{"id":79808,"date":"2024-05-09T09:20:49","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T13:20:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/korean-quotes\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T00:43:58","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T05:43:58","slug":"korean-quotes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/korean\/korean-quotes\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Deep Korean Quotes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Korean language and culture has borne quite a few profound quotes that can appeal to all kinds of people around the world.\u00a0So whether you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/learn\/korean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">studying Korean<\/a> or not, everyone can benefit by learning a few sage and life-relevant sayings to get you through the day.<\/p>\n<p>Here, we\u2019ll go over 15 powerful Korean quotes that you should remember by heart.<\/p>\n<p>[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n<h2>1. \ud574\uc548\uc774 \ubcf4\uc774\uc9c0 \uc54a\ub294 \uac83\uc744 \uc774\uaca8\ub0bc \uc6a9\uae30\uac00 \uc5c6\ub2e4\uba74 \uc808\ub300\ub85c \ubc14\ub2e4\ub97c \uac74\ub110 \uc218 \uc5c6\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> You can\u2019t cross the ocean if you don\u2019t have the courage to lose sight of the shore.<\/p>\n<p>A good quote to live by when you\u2019re attempting to achieve your aspirations. For some Korean natives who choose to go abroad, whether for work or study, this may hit particularly close to home.<\/p>\n<p>It was also a source of comfort for me when I had to move to a different state for my college studies, and as unpredictable and new as it was, the ocean I traversed was well worth the expedition.<\/p>\n<h2>2. \uac1c\ub5a1\uac19\uc774 \ub9d0\ud574\ub3c4 \ucc30\ub5a1\uac19\uc774 \uc54c\uc544\ub4e3\ub294\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> Even if you speak nonsense, you\u2019ll be understood perfectly.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worthwhile to point out the terms the quote uses: \uac1c\ub5a1 and \ucc30\ub5a1. They both refer to rice cakes, but the former is a roughly-shapen, lumpy one, while the latter is of a more pristine shape.<\/p>\n<p>This humorous quote is referencing the moments in which you ramble or stumble over your words, yet you\u2019re somehow still understood by whoever\u2019s listening. I attribute this quote often to my own ever-attentive friends and family, who are experts in decoding my nonsensical blabber.<\/p>\n<h2>3. \uc11c\ub2f9 \uac1c \uc0bc \ub144\uc5d0 \ud48d\uc6d4\ud55c\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> A dog at a schoolhouse can recite poems in three years.<\/p>\n<p>An amusing quote that brings to light a practical truth: with enough practice and exposure, anyone can learn or do anything, so don\u2019t lose hope when you don\u2019t get things right on the first try.<\/p>\n<p>Please don\u2019t actively search for talking dogs in Korea\u2013after all, they\u2019re quite good at playing dumb.<\/p>\n<h2>4. \ub9d0\uc740 \ub098\uba74 \uc81c\uc8fc\ub3c4\ub85c \ubcf4\ub0b4\uace0 \uc0ac\ub78c\uc740 \ub098\uba74 \uc11c\uc6b8\ub85c \ubcf4\ub0b4\ub77c.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> Send horses to Jeju Island and send people to Seoul.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Cheju-Island\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Jeju Island<\/a> is a lovely, arboreal place with a geography and culture different from the modern hustle and bustle of Seoul city. And yes, the island is also home to a good deal of horses (I\u2019ve gone horse-riding there myself, and it was definitely worthwhile).<\/p>\n<p>This quote is simply saying that one fosters in an environment that suits their wants and needs. By the way, it\u2019s not that you won\u2019t see a horse in Seoul\u2013it would stick out like a sore thumb (or hoof) though.<\/p>\n<h2>5. \uc6c3\uc74c\uc740 \ucd5c\uace0\uc758 \uba85\uc57d\uc774\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> Laughter is the best medicine.<\/p>\n<p>As the usual comedian within my friend group, I couldn\u2019t agree with this quote more. Making people laugh, even during difficult times, is a blessing that I never take for granted.<\/p>\n<p>If you haven\u2019t yet gotten a taste of unique Korean comedy, I recommend you check out some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/korean\/korean-movies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Korean films<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/korean\/korean-variety-shows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TV shows<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/korean\/korean-drama\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dramas<\/a>. You may just discover a new favorite brand of humor.<\/p>\n<p>You can also watch shorter Korean clips on FluentU. <p><strong>FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<p>You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/fluentu-learn-language-videos\/id917892175\">the iOS app<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.fluentflix.fluentu&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US\">Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><i><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/korean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/NativeAd-Korean.jpg\" alt=\"FluentU Ad\" \/>\r\n  <p style=\"text-align: center\">\r\n    <button class=\"btn-blue\" style=\"border: none;font-size: 18px;text-align: center;padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem;cursor: pointer\">\r\n      Try FluentU for FREE!\r\n    <\/button>\r\n  <\/p>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\n<h2>6. \uc2dc\uac04\uc740 \uae08\uc774\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> Time is gold.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not just an equivalent to the English proverb \u201ctime is money.\u201d Take it from me, Korean people can be a rather nostalgic bunch, and reliving memories is a common pastime for folks both old and young (especially after a few cups of soju have been consumed).<\/p>\n<p>And they really can go on and on about them\u2013I\u2019ve had moments in which I was stuck at the dinner table (for an hour, if I\u2019m lucky) having to listen to my father recount his youthful years for the 100th time.<\/p>\n<p>Treat time as the invaluable treasure it is, if only so that your Korean elders stop reminding you to do so everyday.<\/p>\n<h2>7. \uc790\uc2e0\uc744 \uc0ac\ub791\ud558\ub77c. \uadf8\ub798\uc57c \ub0a8\uc744 \uc0ac\ub791\ud560 \uc218 \uc788\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> Love yourself. Only then can you love others.<\/p>\n<p>I think most of us can agree that we all need more self-love than we give ourselves. It\u2019s especially the case in South Korea, which harbors a rather demanding culture that can be rife with societal pressure and expectations.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to give yourself a hug or pat on the back when you deserve or need it. I\u2019ve been trying to make it a somewhat daily habit for myself, and it\u2019s amazing just how much a quick moment of self-acknowledgement can elevate your mood and appreciation of others.<\/p>\n<h2>8. \uc218\uc2dc\ub85c \uc548\ubd80\ub97c \uc804\ud558\ub77c. \ub208\uacfc \uadc0\uc5d0\uc11c \uba40\uc5b4\uc9c0\uba74 \ub9c8\uc74c\uc5d0\uc11c\ub3c4 \uba40\uc5b4\uc9c4\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> Say hello frequently. Out of sight and ear, out of mind.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes, losing contact with someone is a choice\u2013other times, it can be an unfortunate prolonged circumstance of forgetting the occasional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/korean\/hello-in-korean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201chello\u201d or \u201chow are you.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve noticed that for Korean folks, especially the older generation, it\u2019s quite important to check in every once in a while (every other day, if you can) to show that they\u2019re still remembered. That being said, when was the last time you called your parents?<\/p>\n<h2>9. \ucf69 \uc2ec\uc740 \ub370 \ucf69 \ub09c\ub2e4. \uc88b\uc740 \uc528\uc557\ub9cc \uc2ec\uc5b4\ub77c.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> Plant beans, and the beans sprout. So plant good seeds.<\/p>\n<p>Sounds a bit redundant, but the quote is simply saying \u201cas one sows, so shall he reap.\u201d Growing up, this was a motto that I was frequently reminded of anytime I felt like lazing off or being crass towards someone.<\/p>\n<p>Even a little bit of effort to do good at the moment can save you from issues down the road.<\/p>\n<h2>10. \uc778\uc0dd\uc740 \ub4dc\ub77c\ub9c8\ub2e4. \uc5f0\ucd9c\ud558\uace0 \uc5f0\uae30\ud558\ub77c.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> Life is a drama. Direct and act.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s really no need to make Korean people, the overlords of the drama genre, believe this quote. It\u2019s also meant to be a bit of a comfort when confronting the highs and lows of life.<\/p>\n<p>There are moments in which you\u2019ll have agency and control and moments you won\u2019t. Regardless, you have a part to play, so keep on chugging on.<\/p>\n<h2>11. \ubaa8\ub450\uac00 \uc7a0\ub4e0 \ubc24\uc5d0 \ud53c\ub294 \uaf43\ub3c4 \uc788\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> There are flowers that bloom at night when everyone is asleep.<\/p>\n<p>This quote can be interpreted in more than one way. It suggests that one\u2019s potential and talents can be nurtured and expressed even when others aren\u2019t around to see them (being a night-owl introvert, I quite like this interpretation).<\/p>\n<p>Another interpretation is that one who works hard or through late hours, even if others aren\u2019t, can burgeon into a lovely, impressive specimen. This take, while potentially truthful, might not be the best one to tout at Korean students and corporate workers\u2013they already have a lot on their plate, and sleep deprivation really shouldn\u2019t be part of it.<\/p>\n<h2>12. \uce6d\ucc2c\uc5d0 \uc55e\uc7a5\uc11c\ub77c. \uc801\uad70\ub3c4 \uc544\uad70\uc774 \ub41c\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> Take the initiative to compliment. Then even enemies become allies.<\/p>\n<p>You thought that Korean people were just nice for nicety\u2019s sake? No, it\u2019s all a martial strategy to win the everyday battle that is life. You wouldn\u2019t believe how many foes I\u2019ve disarmed with a single nice comment about something as mundane as their fashion choices.<\/p>\n<p>In all seriousness, though, it doesn\u2019t hurt to be sweet without motive. Kill them with kindness, as the saying goes.<\/p>\n<h2>13. \ubc31\ubb38\uc774 \ubd88\uc5ec\uc77c\uacac.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> It is better to see something once than to hear about it 100 times.<\/p>\n<p>A golden instance of when the Korean language can capture such a profound idea, in so few words. Many Koreans I\u2019ve met in my life are quite extravagant and verbose storytellers, but really, words can get a bit befuddling over time and repetition.<\/p>\n<p>Too bad cameras weren\u2019t often an option when the chronicles they would talk about occurred.<\/p>\n<h2>14. \uac00\uc9c0\uac00 \ub9ce\uc740 \ub098\ubb34\ub294 \ubc14\ub78c \uc798 \ub0a0 \uc5c6\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> A tree with many branches is weak to wind.<\/p>\n<p>Growing up, I was acquainted with many Korean families that consisted of multiple children. This very saying was a common one shared among the parents while we youngsters made a wild mess of ourselves.<\/p>\n<p>The quote refers to the notion that having more people to care about makes you all the more vulnerable and prone to trouble. We all know of the kid whose individual recklessness brought a fair amount of grief and exasperation to the rest of his or her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/korean\/family-in-korean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">family<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>15. \uc0c8\ub85c\uc6b4 \uc5b8\uc5b4\ub294 \uc0c8\ub85c\uc6b4 \uc0b6\uc774\ub2e4.<\/h2>\n<p><strong>English translation:<\/strong> A new language is a new life.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, a lovely quote for all you language learners out there, whether you\u2019re studying Korean or something else. I\u2019m sure I don\u2019t need to explain this one in depth\u2013you already know that learning a language opens doors to all kinds of opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s probably the reason why you started your studies in the first place, and it never loses its truth, so good on you and keep it up!<\/p>\n<p>\nIf any of these quotes stuck out to you, it\u2019s worth memorizing them in both their original Korean and English translations.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond just providing a list of some motivational pick-me-ups, I\u2019m hoping that I\u2019ve nudged or furthered your interest and appreciation in the Korean language!<\/p>\n<h2>And One More Thing...<\/h2>\r\n<p>\r\nIf you enjoyed this post, you're already halfway to having the time of your life <strong><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> learning Korean with FluentU<\/a><\/strong>!\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nFluentU makes it possible to learn with K-pop videos, funny commercials, entertaining web series and more. Just a quick look will give you an idea of <a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the variety of FluentU videos on offer<\/a>:\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2028\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Korean-5.jpg\" alt=\"learn-korean-with-videos\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nFluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It's already hand-picked the best videos for you (which are organized by level and topic), so all you have to do is simply choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nEach word in the <strong>interactive captions<\/strong> comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2034\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Korean-2.jpg\" alt=\"learn-korean-with-subtitled-video-clips\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nAccess a complete interactive transcript of every video under the <strong>Dialogue<\/strong> tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under <strong>Vocab<\/strong>.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2029\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Korean-6.jpg\" alt=\"practice-korean-with-adaptive-quizzes\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nYou can use FluentU\u2019s unique <strong>Quiz Mode<\/strong> to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2030\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Korean-7.png\" alt=\"practice-korean-with-customized-quizzes\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nFluentU keeps track of what you're learning, and tells you exactly when it's time for review, giving you a <strong>100% personalized experience<\/strong>.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nReview sessions use video context to help embed the words in your memory.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nStart using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. <a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Korean language and culture has borne quite a few profound quotes that can appeal to all kinds of people around the world.\u00a0So whether you\u2019re studying Korean or not, everyone&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":413,"featured_media":248933,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"15 Deep Korean Quotes | FluentU Korean Blog","description":"If you're looking for inspiration, there are some great Korean quotes out there that apply to a range of relatable situations. Check out this post to learn 15 quotes about life in Hangul, along with audio and English translations, so you can use these quotes everyday."},"footnotes":""},"categories":[441,449],"tags":[],"coauthors":[185],"class_list":["post-79808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-korean","category-korean-vocabulary-lessons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/413"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79808"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79808\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":223155,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79808\/revisions\/223155"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/248933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79808"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=79808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}