Korean proverbs and idioms are linguistic gems that allow learners to understand Korean culture and communicate more deeply. While they are commonly used in everyday life, their meanings can often be complex to grasp through literal translation alone. This post will introduce you to the fascinating world of Korean proverbs and idioms and offer practical tips for mastering and using them.
Table
of Contents
- What Are Korean Proverbs and Idioms?
- Popular Korean Proverbs and Their
Meanings
- Everyday Idioms You’ll Hear in Korea
- Tips for Memorizing Proverbs and Idioms
- Practical Use: Speaking Naturally with
Proverbs and Idioms
- Recommended Resources for Learning Korean
Proverbs and Idioms
1. What Are Korean Proverbs and Idioms?
Proverbs
are short, wise sayings that offer life lessons or advice. For example, the
proverb “하늘의 별 따기” means “picking a star from the
sky,” symbolizing something nearly impossible to achieve.
Idioms, however,
are fixed expressions used in specific contexts and have meanings that often
differ from their literal words. For example, “손을 잡다”, which translates to "to hold hands," actually means “to
cooperate.”
Learning
these expressions can significantly enhance your Korean skills and cultural
understanding.
2. Popular Korean Proverbs and Their Meanings
Here are
some frequently used Korean proverbs:
“가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다”
Literal: “Outgoing words must be kind for incoming words to be kind.”
Meaning:
Treat others kindly, and they’ll respond kindly.
“백지장도 맞들면 낫다”
Literal: “Even a sheet of paper is easier to lift when two people
hold it.”
Meaning:
Cooperation makes any task more manageable.
“하늘의
별 따기”
Literal:
“Picking a star from the sky.”
Meaning:
Describes something nearly impossible.
“개구리
올챙이 적 생각 못 한다”
Literal: “The frog doesn’t remember its tadpole days.”
Meaning:
People often forget their humble beginnings after achieving success.
“등잔
밑이 어둡다”
Literal:
“It’s dark under the lamp.”
Meaning:
The most obvious things are often overlooked.
“호랑이도
제 말 하면 온다”
Literal:
“Even a tiger shows up if you talk about it.”
Meaning:
Speak of the devil, and they’ll appear.
“가는
날이 장날이다”
Literal:
“The day you go happens to be market day.”
Meaning:
Something unexpected happens by coincidence.
“닭
잡아먹고 오리발 내민다”
Literal:
“Eating a chicken and showing a duck’s foot.”
Meaning:
Pretending innocence while hiding the truth.
“물에
빠진 놈 건져 놓으니 보따리 내놓으라 한다”
Literal:
“Save someone from drowning, and they demand your bag.”
Meaning:
Someone being ungrateful or demanding more after being helped.
“소
잃고 외양간 고친다”
Literal:
“Fixing the barn after losing the cow.”
Meaning:
Taking action too late.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
“티끌
모아 태산”
Literal:
“Dust gathers to make a mountain.”
Meaning:
Small efforts add up to achieve great things.
“열
길 물속은 알아도 한 길 사람 속은 모른다”
Literal:
“You can see 10 feet into water but not 1 foot into someone’s heart.”
Meaning:
It’s hard to know someone’s true intentions.
“사촌이
땅을 사면 배가 아프다”
Literal:
“When a cousin buys land, your stomach hurts.”
Meaning:
Feeling jealous of someone else’s success.
“우물
안 개구리”
Literal:
“A frog in a well.”
Meaning:
Someone with a narrow perspective.
“밑
빠진 독에 물 붓기”
Literal:
“Pouring water into a bottomless jar.”
Meaning:
Wasting effort on something futile.
“금강산도
식후경”
Literal:
“Even Mount Geumgang is best seen after eating.”
Meaning:
Basic needs like food should be met before anything else.
“돌다리도
두들겨 보고 건너라”
Literal:
“Even hit a stone bridge before crossing it.”
Meaning:
Be cautious, even when things seem safe.
“가는
떡이 커야 오는 떡이 크다”
Literal:
“The rice cake you send must be big for the one you get in return to be big.”
Meaning:
Generosity encourages reciprocity.
“꿩
대신 닭”
Literal:
“Chicken instead of pheasant.”
Meaning:
Settling for something less ideal.
“발
없는 말이 천 리를 간다”
Literal:
“Words without feet travel a thousand miles.”
Meaning:
Gossip spreads quickly.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
“낮말은
새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다”
Literal:
“Birds hear daytime words, and mice hear nighttime words.”
Meaning:
Be careful with what you say; someone may overhear.
“하룻강아지
범 무서운 줄 모른다”
Literal:
“A puppy doesn’t fear a tiger.”
Meaning:
Naivety leads to bravery.
“똥
묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다”
Literal:
“A dog with dung scolds a dog with chaff.”
Meaning:
Hypocrisy or blaming others for the same faults.
“원숭이도
나무에서 떨어진다”
Literal:
“Even monkeys fall from trees.”
Meaning:
Experts can make mistakes.
“아는
길도 물어서 가라”
Literal:
“Ask for directions even if you know the way.”
Meaning:
Double-check to avoid mistakes.
“호랑이
굴에 들어가야 호랑이를 잡는다”
Literal:
“You must enter the tiger’s den to catch the tiger.”
Meaning:
No risk, no reward.
“바늘
도둑이 소도둑 된다”
Literal:
“A needle thief becomes a cow thief.”
Meaning:
Small crimes can lead to bigger ones.
“제
눈에 안경”
Literal:
“Glasses for one’s own eyes.”
Meaning:
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
“입에
쓴 약이 몸에 좋다”
Literal:
“Bitter medicine is good for the body.”
Meaning:
Honest criticism is helpful.
“말
한마디로 천 냥 빚 갚는다”
Literal:
“A word can repay a thousand nyang debt.”
Meaning:
Words have great power.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
“물에
물 탄 듯 술에 술 탄 듯”
Literal:
“Like water diluted with water, like alcohol diluted with alcohol.”
Meaning:
Something lacks character or distinction.
“가는
날이 장날이다”
Literal:
“The day you go is market day.”
Meaning:
Bad timing or coincidence.
“고래
싸움에 새우 등 터진다”
Literal:
“In a fight between whales, the shrimp’s back breaks.”
Meaning:
Small parties suffer when bigger powers clash.
“누워서
떡 먹기”
Literal:
“Eating rice cakes while lying down.”
Meaning:
Something straightforward to do.
“원님
덕에 나팔 분다”
Literal:
“Blowing the trumpet thanks to the magistrate.”
Meaning:
Enjoying benefits due to someone else’s influence.
“일석이조”
Literal:
“One stone, two birds.”
Meaning:
Achieving two things with one action.
“배보다
배꼽이 더 크다”
Literal:
“The belly button is bigger than the belly.”
Meaning:
The minor part costs more than the main.
“물이
위에서 아래로 흐른다”
Literal:
“Water flows from high to low.”
Meaning:
Natural order cannot be changed.
“구슬이
서 말이라도 꿰어야 보배다”
Literal:
“Even three bushels of beads must be strung to become a treasure.”
Meaning:
Effort is needed to achieve results.
“시작이
반이다”
Literal:
“Starting is half the battle.”
Meaning:
Beginning is the hardest step.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
“친구
따라 강남 간다”
Literal:
“Following a friend to Gangnam.”
Meaning:
Doing something because others are doing it.
“금강산도
식후경”
Literal:
“Even Mount Geumgang is best seen after eating.”
Meaning:
Basic needs come first.
“서당
개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다”
Literal:
“Even a dog at a Confucian school recites poetry after three years.”
Meaning:
Constant exposure leads to learning.
“낫
놓고 기역 자도 모른다”
Literal:
“Doesn’t recognize the letter ㄱ next to a sickle.”
Meaning:
Completely ignorant.
“칼로
물 베기”
Literal:
“Cutting water with a knife.”
Meaning:
Actions that leave no impact.
“숭어가
뛰니까 망둥이도 뛴다”
Literal:
“The goby jumps because the mullet jumps.”
Meaning:
Copying others without considering one’s limits.
“될성부른
나무는 떡잎부터 알아본다”
Literal:
“A promising tree is recognized from its seedling stage.”
Meaning:
Potential can be seen early on.
“누이
좋고 매부 좋다”
Literal:
“Good for the sister and good for the brother-in-law.”
Meaning:
A win-win situation.
“낮말은
새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다”
Literal:
“Birds hear daytime words, and mice hear nighttime words.”
Meaning:
Always be cautious with your words.
“쥐구멍에도
볕들 날 있다”
Literal:
“Even in a mouse hole, there will be sunlight someday.”
Meaning:
Everyone has their moment of fortune.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
3. Everyday Idioms You’ll Hear in Korea
Here are
some idioms commonly used in conversations.
“바람을
맞다”
Literal:
“To get hit by the wind.”
Meaning:
To be stood up or left waiting.
“귀가 얇다”
Literal: “To have thin ears.”
Meaning:
To be gullible or easily influenced by others.
“눈이
높다”
Literal:
“To have high eyes.”
Meaning:
To have high standards or expectations.
“배가
아프다”
Literal:
“To have a stomachache.”
Meaning:
To feel jealous.
“손을
놓다”
Literal:
“To let go of one’s hand.”
Meaning:
To stop doing something or give up.
“속이
타다”
Literal:
“One’s insides are burning.”
Meaning:
To feel anxious or frustrated.
“가슴이
찢어지다”
Literal:
“One’s chest is being torn.”
Meaning:
To feel heartbroken.
“입이
무겁다”
Literal:
“To have a heavy mouth.”
Meaning:
To be good at keeping secrets.
“입이
가볍다”
Literal:
“To have a light mouth.”
Meaning:
To be prone to gossip or spill secrets.
“눈치를 보다”
Literal:
“To watch for others’ reactions.”
Meaning:
To read the room or be overly conscious of others’ feelings.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
“코가 납작해지다”
Literal:
“For one’s nose to become flat.”
Meaning:
To lose confidence after being humiliated.
“코 묻은 돈”
Literal:
“Snot-covered money.”
Meaning:
A small amount of money, usually from children.
“입에 침이 마르다”
Literal:
“For saliva to dry up in the mouth.”
Meaning:
To praise someone or something repeatedly.
“손을 잡다”
Literal:
“To hold hands.”
Meaning:
To cooperate or join forces.
“손을 씻다”
Literal:
“To wash one’s hands.”
Meaning:
To quit doing something immoral or illegal.
“귀가 가렵다”
Literal:
“To have itchy ears.”
Meaning:
To feel like someone is talking about you.
“귀에 못이 박히다”
Literal:
“For nails to be hammered into one’s ears.”
Meaning:
To hear something so often that it becomes tiresome.
“눈 깜짝할 사이에”
Literal:
“In the blink of an eye.”
Meaning:
Something happening very quickly.
“입에 달고 살다”
Literal:
“To live with something in one’s mouth.”
Meaning:
To frequently talk about or eat something.
“발이 넓다”
Literal:
“To have wide feet.”
Meaning:
To have a wide social circle or many connections.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
“발을 끊다”
Literal:
“To cut one’s foot off.”
Meaning:
To stop visiting or associating with a place or person.
“코를 납작하게 만들다”
Literal:
“To flatten someone’s nose.”
Meaning:
To put someone in their place or humble them.
“가슴이 뜨겁다”
Literal:
“For one’s chest to be hot.”
Meaning:
To feel passionate or emotional.
“가슴이 답답하다”
Literal:
“For one’s chest to feel stuffy.”
Meaning:
To feel anxious, worried, or frustrated.
“얼굴이 두껍다”
Literal:
“To have a thick face.”
Meaning:
To be shameless or brazen.
“얼굴이 피다”
Literal:
“For one’s face to bloom.”
Meaning:
To look healthier or happier.
“배가 부르다”
Literal:
“To have a full stomach.”
Meaning:
To be content or satisfied (not necessarily with food).
“허리가 휘다”
Literal:
“For one’s waist to bend.”
Meaning:
To suffer under a heavy burden, often financial.
“손에 땀을 쥐다”
Literal:
“To hold sweat in one’s hand.”
Meaning:
To feel tense or on edge due to suspense.
“눈에 불을 켜다”
Literal:
“To light a fire in one’s eyes.”
Meaning:
To focus intently or show great determination.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
“눈이 뒤집히다”
Literal:
“For one’s eyes to flip over.”
Meaning:
To lose control or go crazy due to anger, excitement, or desperation.
“입을 모으다”
Literal:
“To gather mouths.”
Meaning:
For everyone to agree on something.
“손을 벌리다”
Literal:
“To stretch out one’s hand.”
Meaning:
To ask for help, usually financial.
“발등에 불이 떨어지다”
Literal:
“For a fire to fall on one’s instep.”
Meaning:
To be in a very urgent situation.
“손에 안 잡히다”
Literal:
“For nothing to be caught in one’s hand.”
Meaning:
To be unable to focus due to distractions or stress.
“눈앞이 캄캄하다”
Literal:
“For it to go dark in front of one’s eyes.”
Meaning:
To feel hopeless or uncertain about the future.
“머리를 쓰다”
Literal:
“To use one’s head.”
Meaning:
To think hard or come up with ideas.
“머리가 크다”
Literal:
“To have a big head.”
Meaning:
To become independent or mature.
“속이 보이다”
Literal:
“For one’s insides to be visible.”
Meaning:
To show one’s true intentions or feelings.
“눈에 넣어도 아프지 않다”
Literal:
“To not hurt even if put in the eye.”
Meaning:
To love someone intensely, often used for children.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
“귀가 솔깃하다”
Literal:
“For one’s ears to perk up.”
Meaning:
To be tempted or interested in something.
“발목을 잡다”
Literal:
“To grab someone’s ankle.”
Meaning:
To hinder or hold someone back.
“속이 시원하다”
Literal:
“For one’s insides to feel refreshed.”
Meaning:
To feel relieved or satisfied.
“입을 맞추다”
Literal:
“To match mouths.”
Meaning:
To collaborate or agree on a story.
“손을 대다”
Literal:
“To touch something with one’s hand.”
Meaning:
To start or attempt something.
“발걸음을 맞추다”
Literal:
“To match one’s footsteps.”
Meaning:
To move in sync with someone, either literally or figuratively.
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
4. Tips for Memorizing Proverbs and Idioms
Visualize
the Expressions
l Imagine a scenario that matches the literal meaning. For instance,
for “등잔 밑이 어둡다”, visualize a lamp illuminating its
surroundings but leaving the area underneath it dark.
Create
Example Sentences
l Use expressions in sentences that are related to your life.
l Example: “어제 친구가 약속을 취소했어. 진짜 바람
맞았어.”
(“My friend canceled our plans yesterday. I was stood up.”)
Use
Flashcards or Apps
l Create flashcards with the proverb on one side and its meaning and
examples on the other. Apps like Quizlet can make this process more engaging.
Practice
Through Media
l Watch Korean dramas or shows and note down the proverbs and idioms you
hear. Repeating them in context can solidify your understanding.
5. Practical Use: Speaking Naturally with Proverbs and Idioms
Integrate
proverbs and idioms into your conversations to sound more fluent and natural for example.
Situation: You and your friend are discussing a challenging goal.
l You: “이번 시험 진짜 어려웠어. 하늘의 별 따기였어!”
l (“This test was so difficult. It was like picking a star from the
sky!”)
Situation: A friend criticizes someone who used to struggle.
l You: “개구리 올챙이 적 생각 못 한다더니 딱 그 경우네.”
l (“They’re just like the frog who forgets its tadpole days.”)
🗣️ Below is the audio file of the example sentences above.
6. Recommended Resources for Learning Korean Proverbs and Idioms
l Korean Phrasebooks: Many include
sections on idioms and proverbs.
l Websites: Check out platforms like Naver
Dictionary for examples and usage.
l Dramas: Popular shows such as Reply
1988 and My Mister frequently use proverbs and idioms in
dialogue.
l Language Exchange: Practice with a
native speaker who can correct and refine your usage.
Conclusion
Mastering
Korean proverbs and idioms can open up a new dimension of cultural
understanding and linguistic skills. These expressions are phrases and windows
into Korean wisdom, humor, and life philosophy. So start practicing today and
bring your Korean to the next level. Remember, as the proverb says, “백지장도
맞들면 낫다” — even learning becomes easier with teamwork!
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