속담

Front 1

갈수록 태산

Back 1

Something becomes worse as time passes (literally becoming a greater and greater mountain)

Front 2

산넘어산

Back 2

Obstacle after obstacle (literally mountain after mountain)

Front 3

티끌 모아 태산

Back 3

Every little bit makes large amounts

Front 4

싼 게 비지떡

Back 4

Cheaper it is, you pay the price

Front 5

우물 안 개구리

Back 5

A man of narrow views

Front 6

꿩 대신 닭

Back 6

A chicken instead of a pheasant

Front 7

식은 죽 먹기

Back 7

Easy job (lit. Eating cool porridge)

Front 8

누워서 떡 먹기

Back 8

Easy job (literally eating rice cakes while lying down)

Front 9

땅 짚고 헤엄치기

Back 9

Easy job (swimming with your hands on the bottom)

Front 10

하늘의 별 따기

Back 10

Impossible job (like picking a star out of the sky)

Front 11

밑 빠진 독에 물 붓기

Back 11

Useless job (like pouring water into a broken jar)

Front 12

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다

Back 12

If you want to hear nice words, you should say nice words

Front 13

세 살 버릇 여든까지 간다

Back 13

The bad habits of a three-year-old continue until you’re 80

Front 14

발 없는 말이 천 리를 간다

Back 14

Bad news travels fast

Front 15

말 한 마기로 천 냥 빚 갚는다

Back 15

A soft answer turns away wrath (literally paying debt with a phrase of word)

Front 16

백지장도 맞들면 낫다

Back 16

Many hands make light work (it is even better to hold a piece of paper together)

Front 17

되로 주고 말로 받는다

Back 17

Careless behavior may bring serious result. Karma. ( give 1 pound for 10 pounds back)

Front 18

등잔 밑이 어둡다

Back 18

It is darkest underneath the lamp. That which is nearest you is most difficult to see.

Front 19

개천에서 용 난다

Back 19

A dragon is born in a stream. A great man can come from humble beginnings/a difficult situation.

Front 20

소 잃고 외양간 고친다

Back 20

Fixing the cow house after losing the cow. No use crying over spilt milk.

Front 21

호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다

Back 21

Talk of a tiger and he’s sure to appear. Speak of the devil and he doth appear.

Front 22

서당 개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다

Back 22

Even a dog can recite poetry after three years at a school.

Front 23

종로에서 뺨 맞고 한강에서 화풀이한다

Back 23

Get slapped at Jongno and take out your anger at the Han River. Take out your anger on a third person.