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Proverbs and Idioms
Common Korean proverbs and their meanings.
시작이 반이다
Starting is half the task
sijagi banida
Beginning is half done
티끌 모아 태산
Many small things make a mountain
tikkeul moa taesan
Lit: dust gathered makes a great mountain
백지장도 맞들면 낫다
Even a sheet of paper is lighter with help
baekjijangdo matdeulmyeon natda
Many hands make light work
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
Kind words bring kind words back
ganeun mari gowaya oneun mari gopda
Treat others as you wish to be treated
호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다
Speak of the tiger and it appears
horangido je mal hamyeon onda
Speak of the devil
우물 안 개구리
A frog in a well
umul an gaeguri
Someone with a narrow view
발 없는 말이 천 리 간다
Words without feet travel a thousand miles
bal eomneun mari cheon ri ganda
Rumors spread fast
등잔 밑이 어둡다
It is dark beneath the lamp
deungjan michi eodupda
Hard to see what is closest
고생 끝에 낙이 온다
After hardship comes joy
gosaeng kkeute nagi onda
No pain no gain
천 리 길도 한 걸음부터
A thousand-mile journey begins with one step
cheon ri gildo han georeumbuteo
말 한마디에 천 냥 빚 갚는다
A kind word can repay a great debt
mal hanmadie cheon nyang bit gapneunda
Words have great power
티끌 모아 태산이라
Even dust piled up becomes a mountain
tikkeul moa taesaniira
Save little by little
