Category: 한국말을 배움 (Failing to Learn Korean)

I found this aphorism in my book of Korean aphorisms.

나무도     쓸만한          것은           먼저      베인다
na.mu.do  sseul.man.han geos.eun      meon.jeo be.in.da
tree-EVEN useful-ADJ    thing-be-PART first    cut-PRES
The tree that is useful is cut first.

This is quite simple – “The good die young.”

I found this aphorism in my book of Korean aphorisms.

개도      싸다니면          몽둥이에        맞는다
gae.do   ssa.da.ni.myeon mong.dung.i.e maj.neun.da
dog-TOO  wander-COND     stick-WITH    beat-PRES
If a dog wanders, it's beaten with a stick.

I’m not sure this is true as much in US culture as in traditional Korean culture. Dogs are much lower on the social totem pole in Korean culture, traditionally. The lowest dogs are often on the level of the social order where they are ranked equal to “lunch” – that is to say, dogs are food. This is not so true anymore. It’s not illegal to eat dog meat in Korea, so there are traditionalists who do it, but in general dogs are kept as pets no different from the way they are in the US, these days. But that’s not where this aphorism comes from.

Anyway, a wandering dog will be beaten with a stick. That’s clear – what’s it mean? It seems to be associated with the fact that people who bum around and don’t stick to one place and one activity are likely to be treated badly – legitimately so: itinerants deserve their fate.

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]