The most used Korean proverbs
The top 3 according to 0 votes from people: Fixing the barn after losing the cow · When whales fight, the shrimp's back gets broken · If the words that go are kind, the words that come back are kind. (Updated Feb 3, 2022.)
Korean proverbs (sokdam) heard every day, with their meaning. Chosen from the Korean and English Wikiquote collections.
Automatically translated (original in 한국어). See the original
Top 12
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1
Fixing the barn after losing the cow
Acting only after the damage is done. Like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.
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2
When whales fight, the shrimp's back gets broken
The weak suffer when the powerful fight. Often used about Korea's place between great powers.
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3
If the words that go are kind, the words that come back are kind
Treat others well and they will treat you well.
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4
Birds hear the day's words and mice hear the night's
Be careful what you say: the walls have ears.
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5
After three years at a village school, even the dog recites poetry
Spend long enough around something and you'll learn it. Practice makes perfect.
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6
An empty cart rattles loudly
Those with the least substance make the most noise.
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7
Plant beans and you get beans, plant red beans and you get red beans
You reap what you sow.
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8
A day-old puppy doesn't fear the tiger
The inexperienced rush in without fear. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
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9
A close neighbour is better than a distant cousin
The people nearby help more than relatives far away.
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10
When your cousin buys land, your stomach aches
Envy at other people's success, even family.
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11
You can know ten fathoms of water, but not one fathom of a person's heart
People's hearts are hard to read.
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12
You must enter the tiger's den to catch its cub
No risk, no reward.
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Comments (8)
고래 싸움에 새우등 터진다, 요즘 딱 맞는 말이네요.
하룻강아지 범 무서운 줄 모른다, 우리 집 강아지 얘기 ㅋㅋ
영어 번역도 있어서 외국인 친구한테 보여줬어요.
서당개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다, 회사 생활 3년차 저예요 ㅋㅋ
사촌이 땅을 사면 배가 아프다 ㅋㅋ 너무 현실적.
좋은 정리 감사합니다.
소 잃고 외양간 고친다, 정치인들한테 해주고 싶은 말.
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다, 엄마가 맨날 하시던 말.