Korean idioms (속담) are traditional sayings that convey wisdom, life lessons, and cultural values. Understanding these expressions provides insight into Korean thinking and enriches communication.
Animal-Related Idioms
개구리 올챙이 적 생각 못 한다
Literal: A frog doesn't remember when it was a tadpole
Meaning: People forget their humble beginnings once they succeed
Usage: When someone forgets where they came from
Example: 성공하고 나서 개구리 올챙이 적 생각 못 하네 (After succeeding, you forgot your humble past)
호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다
Literal: If you talk about a tiger, it will come
Meaning: Speak of the devil
Usage: When someone appears right after being mentioned
Example: 호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다더니 (Speak of the devil - here you are)
닭 쫓던 개 지붕 쳐다본다
Literal: A dog chasing a chicken looks up at the roof
Meaning: Missing an opportunity and feeling foolish
Usage: When you miss a chance and can only watch
Example: 기회를 놓쳐서 닭 쫓던 개 지붕 쳐다보는 꼴이야 (Missing the chance, feeling helpless)
벼 이삭은 익을수록 고개를 숙인다
Literal: The more rice ripens, the more it bows its head
Meaning: The wiser you become, the more humble you should be
Usage: Praising humility in knowledgeable people
Example: 진짜 실력 있는 사람은 벼 이삭처럼 겸손해 (Truly skilled people are humble like ripe rice)
꿩 먹고 알 먹는다
Literal: Eat the pheasant and eat the eggs too
Meaning: Kill two birds with one stone
Usage: Getting two benefits from one action
Example: 운동도 하고 친구도 만나니 꿩 먹고 알 먹네 (Exercising and meeting friends - two birds with one stone)
고래 싸움에 새우 등 터진다
Literal: When whales fight, the shrimp's back bursts
Meaning: When the powerful fight, the weak suffer
Usage: Innocent people suffering from others' conflicts
Example: 부모님 싸우시면 고래 싸움에 새우 등 터지는 거야 (When parents fight, children suffer)
Food-Related Idioms
그림의 떡
Literal: A rice cake in a picture
Meaning: Something desirable but unattainable
Usage: When something looks good but you can't have it
Example: 너무 비싸서 그림의 떡이야 (It's too expensive, just pie in the sky)
누워서 떡 먹기
Literal: Eating rice cake while lying down
Meaning: As easy as pie / piece of cake
Usage: Something very easy to do
Example: 이 문제는 누워서 떡 먹기야 (This problem is a piece of cake)
남의 떡이 더 커 보인다
Literal: Someone else's rice cake looks bigger
Meaning: The grass is always greener on the other side
Usage: Others' things seem better than yours
Example: 남의 떡이 더 커 보인다고 부러워만 하지 마 (Don't just envy others, the grass always looks greener)
콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다
Literal: Plant beans, get beans; plant red beans, get red beans
Meaning: You reap what you sow
Usage: Results match your efforts
Example: 콩 심은 데 콩 나는 거야. 열심히 해야지 (You reap what you sow. You must work hard)
공짜 점심은 없다
Literal: There's no free lunch
Meaning: Nothing is truly free / Everything has a cost
Usage: Warning about hidden costs
Example: 공짜 점심은 없어. 뭔가 조건이 있을 거야 (There's no free lunch. There must be conditions)
Work and Effort Idioms
티끌 모아 태산
Literal: Gather dust, make a mountain
Meaning: Many little things add up / Every little bit helps
Usage: Small savings accumulate
Example: 티끌 모아 태산이니까 조금씩이라도 모아 (Save little by little, it adds up)
천 리 길도 한 걸음부터
Literal: Even a thousand-mile journey starts with one step
Meaning: Every journey begins with a first step
Usage: Encouraging someone to start
Example: 천 리 길도 한 걸음부터야. 시작해 봐 (Every journey starts with one step. Just begin)
소 잃고 외양간 고친다
Literal: Fix the barn after losing the cow
Meaning: Closing the barn door after the horse has bolted
Usage: Taking action too late
Example: 이제 후회해도 소 잃고 외양간 고치는 거야 (Regretting now is closing the barn door after the horse bolted)
세 살 버릇 여든까지 간다
Literal: Habits at three last until eighty
Meaning: Old habits die hard / Early habits stick for life
Usage: Importance of early education
Example: 세 살 버릇 여든까지 가니까 어릴 때부터 잘 가르쳐야 해 (Childhood habits last a lifetime, teach well early)
백지장도 맞들면 낫다
Literal: Even a sheet of paper is lighter when two lift it
Meaning: Many hands make light work
Usage: Teamwork makes tasks easier
Example: 백지장도 맞들면 낫다니까 같이 하자 (Many hands make light work, let's do it together)
Relationship Idioms
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
Literal: If your words go out nicely, the words coming back are nice
Meaning: You get what you give / Treat others as you want to be treated
Usage: Importance of speaking kindly
Example: 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다. 좀 친절하게 말해 (You get what you give. Speak kindly)
낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다
Literal: Birds hear daytime words, mice hear nighttime words
Meaning: Walls have ears / Be careful what you say
Usage: Warning about gossip
Example: 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다니까 조심해 (Walls have ears, be careful)
원수는 외나무다리에서 만난다
Literal: You meet your enemy on a single-log bridge
Meaning: You always meet your enemies in awkward situations
Usage: Running into someone you'd rather avoid
Example: 원수는 외나무다리에서 만난다더니 여기서 보네 (We meet in the most awkward place)
피는 물보다 진하다
Literal: Blood is thicker than water
Meaning: Family bonds are strongest
Usage: Emphasizing family importance
Example: 피는 물보다 진하다고 가족이 제일 중요해 (Blood is thicker than water, family is most important)
Wisdom and Knowledge Idioms
아는 길도 물어 가라
Literal: Ask the way even if you know it
Meaning: It's always good to double-check / Better safe than sorry
Usage: Encouraging thoroughness
Example: 아는 길도 물어 가라고 다시 확인해 봐 (Better to double-check even if you know)
백문이 불여일견
Literal: A hundred hearings don't compare to one seeing
Meaning: Seeing is believing
Usage: Experience beats hearsay
Example: 백문이 불여일견이니 직접 가 봐 (Seeing is believing, go see for yourself)
우물 안 개구리
Literal: A frog in a well
Meaning: Someone with a narrow perspective
Usage: Criticizing limited worldview
Example: 우물 안 개구리처럼 생각하지 말고 넓게 봐 (Don't be like a frog in a well, think broader)
등잔 밑이 어둡다
Literal: It's dark under the lamp
Meaning: You can't see what's right under your nose
Usage: Missing obvious things close to you
Example: 등잔 밑이 어둡다더니 가까운 사람을 못 알아봤네 (Can't see what's under your nose)
Fortune and Fate Idioms
하늘이 무너져도 솟아날 구멍이 있다
Literal: Even if the sky falls, there's a hole to escape through
Meaning: There's always hope / Every cloud has a silver lining
Usage: Encouraging optimism
Example: 하늘이 무너져도 솟아날 구멍은 있어. 희망을 가져 (There's always hope, stay positive)
급하면 돌아가라
Literal: If you're in a hurry, take the long way
Meaning: Haste makes waste / Slow and steady wins the race
Usage: Don't rush important things
Example: 급하면 돌아가라고 천천히 제대로 해 (Haste makes waste, do it properly)
될성부른 나무는 떡잎부터 알아본다
Literal: You can tell a promising tree from its first leaves
Meaning: Early signs show future success
Usage: Recognizing talent early
Example: 될성부른 나무는 떡잎부터 알아본다더니 벌써 실력이 보여 (Promising from the start)
Money and Wealth Idioms
돈이 돈을 번다
Literal: Money makes money
Meaning: You need money to make money
Usage: About investment and wealth
Example: 돈이 돈을 번다니까 투자가 중요해 (Money makes money, investment is important)
공든 탑이 무너지랴
Literal: Would a tower built with care collapse?
Meaning: Hard work pays off / Effort doesn't go to waste
Usage: Encouraging persistence
Example: 공든 탑이 무너지랴. 계속 노력해 (Your hard work won't be in vain. Keep trying)
시작이 반이다
Literal: Starting is half the work
Meaning: Starting is the hardest part
Usage: Encouraging someone to begin
Example: 시작이 반이다. 일단 시작해 봐 (Starting is half the battle. Just begin)
Modern Idioms
되는 놈은 뭘 해도 된다
Literal: Someone who succeeds, succeeds at everything
Meaning: Some people just have all the luck
Usage: About naturally lucky people
Example: 되는 놈은 뭘 해도 되더라 (Some people just have all the luck)
말이 씨가 된다
Literal: Words become seeds
Meaning: Your words can come true / Be careful what you say
Usage: Warning about negative speech
Example: 말이 씨가 된다니까 나쁜 말 하지 마 (Words can come true, don't say bad things)
웃는 낯에 침 뱉으랴
Literal: Would you spit on a smiling face?
Meaning: It's hard to be mean to kind people
Usage: About being nice to get favors
Example: 웃는 낯에 침 뱉으랴. 친절하게 대해 (It's hard to refuse a kind face)
Contradiction and Irony Idioms
빛 좋은 개살구
Literal: An apricot that looks good but tastes bad
Meaning: All show and no substance / Looks can be deceiving
Usage: Something disappointing despite appearance
Example: 겉만 번지르르하고 빛 좋은 개살구네 (All looks, no substance)
뜨거운 맛을 보여주다
Literal: To show someone the hot taste
Meaning: To teach someone a lesson / Give them what they deserve
Usage: Threatening to punish or retaliate
Example: 뜨거운 맛 좀 보여줘야겠어 (I'll teach them a lesson)
Using Idioms Naturally
In Conversation
Adding at end:
- -다니까 / -다더니 (as they say)
- -라는 말이 있듯이 (as the saying goes)
Examples:
- 티끌 모아 태산이라니까 (As they say, little things add up)
- 백문이 불여일견이라더니 (As the saying goes, seeing is believing)
In Writing
Formal usage:
- 속담에 -라는 말이 있듯이 (As the proverb says)
- -라는 옛말처럼 (Like the old saying)
Cultural Notes
Understanding Context
Important points:
- Idioms reflect traditional agricultural society
- Many reference animals and nature
- Show Confucian values (humility, family, hard work)
- Some outdated but still used
When to Use
Appropriate situations:
- Adding wisdom to advice
- Making a point memorable
- Showing cultural knowledge
- In speeches and writing
Avoid when:
- Talking to foreigners (unless explaining)
- Too casual conversation
- When precision needed
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: Using idioms literally
Context matters
✅ Correct: Understanding figurative meaning
Know the message
❌ Incorrect: Overusing idioms in modern casual speech
Can sound old-fashioned
✅ Correct: Use naturally when appropriate
Match the situation
Summary Table
| Idiom | Literal Meaning | English Equivalent | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| 그림의 떡 | Rice cake in picture | Pie in the sky | Unattainable |
| 누워서 떡 먹기 | Eating rice cake lying down | Piece of cake | Easy |
| 티끌 모아 태산 | Gather dust, make mountain | Every little bit helps | Saving |
| 소 잃고 외양간 고친다 | Fix barn after losing cow | Too late | Regret |
| 백문이 불여일견 | 100 hearings vs 1 seeing | Seeing is believing | Experience |
| 피는 물보다 진하다 | Blood thicker than water | Family first | Family |
| 호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다 | Talk about tiger, it comes | Speak of the devil | Coincidence |
| 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다 | Nice words go, nice words return | You get what you give | Reciprocity |