Korean proverbs
A Korean proverb is a concise idiom in the Korean language which describes a fact in a metaphorical way for instruction or satire. The term 속담 was first used in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty, but proverbs were in use much earlier. The example "I am busy with my work, and I am in a hurry for my family" in the article "욱면비염불서승" in Volume 5 of 삼국유사 indicates that a number of proverbs were in common use during the Three Kingdoms period.
Use
A Korean proverb, which generally reflects pre-modern lifestyles and ways of thinking, can be mistakenly thought to have been created in the past. The proverbs may fall into one of two categories: descriptions of historical events, or descriptions of common events in everyday life.Although many proverbs derive from descriptions of common events, they may include proper names: historical figures, literary works or regions. The following proverbs contain proper nouns:
- 황정승댁네 치마 하나 세 모녀가 돌려 입듯 : The famous Goryeo and Joseon scholar Hwang Hui was well known for his very frugal lifestyle, in which people joked that his wife and daughters in the household would share one skirt. The proverb thus refers to a very frugal and humble lifestyle.
- 춥기는 사명당의 사첫방이라 : The folktale tells that when Samyeongdang, the Korean Buddhist monk during the Joseon era, went to Japan as an ambassador, he was tricked and imprisoned in the guestroom made of nickel where fire was ignited to kill the monk inside. When Samyeongdang wrote the hanja character 霜 in the four wall of the room, the room instead became freezing cold. From the folktale, the following proverb has emerged to describe a very cold room.
- 한상국의 농사짓기
- 변학도 잔치에 이도령의 밥상
- 운봉이 내 마음을 알지
- 조자룡이 헌 칼 쓰듯
- 장비는 만나면 싸움
- 양천현감 죽은 말 지키듯
- 아산이 깨어지나 평택이 무너지나
- 평양감사도 저 싫으면 그만
- Story
- Description
- Refinement of the description
- Retelling of the story
- Formalization of the story
Structure
A Korean proverb may be classified as having one of two forms: short and long. The short form is usually a phrase describing a complex concept, and the long form is a complex sentence. Prosodic and syntactic harmony may be found in a proverb.Prosody
Prosodic harmony is achieved in two ways: Abwoon and yul-gyeok, both meaning rhyme. In a rhyme, syllables with a similar pronunciation are inserted at certain places in a poem. 두운, 각운 or word repetition is used. Du-woon is a rhyme at the beginning of a line, and gak-woon is a rhyme at the end of a line. Examples are:- 바람 부는 대로, 물결 치는 대로 : Refers to going with the flow of the world.
- 소는 소힘, 새는 새힘 : Used to emphasize that everyone has different talents although their skills may differ.
- 가는 날이 장 날 : Refers to the situation when the one specifically picks the eventful day to travel or attend somewhere by coincidence.
- 꿩 먹고, 알 먹고 : Refer to the situation where one good event leads to another.
- 지게 지고 제사 지내도 다 제멋 : Used when asking someone to not interfere with one's business since he/she will do it on his/her own.
- 염불도 몫몫, 쇠뿔도 각각 : Just like how all people give different Buddhist prayers of their own and bull's horns are pointing towards separate own directions, the proverb is used to emphasize that everyone has own way of doing it.
- 공든 탑이 무너지랴 : Used to emphasize that the work which the one puts effort in will not fail.
- 무른 땅에 말뚝 박기 : Used to refer an easy situation or task.
Syntax
- 가루는 칠수록 고와지고, 말은 할수록 거칠어진다 : Used to emphasize that more argument only leads to harsher words.
- 낮말은 새가 듣고, 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다 : Used when telling someone to be cautious while sharing a secret.
- 좋은 일에는 남이요, 궂은 일에는 일가라 : Refers to the people who do not care when good things happen to others while desperately calling others for help when something bad happens to them.
- 꿀 먹은 벙어리요, 침 먹은 지네라 : Just like someone who secretly ate a honey and remain speechless upon questioning, or the centipede paralyzed by saliva, refers to the people who stay speechless or silent to hide their guilts.
- 불 없는 화로, 딸 없는 사위 : Refers to the people who no longer hold meaning after having someone cut out from their relationship.
- 내리사랑은 있어도, 치사랑은 없다 : Used to explain that parents often love their children more than their children do.
- 가는 말이 고와야, 오는 말이 곱다 : Used to emphasize that people will speak nicely to you when you also speak nicely to them.
- 윗물이 맑아야, 아랫물이 맑다 : Used to emphasize that the leaders in charge must be free of problematic behaviors in order for the people under to be the same.
- 입은 거지는 먹어도, 벗은 거지는 못 먹는다 : Used to emphasize that you must dress neatly and properly to earn people's respect.
Literary forms
Poetry
Many poetic proverbs have a concise word form, consisting of one line or two phrases and one line. Eight syllables are most often used, followed by nine or seven syllables. The eight syllables have a 4-4 rhythm in the letter count and two feet. In addition to the 4-4 letter rhythm, 3-4, 5-5, 6-5, 6-6 and 7-5 letter rhythms are used.Examples of letter-count rhythm are:
- 동무 따라 강남 간다 : Refers to the situation in which the one still follows another against one's will.
- 자는 범 코침 주기 : Refers to the situation in which someone
- 금일 충청도 명일 경상도 : Refers to travelling aimlessly.
- 구더기 무서워 장 못 담글까 : Used to emphasize that you should not give up out of smaller or less important fear.
- 토끼 죽으니 여우 슬퍼한다 : Refers to the situation in which one mourns the tragedy of one's kind.
- 안성 맞춤/안장 맞춤
- 이마에 부은 물이/발뒤꿈치로 흐른다
이제 가면 언제 올래
동솥에 삶은 밤이 꼭꼬 울면 다시 올래
고목나무 새싹 돋아
꽃이 피면 다시 올래
If you go now, when will you come?
When the chestnuts steaming in a copper pot lets out cry, will you come back?
When a sprout grow out of the old tree,
will you come back after it blooms to a flower?