Proverbs
One swallows something if it tastes good, and spits it out if it tastes bitter
To only take what is beneficial or helpful to oneself.
The guy who gets whip first is better
It is better to go through a very difficult and painful situation as soon as possible if one has to go through it anyway.
A ghost who dies after eating has color and charm
An expression used to stress the importance of eating.
You should not beat a dog while it is eating
It is advisable to not scold or rebuke someone when he/she is eating.
One grows black if one keeps close to an ink stick
One is bound to become evil if one gets along with an evil person.
You should not beat a dog while it is eating
It is advisable not to scold or rebuke someone when he/she is eating.
The guy who finds first is the owner; Finders keepers
An expression meaning an object belongs to someone who takes it first.
An angular stone is bound to be hit by a chisel
A person who stands out among many people will incur the hatred of others.
An angular stone is bound to be hit by a chisel
An upright and honest person is easily attacked by others.
A tall tower[house] standing on the sand
(figurative) An object or task whose foundation is so weak that it may collapse soon.
Even if it is the wrong way, it does not matter as long as you reach Seoul; The end justifies the means
It is important to achieve the aim regardless of the method or way.
Not knowing is the medicine, and knowing is the disease; Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise; Ignorance is the peace of life
An expression to describe a situation where one feels at ease if one knows nothing about something, but worries if one knows about it.
The throat is the police bureau
An expression to describe a situation where one is forced to do something banned to make a living.
It is the thirsty guy who digs a well
The person who is most in need of something is bound to be the first one to take an action for it.
poke a persimon that one cannot eat
To destroy something in a nasty manner that one cannot have in order to keep others from having it as well.
Don't even look at the tree that one cannot climb
It is advisable to give up something impossible.
blaming the ancestors if something gets ugly (while giving credit to oneself if it goes right)
An expression that describes an attitude that blames others when things go wrong or do not go as planned.
A naughty calf grows horns on its buttocks
An ill-tempered person tends to do something unacceptable.
A biting dog never barks
Those who one should be really afraid of is those whose actions come before words.
No news is good news
Getting no news means everything is going well, and therefore can be regarded as good news.
Being childless is having good fortune; Little goods, little care
An expression used to describe being childless and thus carefree.