Proverbs

literallypeel and eat one's own flesh; Cut off one's nose to spite one's face; Curses, like chickens, come home to roost

An expression meaning what one has done boomerangs and does harm to oneself.

literallyOne's own nose is three feet long; have one's own fish to fry

An expression used to describe a situation where one's own business is so urgent and difficult that one cannot afford to help others.

literallybe interested in the rice offered rather than an ancestral rite

To be interested in benefits from something without doing it sincerely.

literallyas if enshrining one's ancestral tablet

An expression used to describe the attitude of a person who cherishes and respects something dearly.

literallybe slapped across the face in Jongno, give a sidelong scowl in Hangang River; go home and kick the dog

To not immediately react to the humiliation from someone and grumble behind him/her afterwards.

literallyA piece of paper is easier to carry when lifted up by two people

Cooperation makes an easy task much easier.

literallyYour ears will be fed up with a good song if it is repeated three times

Even something good will feel wearisome if prolonged or repeated.

literallyStrangers when a good thing happens, and relatives when a bad thing happens

An expression used to describe a situation where a person contacts his/her relatives only when things go wrong while being neglectful of them when things go well.

literallyPositive expectations tend to miss the mark while negative expectations tend to hit the mark

An expression used to describe a feeling that a positive divination sign or hunch will prove wrong while a negative one will prove correct.

literallyYou cannot live with a guilty conscience

An expression meaning you should not commit a crime or sin because the sense of guilt will distress you and make you ask forgiveness for what you have already done.

literallybe unable to eat tteok, rice cake, that falls into one's lap

To lose something that one deserves as one is foolish.

literallyDust will be found in everyone's pocket if brushed off; Everyone has a skeleton in his closet

Even a man of integrity has hidden flaws.

literallyOne's fists are crying

To barely suppress one's rage, but feel like hitting or beating someone.

literallyA dice was already thrown

You have nothing but proceed or wait for the result because something has already happened and cannot be reversed.

literallycook juk, porridge, and give it to a dog

For one's achievement to be taken by someone or to do favor for the wrong person.

literallyseek medicine after death; the doctor after death; After death comes a doctor; prescription after death

To come up with a belated measure to remedy something that has gone awry.

literallycounting the age of one's dead child

An expression meaning that there is no use looking back on somethig that has already happened.

literallyA Buddhist monk should leave the temple if he hates that place

You are the one who should leave if you hate a certain place or a person.

literallyA Buddhist monk cannot shave his own hair; You cannot scratch your own back

It may be difficult to take care of something related to oneself, so one may need help from others to get it done.

literallyA sun will shine into a mouse hole

Good things happen even when you are going through severe hardships.

literallyLosing is equal to winning

An expression meaning making a generous concession or avoiding a fight with your enemy will be more beneficial than confronting him/her.

literallyTread on an earthworm and it will squirm; Tread on a worm and it will turn; Even a fly has its anger

Even a person of low status or a meek, docile person will resist if he/she is severely mistreated and despised.

literallyDevotion will touch heaven; Sincerity moves heaven; Faith will move a mountain

An expression meaning you will produce good results in anything if you do your utmost because one's deep devotion will touch the sky.

literallyYou will go through sufferings if you leave home

You will find staying at your home comfortable because leaving your home and going around to a lot of places will exhaust you.

literallyhave no house or temple

To wander from place to place without one's own house or fortune.

literallyA cracked gourd bowl at your home will still leak even if you bring it to the field

An ill-mannered person tends to behave in such a manner wherever he/she goes.

literallyBarking dogs never bite; Great barkers are no biters

People who make a big show of themselves tend to be shallow inside.

literallyEven a straw shoe has its pair; Every Jack has his Jill

Even a very humble person has his/her perfect match.

literallya wild goose that lost its mate

A very lonely person; a life of a lonely widower or widow.

literallyEven a drop of blood will not be drawn if one is pricked

To be cool-headed, hard-hearted and unsympathetic.

literallyThings will overflow[wane] if they are full

Being excessive will make things rather imperfect.

literallyEven cold water should be first served to a senior

You should do everything in due order.

literallyPatience will bring you luck; Patience is a virtue

You will produce good results in the end if you endure hardships.

literallyA sparrow cannot just pass a mill

To be unable to pass by what one likes or what will benefit oneself.

literallyIf a sparrow tries to walk like a stork, he will break his legs; Tailor your ambitions to the measure of your abilities

If one tries to do something beyond one's capacity or reach, one is likely to ruin it or do harm to oneself.

literallyYou can avoid committing a murder if you keep in mind the Chinese character '忍', which means being patient

You will avoid disaster if you suppress resentment till the end.

literallyEven if a virgin gives birth to a baby, she will have something to say; Give the devil his due; Every evil-doer has his reasons

Even a person who makes big mistakes has his/her own excuses or reasons.

literallyYou can estimate water one thousand meters deep, but you cannot estimate the human mind one centimeter deep; You can sound water ten fathoms deep, but you cannot sound the human heart a single fathom

It is very difficult to know what is really on a person's mind.

literallyYou can repay a debt with words even if it is worth as much as one thousand nyang, a unit of old Korean coinage; A soft answer turns away wrath

You can solve a difficult or seemingly impossible problem if you speak in a favorable and plausible manner.

literallyEven a one thousand kilometer journey begins with the first step

An expression used to stress the importance of the beginning of something because achieving great work starts with doing small things.

literallyEven a one thousand kilometer distance can feel very close

An expression meaning you can maintain close terms with someone who is very intimate with you even if he/she is far away.

literallyYou can never be full with the first bite

An expression meaning you cannot be completely satisfied with something at one go.

literallyVarious types of green colors are all green; Like draws to like; Birds of a feather flock together; One devil knows another

An expression meaning people in the same situation or league side with each other.

literallyPeople are likely to disclose their true intentions while they are drunk

An expression meaning the nonsense one talks when drunk reflects one's real intentions.

literallya child raised under the skirt

A child of a widow.

literallyIs your skirt twelve-fold wide?

(sarcastic) An expression used to describe a behavioral pattern of meddling and interfering in the business of others.

literallyThose who have hit a person sleeping with their legs bent, but those who have been hit sleeping with their legs stretched out

Those who have done damage to somebody feel uneasy, while to whom damage has been done are more at ease.

literallyfollow one's friend to the south of the river

To be guided by someone and do something unplanned or against one's will.

literallyGood friends are those who are old, and good clothes are those that are new

An old friend is good because you have become deeply attached to him/her.

literallynot know where someone's nose is attached to

To not know what a person looks like because he/she is an utter stranger.