Proverbs
spitting saliva on one's own face; cut off one's nose to spite one's face
An expression used to describe a situation where one's scheme to harm someone boomerangs and harms oneself.
pound on a paper window while sleeping
To suddenly say or do something taken out of context.
Once startled by a softshell turtle, you will also be startled by a caldron lid
A person who was startled by something shudders at the sight of something else which looks similar to it.
There is no carefree day for parents with children
Worries about your children are endless.
Having no children is having good fortune; Little goods, little care
Being childless is carefree.
Your child is yours only when he/she is in your bosom
Children obey their parents when they are young, but do as they want when they grow older.
Children are a source of anxiety
Children are always a cause of worry to their parents in a similar manner that one is always anxious that something precious might be damaged.
You will know your parents' love only after you raise your own child
A person can never realize how much his/her parents loved him/her before he/she raises his/her own child.
A small red pepper is more spicy
A person of a small frame is more excellent and shrewd than one of a larger frame.
go forward[go] well but stray to Samcheonpo Port
For a task or story to stray and develop in the wrong direction.
A tree that will grow well can be known[recognized] even as a seed leaf; Sandalwood is fragrant even in seed leaf form; As the twig is bent, so grows the tree
A promising person stands out as a young child.
giving credit to oneself[one's bliss] if something goes well while blaming the ancestors[others] if it goes wrong
To blame others when things go wrong.
You will become a loyal subject if you succeed, but a traitor if you fail
The argument and act of a person in power and authority is regarded as an absolute truth.
as if a blind person touches an elephant
An expression used to criticize the attitude of a person who thinks he/she has the whole picture of something when he/she knows only some parts of it.
as if a blind person touches an elephant
An expression used to criticize the attitude of a person who thinks of or talks about something beyond his/her reach.
A man would not ensheathe his sword once he has drawn it
An expression meaning that you should not give in to any obstacle in doing what you are determined to do.
An unlucky guy will break his nose even when he falls on his back; The bread always falls on the buttered side
You will fail in everything and even face unexpected misfortune if things are destined to go wrong.
A bear does a handspring and its owner takes the money; One beats the bush and another catches the birds
An expression used to describe a situation where a person is not paid for what he/she has done while another person wrongfully benefits from it.
One dislikes to eat it but does not want to give it to others [the dog]
An expression to describe a situation where someone is reluctant to give something to others although it is of no use to himself/herself.