Proverbs
Korean proverbs (Sok-dam) distill centuries of agrarian wisdom, philosophical humor, and observations about human nature into poetic, memorable phrases.
μμμ΄ λ°μ΄λ€
sijagi banida
κ°λ λ§μ΄ κ³ μμΌ μ€λ λ§μ΄ κ³±λ€
ganeun mari gowaya oneun mari gopda
ν°λ λͺ¨μ νμ°
tikkeul moa taesan
λ°±μ§μ₯λ λ§λ€λ©΄ λ«λ€
baekjijangdo matdeulmyeon natda
μμμ΄λ λ무μμ λ¨μ΄μ§λ€
wonsung-ido namueseo tteoreojinda
κ³ μ λμ λμ΄ μ¨λ€
gosaeng kkeute nagi onda
λ° μλ λ§μ΄ μ² λ¦¬ κ°λ€
bal eomneun mari cheon ri ganda
μ μκ³ μΈμκ° κ³ μΉλ€
so ilko oeyanggan gochinda
μ λΏλ λ¨κΉμ λΉΌλΌ
soeppuldo dangime ppaera
콩 μ¬μ λ° μ½© λκ³ ν₯ μ¬μ λ° ν₯ λλ€
kong simeun de kong nago pat simeun de pat nanda
μλ¬Όμ΄ λ§μμΌ μλ«λ¬Όμ΄ λ§λ€
wingmuri malgaya araenmuri malda
κΈκ°μ°λ μνκ²½
geumgangsando sik-hugyeong
Timeless Korean Proverbs (Sok-dam) & Calligraphic Expressions
Practicing proverbs is the traditional gold standard in Korean calligraphy because longer sentences train rhythm, cadence, and consistent character sizing.
The proverb "Starting is half the journey" (μμμ΄ λ°μ΄λ€) reminds learners that simply picking up a pen and writing your first Korean syllable is already half the battle won!