100 Korean Proverbs with Meanings for TOPIK 2 (한국어 속담)
1. 가는 날이 장날 = That’s bad timing. / The going day is the market day.
→ 계획한 일을 할 때 뜻하지 않는 일이 벌어진다 = When doing what you plan, you ended up with something unexpected.
*장날 = market day
2. 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다 = One good turn deserves another. / If the word you say is good, then the word coming back at you is good.
→ 남에게 먼저 잘 대해 줘야 남도 나에게 잘 대해 준다 = You treat others well first, then others will treat you well too.
*곱다 = nice
3. 가뭄에 콩 나듯 = Once in a blue moon. / Like beans sprouting in a drought.
→ 수가 너무 적다 = Chance is too small that rarely happens
*가뭄 = drought
*나다 = sprout
4. 가재는 게 편이다 = Birds of a feather flock together./ The crayfish is on crab's side.
→ 사람은 서로 비슷한 처지에 있거나 가까운 사람의 편을 든다 = People take sides with people who are in a similar situation or close to each other.
*가재 = crayfish
*처지 = situation
5. 가지 많은 나무 바람 잘 날 없다 = There is no rest for a family with many children / Tree with many branches has no windy day.
→ 자식이 많은 부모는 걱정이 끊이지 않는다 = Parents with many children are constantly worried.
6. 간에 붙었다 쓸개에 붙었다 한다 = One keeps changing sides / Sometimes sticks to the liver, sometimes to the gall bladder
→ 자기에게 이익이 되는 사람이면 아무에게나 친해지려고 한다 = Try to be friendly with anyone for one’s own benefits.
*간 = liver
*쓸개 = gall bladder
7. 갈수록 태산 = Out of the frying pan into the fire / More and more mountain
→ 일의 사태가 점점 심해진다 = Things are getting worse
8. 같은 값이면 다홍치마 = Other things being equal, choose the better one. / If it is the same value, take the crimson (red) skirt.
→ 이왕이면 보기 좋은 것을 선택한다 = If possible, choose the one that looks good
*다홍 = crimson color
9. 강 건너 불구경하듯 한다= To fiddle while Rome burns / It's like watching a fire across the river.
→ 남의 일인 듯 무관심한 태도를 보인다 = Shows indifferent attitude as if it were someone else's business
*불구경 = watching a fire
10. 개구리 올챙이 적 생각 못 한다 = It's an old cow's notion that she was never a calf. / Frogs forget that they were tadpoles once too.
→ 상황이 좋아지자 과거를 잊어버리고 잘난 체한다 = When things get better, forget about the past and show off.
* 올챙이 = tadpole
11. 개천에서 용 난다 = Go from rags to riches / A dragon rises from a small stream
→ 가정 형편이 어려운 집안에서 훌륭한 인물이 나온다 = A great person comes from a poor family
*개천 = small stream
12. 걷기도 전에 뛰려고 한다 = Children learn to creep ere they can go. / Trying to run before he can walk
→ 쉬운 일도 못하면서 어려운 일을 하려고 한다 = Trying to do difficult things while not being able to do easy things
13. 계란으로 바위치기 = Bang one's head against a wall. / Hitting a rock with eggs
→ 힘이나 능력이 부족하여 승산이 없는 불가능한 일을 한다. = Doing impossible things with no chance of winning due to lack of strength or ability
*바위를 치다 = hit a rock
14. 고래 싸움에 새우 등 터진다 = An innocent bystander gets hurt in a fight./ Shrimp's back bursts in whale fight
→ 강자끼리 싸우면 사이에 있는 약자가 피해를 입는다 = When the strong fight against each other, the weak in the middle suffers damage.
*등 = back
* 터지다 = burst
15. 고양이한테 생선을 맡기다 = A fox guards the hen house / Give fish to cat
→ 믿음이 가지 않는 사람에게 일을 맡기다 = entrusting work to an untrustworthy person
16. 공든 탑이 무너지랴 = Hard work always pays off. /
→ 열과 성을 다해서 한 일은 좋은 결과를 얻는다 = Việc đã làm hết sức bằng lòng thành và nhiệt huyết thì sẽ dành được kết quả tốt
*공들다 = take much labor
17. 구관이 명관이다 = Old shoes are easiest. / Old building is famous.
→ 오래 전부터 일한 사람이 새로 온 사람보다 낫다 = A person who has worked for a long time is better than a new person
18. 구렁이 담 넘어가듯 하다 = snaking around / It's like a serpent going over a fence
→ 어떤 일을 분명하게 처리하지 않고 남이 모르는 틈에 슬그머니 얼버무린다 = Deal with something unclearly and sneak up on it while others don't know it.
* 구렁이 = big snake
19. 구슬이 서 말이라도 꿰어야 보배 = Nothing is complete unless you put it in final shape./ Beads only become a treasure when they are strung together.
→ 아무리 좋고 훌륭한 것이라도 쓸모 있게 만들어야 가치가 있다 = No matter how good and wonderful it may be, it is worth making it useful.
* 구슬을 꿰다 = string beads
*쓸모 있게 만들다 = making something useful
20. 굴러온 돌이 박힌 돌 뺀다 = Bad money drives out good. / The rolling stone takes out the embedded stone.
→ 새로운 것이 기존에 있던 것을 쫓아내고 자리를 차지한다 = The new displaces the old and takes its place.
21. 금강산도 식후경 = Pudding rather than praise / Even at Mt’s Geumgang, sightseeing after eating.
→ 아무리 좋은 경치라 해도 배고프면 관심이 없다 = No matter how beautiful the scenery, if you are hungry, you will not be interested.
22. 기르던 개에게 다리 물렸다 = My dog bit my leg
→ 도와주고 은혜를 베푼 사람한테서 오히려 피해를 입었다 = You were harmed by the person who you have helped.
23. 꼬리가 길면 잡힌다 = Long tails are easily caught. / If your tail is long, it would be trampled upon
→ 나쁜 일을 계속하면 언젠가는 들킨다 = If you keep doing bad things, you'll be found out one day.
24. 꿈보다 해몽이 좋다 = Interpreting a dream is better than the dream itself
→ 좋지 않은 상황을 좋게 해석한다 = It is good to interpret a bad situation.
25. 꿩 대신 닭 = Something is better than nothing / a chicken instead of a pheasant
→ 적절한 것이 없을 때 조금 안 좋은 것을 선택하여 사용한다 = When there is no suitable one, choose and use the slightly worse one.
26. 낫 놓고 기역자도 모른다 = Lay down a sickle and still not recognize the letter ㄱ
→ 사람이 글자를 모르거나 매우 무식하다 = A person doesn't know the letters or are very ignorant.
* 'ㄱ' is the first letter in the Korean alphabet, which resembles a sickle. So this expression suggests that someone is very ignorant and doesn`t know 'ㄱ' even though he watch a sickle which is shaped like 'ㄱ'
27. 나무에 오르라 하고 흔드는 격 = Told someone to climb the tree and shake it.
→ 남을 꾀어 위험한 상황에 처하게 한다 = Allure a person into a dangerous situation
28. 남의 떡이 커 보인다 = The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence./ Other person's rice cake looks bigger.
→ 자기 것에 만족하지 못하고 남이 가진 것을 부러워하다 = Dissatisfied with one's own and envy what others have
29. 남의 잔치에 감 놔라 배 놔라 한다 = Poking one’s nose into other people's business
→ 쓸데없이 남의 일에 참견한다 = meddle in other people's business needlessly
30. 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다 = Event walls have ears / Birds hear the daytime talks, and mice hear nighttime talks.
→ 비밀은 없으므로 말을 조심해야 한다 = Secret is difficult to keep, so be careful to what you say
31. 누울 자리를 보고 다리를 뻗어라 = Look before you leap. / Look for a place to lie down and stretch legs.
→ 어떤 일을 할 때 다가올 결과를 미리 예상해 가면서 일을 해야 한다 = When you do something, you must anticipate the consequences that will come.
32. 누워서 떡 먹기 = Easy like eating a piece of cake / Easy like eating a rice cake on the bed.
→ 매우 쉽게 할 수 있는 일을 말한다 = Say about something that can be done very easily
33. 누워서 침 뱉기 = Cut off your nose to spite your face./ Spit while you are lying on your back.
→ 남을 나쁘게 하기 위한 행동 같지만 그 결과는 자신한테 돌아온다 = It seems like an action intended to harm others, but the consequences come back to himself.
*침 뱉다 = spit saliva
34. 다 된 밥에 재 뿌리기 = Ruining things that are in near success / Spray ashes on top of cooked rice.
→ 잘 되어 가던 일을 갑자기 망쳐 실패하게 한다. Suddenly ruin something that was going well
*다된 밥 = rice almost ready to eat
*재 뿌리기 = spraying ash
35. 닭 쫓던 개 지붕 쳐다본다 = So much for all our plans / The dog that chased chicken looks at the roof (chicken flew to the roof).
→ 하려고 하던 일이 실패로 돌아가서 어쩔 수 없다 = The work you was trying to do has failed and it can't be helped.
36. 도토리 키 재기 = Not much of a difference. / Measure the height of acorns
→ 실력이 비슷한 사람끼리 비교한다 = Compare people with similar skills
37. 도둑을 맞으려면 개도 안 짖는다 = Dogs won't bark if they want to be robbed.
→ 재수가 없으려면 계속해서 모든 일이 잘 안 된다 = Everything keeps going wrong if you're going to be unlucky.
38. 도둑이 제 발 저리다 = A guilty conscience needs no accuser./ a thief numbs his feet
→ 죄를 지은 사람이 마음 불안해한다 = The person who made guilty is anxious
39. 돌다리도 두드려보고 건너라 = look before you leap/ knock on the stone bridge and cross it.
→ 행동을 하기 전에 다시 한 번 확인해야 한다 = You should double check before you act
* 두드리다 = knock on something
40. 될성부른 나무는 떡잎부터 알아본다 = Genius displays itself even in childhood./ A great tree is told by its sprig.
→ 잘 될 사람은 어릴 때부터 남다른 데가 있다 = Successful person has been unusual since childhood.
* 될성부르다 =promising
*떡잎 = seed leaf
41. 등잔 밑이 어둡다 = It's easy to miss what is in front of you /The foot of the candle is dark.
→ 가까운 곳에서 생긴 일을 오히려 잘 모른다 = What happened nearby is easy to miss.
* 등잔 = oil lamp
42. 땅 짚고 헤엄치기 = It’s a piece of cake./ Swimming while touching the ground.
→ 매우 쉬운 일 = A very easy work
* 짚다 = place (hand, body) on something
*헤엄치다 = swim
43. 떡 본 김에 제사 지낸다 = Make hay while the sun shines./ When you see the rice cake (fortune), you should do the ancestral rite (the important thing)
→ 계획한 일을 하는데 우연히 필요한 것이 나타나면 그것으로 하려던 일을 해치운다 = If you happen to have what you need to do, you do what you plan to do with it.
44. 떡 줄 사람은 생각도 않는데 김칫국부터 마신다 = Don't count your chickens before they hatch./ Someone does not even think about giving you a rice cake, but you already have drunk kimchi broth.
→ 상대방은 줄 생각을 안 하는데 받을 것을 기대하며 좋아한다 = The other person doesn't think about giving, but you expect to receive it. (E.g., You like a girl and has already thought that she also likes you.)
*In Korea, people used to drink kimchi broth first before eating rice cake.
45. 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다 = The pot calls the kettle black./ The dung-stained dog scolds the chaff-stained dog.
→ 자기의 흉이 더 큰데도 남의 작은 흉을 본다 = Seeing other people's small scars/ even though one's own scars are bigger
*나무라다 = scold, blame
*흉 = scar, flaw
46. 뛰는 놈 위에 나는 놈있다 = Talent above the talent./ There is a flying guy above the running guy.
→ 아무리 재주가 뛰어난 사람이라고 해도 더 뛰어난 사람이 있다 = No matter how talented a person is, there are people who are more talented.
47. 말 한마디로 천냥 빚 갚는다 = A soft answer turns away wrath / A good tongue is a good weapon./ A word may repay a debt of a thousand nyang.
→ 말을 잘하면 어려운 일도 해결할 수있다 = Nếu nói giỏi thì việc khó cũng có thể giải quyết được
* 천냥 = a thousand nyang (nyang = a unit of Korean coinage)
*빚을 갚다 = pay one’s debt
48. 맞은 놈은 펴고 자고 때린 놈은 오그리고 잔다 = The beaten, but not the beater, sleeps well.
→ 남을 괴롭하면 뒷일이 걱정되지만 당한 사람은 속편하다 = If you bully others, you worry about what will happen next, but the person who suffered is comfortable.
49. 먼 사촌보다 가까운 이웃이 낫다 = A good neighbor is better than a distant cousin
→ 가까이 사는 이웃이 멀리 있는 이웃보다 도움이 된다 = Neighbors living near are more helpful than neighbors far away
50. 모난 돌이 정 맞는다 = An angular stone is bound to be hit by a chisel./ A tall tree catches much wind.
→ 두각을 나타내는 사람이 미움을 받는다 = A person who stands out is hated
51. 모로 가도 서울만 가면 된다 = The end justifies the means./ Whichever the road you use, you just need to go to Seoul.
→ 목적 달성을 위해서는 어떤 방법을 써도 괜찮다 = You can use any method to achieve your goal.
52. 모르면 약 아는 게 병 = Ignorance is the peace of life/ Not knowing is medicine, knowing is disease.
→ 아무것도 모르면 마음이 편하지만 알고 있으면 걱정이 생겨 마음이 불편하다 = If you don't know anything, you feel at ease, but if you do, you worry and feel uncomfortable.
53. 목마른 사람이 우물 판다 = A thirsty man digs a well./ There isn’t such a thing as a free lunch.
→ 필요한 사람이 문제를 해결한다 = A person who desperate for something will do that. (Instead of waiting for others to do it for him or her.)
54. 물에 빠지면 지푸라기라도 잡는다 = A drowning man will catch at a straw.
→ 다급하면 별 도움이 안 될 것을 알지만 그것에 의지한다 = You know it won't help much if you are in a hurry, but you rely on it.
*빠지다 = fall into
*지푸 = straw
*다급하다 = urgent
55. 물에 빠진 놈 건져 놓으니 보따리 내놓으라 한다 = No good deed goes unpunished./ If you save a man from drowning, he'll demand you also save his baggage.
→ 남에게 은혜를 입고도 고마운 줄 모르고 트집을 잡는다 = Even if you receive favor from others, you do not know how to be grateful.
*건지다 = scoop, recover
* 보따리 = pack, baggage
56. 믿는 도끼에 발등 찍힌다 = In trust is treason/ You get stabbed in your foot by the axe you believe in
→ 믿었던 일이나 사람한테 배신을 당한다 = Betrayed by something or someone you believed in
57. 밑 빠진 독에 물 붓기 = It's like a bottomless pit./ I tried my best, but it’s going nowhere.
→ 아무리 힘이나 노력을 들여도 헛된 일이 된다 = No matter how much effort you put in, it will be in vain
*독 = jar
*밑 빠진독 = a jar without bottom, a bottomless jar.
58. 바늘 가는 데 실 간다 = Where the needle goes, the thread will follow.
→ 관계가 있는 것끼리 떨어지지 않고 항상 함께 한다 = Things that are related never fall apart, always stay together.
* 바늘 = needle
59. 바늘 도둑이 소 도둑 된다 = One lie makes many./ He that will steal a pin will steal an ox.
→ 작은 나쁜 짓도 고치지 않으면 큰 죄를 저지르는 사람이 된다. = If you don't fix even a small bad thing, you become a person who commits a big sin.
60. 바다는 메워도 사람의 욕심은 못 채운다 = The miser's bag is never full./ Even if the sea is filled, it can't satisfy people's greed.
→ 사람의 욕심이 바다보다도 크다 = Man's greed is greater than the sea
*메우다 = fill (up)
61. 발없는 말이 천리 간다 = The walls have ears. / Words without feet can go a thousand mile.
→ 소문은 빨리 퍼지므로 말조심해야 한다 = Rumors spread quickly, so be careful
*천리 = a thousand ri (리 = a Korean unit of distance)
62. 배보다 배꼽이 더 크다 = The tail wagging the dog. / The belly button is bigger than the belly.
→ 당연히 커야 할 것이 작고 작아야 할 것이 오히려 크다 = What should be large is small and what should be small is rather large. (e.g., the repair cost of a car is more than the price of the car.)
63 백지장도 맞들면 낫다 = Two heads are better than one./ It’s better even if we lift a blank sheet together.
→ 두 사람이 힘을 합치면 혼자 하는 것보다 쉽다 = When two people work together, it is easier than doing it alone
*백지장 = blank sheet
* 맞들다 = lift something up together
64. 벼는 익을수록 고개를 숙인다 = The nobler, the humbler. / The more rice ripens, the lower its head.
→ 아는 것이 많은 사람일수록 더 겸손하다 = The more you know, the more humble you are.
*벼 = rice
*익다 = ripen
65. 벼룩이 간을 내어 먹는다 = Get blood from a stone. / Take out and eat the liver of a flea
→ 약한 사람에게서 빼앗아 이익을 취한다 = Take away from the weak to get advantages.
*벼룩 = flea
66. 불난 집에 부채질 한다 = Add oil to the fire. / Fan the house on fire
→ 좋은 상황을 더 안 좋게 만든다 = Make a good situation worse.
*불을 나다 = catch fire
* 부채질하다 = fan sth
67. 비 온 뒤에 땅이 굳는다 = After a storm comes a calm. / After the rain, the ground hardens
→시련을 겪은 후에는 더 강해진다 = After the ordeal, you become stronger.
*굳다 = harden, stiffen
*시련 = ordeal, hardship
68. 빈 수레가 요란하다 = Empty vessels make the most sound.
→잘 알지 못하는 사람이 겉으로는 더 떠든다 = People who don't know much talk more outwardly.
*수레 = wagon, cart, wheelbarrow
* 요란하다 = noisy, loud
* 떠들다 = talk, chat
69. 사공이 많으면 배가 산으로 간다 = Too many cooks spoil the broth. / If there are many sailors, the boat goes to the mountains
→ 여러 사람이 일을 결정하려고 하면 일이 제대로 안 된다 = When many people try to make decisions, thing won’t go right.
70. 서당 개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다 = Practice makes perfect. / The sparrow near the school sings the primer. / After three years the school dog will begin to recite
→ 무식한 사람도 오래 보거나 배우면 어느 정도 알게 된다 = Even an ignorant person can learn to a certain extent by watching or learning for a long time.
*풍월 = ideas (manners) learned from others
*욾다 = recite
71. 세 살 버릇 여든 간다 = Old habits die hard. / Three years old habit goes eighty
→어릴 때 생긴 버릇은 고치기 힘들다 = Habits formed in childhood are hard to fix.
*버릇 = habit
72. 소 잃고 외양간 고친다 = Close the barn doors after the horse has bolted./ Fix the barn after losing a cow.
→준비하지 않고 실패한 후에 후회하고 뒤늦게 수습한다 = After failing without preparation, regret and make up for it belatedly
* 외양간 = barn, stable
* 수습한다 = handle, sort out
73. 싼게 비지떡 = Buy cheap, buy twice. / Low price means low quality./ You get what you pay for.
→싼 물건은 품질도 떨어진다 = Low price means low quality.
74. 아는 길도 물어 가라 = Look before you leap. / Even if you know the road, ask first, and go.
→잘하는 일이라 하더라도 다시 확인하여 실수하지 않도록 해야 한다 = Even if you're good at something, you should double-check it, so you don't make a mistake.
75. 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 나랴 = There is no smoke without fire. / Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
→ 어떤 소문이 퍼지는 것에는 그만한 이유가 있다 = There is a good reason why some rumors spread.
*굴뚝 = chimney
*연기 = smoke
76. 아닌 밤중에 홍두깨 = Bolt out of the blue (sky)./ A wooden roller thrust out in the dark.
→ 갑자기 생긴 뜻밖의 일 = Something unexpected
* 홍두깨 = wooden roller used in smoothing cloth
77. 얌전한 고양이가 부뚜막에 먼저 올라간다 = A fair face may hide a foul heart. / A well-behaved cat goes up the buttumak (wood-burning stove) first.
→ 겉보기에는 얌전하고 아무것도 못할 것처럼 보이는 사람이 딴짓을 하거나 자기 실속을 차린다 = Người nhìn vẻ bề ngoài dường như rất ngoan ngoãn và dường như bất cứ cái gì cũng không thể làm mà lại làm việc linh tinh hoặc làm việc có lợi cho bản than
*얌전하다 = well-behaved, obedient, nice
*부뚜막 = Korean wood-burning stove, buttumak
78. 열번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다 = Little strokes fell great oaks. / There is no tree that does not fall after being cutting down ten times.
→ 꾸준히 노력하면 결국에는 이룰 수있다 = If you keep trying, you can achieve it in the end.
79. 오르지 못할 나무는 쳐다보지도 마라 = Don't waste your time pining for what you can't have./ Don't stare at a tree you won't be able to climb.
→ 가능성이 없는 일이라면 생각도 하지 마라. = If it's impossible, don't even think about it
80. 옷이 날개다 = The tailor makes the man. / Fine clothes make the man. / Clothes are wings.
→ 입은 옷에 따라서 사람이 달라 보인다 = People look different depending on the clothes they wear.
*날개 = wings
81. 우는 아이 젖 준다 = The squeaky wheel gets the grease./ Give milk to a crying baby.
→ 요구하지 않으면 원하는 것을 얻을 수 없다 = You can't get what you want if you don't ask for it
82. 우물을 파도 한 우물을 파라 = Don't chase two hares at once. / You should dig a single well rather than digging many.
→ 여러 가지 일을 벌이지 말고 한 가지 일을 끝까지 해야 성공할 수 있다 = You can succeed only by doing one thing to the end, not doing many things.
*파다 = dig
83. 원수는 외나무 다리에서 만난다 = Meet bad luck one cannot escape./ Encounter an enemy on a single log bridge.
→ 싫어하는 사람은 피할 수 없는 곳에서 만나게 된다 = Person you hate will meet you in place you can't avoid.
*원수 = energy, foe
*외나무 = single log bridge
84. 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어질 때가 있다 = Even Homer sometimes nods. / Nobody is perfect. / Even monkeys sometimes fall from trees.
→ 잘하는 일도 실수 할 때가 있다 = Sometimes you make mistakes in what you're good at.
85. 윗물이 맑아야 아랫물도 맑다 = Parents are patterns. / The lower stream is clean only when the upper stream is clean.
→ 윗사람이 잘해야 아랫사람도 따라서 잘한다 = If superiors do well, then subordinates do well too.
86. 쥐구멍에도 볕들 날 있다 = Every dog has his day. / Sun even shine into a mouse hole
→고생만 하는 사람도 언젠가는 좋은 시기가 온다 = Even those who suffer will have a good time someday.
*쥐구멍 = rat hole, mouse hole
*볕들다 = shine into
87. 지렁이도 밟으면 꿈틀한다 = Even a worm will turn
→약한 사람일지라도 지나치게 함부로 대하면 가만히 있지 않는다 = Even a weak person won't stand still if he is treated harshly.
*지렁이 = earthworm
*밟다 = step on, trample
*꿈틀하다 = wriggle
88. 참새가 방앗간을 그냥지나랴 = No man goes carelessly by a place where profit lips. / A sparrow cannot just pass a mill.
→ 자기가 좋아하거나 자기에게 이익이 되는 일은 그냥 지나치지 못한다 = You can't let go of what you like or what benefits you.
*참새 = sparrow
*방앗간 = mill, grinding mill
89. 천리 길도 한 걸음부터 = Even a journey of a thousand miles must begin with the first step. / Step by step one goes a long way.
→ 아무리 큰일이라도 처음에는 작은 일부터 시작된다. = No matter how big a task, it starts with small things.
90. 친구 따라 강남 간다 = Just go along with the crowd. / Follow a friend to Gangnam
→ 남에게 끌려 덩달아 하다 = To be allured by others.
91. 콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다 = An onion will not produce a rose. / As one sows, so shall he reap. / White beans come out when you plant white beans, read deans come out when you plant red beans.
→ 원인에 따라 결과가 생긴다 = The consequences depend on the cause.
92. 티끌 모아 태산 = Many a little makes a mickle. / Little brooks make great rivers.
→ 아무리 적은 것이라도 모이면 큰 것이 된다 = No matter how little things add up, they become big things.
*티끌 = dust
*태산 = a huge mountain
93. 팔은 안으로 굽는다 = Men are blind in their own causes. / The skin is nearer than the shirt. / Arms bend inwardly
→ 가까운 사람에게 정이 더 간다 = More affection towards people close to you.
94. 평안 감사도 저 싫으면 그만 = You can lead a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink./ It can't be helped if someone does not want to become the ruler of Pyeongan
→ 아무리 좋은 일이라도 자기 마음에 안 들면 할 수 없다 = No matter how good it is, if you don't like it, you can't do it.
95. 핑계 없는 무덤 없다 = Every why has a wherefore./ There's an excuse for everything.
→ 모든 일은 다 이유가 있다 = Everything has a reason.
*핑계 = excuse
*무덤 = grave
96. 하늘의 별 따기 = Like asking for the moon. / Like picking a star.
→ 매우 어려운 일 = A very difficult task.
97. 하늘이 무너져도 솟아날 구멍이 있다 = Every cloud has a silver lining./ Nothing is totally bad. / There is a way out of every situation
→ 아무리 큰 위기라 하더라도 벗어날 방법은 있다 = No matter how big a crisis is, there's a way out.
98. 하룻강아지 범 무서운 줄 모른다 = Fools rush in where angels fear to tread./ An ignorant person doesn't stand in awe of the great./ One-day puppy doesn’t know how scary a tiger is.
→ 아무것도 모르고 함부로 덤빈다 = Don't know anything and run to thoughtlessly.
*범 = tiger
*덤비다 = run at somebody
99. 호랑이 없는 곳에서 여우가 왕노릇한다 = In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king./Where there is no tiger, fox is king.
→힘센 자가 없는 곳에서는 못나고 약한 자가 잘난체한다 = Where there are no strong men, the weak and the poor show off.
100. 호랑이한테 물려가도 정신만 차리면 산다 = There's always a way out if you keep your head on straight./ If you stay alert, you can survive even when you are chased by a tiger.
→ 정신을 똑바로 차리면 위험한 상황을 벗어날 수있다 = You can get out of a dangerous situation if you keep your mind straight.
Source: collected from a Facebook post and translated by Korean Topik
