Table of Contents
Introduction
Korean culture is deeply rooted in history, tradition, and timeless wisdom passed down through countless generations.
One of the most beautiful ways this wisdom is expressed is through proverbs, short yet powerful sayings that carry life lessons, moral guidance, and reflections on everyday experiences.
Shaped by values such as respect for elders, the importance of community, perseverance, and humility, Korean proverbs reveal the heart of a culture that balances tradition with resilience and optimism.
In this post, I’ve gathered 40 unique Korean proverbs about life, love, success, death, and family that not only offer practical advice but also give you a meaningful glimpse into the thoughtful and inspiring spirit of Korean culture. Let’s explore…
10 Korean Proverbs about Life
꿩 먹고 알 먹는다
kill two birds with one stone.
Korean Proverbs
낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다
Korean Proverbs
Birds listen to what you say during the day, and mice listen to what you say at night.
세 살 버릇 여든까지 간다
A three-year-old’s habits last until age 80.
Korean Proverbs
고생 끝에 낙이 온다
Korean Proverbs
At the end of hardship comes happiness.
백문이 불여일견
Hearing a hundred times is not better than seeing once.
Korean Proverbs
Korean Proverbs about Life often emphasize the power of direct experience. You can hear about something countless times, but truly understanding it often comes only when you see it with your own eyes. Seeing brings clarity and makes things real in a way words alone cannot.
It is a reminder to seek firsthand knowledge and experiences instead of relying only on secondhand information. Observation and personal involvement often teach lessons more deeply than stories or explanations ever could.
원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다
Korean Proverbs
Even monkeys fall from trees.
낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다
Birds hear the words spoken in the day, mice hear the words spoken at night.
Korean Proverbs
Also Read: 22 Best Mongolian Proverbs & Wisdom Quotes with Meanings
시작이 반이다
Korean Proverbs
Starting is half the task.
세 살 버릇 여든까지 간다
Habits formed at age three last until age eighty.
Korean Proverbs
등잔 밑이 어둡다
Korean Proverbs
It’s dark under the lamp.
10 Korean Proverbs about Love
짚신도 짝이 있다
Even a straw shoe has a mate.
Korean Proverbs
콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다
Korean Proverbs
Beans grow where beans are planted, and red beans grow where red beans are planted.
눈에서 멀어지면, 마음에서도 멀어진다
Out of sight, out of mind.
Korean Proverbs
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
Korean Proverbs
If the outgoing words are beautiful, the incoming words will be lovely.
티끌 모아 태산
Even specks of dust can make a mountain.
Korean Proverbs
Korean Proverbs about Love often teach the value of small, consistent efforts. Even the tiniest contributions, when gathered over time, can create something great and meaningful. It is a lesson in patience, persistence, and the power of steady progress.
It reminds us not to underestimate small actions. Saving a little money, learning a bit each day, or making small improvements can lead to big results. Just like dust can pile up into a mountain, small steps can build toward incredible achievements.
Also Read: 90 Native American Proverbs About Life, Wisdom & Nature
사랑은 눈에 보이지 않는다
Korean Proverbs
Love cannot be seen with the eyes.
사랑은 미움 속에서도 자란다
Love grows even amid hatred.
Korean Proverbs
사랑은 받을수록 커진다
Korean Proverbs
The more love you receive, the more it grows.
사랑은 물과 같다, 담는 그릇에 따라 모양이 달라진다
Love is like water; its shape changes depending on the vessel.
Korean Proverbs
사랑은 가까이 있을수록 더 소중하다
Korean Proverbs
Love is more precious the closer it is.
08 Korean Proverbs about Success
실패는 성공의 어머니이다
Failure is the mother of success
Korean Proverbs
고생 끝에 낙이 온다
Korean Proverbs
At the end of hardship comes happiness
천리길도 한 걸음부터
Even a path of a thousand li starts with a single step
Korean Proverbs
Also Read: 28 Vietnamese Proverbs About Love, Life, Family, and Death
뜻이 있는 곳에 길이 있다
Korean Proverbs
Where there’s a will, there’s a way
콩 심은데 콩 나고 팥 심은데 팥 난다
You reap what you sow
Korean Proverbs
Korean Proverbs about Success highlight the simple truth that the results we get come from the efforts we put in. If you plant kindness, hard work, and honesty, you will see those values return to you in some form. If you plant negativity or laziness, the outcome will reflect that, too.
It is a reminder to be mindful of your actions and choices. Life tends to give back what we invest in it, so sowing good seeds today can lead to a more rewarding tomorrow.
성공하는 사람은 다른 사람들이 던진 벽돌을 튼튼한 주춧돌로 삼을 수 있다
Korean Proverbs
A successful man can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him
꿈이 있다면 절대 포기하지 마라
If you have a dream, never give up
Korean Proverbs
개구리 올챙이 적 생각 못 한다
Korean Proverbs
A frog who can’t remember when he was a tadpole
07 Korean Proverbs about Death
고생 끝에 낙이 온다
After suffering, happiness comes.
Korean Proverbs
죽은 자식 불알 만져 뭐하냐
Korean Proverbs
What’s the use of touching a dead child’s testicles?
죽은 뒤에 이름이 남는다
After death, the name remains.
Korean Proverbs
죽을 사람은 약도 없다
Korean Proverbs
For a person destined to die, even medicine is useless.
죽은 뒤에 효도해도 소용없다
Filial piety after death is useless.
Korean Proverbs
Korean Proverbs about Death remind us that love, respect, and gratitude should be shown while our parents or elders are still alive. Once they are gone, no amount of regret or posthumous gestures can make up for missed chances to care for them.
It is a call to act now to appreciate and support those who raised us before it is too late. True filial piety is expressed through presence, kindness, and attention in the moments that matter most.
죽은 자는 말이 없다
Korean Proverbs
The dead do not speak.
죽음 앞에서는 모두가 평등하다
Before death, all are equal.
Korean Proverbs
05 Korean Proverbs about Family
가족은 하나다
Korean Proverbs
Family is one.
가화만사성
When the family is in harmony, all things prosper.
Korean Proverbs
피는 물보다 진하다
Korean Proverbs
Blood is thicker than water.
문제가 생길 때, 당신을 지원하는 것은 가족이다.
When trouble comes, it’s your family that supports you.
Korean Proverbs
Korean Proverbs about Family remind us that in life’s toughest moments, family often becomes our greatest source of strength. They are the ones who stand beside us when things fall apart, offering comfort, guidance, and unconditional support.
It is a gentle reminder to value and nurture those relationships. Friends and acquaintances may come and go, but family—whether by blood or by bond—remains the foundation we can lean on when life gets difficult.
가족은 하나의 중요한 것이 아니다. 전부이다.
Korean Proverbs
Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.
