Category: 한국어 속담 (Aphorisms & Proverbs)

Here is an aphorism from my book of Korean aphorisms.

속다르고 겉다르다
sok.da.reu.go geot.da.reu.da
inside-be-different-CONJ outside-be-different-PRES
The inside and outside are different.

This refers to a two-faced person, someone who is not who they seem or pretend to be.

Here is an aphorism from my book of Korean aphorisms.

식충이다
sik.chung.i.da
food-worm-BE-INF
[He] is a food-eating worm.

The type of worm is the round worm – an intestinal parasite. Said of a good-for-nothing fellow. We say in English, too: “He’s a parasite.”

Here is an aphorism from my book of Korean aphorisms.

지리산 포수
ji.ri.san po.su
Jiri-Mountain hunter
[That’s like] a hunter at Jiri Mountain.

Jiri Mountain, in the south center of the peninsula, long ago was famous for being inhabited by fierce tigers. So a hunter at Jiri Mountain probably never returns, but is killed and eaten by tigers. This is said of someone who is lost forever, perhaps due to his own foolishness.

Here is an aphorism from my book of Korean aphorisms.

차면 넘친다
cha.myeon neom.chin.da
be-full-IF overflow-PRESENT
It [something] is full, it overflows.

This seems quite straightforward – “one’s cup runneth over,” perhaps. But also, it seems to mean simply, “all things pass,” or “all good things come to an end.”

Here is an aphorism from my book of Korean aphorisms.

벌인 춤이다
beol.in chum.i.da
begin-PPART dance-COPULA
[It] is a dance begun.

The dance has already started, therefore it must be completed. Something started with anticipation or hope or pleasure must be carried through even if the initial enthusiasm is lost. Perhaps this is analogous to the fallacy of sunk costs, when “cutting one’s losses” is unthinkable.

Here is an aphorism from my book of Korean aphorisms.

음삭은 갈수록 줄고 말은 갈수록 는다
eum.sik.eun gal.su.rok jul.go mal.eun gal.su.rok neun.da
food-TOPIC over-time decrease-CONJ word-TOPIC over-time increase-PRESENT
Food decreases over time and words increase over time.

This is a reference to the way that rumors are augmented as they are passed along person-to-person – unlike food, that is consumed as it is passed person-to-person. “Rumor grows as it goes.”

Here is an aphorism from my book of Korean aphorisms.

마른 나무 좀먹듯
ma.reun na.mu jom.meok.deut
be-dry-GER tree moth eat-AS-IF
[…] like a moth eating a dry tree.

Apparently this means to be consumed either by a physical ailment or by stress and anxiety. I’m not sure off the top of my head what an equivalent English language saying might be.

This aphorism was in my book of Korean aphorisms.

바람 부는대로 물결 치는대로
ba.ram bu.neun.dae.ro mul.gyeol chi.neun.dae.ro
wind blow-AS wave surge-AS
[Go] as the wind blows, as the waves surge.

Basically, this seems to mean, “Go with the flow.”
Good idea.

Here is an aphorism from my book of Korean aphorisms.

호박이 떨어졌다.
ho.bak.i tteol.eo.jyeoss.da
pumpkin-SUBJ fall-PAST-SIMPLE
A pumpkin has fallen.

This means one has received an unexpected windfall or good fortune.

Here is an aphorism from my book of Korean aphorisms. I haven’t done one in a while.

산에 가야 범을 잡는다
san.e ga.ya beom.eul jap.neun.da
mountain-TO go-ONLY-IF tiger-OBJ catch-PRES
[You] catch a tiger only if [you] go to the mountains.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I have been neglecting my Korean aphorisms, for this past year. That should change – just because I’ve left Korea doesn’t mean I intended to abandon the Korean language.
I’ll try to return to a once-a-week habit. Saturday seems like a good day to make “aphorism day.” Here, then, is a Korean aphorism from my book of aphorisms, and relevant to my new lifestyle.

누은나무에 열매 안연다
nu.eun.na.mu.e yeol.mae an.yeon.da
lying-tree-FROM fruit NOT-open
A fallen tree does not yield fruit.

I am of some doubt about what verb it is at the end. The best guess is 열다, “open,” conjugated in the plain present indicative. The dictionary doesn’t suggest that “yield” (as in yield/give fruit or profits) as a possible meaning. But I could see it as an extended meaning, metaphorically, in the sense that a tree “opens up” and gives its fruit.
The aphorism book suggests the pragmatic meaning is parallel to “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” I’m not sure I quite see that, but I guess so. I would rather imagine the point being that you have to think about the future – if you cut the tree now, you’ll not get any fruit in the future. That’s not exactly the same as “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” But it’s related.
Regardless, I think the aphorism-creator wasn’t thinking of all the firewood you can get. I speak from experience.

I found this aphorism in my book of aphorisms.

새도 가지를 가려 앉는다
sae.do ga.ji.reul ga.ryeo anj.neun.da
bird-EVEN branch-OBJ be-picky-FIN sit-PRES
Even a bird is picky [when choosing] a branch to sit on.

This advocates for the thoughtful, intentional life, I think. One should choose one’s place, setting, friends, career with care.
I’m not sure what an equivalent English aphorism might be.
[daily log: walking, 7km]

I ran across this aphorism in my book of aphorisms.

자는 범 코침 주기
ja.neun beom ko.chim ju.gi
sleep-PRESPART tiger nose-needle give-GER
[It’s like] giving a poke at the nose of a sleeping tiger.

My book says this is similar to “Let sleeping dogs lie.” One shouldn’t provoke those more powerful. I’m not sure these are exactly the same, but good enough.
[daily log: walking, 1km]

I found this aphorism in my aphorism book.

도둑 맞고 사립문 고친다
do.duk mat.go sa.rip.mun go.chin.da
thief visit-CONJ hedge-gate repair-PRES
The thief visits and [then you] repair the hedge gate.

Clearly, this is the same as “Closing the barn door after the horse has already left the barn.”
I’d say more, but that horse has bolted.
[daily log: walking, 6.5km]

I found this aphorism in my book of aphorisms.

서투른 무당이 장고만 나무란다
seo.tu.reun mu.dang.i jang.go.man na.mu.ran.da
unskilled shaman-SUBJ drum-EVEN chastize-PRES
The unskilled shaman just chastizes her own drum.

The bad carpenter quarrels with his tools.
[daily log: walking, 7km]

I saw this aphorism in my book of aphorisms.

게으른 선비 책장 넘기기
ge.eu.reun seon.bi chaek.jang neom.gi.gi
be-lazy-PPART scholar book-page turn-over-GER
[Like] a lazy scholar turning a book’s pages [to the end].

This means a student or worker who is just “going through the motions” or “watching the clock,” only interested in doing the minimum necessary to get by.
I have been like that, in some stages of my life.
[daily log: walking, 1.5km]

I found this aphorism in my book of aphorisms.

화약을 지고 불로 들어간다
hwa.yak.eul ji.go bul.lo deul.eo.gan.da
gunpowder-OBJ carry-CONJ fire-DAT go-into-PRES
[Like] going into a fire carrying gunpowder.

This refers to a suicidal mission. Courting disaster.
[daily log: walking, 7km]

I learned this aphorism from my book of aphorisms.

굽은 나무가 선산을 지킨다
gup.eun na.mu.ga seon.san.eul ji.kin.da
crooked-PPART tree-SUBJ gravesite-OBJ defend-PRES
A crooked tree [still] defends a gravesite.

Everything serves some purpose – even those things that seem useless.
[daily log: walking, 1km]

I learned this aphorism from my book of aphorisms.

누워서 침 뱉기
nu.weo.seo chim baet.gi
lie-on-one’s-back-SO spit spit-PRES
“[One] spits while lying on one’s back.”

This is glossed as “to cut one’s nose to spite one’s face,” but I think a closer parallel is “pissing in the wind.”
Sometimes this happens.
[daily log: walking, 6.5km]

I learned this aphorism from my book of aphorisms.

시어미에게 역정나서 개 옆구리 찬다
si.eo.mi.e.ge yeok.jeong.na.seo gae yeop.gu.ri chan.da
mother-in-law-DATIVE anger-happen-SO dog flank kick-PRES
[She’s] mad at the mother-in-law, so [she] kicks the dog.

This means the same as “shit rolls downhill,” I reckon. It’s the idea of the pecking order, or the food chain, or whatever you want to call it. The traditional Korean household is hierarchical, and the mother-in-law outranks her daughter-in-law. So the daugher-in-law has to maintain the utmost respect and deference toward the former, and when she’s mad, she has to vent her anger elsewhere. Poor dog.
[daily log: walking, 6.5km]

I learned this aphorism from my book of aphorisms.

주린 고양이가 쥐를 만났다
ju.rin go.yang.i.ga jwi.reul man.nat.da
starving-PRPART cat-SUBJ mouse-OBJ meet-PAST-FIN
“The starving cat met the mouse.”

This is where the poor man finds an unexpected boon. A stroke of luck.
I’m not quite sure of the exact context of this. Does it just apply to financial or material luck? Or could it mean other types of luck, too? Did the cat meet a mouse when I won my unexpected victory against cancer?
[daily log: walking, 7km]

I learned this aphorism from my book of aphorisms.

거북이 잔등에 털을 긁는다
geo.buk.i jan.deung.e teol.eul geulk.neun.da
turtle back-LOC fur-OBJ scratch-PRES
[One] scratches the fur on a turtles back.

This means trying to do the impossible. “Trying to shave an egg”? “When pigs fly”?
Something like that.
Don’t try to do impossible things, right?
[daily log: walking, 1km]

I tried to learn this aphorism from my book of aphorisms.

총명은 둔필만 못하다
chong.myeong.eun dun.pil.man mot.ha.da
intelligence-TOPIC poor-handwriting-ONLY unable-do
“Intelligence can’t even do as well as poor handwriting.”

Even if you’re smart, if you don’t take notes or document things well, you won’t get far. This comes down to “diligence is worth more than smarts,” and is thus somewhat similar to those sayings in the vein of “Success is 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration.” I suppose I myself suffer from this shortcoming. I’m bad at taking notes. I am often trying to teach my students to take notes, and realizing how inadequate I am to the task, myself.
[daily log: walking, 6.5km]

I learned this aphorism from my book of aphorisms.

울며 겨자 먹기
ul.myeo gyeo.ja meok.gi
in-tears mustard eat-GER
[Like] eating mustard with tears.

This is translated by my dictionary as “bite the bullet.” It means to accept some unpleasant task and just do it. I think I need to learn this.
[daily log: walking, 1km]

I learned this aphorism from my aphorism book.

냉수 먹고 잣죽 트림한다
naeng.su meok.go jat.juk teu.rim.han.da
cold-water drink-CONJ pine-nut-porridge belch-up-PRES
“Gulp down cold water and belch up pine nut porridge.”

This is a little bit hard to understand, without some cultural reference. Apparently in old Korea, belching was a way to indicate satisfaction with a meal. It’s not that that’s not true in the West, but it didn’t have the patina of vulgarity that it has in the West – indeed it was specific to even high society.
Pine nut porridge was considered a delicacy. So a young nobleman, too poor to eat well, might gulp down some cold water before entering into company with his peers, thus causing himself to belch in their company. He could then boast of the fine pine nut porridge he’d eaten.
This means to “put on airs” or “make a fine appearance but without any substance.”
[daily log: walking, 6.5km]

I learned this aphorism from the Shamanism Museum.

和氣自生君子宅
화기자생군자택
hwa.gi.ja.saeng.gun.ja.taek

I have no idea how to even translate the individual hanja – I think this is pure Chinese (as opposed to Koreanized Chinese). But the translation given is “온화한 기운이 군자의 집에서 우러나오는 구나,” which means “A warm aura (feeling?) comes from your home.” I guess this means a welcoming home.
I had some problem with the picture I took of the panel showing this saying – the detail picture I took of the label allowed me to write down the aphorism, but the panel itself is blurry. So there’s no nice picture.
[daily log: walking, 1km]
 

I learned this aphorism from my book of aphorisms.

나를 칭찬하는 자는 나의 원수
na.reul ching.chan.ha.neun ja.neun na.ui won.su
I-OBJ praise-PRESPART person-TOPIC I-GEN enemy
A person who praises me [is] my enemy.

Beware of those who offer praise. This is a fairly universal sentiment for aphorisms. I had some difficulty with the word 자(者) because several dictionaries I checked didn’t make clear the meaning “person.” This single polysemous syllable has half a dozen unrelated meanings (derived from different Chinese borrowings). Once I found a dictionary that included this meaning, I remembered running across it before – I guess it’s kind of an archaic term, but pops up in aphorisms and fossilized phrases a lot.
“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” – Luke 6:26
[daily log: walking, 7km]

I learned this idiom from my coworker yesterday.

발이 넓다
bal.i neolp.da
foot-SUBJ wide
[Someone/he/she/you] has a wide foot.

The online daum dictionary pointed me to this page which said the meaning was “아는 사람이 많다” – “knows a lot of people.” In my conversation with my coworker, the meaning was tied in with the idea of a broad social network. She was trying to explain that another coworker was good at networking – not in any modern high-tech sense but just that she had a really wide field of acquaintances.

I guess in many ways I’m the opposite. I’m really bad at maintaining my social network. The field ends up pretty narrow.

[daily log: walking, 7km]

I learned this aphorism from my aphorism book.

계집의 올굴은 눈의 안경
gye.jip.ui ol.gul.eun nun.ui an.gyeong
woman-GEN face-OBJ eye-GEN glasses
[Like] a woman’s face [through] eyeglasses.

This means “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” The word 계집 [gyejip] was unfamiliar to me – it apparently means woman but specifically “woman” as an object of desire. Perhaps it could better be translated by a more slang-like term like “chick” or “babe.” My dictionary had “the fair sex” which actually seems about right, though of course it seems a bit archaic – but then again, I suspect the Korean is a bit archaic, too, given it appears in an aphorism. The phrase has no verb, but it has the clitic topic marker, which rather implies a verb.
[daily log: walking, 7km]