Koreans have been educated to live by wise words by their ancestors and teachers. But these wise words are applicable to anyone in the world. If you need a bit of inspiration in life, check out these 26 wise Korean proverbs. After you read all of them, tell us which proverb is most applicable to your life in the comments!
1. Korean Proverb: 김치국부터 마시지 말라
Literal meaning: Don’t drink the Kimchi soup first
Situation: You can say this when someone gets ahead of him or herself when planning for a project of future. It’s like when you eat a Kimchi based dish, you won’t drink the kimchi sauce first right?
2. Korean Proverb: 공자 앞에서 문자 쓴다
Literal meaning: Writing chinese characters in front of Confucius
Situation: When a foreigner visits Seoul for the first time and tells a tour guide where the best places are. Use this to point out someone who tries to teach a expert and area of their expertise…a.k.a the annoying one in class who tries to prove the teacher wrong all the time.
3. Korean Proverb: 그림의 떡.
Literal meaning: A picture of a rice cake.
Situation: You might have noticed the intense love the Koreans have for rice cakes by now. They love it so much that when they see a picture or a painting of it their eyes will light up and feel the growl in their tummies, but sadly they cannot get hold of it because it is only a picture after all. The meaning is similar to this~ it is to describe a desire that you cannot have, so you should better forget about it ^
4. Korean Proverb: 고생 끝에 낙이 온다.
Literal meaning: At the end of hardship comes happiness.
When to use: Studying for your exams? Stressed about a business project? Use these wise words to encourage and to not give up. With hard work there is always success. Fighting!
5. Korean Proverb: 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다
Literal meaning: Even monkeys fall from trees.
Situation: Humans aren’t perfect. Neither are experts on their designated areas of expertise. So if you are a mathematician and you solved a problem incorrectly, it doesn’t matter. Even experts make mistakes some times. Though if you are a wrist watch repairman and you break a watch…just worry more about how you will deal with that customer
6. Korean Proverb: 서당개 삼 년에 풍월 읊는다
Literal meaning: After three years at a village schoolhouse, even a dog can recite a poem
Situation: How to hone your skills? By practicing of course! Encourage someone with these words as practice makes perfect!
7. Korean Proverb: 가려운 곳을 긁어 주다
Literal meaning: You scratch where it itches!
Situation: Do you have a friend who has the same taste and mind? If you have a friend who wants to do something that you want to do too, or if someone buys you coffee as you are falling asleep on your desk then it is like someone scratching your back when it itches! You will feel happy and comforted at t eh same time!
8. Korean Proverb: 콩 심은데 콩나고, 팥 심은데 팥난다
Literal meaning: Beans come out from where beans are planted, and red beans (팥) come out from where red beans are planted.”
Situation: A house can be really telling as to what type of person the owner is. Therefore it can be said that we can judge a man from his surroundings. For example, a messy house might indicate a messy owner, or a kind group of friends might indicate you are a kind person also.
9. Korean Proverb: 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다
Literal meaning: Birds listen to day-words and rats listen to night-words
Situation: Wherever and whenever you are you should be careful who you talk about because you might be overheard by someone. This is used as a warning (that’s right, trolls).
10. Korean Proverb: 시작이 반이다
Literal meaning: Starting is half the task
Situation: This is to tell someone that a good start is very important to project/activity/competition e.t.c.
11. Korean Proverb: 가재는 게 편이라
Literal meaning: The crayfish sides with the crab.
Situation: Used to describe how people with similar traits and backgrounds tend to stick together and side with each other (international students…*ahem*)
12. Korean Proverb: 찬물도 위아래가 있다
Literal meaning: Cold water is from the bottom up
Situation: There’s a certain order in life. And in Korea, this is used for impolite and impatient kids eating at the dinner table before elders. In Korea there is a proper order for everything even as simple as drinking water. The older person always gets served first before the younger ones. This may seem very strict, but once you are accustomed to it, it will look soooo good!
13. Korean Proverb: 가는 말이 고와야오는 말이 곱다.
Literal meaning: If the outgoing words are beautiful, then the incoming words will be beautiful too.
Situation: Target~ bullies, backstabbers, and gossip queens. These wise words are used to encourage someone to be nice to others if they want others to be nice to them
14. Korean Proverb: 웃는 얼굴에 침 뱉으랴
Literal meaning: How can you spit on a smiling face?
Situation: When dealing with customer service for example your tone of voice will determine how the customer feels. A soft and calm voice will never cause anger, whereas if you raise your voice it may stir up angry emotions which may lead to a heated argument of vicious words. I guess the saying “say it, don’t spray it” comes in handy here.
15. Korean Proverb: 소 잃고 외양간 고치기
Literal meaning: Losing a cow, and then fixing the stable.
Situation: Used to scold someone for example, when a student prepares for a Biology exam after he got a big fat ‘F’. Too late boy~ it would’ve been more helpful if you prepared beforehand!
16. Korean Proverb: 개구리 올챙이 적 생각도 못 한다
Literal meaning: The frog cannot think of the tadpole as an enemy.
Situation: You can’t hate people who aren’t as old or as experienced as you, because you were once just like them.
17. Korean Proverb: 등잔 밑이 어둡다
Literal meaning: It is dark under the lamp
Situation: Generally, people do not realize what is right under their noses. Like, people pay more attention to things that happen far away from their house than they do right on their own doorstep. Appreciate what you have close by!
18. Korean Proverb: 호랑이에게 물려가도 정신만 차리면 산다
Literal meaning: Even if you are cornered by a tiger, if you keep your cool you can survive.
Situation: If you are in a tight situation, keep calm and you’ll be able to get through it.
19. Korean Proverb: 하늘이 무너져도 솟아날 구멍이 있다
Literal meaning: Even if the sky collapses, there will be a hole gushing out.
Situation: Used to comfort those in a bad situation. There is a way out to any bad situation. Where there’s a will there’s a way!
20. Korean Proverb: 나중 난 뿔이 우뚝하다.
Literal meaning: Later the horns are incredibly special
Situation: It is a sad reality that usually the younger generation does better at anything and everything you do when you were their age :’-( So what it is really trying to say is the younger generation is much better prepared.
21. Korean Proverb: 화약을 지고 불 속으로 들어간다.
Literal meaning: An insect falling into gunpowder and entering the fire
Situation: Said to those just asking for trouble or inviting themselves into danger! You wouldn’t walk into a radioactive room without any protective clothing now would you? The Korean equivalent of challenging an ahjumma to a heated argument…oh no…
22. Korean Proverb: 백지장도 맞들면 낫다
Literal meaning: It is better if the papers can be lifted together.
Situation: Two people working on a project can generally achieve better results than the person working alone. Two heads are better than one after all!
23. Korean Proverb: 장구를 쳐야 춤을 추지
Literal meaning: One can only begin dancing when the Korean drum is tapped.
Situation: Sometimes things don’t take off as planned and sometimes we need that extra help from someone in order to achieve something. In other words, help is needed at times.
24. Korean Proverb: 고양이에게 생선을 맡기다
Literal meaning: Entrust a cat with a fish
Situation: Ever met a person who is a bad egg? Well this expression is to express your doubts to someone like when you give that person your diamond watch, he/she might abuse that trust.
25. Korean Proverb: 구르는 돌에는 이끼가 끼지 않는다
Literal meaning: A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Situation: Rather than rotting in the comfort of your very own home, get out and experience the world! It is to suggest that an active person will have a more fulfilling life.
26. Korean Proverb: 오늘 걷지 않으면 내일은 뛰어야 한다
Literal meaning: If you don’t walk today, you will have to run tomorrow.
Situation: Leaving things to the last minute? If you don’t do enough today you will have to work even harder tomorrow. However if you work hard today, you can have a rest tomorrow.
[출처] 자기변화를 위한 한국속담 26가지(26 Wise Korean Proverbs to Change Yourself)|작성자 포차쥔장