PERIBAHASA · 43
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
ganeun mari gowaya oneun mari gopda · Only if the words that go out are kind will the words that come back be kind.
Speak nicely and you'll be spoken to nicely.
너도 좀 부드럽게 말해 봐. 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱지.Try saying it gently — kind words out, kind words back.- 콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다kong simeun de kong nago pat simeun de pat nandaEvery result comes from its own cause.
- 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다wonsungido namueseo tteoreojindaEven an expert slips up sometimes.
- 호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다horangido je mal hamyeon ondaThe person you're talking about shows up right then.
- 그림의 떡geurimui tteokSomething you want but can't actually have.
- 우물 안 개구리umul an gaeguriSomeone who knows only their own small world and thinks it's everything.
- 소 잃고 외양간 고친다so ilko oeyanggan gochindaTaking precautions only after the damage is done.
- 돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라doldarido dudeulgyeo bogo geonneoraDouble-check even things that seem completely safe.
- 사공이 많으면 배가 산으로 간다sagongi maneumyeon baega saneuro gandaWhen everyone wants to steer, the project goes nowhere sensible.
- 백지장도 맞들면 낫다baekjijangdo matdeulmyeon natdaAny task, however small, is easier with help.
- 하룻강아지 범 무서운 줄 모른다harutgangaji beom museoun jul moreundaBeginners take on challenges without realizing how hard they are.
- 지렁이도 밟으면 꿈틀한다jireongido balbeumyeon kkumteulhandaEven the meekest person pushes back if treated badly enough.
- 달면 삼키고 쓰면 뱉는다dalmyeon samkigo sseumyeon baenneundaSticking around only while it benefits you.
- 비 온 뒤에 땅이 굳어진다bi on dwie ttangi gudeojindaGetting through a hard time makes a bond or a person stronger.
- 구슬이 서 말이라도 꿰어야 보배guseuri seo marirado kkweeoya bobaeTalent and resources are worth nothing until you put them to use.
- 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다nanmareun saega deutgo bammareun jwiga deunneundaSomeone is always listening, so watch what you say.
- 시작이 반이다sijagi banidaThe hardest part is beginning; once you start, you're halfway there.
- 천 리 길도 한 걸음부터cheon ri gildo han georeumbuteoBig goals are reached one small step at a time.
- 누워서 떡 먹기nuwoseo tteok meokgiSomething extremely easy.
- 배보다 배꼽이 더 크다baeboda baekkobi deo keudaThe extras end up costing more than the main thing.
- 까마귀 날자 배 떨어진다kkamagwi nalja bae tteoreojindaAn innocent coincidence that makes you look guilty.
- 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까ani ttaen gulttuge yeongi nalkkaRumors usually have some cause behind them.
- 남의 떡이 더 커 보인다namui tteogi deo keo boindaWhat others have always seems better than what you've got.
- 참새가 방앗간을 그냥 지나치랴chamsaega bangatganeul geunyang jinachiryaNobody can resist their favorite temptation.
- 고래 싸움에 새우 등 터진다gorae ssaume saeu deung teojindaWhen the powerful clash, the small ones nearby get hurt.
- 세 살 버릇 여든까지 간다se sal beoreut yeodeunkkaji gandaHabits formed young are very hard to break.
- 열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다yeol beon jjigeo an neomeoganeun namu eopdaKeep trying and even a hard goal — or a hard heart — gives way.
- 하늘이 무너져도 솟아날 구멍이 있다haneuri muneojyeodo sosanal gumeongi itdaHowever bad it gets, there's always a way out.
- 금강산도 식후경geumgangsando sikugyeongEat first — nothing is enjoyable on an empty stomach.
- 쇠귀에 경 읽기soegwie gyeong ilkkiTelling someone something they won't take in, however often you repeat it.
- 눈 감으면 코 베어 갈 세상nun gameumyeon ko beeo gal sesangA tough world where you have to stay alert or get cheated.
- 빈 수레가 요란하다bin surega yoranhadaPeople who know the least often talk the loudest.
- 벼는 익을수록 고개를 숙인다byeoneun igeulsurok gogaereul sugindaThe wiser and more accomplished people are, the humbler they become.
- 개천에서 용 난다gaecheoneseo yong nandaSomeone from humble beginnings achieves something remarkable.
- 개구리 올챙이 적 생각 못 한다gaeguri olchaengi jeok saenggak motandaPeople who've made it forget how they once struggled.
- 모난 돌이 정 맞는다monan dori jeong manneundaStand out too much and you'll get criticized or pushed back into line.
- 손뼉도 마주쳐야 소리가 난다sonppyeokdo majuchyeoya soriga nandaIt takes both sides — to fight, to work together, or to fall in love.
- 팔은 안으로 굽는다pareun aneuro gumneundaPeople naturally take the side of their own family and friends.
- 하나를 보면 열을 안다hanareul bomyeon yeoreul andaOne small action shows you what someone is like overall.
- 늦게 배운 도둑이 날 새는 줄 모른다neutge baeun dodugi nal saeneun jul moreundaPeople who discover a hobby late in life get completely absorbed in it.
- 발 없는 말이 천 리 간다bal eomneun mari cheon ri gandaWhat you say spreads far and fast, so be careful.
- 가랑비에 옷 젖는 줄 모른다garangbie ot jeonneun jul moreundaSmall things add up quietly until they become big.
- 티끌 모아 태산tikkeul moa taesanTiny amounts, saved patiently, become something big.