💬

Korean Idioms, Proverbs & Slang

173 cards · 🇰🇷 한국어 → 🇺🇸 English

Traditional proverbs and modern internet slang to sound natural in Korean.

idiomsproverbsslang

Study all 173 cards for free

Flashcards, quizzes, pixel-art games and a daily review that remembers for you.

Study this deck free

Try the first 10 cards

1 / 10
Question

고래 싸움에 새우 등 터진다

Knew itLearning

Tap the card for the answer · swipe right if you knew it, left if not

Already have an account? Sign in

Cards

  1. 1고래 싸움에 새우 등 터진다
    When whales fight, the shrimp's back is broken (innocent bystanders suffer)
  2. 2호랑이도 제 말하면 온다
    Talk of the tiger and it will appear (speak of the devil)
  3. 3누워서 떡 먹기
    Eating rice cake while lying down (piece of cake, very easy)
  4. 4원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다
    Even monkeys fall from trees (even experts make mistakes)
  5. 5구르는 돌에는 이끼가 안 낀다
    A rolling stone gathers no moss
  6. 6낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다
    Birds hear words by day, rats hear words by night (walls have ears)
  7. 7금강산도 식후경
    Even Mt. Kumgang after a meal (food comes first)
  8. 8백지장도 맞들면 낫다
    Even a sheet of paper is lighter when lifted together (teamwork)
  9. 9가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
    If outgoing words are beautiful, incoming words are beautiful (treat others well)
  10. 10티끌 모아 태산
    Gather dust to make Mt. Tai (many small things add up)
  11. 11소 잃고 외양간 고친다
    Fix the barn after losing the cow (closing the stable door after the horse has bolted)
  12. 12똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다
    Dog with dung criticizes dog with chaff (pot calling kettle black)
  13. 13개구리 올챙이 적 생각 못한다
    Frog forgets its tadpole days (forgetting one's origins)
  14. 14우물 안 개구리
    Frog in a well (narrow-minded person)
  15. 15하늘의 별 따기
    Picking stars from the sky (impossible task)
  16. 16낫 놓고 기역자도 모른다
    Doesn't know 'ㄱ' even with a sickle in front (completely illiterate)
  17. 17꿩 먹고 알 먹고
    Eat the pheasant and eat the egg (kill two birds with one stone)
  18. 18닭 쫓던 개 지붕 쳐다본다
    Dog chasing chicken looks at roof (losing track of goal)
  19. 19호랑이 굴에 가야 호랑이 새끼를 잡는다
    Must enter tiger's den to catch tiger cub (no risk, no reward)
  20. 20백문이 불여일견
    100 words can't match one sight (seeing is believing)
  21. 21말 한마디로 천 냥 빚을 갚는다
    One word can repay 1000 yang debt (power of words)
  22. 22눈 가리고 아웅
    Cover eyes and say 'boo' (self-deception)
  23. 23발 없는 말이 천 리 간다
    Words without feet travel 1000 li (rumors spread fast)
  24. 24웃는 낯에 침 못 뱉는다
    Can't spit on a smiling face (kindness disarms)
  25. 25공든 탑이 무너지랴
    Would a tower built with care collapse? (hard work pays off)
  26. 26가재는 게 편
    Crayfish sides with crab (birds of a feather)
  27. 27서당 개 삼 년에 풍월 읊는다
    Dog at school for 3 years recites poetry (learning by osmosis)
  28. 28쥐구멍에도 볕들 날이 있다
    Even a mouse hole gets sunshine (everyone has their day)
  29. 29아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까
    Would smoke come from unlit chimney? (no smoke without fire)
  30. 30뛰는 놈 위에 나는 놈
    Flying one above running one (there's always someone better)

And 143 more cards. Study the whole deck free

Articles about this deck

More Languages decks

See all
Study all 173 cards free