PROVERB · PEOPLE
윗물이 맑아야 아랫물이 맑다
What it means · 뜻
Leaders set the tone.
Literal reading · 직역
Clear water above, clear water below
Context
🤝 People — Korean proverbs in this family are said out loud, not just read. They arrive with the situation attached, which is why they are worth learning as whole sentences rather than as vocabulary.
Similar meaning
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사공이 많으면 배가 산으로 간다
Too many bosses wreck the project.
엎드려 절 받기
Mutual back-scratching / reciprocal favor.
이웃사촌
A close neighbor is like family. Korea's community spirit.
지렁이도 밟으면 구부럽다
Even the meek resist when pushed.
호랑이 없는 골에 토끼가 왕이다
Among the weak, the mediocre rules.
남의 떡이 커 보인다
The grass is greener on the other side.
동문서답
A totally irrelevant reply.
두 말 하면 잔소리
Once is enough.
우는 아이 젖 준다
Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
과부 사정은 과부가 안다
Outsiders can't truly understand your hardship.
귀가 얇다
Easily swayed by others' opinions.
낫 놓고 기역자 본다
Done with one thing, already eyeing the next.
새 발의 피
A trivial amount — bird blood barely shows.
닭 부리가 될지언정 소 꼬리는 되지 마라
Better first among the small than last among the great.
죽을 수가 닥치면 살 수가 생긴다
Desperation opens doors.
손자를 귀애하면 코 묻은 밥을 먹는다
Spoiling has gross invoices.
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