Sayings of Korean origin
Cross even a stone bridge after you’ve tested it.
A physician’s neighbor is never a doctor.
A sheet of paper is lighter if two of you don’t try to carry it.
The bull that is used to the sun shivers by the light of the moon.
One moment is worth more than a thousand gold pieces.
If you want a well, only dig in one place.
The frog forgets that he was once a tadpole.
Tall branches are apt to be broken.
Tap even a stone bridge before crossing.
Put something off for one day, and ten days will pass.
There is no winter without snow, no spring without sunshine, and no happiness without companions.
A day-old pigeon cannot fly over a mountain pass.
If a pedestrian sees a horse he will want to ride it.
Better in the grave than be a slave.
Even children of the same mother look different.
Even a monk can’t shave his own head.
You cannot strike a face that is smiling.
The nicest woman is your own; the nicest harvest is your neighbors.
The bad calligrapher is choosy about his brushes.
A poor old horse will have a worn out tail.
A kitchen knife cannot carve its own handle.
Anyone who goes hungry for three days will be inclined to steal.
Give an extra piece of cake to a stepchild.
Starting is half the task.
The bad plowman quarrels with his oxen.
The person who has many faults is usually the first to criticize others.
A nobleman’s calf does not know how a butcher kills.
Woman was born three days earlier than the devil.
Even a sheet of paper is lighter when two people lift it.
Through old things, we learn new things.
A newborn baby has no fear of tigers.
Birds listen to day-words and rats listen to night-words.
Where there are no tigers, a wild cat is very self-important.
Power lasts ten years; influence not more than a hundred.
Wise men philosophize as the fools live on.
After three years at a village schoolhouse, even a dog can recite a poem.
The deeper the waters are, the more still they run.
Carve the peg by looking at the hole.
Beans come out from where beans are planted, and red beans come out from where red beans are planted.
No sleep, no dream.
A turtle can only get on it by sticking its neck out.
An empty cart rattles loudly.
Even honey can taste bitter if it’s used as medicine.
In the valley where there are no tigers the hare is king.
When you have three daughters, you sleep with the door open.
Man’s mind changes throughout the course of a day.
The matchmaker gets three cups of wine when he succeeds and three slaps on the cheek when he fails.
The thief hates the moon.
Don’t try to cover the whole sky with the palm of your hand.
Even if you know the way, ask one more time.
Even if the sky falls on you, there is a hole that you can escape from.
Aim high in your career but stay humble in your heart.
If there is a rich man in the area three villages are ruined.
If you kick a stone in anger, you’ll hurt your own foot.
Remember, even monkeys fall out of trees.
To begin is to be half done.
Do not draw your sword to kill a fly.
Three years will eradicate even murderous thoughts.
A man’s youth will never die, unless he kills himself.
If you starve for three days, there is no thought that does not invade your imagination.
There is no flower that lasts ten days and no might lasts ten years.
Virginity can be lost in one night.
Even though words have no wings, they can still fly a thousand miles. Even if you encounter a stone bridge, tap it first before crossing.
In a place where there is will, there is a road.
Butterflies come to pretty flowers.
Useful trees are cut down first.
Words have no wings but they can fly many thousands of miles.
A fish wouldn’t get into trouble if it kept its mouth shut.
It is a bad plowman that quarrels with his ox.
A hunter’s knife cannot carve its own handle.
You will hate a beautiful song if you sing it often.
A great river does not refuse any small streams.
The person who knows himself and his opponent will be invincible. Carve a peg only after you have observed the hole.
Korea, is an East Asian territory that is divided into two distinct sovereign states, North Korea (the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and South Korea (the Republic of Korea) Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast. It is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and the Sea of Japan (the Korean “East Sea”); it is separated from Taiwan to the south by the East China Sea.
Korean Proverbs and Their Meanings
Korean proverbs (sokdam) blend Confucian wisdom with the wit of village life, often using animals and everyday objects to make a sharp point. The collection above keeps returning to caution, humility, and the value of a good start. Here are some of the most famous Korean proverbs explained.
- “To begin is to be half done” (시작이 반이다) — getting started is the hardest and most important part; once you begin, you are already halfway there.
- “Even monkeys fall out of trees” (원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다) — even the greatest expert makes mistakes sometimes; no one is perfect.
- “Cross even a stone bridge after you’ve tested it” (돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라) — be careful even when something seems perfectly safe.
- “An empty cart rattles loudly” (빈 수레가 요란하다) — those with the least knowledge or substance often make the most noise.
- “After three years at a village school, even a dog can recite a poem” (서당 개 삼 년) — constant exposure to anything will teach you it in the end.
- “Where there are no tigers, the wild cat is king” — in the absence of the truly capable, the mediocre rise to the top.
- “Words have no wings, but they can fly a thousand miles” — words travel far and fast, so speak with care.
- “The deeper the waters, the more still they run” — the wisest and deepest people are often the quietest.
- “If you kick a stone in anger, you’ll only hurt your own foot” — venting your anger recklessly harms you most of all.
- “The frog forgets that he was once a tadpole” — people who succeed often forget their own humble beginnings.
- “A great river does not refuse any small streams” — true greatness comes from accepting and including everyone and everything, however small.
- “Even a sheet of paper is lighter when two people lift it” — even the smallest task is easier with help; cooperation lightens every load.
- “The thief hates the moon” — wrongdoers fear whatever might expose them.
For more Eastern wisdom, see our Chinese proverbs and Japanese proverbs, or explore the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Korean Proverbs — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous Korean proverb?
“To begin is to be half done” (시작이 반이다) and “even monkeys fall out of trees” are two of the most loved and most quoted.
What does “even monkeys fall out of trees” mean?
It means that even the most skilled expert makes mistakes from time to time — so no one should be too proud or too hard on themselves.
What is a Korean proverb about caution?
“Cross even a stone bridge after you’ve tested it” — a reminder to be careful and check things even when they appear completely safe.
What does “an empty cart rattles loudly” mean?
It means that people who have the least knowledge or substance are often the ones who talk the loudest and boast the most.