of dust gather to become a mountain (many drops make a shower)
천 리 길도 한 걸음부터
even a journey of 1,000 li starts with the first step (don’t rush; it’s the start that matters)
자식 이기는 부모 없다
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)
입에 쓴 약이 병에는 좋다
good/effective medicine tastes bitter (even though the process may be difficult, the result will be worth the suffering)
윗물이 맑아야 아랫물이 맑다
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)
오르지 못할 나무는 쳐다 보지 마라
don’t stare at a tree you can’t climb (don’t try to do something that’s too hard for you)
열번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다
there’s no tree that won’t fall after ten strokes (even hard work can be accomplished if you keep at it)
어깨가 무겁다
for one’s shoulders to be heavy (to feel burdened with responsibility)
앓던 이가 빠진 것 같다
like a rotten tooth to have fallen out (relief after solving a big problem that’d been bothering them)
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까
where there’s smoke, there’s fire (원인이 없으면 결과가 있을 수 없음)
아는 길도 물어서 가라
be careful even on familiar paths (be cautious even when doing something you’re familiar with)
싼 게 비지떡
you get what you pay for (cheap products are bad)
실패는 성공의 어머니
failure is the mother of success
식은 죽 먹기
piece of cake
누워서 떡 먹기
piece of cake
시간/세월이 약이다
time heals all wounds
시간은 금이다
time is gold
수박 겉 핥기
licking the outside of the watermelon (not going into depth/not doing the important thing they should be doing)
쇠귀(소귀)에 경 읽기
recite a sutra in a cow’s ear (like talking to a wall)
산 넘어 산
out of the frying pan, into the fire
보기 좋은 떡이 먹기에도 좋다
good appearances are important
배보다 배꼽이 크다
when something basic needs more attention/costs more (기본이 되는 것보다 덧붙이는 것이 더 많거나 큰 경우)
밑 빠진 독에 물 붓기
pouring water in a bottomless jug (there’s no positive outcome to what you’re doing)
믿는 도끼에 발등 찍힌다
getting stabbed in the top of the foot by an axe you trust (getting stabbed in the back)
모르는 게 약이다
ignorance is bliss
말 속에 뼈가 있다
there are bones within words (when there’s a hidden meaning/critique in their seemingly casual comment)
땅 짚고 헤엄치기
swimming while touching the ground (piece of cake)
등잔 밑이 어둡다
it’s dark below a beacon (it’s hard to know what happens close to you)
돌다리도 두둘겨 보고 건너라
knock even on a stone bridge before crossing it (look before you leap)
도토리 키 재기
measuring the height of acorns (when two people argue that one is better than the other, but in reality there’s no big difference)
남의 떡이 더 커 보인다
the grass is greener on the other side
꿩 대신 닭
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)
긁어 부스럼 만들기
creating a boil by scratching (being unnecessarily involved and just making it worse)
그림의 떡
a pipe dream/pie in the sky (something you’ll never obtain/attain)
공든 탑이 무너지랴
a tower made with great effort won’t fall (one’s efforts will be rewarded)
계란으로 바위 치기
hitting rocks with eggs (can’t win no matter how hard you try)
겉 다르고 속 다르다
the inside and outside are different (appearances are deceptive)
갈수록 태산이다
the next mountain is always bigger (work that becomes harder as it proceeds)
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
treat others how you want to be treated (speak kindly to others in order to be spoken kindly to)
가는 날이 장날
as luck would have it (while doing something else, you end up with something unexpected)
찬물도 위아래가 있다
everything has an order you should follow
시작이 반이다
starting is half the battle
가재는 게 편이다
the crayfish sides with the crab (birds of a feather flock together)
낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다
the walls have ears; 말 조심
귀신도 모르다
not even ghosts know (to have absolutely no idea)
김치국부터 마시지 말라
don’t get ahead of yourself/don’t count your chickens before they hatch
짚신도 짝이 있다
even a straw shoe has a match (there’s someone for everyone)
