안녕하세요, 여러분! Welcome back to TOPIK & Beyond! I’m Eliza, and today we’re diving into something that can instantly make your Korean sound more natural and expressive—Korean proverbs!
Whether you’re preparing for TOPIK, improving your writing skills, or just want to sound more fluent in daily conversations, learning proverbs (속담) is a game-changer!
In today’s episode, we’ll go over some must-know Korean proverbs, explain how and when Koreans use them, and even show you how to use them in the TOPIK exam. Plus, I’ll give you a challenge at the end, so stick around!
🎵 [Cue Music] 🎵
다시 안녕하세요! Welcome back to another episode of TOPIK & Beyond!
Have you ever heard someone say a Korean phrase and thought, “Wait… what does that even mean?!” That’s probably because they were using a 속담 (proverb)—a short, wise saying that captures cultural wisdom and life lessons in just a few words.
✔️ How are proverbs used in daily Korean life?
✔️ Which proverbs often appear in TOPIK reading & writing sections?
✔️ How can proverbs improve your Korean fluency?
Today, I’ll introduce 5 must-know Korean proverbs, explain how Koreans use them in real life, and show you how to integrate them into TOPIK writing & reading.
By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to recognize proverbs in context, use them in your own sentences, and boost your overall Korean proficiency!
그럼, 시작할까요? Let’s get started!
Proverbs exist in every language, and they capture the culture, values, and wisdom of a society. In Korean, 속담 are not just things you memorize in school—they’re used in daily life, literature, and even the TOPIK exam!
In conversations, you’ll often hear elders, teachers, and even K-drama characters use proverbs to give advice or make a point. For example, if a friend is being impatient, someone might say:
“로마는 하루아침에 이루어진 것이 아니다.”
(Rome wasn’t built in a day.)
Even in TOPIK, proverbs show up in reading comprehension questions, and using them in essay writing can help make your answers more advanced!
🎙️ Essential Korean Proverbs (속담) & How to Use Them
Now, let’s go over five essential Korean proverbs that will help you sound more natural and even boost your TOPIK writing and reading skills!
1) 시작이 반이다 (Shijagi banida)
Literal meaning: "Starting is half the battle."
English equivalent: "Well begun is half done."
Meaning: Getting started is often the hardest part, so once you begin, you’re already halfway to success!
Example Sentence:
TOPIK 공부를 시작하는 게 어렵지만, 시작이 반이다! 하면 할수록 쉬워질 거예요!
(Studying for TOPIK feels hard at first, but starting is half the battle! The more you do it, the easier it gets!)
When to Use It: Encouraging someone who’s hesitant to start something.
2) 공든 탑이 무너지랴 (Gongdeun tapi muneojirya)
Literal meaning: "A carefully built tower won’t collapse."
English equivalent: "Hard work pays off."
Meaning: If you put in effort and do something with care, it won’t fail.
Example Sentence:
공든 탑이 무너지랴! 열심히 준비하면 반드시 좋은 결과가 있을 거예요.
(Hard work pays off! If you prepare well, you’ll definitely get good results!)
When to Use It: Encouraging someone who has worked hard but is feeling discouraged.
3) 호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다 (Horangi-do je mal hamyeon onda)
Literal meaning: "Even a tiger appears when you talk about it."
English equivalent: "Speak of the devil."
Meaning: When you’re talking about someone, they suddenly appear!
Example Sentence:
우리가 민수 이야기하고 있었는데 갑자기 나타났어! 호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다!
(We were just talking about Minsu, and he suddenly appeared! Speak of the devil!)
When to Use It: When someone shows up right as you were talking about them.
4) 등잔 밑이 어둡다 (Deungjan mit-i eodupda)
Literal meaning: "The bottom of the lamp is dark."
English equivalent: "You can’t see what’s right in front of you."
Meaning: Sometimes, we overlook things that are right under our nose because we’re too focused elsewhere.
Example Sentence:
가까운 곳에 좋은 기회가 있을 수도 있어요. 등잔 밑이 어둡다!
(There could be a great opportunity nearby. You can’t see what’s right in front of you!)
When to Use It: When someone is missing something obvious.
5) 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다 (Ganeun mal-i gowaya oneun mal-i gopda)
Literal meaning: "Words going out nicely bring nice words back."
English equivalent: "What goes around, comes around."
Meaning: If you speak kindly, people will treat you kindly in return.
Example Sentence:
친절하게 말하세요! 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다!
(Speak kindly! What goes around, comes around!)
When to Use It: Encouraging good manners and kindness.
🎙️ TOPIK Focus – How Proverbs Help You in the Exam
Now that we’ve gone over some must-know Korean proverbs, let’s talk about how they actually appear in the TOPIK exam and how using them can boost your score—especially in the reading and writing sections.
1) TOPIK Reading Section (읽기) – Recognizing Proverbs in Context
In the TOPIK II reading section, you might come across proverbs in comprehension questions, especially in inference-based multiple-choice questions.
Example Question:
A passage describes a man who worked hard for years to achieve his dream of starting his own business. He faced many difficulties, but in the end, he succeeded. Which proverb best represents this situation?
A) 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다 (What goes around, comes around.)
B) 공든 탑이 무너지랴 (A carefully built tower won’t collapse.) ✅
C) 등잔 밑이 어둡다 (You can’t see what’s right in front of you.)
Answer: B) 공든 탑이 무너지랴
✔️ This proverb means "Hard work pays off," which matches the idea of someone putting in effort and eventually succeeding.
Study Tip: When you see a reading passage describing a person’s experience, ask yourself:
✔️ Did they work hard and succeed? (공든 탑이 무너지랴)
✔️ Are they receiving kindness because they were kind? (가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다)
✔️ Did something unexpected happen? (호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다)
By recognizing key themes in the passage, you can quickly eliminate incorrect answers and choose the best proverb.
2) TOPIK Listening Section (듣기) – Understanding Proverbs in Conversations
In TOPIK II Listening, proverbs often appear in dialogues where one speaker gives advice or reacts to a situation. The challenge is to understand the implied meaning behind the proverb.
Example Dialogue:
🗣️ A: "너무 힘들어… 아무리 공부해도 실력이 안 느는 것 같아."
(I feel so discouraged… No matter how much I study, I don’t think I’m improving.)
🗣️ B: "공든 탑이 무너지랴! 네 노력은 분명히 결과로 나타날 거야."
(Hard work pays off! Your effort will definitely show results!)
Question:
What is speaker B trying to express?
A) The person should study less.
B) The person should give up on studying.
C) The person should keep going because their efforts will pay off. ✅
✔️ Correct Answer: C! This is an example of how understanding 속담 can help you predict answers more accurately.
💡 Listening Tip:
* When someone gives advice or reassurance, listen carefully for a proverb at the end of the sentence.
* If you hear a familiar proverb, think about its meaning before checking the answer choices.
* Common listening cues:
✔️ 공든 탑이 무너지랴 → Encouraging someone who worked hard
✔️ 등잔 밑이 어둡다 → Pointing out an obvious mistake
3) TOPIK Writing Section (쓰기) – Using Proverbs to Strengthen Your Essay
In TOPIK Writing Task 2 (Essay section), using a well-placed proverb can make your writing more advanced, structured, and impressive.
Example Writing Prompt:
"Describe an important lesson you have learned from experience."
Basic Answer:
"I learned that working hard leads to success. Even when things were difficult, I kept going, and eventually, I saw good results."
Improved Answer with a Proverb:
"I learned that working hard leads to success. There is a Korean saying, ‘공든 탑이 무너지랴,’ which means that hard work never goes to waste. Even when things were difficult, I kept going, and eventually, I saw good results."
✔️ Why This is Better:
* It shows cultural understanding.
* It makes your writing more sophisticated.
* It provides a strong concluding sentence.
💡 Writing Tip:
* Learn 2-3 proverbs that fit common essay themes like hard work, relationships, and life lessons.
* Use them in the introduction or conclusion to make your essay stand out.
4) TOPIK Practice Challenge – Your Turn!
Now, it’s time to apply what we’ve learned!
✍️ Writing Challenge:
Write a short 3-4 sentence paragraph using one of today’s proverbs!
Example:
"At first, studying Korean felt overwhelming, but I reminded myself that 시작이 반이다. Once I started, things became easier, and now I enjoy learning more every day!"
Post your sentence on Instagram and tag @korean.joaacademy, or DM me for feedback!
________________
✔️ Which of today’s proverbs was your favorite?
✔️ Try using one in a sentence and share it with me!
📩 Feeling overwhelmed about which proverbs to learn for TOPIK? Let’s study together!
📩 Email me at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram!
💜 If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review! Your support helps more Korean learners discover this podcast!
감사합니다! See you in the next episode! 😊
