Korean proverbs

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This article should be merged with w:en:Korean proverbs

One of the most famous Korean sayings:

손바닥으로 하늘을 가리려한다

Don't try to cover the whole sky with the palm of your hand.

[[[The situation is this: One can only "cover" the sky if he covers his own eyes, but the sky is still there and can not be denied its existence. Therefore, this is a very foolish thing to do. (i) You are denying your past actions and can not come to terms with yourself nor with the other person(s). (ii) You are not being honest to yourself and not admitting how you feel about someone or something. (iii) You are avoiding the obvious, but you are going to have to face it one day.]]]

호랑이는 죽으면 가죽을 남기고, 사람은 죽으면 이름을 남긴다 "When a tiger dies, it leaves its leather behind. When a person die, he/she leaves her name behind."

서당개 삼 년에 풍월 읊는다.

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

소 잃고 외양간 고친다.

 After losing a cow, one repairs the barn.
 Only after a big disaster, you fix the problem.

빈 수레가 요란하다.

 An empty cart rattles louder. 
 When one have little substance, he/she tends to boast more.

티끌모아 태산.

 Gather dust to build a mountain.
 From dust, one can build the Tai Sahn, a mystical mountain, the highest in the world - a proverb
 about saving.

등잔 밑이 어둡다.

 It's darkest underneath the lampstand.
 We often do not know what is going on right in front of us. It is a kind of warning to keep an eye on your own business and to take care of the matters close to you first.  
  • 서당개 삼 년에 풍월 읊는다. - A dog raised at Sodang for three years, can chant Chinese lessons.
  • 소 잃고 외양간 고친다. - After losing a cow, one repairs the barn.
  • 빈 수레가 요란하다. - An empty cart rattles loudly.
  • 하늘의 별 따기. - Catching a star in the sky. - an impossible deed.
  • 아는 길도 물어가라. - Even if you know the way, ask one more time.
  • 티끌모아 태산. - One can build a mountain by collecting specks of dust.
  • 낫 놓고 기역자도 모른다. - One doesn’t know the(a Korean character) even when looking at a sickle.
  • 남의 떡이 더 커 보인다. - Someone else's rice cake always looks bigger.
  • 시작이 반이다. - Starting is half the task.
  • 등잔 밑이 어둡다. - Underneath the lampbase is dark.
  • 호랑이도 제 말하면 온다. - If you speak of the tiger, it will come
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