Korean Metaphors, Proverbs & Idioms

열 번 찍어 안 넘어 가는 나무 없다.
There is no tree that won’t fall if you chop it 10 times.

눈코 뜰새가 없다.
No time to open the eyes or the nose.
Too much to do, too little time to do it.

둘이 먹다가 한 사람 죽어도 모른다.
While two are eating, one could die and the other wouldn’t notice.

 

From TOPIK Intermediate Papers:

27th

백지장도 맞들면 낫다
Two heads are better than one.

뛰는 놈 위에 나는 놈 있다
There is always someone flying above someone who’s running.
There may be blue and better blue.

소문난 잔치에 먹을 것 없다
Much noise and no substance.

사공이 많으면 배가 산으로 간다
If there are many boatmen, the boat will go to the mountains.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.

5 Comments