Any Favorite Korean Proverbs?

[trutherous]

Do you have any favorite Korean proverbs? What are they?


Here are a few of mine:
낫 놓고 'ㄱ' 자도 모른다.
translates: (You can) lay out a sickle (but they) don't recognize even the letter 'ㄱ'
means: Ignorant - not even knowing A from B

등잔 밑이 어둡다.
translates: The darkest place is just under the lamp.

구더기 무서워 장도 못 담근다.
translates: (If you are) afraid of maggots (you) won't even make fermented bean paste.
means: If you let fear govern you nothing can be accomplished.

무식하면 용감하다.
translates: If (they) are ignorant (then they) are bold.
means: Ignorance begets false courage - (ignorance is bliss)

티끌 모아 태산
translates: Dust piled (makes) a steep mountain.
means: many drops make a shower (money - saving a little at a time makes one rich)

... and here's one I made up just for fun:
그림의 떡만 먹으면 굶어 죽는다.
translates: If (you) eat only drawings of rice cake (you) starve to death.
means: If you eat only pie-in-the-sky you'll starve to death.[/b]

[julialim]

곻고(X) / 놓고(O)
구덕이(x) / 구더기(o)

I got a good idea..흠..

Let's practice Korean with the proverbs.
Make a sentence using the Korean proverb.

그림의 떡 : A pie in the sky.

오늘 백화점에서 정말 예쁜 옷을 발견했어요. 근데 돈이 하나도 없기 때문에 그 옷은 그림의 떡이지요....T.T

It's your turn!!

[trutherous]

corrections made as noted

무식하면 용감하다...

오늘은 어떤 웹사이트에서 한 채터가 1년 이내에 한국말을 다 배우게다고 그랬는데 '무식하면 용감하다'라는 속담이 떠올랐어요.

[matthew254]

A great book full of proverbs that might interest you is Looking for Mr. Kim in Seoul. A respectable collection for sure!

[muzioler]

I don't have many, so it makes it rather easy to pick out my favorite. Heck, don't know if it is even Korean in origin since its so close to English.

전리 길도 한 걸음부터 - Approximately "A thousand mile/li journey starts from a single step

Still, my favorite quasi-saying came from a shirt during the protests during the late 80s. I say it all the time

거짓없는 나라에 살고 싶어요 - I want to live in a country without lies

[trutherous]

Hi Muzioler!

Thanks friend, you reminded me of another favorite:

시작이 반이다 - well begun is half done

[julialim]

천리 길도 한 걸음부터:A journey of a thousand miles starts with but a single step.
**천[cheon]:1,000

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저도 추가요~

고생 끝에 낙이 온다[goseng kkte nagi onda]
No pain, no gain.

백문이 불여일견.[baekmuni buryeo ilgyeon]
;백 번 듣는 것이 한 번 보는 것만 못하다.
Seeing is believing.

서두르면 일을 그르친다.[seogureumyeon ireul geureuchinda]
Haste makes waste.

뿌린 대로 거둔다.[ppurin daero geodunda]
We reap what we sow.
As a man sows, so let him reap.

여러분처럼 이렇게 한국어 열심히 공부하면 “고생 끝에 낙이 온다”는 말처럼 뿌린 대로 거두는 날이 올 거예요!! [/b]