E305/505 Korean Language and Culture


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Discussion questions on proverbs

  1. What are the characteristics of proverbs?


  2. How are proverbs compared to metaphors? In what sense are proverbs metaphorical? How are proverbs different from metaphors?


  3. What does it mean by saying 'Proverbs combine a cognitive economy of reasoning with pragmatic force aimed at influencing other people'?


  4. What are the goals of White to study proverbs?


  5. What are the mechanisms of interpreting proverbs?


  6. What are the formal characteristics of proverbs?



  7. How does inconsistency between proverbs work within a culture?

  8.             Negative reaction                                             Postive reaction
          There’s no use crying over spilt milk vs.   The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
                                                                            Where there’s a will, there’s a way



  9. Compare English and Korena proverbs.
English
Korean
1
Every cloud has a silver lining.

Someday a ray of sunlit comes throuhg even in a mouse hole.

쥐 구멍에도 볕 들날 있다.

2
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fense.

The rice cake of other people looks bigger.
남의 떡이 커 보인다.

3
There's no use of crying over spilt milk.

After the march the trumpet sounds.

Spilt water
엎질러진 물

Fixing up a barn afer having lost a cow.
소 잃고 외양간 고치기

4
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

A crying baby will get milk.
우는 아이 젖 준다.

5
Time heals all wounds.

The passage of time is the medicine.
시간이 약이다.

6
Walls have ears.

A day time talk is heard by birds, and a night time talk is heard by mice.
낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다.

7
What goes around comes around. Nice words bring nice words in return.
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다.
8
Seeing is believing.

Hundred times of listening is not as good as one time of seeing.
백문이 불여일견

9
It only takes one bad apple to spoil the barrel.

One mudfish makes the whole puddle muddy.
미꾸라지 한 마리가 물 흐려 놓는다.

10
A barking dog is never a good hunter.

An empty cart makes bigger noise.
빈 수레가 요란하다.

11
Speaking of devil.

Even a tiger shows up when he is spoken of.
호랑이도 제 말하면 온다.

12 A fine child becomes a fine gentleman.

A giant tree displays itself even in a bud.
될 성 부른 나무는 떡잎부터 알아본다.

13

Much science (learning), much sorrow.

 

Having knowledge is the disease.
아는 게 병이다.

cf. Knowledge is power. 나는 게 힘이다)

14 Smoking gun.

Would there be smoke in the chimney that is not set on fire?
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까?

15

After the march the trumpet sounds
Lock the door after the horse is gone
.

Fixing the barn after losing a cow
소 잃고 외양간 고치기

16 Two head are better than one.

Even a sheet of paper gets lighter when carried by two people.
백지장도 맞들면 낫다.

17 In trust is treason.

A known ax falls on one's foot.
믿는 도끼에 발등 찍히기

18  

Even a three feet beard cannot make you a gentleman unless you eat.
수염이 석자라도 먹어야 양반

Sightseeing of even Mt. Diamond comes after eating.
금강산도 식후경

19  

Three bushels of beads can make no jewels unless strung together.
구슬 서말도 꿰어야 보배.

20  

If he suceeds, man praises himself; if he fails, he blames his ancestors.
잘 되면 자기 탓, 못 되면 조상탓

21  

Soy beans grow from soy bean seeds; red beans grow from red bean seeds
콩심은 데 콩나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다.

22  

While the host is not even thinking of giving the cakes, the guests sip the pickle.
주인은 떡 줄 생각도 안 하는데, 김치국부터 마신다.

23  

To begin is half the job.
시작이 반이다.

24  

First give the malady and next the remedy.
병 주고 약 준다.

25   He who steals a needle will become a cow thief.
바늘 도둑이 소 도둑 된다.
26  

Though taken by a tiger, if one gathers his wits, he may live.
호랑이에게 물려가도 정신만 차리면 산다.

27 Gold helps those who help themselves. 하늘은 스스로 돕는 자를 돕는다.
28 Necessity is the mother of invention. 필요는 성공의 어머니.
29 Rome wasn't built in a day. 로마는 하루 아침에 이루어 지지 않는다.
30 Where there's a will there's a way. 뜻이 있는 곳에 길이 있다.
31 You can't have your cake and eat it too. Cf. 꿩 (pheasant) 먹고 알 먹고.
32 Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill. 침소봉대 (針小棒大) 하지 마라.