Proverbs

literallyA living (person's) mouth would not be cobwebbed ; Everyday brings its bread with it

People are bound to survive and eke out an existence anyway even when they are very much short of money and food.

literallyOne climbs over a hill only to face yet another hill; from smoke into smother; out of the frying pan into the fire

For difficulties to linger and become more serious as time goes by.

literallyThere is no place that has a good mountain, waters and pavilion

You can hardly have the perfect conditions.

literallylose a tame rabbit while chasing a wild rabbit

Excessive greed will make you lose what you already have.

literallyeven if I have to go deep into a faraway place

Even if risking a possible danger.

literallyAn escape is the best

An expression used to advise that one should avoid a difficult and tough situation for a moment when an immediate solution to it cannot be found.

literallya dog at a house in mourning

(figurative) A pitiful state in which one begs for food in an abject manner while being treated with contempt, like an ownerless dog at a house in mourning.

literallyblood in the bird's foot

A very small quantity.

literallypound on a paper window at dawn

(figurative) To suddenly behave in an unexpected manner or say something unexpected.

literallyA man who loves his wife very much would even bow to the post of a stable in his parents-in-law's house; Love me, love my dog

An expression meaning that a man who loves his wife very much will love every little trivial thing around her.

literallyA dog recites a poem if it spends three years at a seodang, a village school; The sparrow near a school sings the primer

Exposure to a certain field for a long time will help even a layperson gain knowledge and experience of it.

literallysearching (search) for Mr. Kim in Seoul; searching for a needle in a haystack

An expression to describe a situation where one tries to find someone without sufficient information about him/her or do something without any specific plan and preparation.

literallyWhen there is a fight between a person who has been to Seoul and a person who has never been to Seoul, the latter wins

A person without firsthand information on something gives a more plausible description or explanation of it.

literallyA novice shaman catches[kills] a person; A little knowledge is a dangrous thing

It is advised to refrain from taking reckless action against something when you are incapable of solving the problem.

literallyA habit you acquire when you are three years old is hard to break even when you turn eighty

An expression used to advise someone to guard against falling into a bad habit as a child because it is very difficult to correct it however hard one may try throughout their whole life.

literallyTime is medicine

People tend to forget things over time however many tragic and tough situations they may have gone through.

literallyThree-inch long tongue kills a person

An expression used to advise someone to watch one's tongue even if it is as short as three inches because talking carelessly may bring disaster.

literallynot know if two out of three die while eating

For food to be very delicious.

literallylike a cow sees a chicken

The manner in which one looks at something with indifference.

literallyA cow catches a rat while stepping back

An expression to describe a situation where one achieves something by slim chance or pure luck as if a bull catches a rat while taking backward steps.

literallyrepair the cowshed after the cow is stolen; lock the stable door after the horse is stolen

There is no use in trying to fix something after it has already gone wrong.

literallyEven a cow needs a hillside to scratch an itchy spot

An expression meaning that people need something or somebody to rely on in order to start or achieve something just like a cow needs a hill to rub its itchy spot against or step on.

literallyEven cow dung can sometimes be used as medicine

Something very common can sometimes be used for an important purpose.

literallyA well-known party offers nothing special to eat

To fail to live up to a good reputation or expectation.

literallygangjeong, sweet rice puffs, whose inside is empty

Something that is very showy on the outside, but hollow on the inside.

literallya sound with a bone inside

A word that has a profound meaning.

literallyA can whose inside is empty makes a loud noise; Empty vessles make the greatest sound; The worst wheel of the cart always creaks most

Something that is hollow inside looks gaudy outside as if it is rich in content.

literallyblow one's nose without using hands

To achieve something very easily without much effort.

literallyI will burn my palm

An expression used to guarantee that someone will not be able to achieve something.

literallycovering the sky with one's hands

An expression used to describe a situation where something can hardly be concealed.

literallybe easy like flipping one's palm

To have little difficulty in doing something.

literallyA great deal of manpower makes it easier to do something

Things can be done easily when shared by many people.

literallyA person with cold hands has a warm heart

For one to look cold-hearted outside, but be emotional and passionate inside.

literallyA pine caterpillar would die[fall], if it eats oak leaves

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

literallyA pine caterpillar should eat pine needles

It is advised not to do something beyond one's capacity or reach.

literallychanting a sutra to the ears of a cow; preaching to deaf ears; To sing psalms to a dead horse

An expression used to describe a situation where one tries very hard to make someone understand or realize something to no avail.

literallyYou are advised to[should] pull out the horn of an ox at a breath; Strike the iron while it is hot; What's worth doing is worth doing promptly

It is advised to start something as soon as one makes up one's mind.

literallylick the outside of a watermelon

To do something superficially without fully understanding it.

literallyhoist a sail in the fair wind; sail before the wind

For something to progress as planned without any difficulty or trouble.

literallyIf gray mullet jumps, goby also tries to do so

To indiscriminately follow what others do.

literallyCharcoal rebukes blackness; The pot calls the kettle black

To criticize others' faults or mistakes without considering one's own.

literallyA room that heats up easily cools down easily

Something that has been achieved easily and quickly without effort tends to bring little reward and be short-lived.

literallybe as easy as flipping one's palm

For something to be done very easily.

literallyThe beginning is half of something; A good beginning is half the battle; Well begun is half done

It is difficult to start something, but it is not that difficult to finish it once started.

literallyIf you start something, you should finish it

An expression used to advise someone to complete something once one started it.

literallyWherever a thread goes, a needle follows

For two people to have a close and intimate relationship and always go about together.

literallynot wear a scrap of thread

To get naked wearing nothing.

literallyTen year long indigestion goes down

To feel relieved as a nagging problem has been solved.

literallyThere is no power that lasts for ten years, and there is no flower that remains red for ten days

For power or wealth and honor to be short-lived.

literallyTen years' time will change rivers and mountains

Everything is bound to change as time goes by.