The Most Useful Korean Proverbs You Should Learn

Proverbs play a key role in Korean language and culture. Unfortunately, proverbs might be tricky and those
figurative meanings could confuse Korean language learners. Here’s a list of the MOST POPULAR
Korean proverbs. All the phrases are broken down into their smaller word parts. Enjoy!
 1. 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다

Monkeys are considered adept at climbing trees but even monkeys

sometimes fall. This proverb is saying that even experts can make
mistakes.
 원숭이 [wonsung-i] monkey
 도 [do] also, too
 나무 [namu] tree
 에서 [eseo] from
 떨어지다 [tteoreojida] to fail
원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다
Even monkeys may fall from trees

2. 하늘의 별 따기

This phrase roughly means ‘to plunk or attain a star in the sky.’
You can use it when something is too difficult or (almost)
impossible to get done.
 하늘 [haneul] sky
 의 [eui] ‘s (possessive marker)
 별 [byeol] star
 따다 [ttada] to plunk, to pick

하늘의 별 따기
Plucking a star from the sky

3. 남의 떡이 더 커 보인다

This proverb refers to when other people’s possessions always

look better than your own, even when they are really not.
The 떡 (rice cake) in the phrase could be easily substituted with
grass: The grass is always greener on the other side.
 남 [nam] other person
 의 [eui] ‘s (possessive marker)
 떡 [tteok] rice cake
 이 [i] (consonant +) subject marker
 더 [deo] more
남의 떡이 더 커 보인다  크다 [keuda] big
Others’ rice cakes always look bigger  보이다 [boida] to be seen, to be looked, to be shown

4. 시작이 반이다

Getting started is often considered the hardest step. But once

begun, it will move you forward easily. This phrase can be used to
encourage someone who just started a task.
 시작 [shijak] start, beginning
 이 [i] (consonant +) subject marker
 반 [ban] half
시작이 반이다
Starting is the half
5. 수박 겉 핥기

It would be equivalent to the English phrase ‘to scratch the

surface.’ By only licking the surface, you’ll never taste the sweet
inside part and truly experience the watermelon. This proverb
 means ‘to do something in a superficial way’ or ‘to examine only
the superficial aspects.’
 수박 [subak] watermelon
 겉 [geot] surface, skin
 핥다 [haltta] to lick

6. 병 주고 약 준다
수박 겉 핥기
Licking the surface of a watermelon This proverb is used when a person who initially caused trouble
for others is offering a remedy and trying to help. You can use this
expression in the situation when someone gives an insult, then
compliment after.
 병 [byeong] disease, illness
 주다 [juda] to give
 약 [yak] medicine

병 주고 약 준다
Giving a disease then giving medicine
7. 짚신도 짝이 있다
This proverb is similar to the English phrase ‘Every Jack has his
jill.’ It simply means ‘There is someone out there for oneself’ or
‘Everyone will eventually find a mate.’
 짚신 [jipsin] straw shoe(s)
 도 [do] also, too
 짝 [jjak] pair, mate
 이 [i] (consonant +) subject marker
 있다 [itta] to be, to have

8. 배보다 배꼽이 더 크다
짚신도 짝이 있다
Even the straw shoe has a mate Normally our belly buttons are far smaller than bellies. But what if
belly buttons are far bigger than bellies? That would look very
strange.
This proverb is used when minor things cost more money or time
than major one. For example, if you buy a five-dollar book and
spend $10 in shipping, the belly button (delivery charge) is larger
than the belly (the book).
 배 [be] belly
 보다 [boda] than
 배꼽 [bekkop] belly button
 이 [i] (consonant +) subject marker
 더 [deo] more

배보다 배꼽이 더 크다 9. 호랑이도 제 말하면 온다

The belly button is bigger than the belly
It is used when someone appears who has just been the subject of
conversation. The English equivalent is “speak of the devil.”
 호랑이 [horang-i]: tiger
 말하다 [malhada]: to speak, tell
4 Romantic Korean Phrases You Must Know
1. 밀당
밀당 [mildang]
mil-da (밀다, to push) + dang-gi-da (당기다, to pull)

Literally means “the push and pull of a relationship.” “Mil-

dang” is used to indicate the situation when one person
pretends that s/he is less interested in you than s/he really is. It
mainly refers to a way of making you more interested in
him/her at the start of a romantic relationship. The appropriate
English counterpart would be “to play hard to get.”

2. 썸 타다
썸 타다 [sseomtada]
sseom-dding (썸띵, something) + ta-da (타다, to ride)

“Sseom ta-da” is used to describe the situation when there is

something going on and good chemistry with a girl/guy, but
s/he is not quite your girlfriend or boyfriend yet!

3. 모태 솔로
모태 솔로 [mote solo]
mo-te (모태, mother’s womb) + solo (솔로, solo)

“Mo-te solo” is a word that combines “mother’s womb” with

“solo.” It is used to indicate someone who has never dated and
has not been in a relationship… since coming out of the
mother’s womb. (That’s fine, we say! Enjoy your time as a
single lady or man!)

4. 심쿵하다
심쿵하다 [simkunghada]
sim-jang (심장, heart) + kung (쿵, thump-thump, the
sound your heart makes as it beats) + ha-da (하다, to
do)

Indicates the situation when someone or something is

attractive enough to make your heart beat faster. Think about
your bias. That’s the feeling!

5. 품절녀 / 품절남
품절녀 [pumjeolnyeo] / 품절남 [pumjeolnam]
pum-jeol (품절, sold-out) + nyeo (녀, woman) / nam (남,
 man)

Literally mean “sold-out woman” and “sold-out man.” They

refer to a person who has just got married, become a wife or
husband, and therefore are off the market for dating or
marriage. So sad!

볼매 [bolme]
6. 볼매 bol-su-rok (볼수록, the more you see/meet) + me-ryeok
it-neun (매력 있는, more and more attractive)

Haven’t you ever met someone who didn’t look attractive and
charming at first, but becomes more attractive as you get to
know him/her? That person is definitely bol-me.

훈녀 [hunnyeo] / 훈남 [hunnam]
hun-hun-han (훈훈한, heartwarming, kind) + yeo-ja (여
7. 훈녀 / 훈남 자, woman)/nam-ja (남자, man)

Literally means the charming wo/man who makes your heart

warm. Usually, people who are referred to as hun-nyeo/hun-
nam are more attractive and kind as opposed to being
physically good-looking.

돌싱녀 [dolsingnyeo] / 돌싱남 [dolsingnam]

dol-a-on (돌아온, coming back) + sing-geul (싱글,
8. 돌싱녀 / 돌싱남 single) + yeo-ja (여자, woman)/nam-ja (남자, man)

Refers to a divorced woman and man, respectively.