Proverbs
dance to another person's beat
To follow exactly what someone does without expressing one's own opinion.
A woman[bitch] without the luck of having a good husband does not have the luck of having a good child
An expression used when a woman laments her misfortune caused by a bad marriage.
not know the letter 'ㄱ' in front of a sickle
To be very ignorant to such an extent that one does not know the letter 'ㄱ' even when a sickle shaped 'ㄱ' is in front of one's eyes.
Words from the daytime are heard by a bird, words from the night are heard by a rat
Words even made carefully and secretly are bound to be known by others.
Affection from childrearing is bigger than that from childbearing
For the affection of those who bring up a child to be bigger and more valuable than that of those who give birth to one.
I will set fire to my fingers; I will eat my hat
An expression used to guarantee one's own opinion or prediction will turn out to be right by swearing to do something cruel or extreme to oneself.
spitting saliva on my 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 harm oneself.
My own nose is three feet long; have one's own fish to fry
An expression used to describe a situation where one's own business is so urgent and difficult that one cannot afford to help others.
One's extended hands are embarrassing
To become embarrassed since one fails to get something that one asked for or someone refuses to accept one's favor.
drink cold water, and wake up; wake up and smell the coffee
An expression used to warn someone to come back to earth and better behave himself/herself.
Do you have a talent for exerting a huge influence or utilizing a talent?
A sarcastic expression used to criticize someone who speaks ill of others when he/she himself/herself does not have any special talents.
If I have to talk to you, I would rather talk to a dog
A sacarstic expression used to criticize someone who is not good at understanding what others say.
take a rest since one has fallen down
To take advantage of a sudden misfortune to turn it into an opportunity.
A lost fish is[looks] bigger; A fish that got away is[looks] bigger
To feel that something one used to have is better than the one that one has now.
stretch your legs after examining the place to lie down
A proverb meaning that one should think about the result of something in advance before doing it.
stretch your legs after examining the place to lie down
A proverb meaning that one should behave properly according to circumstances.
eating tteok, rice cake, while lying down; a piece of cake; Nothing is easier
A proverb meaning something that is very easy to do.
spitting while lying facing up; Curses, like chickens, come home to roost
A proverb meaning that the result of one's bad behavior comes back to oneself in a bad way.
be good for sister and good for her husband
For a business or situation to be beneficial and good for each party involved.
say fee-faw-fum with covering someone's eyes; bury one's head ostrich-like in the sand
The manner of trying to deceive someone with a shallow trick.