똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다.
Ttong mudeun gaega gyeo mudeun gae namuranda.
A dog with feces scolds a dog with chaff.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
A proverb used to call out someone who criticizes others for small mistakes while having much bigger flaws themselves.
- Means: A hypocrite with big faults judging someone with tiny ones.
- Used in: Arguments, political debates, or when friends act 'holier-than-thou'.
- Don't confuse: Don't use this for genuine advice; it's a sharp social jab.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Someone who is guilty criticizing another for a lesser fault; pot calling the kettle black.
Contexte culturel
The proverb uses '겨' (chaff), which was a common byproduct of rice farming. It shows how deeply Korean wisdom is rooted in agriculture. Confucianism emphasizes 'self-rectification' (수신). Criticizing others before fixing oneself is seen as a major character flaw in Korea. In Korea, dogs were historically viewed as lowly animals. Using a dog as the subject of a proverb often adds a layer of 'base' or 'unrefined' behavior to the metaphor. This proverb is a favorite of political cartoonists in Korea. You will often see drawings of dogs with political party logos on them scolding each other.
Shorten it for impact
In casual speech, you can just say '똥 묻은 개가...' and trail off. Everyone will know exactly what you mean.
Don't use with elders
Even though it's a proverb, the word '똥' (dung) makes it too blunt for people you need to show high respect to.
Shorten it for impact
In casual speech, you can just say '똥 묻은 개가...' and trail off. Everyone will know exactly what you mean.
Don't use with elders
Even though it's a proverb, the word '똥' (dung) makes it too blunt for people you need to show high respect to.
Use with '격이다'
Adding '...격이다' (it is like) makes your sentence sound more sophisticated and analytical.
Teste-toi
Complete the proverb with the correct words.
똥 묻은 개가 ___ 묻은 개 ___.
The standard proverb is '똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다.'
Which situation best fits this proverb?
Situation: A student who never does homework tells his friend, 'You should study harder!'
The student is being hypocritical, which is exactly what the dog proverb describes.
Choose the most natural response.
가: 지민이는 자기도 맨날 늦으면서 나한테 시간 약속 잘 지키래. 나: ________________________.
The proverb is the perfect response to point out Jimin's hypocrisy.
Match the word to its meaning in the proverb.
1. 똥, 2. 겨, 3. 나무라다
똥 = Dung, 겨 = Chaff, 나무라다 = Scold.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Dung vs. Chaff
Banque d exercices
5 exercices똥 묻은 개가 ___ 묻은 개 ___.
The standard proverb is '똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다.'
Situation: A student who never does homework tells his friend, 'You should study harder!'
The student is being hypocritical, which is exactly what the dog proverb describes.
가: 지민이는 자기도 맨날 늦으면서 나한테 시간 약속 잘 지키래. 나: ________________________.
The proverb is the perfect response to point out Jimin's hypocrisy.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
똥 = Dung, 겨 = Chaff, 나무라다 = Scold.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsIt's not a swear word, but it is blunt. It's like saying 'poop' or 'dung.' In a proverb, it's perfectly acceptable.
It is the husk or chaff of grain (like rice). It's very light and barely considered 'dirt,' which creates the contrast with 'dung.'
Only with close colleagues. Using it about a boss or in a formal meeting would be seen as very aggressive.
You can use '내로남불' (Nae-ro-nam-bul) or '적반하장' (Jeok-ban-ha-jang), which are slightly more abstract.
In old Korea, dogs were everywhere and often got into messes. They were the easiest animals to use for social metaphors.
Yes, it's the plain present tense (-ㄴ다), which is standard for proverbs to show a universal truth.
No, proverbs are fixed expressions. If you change the words, it's no longer the proverb.
Then you might say '도긴개긴' (Do-gin-gae-gin), which means 'there's no difference between the two.'
Expressions liées
적반하장
similarThe thief turns on the owner with a stick.
내로남불
similarIf I do it, it's romance; if you do it, it's an affair.
가랑잎이 솔잎더러 바스락거린다고 한다
synonymThe dry leaf tells the pine needle it's making too much noise.
사돈 남 말 한다
similarYou're talking like it's someone else's business (when it's yours).
Où l'utiliser
Office Hypocrisy
Colleague A: 김 대리님, 또 5분 늦으셨네요? 성실하게 좀 하세요.
Colleague B: (혼잣말로) 자기는 맨날 지각하면서... 진짜 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다더니.
Sibling Fight
Older Sister: 야, 너 방이 이게 뭐야? 좀 치우고 살아!
Younger Brother: 누나 방이나 봐. 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라지 말고.
Political Debate
News Anchor: 두 정당이 서로의 비리를 비난하고 있습니다.
Commentator: 국민들 눈에는 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라는 것으로 보일 뿐입니다.
Dieting Friends
Friend A: 너 또 콜라 마셔? 다이어트 한다며!
Friend B: 피자 세 판 먹은 사람이 누구더라? 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라네!
School Project
Student A: 너 왜 자료 조사 이렇게 대충 했어?
Student B: 너는 아예 아무것도 안 했잖아. 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라는 거야?
Social Media Comment
User 1: 이 연예인 인성 논란 있네요. 실망입니다.
User 2: 본인 과거부터 돌아보시길. 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라는 꼴이네요.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of two dogs: one rolled in a sewer (Dung), one has a bit of dust (Chaff). The sewer dog is barking at the dusty dog. Who is he to talk?
Association visuelle
Visualize a white Jindo dog covered in brown mud (the 'dung') pointing a paw and laughing at another dog who just has a tiny piece of straw (the 'chaff') on its ear.
Rhyme
똥 묻은 개 (Tto-ng mu-deun gae), 겨 묻은 개 (Gye mu-deun gae), 나무란다네 (Na-mu-ran-da-ne)!
Story
A king once saw a beggar criticizing another beggar for having a torn sleeve, while the first beggar was wearing nothing but rags. The king laughed and said, 'You are like the dog covered in dung scolding the dog with chaff!'
In Other Languages
English has 'The pot calling the kettle black.' Chinese uses 'Fifty steps laughing at a hundred steps.' Both capture the same irony of hypocritical judgment.
Word Web
Défi
Try to find one news article today where two people are arguing, and see if this proverb applies to their situation.
Review this on Day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the difference between 'Dung' (Tto-ng) and 'Chaff' (Gye).
Prononciation
Strong, tensed 'tt' sound. Do not breathe out.
The 'd' sound moves to the next syllable.
Four even syllables. No strong stress.
Spectre de formalité
그것은 마치 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개를 나무라는 격입니다. (General usage)
똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다더니, 딱 그 상황이네. (General usage)
똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라네! (General usage)
완전 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라는 꼴이네. (Focus on '꼴' for sarcasm) (General usage)
This is an ancient oral proverb from the Joseon Dynasty. It likely originated among commoners who observed the behavior of village dogs and used it to mock the hypocrisy of the ruling class (Yangban) who often criticized the poor while being corrupt themselves.
Le savais-tu ?
There is a variation involving a 'charcoal-covered dog' scolding a 'soot-covered dog,' but the 'dung' version became more popular because it's more extreme and funny.
Notes culturelles
The proverb uses '겨' (chaff), which was a common byproduct of rice farming. It shows how deeply Korean wisdom is rooted in agriculture.
“Farmers would see dogs playing in the chaff after a harvest.”
Confucianism emphasizes 'self-rectification' (수신). Criticizing others before fixing oneself is seen as a major character flaw in Korea.
“A teacher might use this proverb to encourage students to look at their own behavior first.”
In Korea, dogs were historically viewed as lowly animals. Using a dog as the subject of a proverb often adds a layer of 'base' or 'unrefined' behavior to the metaphor.
“Many Korean insults and proverbs involve dogs (개) to signify lack of manners.”
This proverb is a favorite of political cartoonists in Korea. You will often see drawings of dogs with political party logos on them scolding each other.
“A cartoon showing a 'Corruption Dog' barking at a 'Tax Dog'.”
Amorces de conversation
정치인들이 서로 비판하는 걸 보면 어떤 생각이 들어요?
주변에 자기 잘못은 모르고 남만 탓하는 사람이 있나요?
'내로남불'이라는 말을 들어봤나요? 이 속담과 어떻게 비슷한가요?
Erreurs courantes
겨 묻은 개가 똥 묻은 개 나무란다.
똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다.
L1 Interference
똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개를 욕한다.
똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다.
L1 Interference
똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개를 가르친다.
똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다.
L1 Interference
Using it to describe two people who are both innocent.
N/A (Don't use the phrase)
L1 Interference
똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개를 나무라요.
똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무란다.
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
The pot calling the kettle black.
English uses inanimate objects (pot/kettle), Korean uses animals (dogs).
五十步笑百步 (Wǔshíbù xiào bǎibù)
The Chinese version is more about 'degree' of cowardice, while the Korean one is more about 'filth' and hypocrisy.
目糞鼻糞を笑う (Mekuso hanakuso o warau)
Japanese uses facial waste; Korean uses farmyard waste.
El burro hablando de orejas.
Focuses on physical traits rather than being 'dirty'.
C'est l'hôpital qui se moque de la charité.
Uses social institutions rather than animals or dirt.
Wer im Glashaus sitzt, soll nicht mit Steinen werfen.
Focuses on the consequence of hypocrisy rather than the irony of the filth.
باب النجار مخلع (Bab al-najjar mukhalla')
Focuses on professional irony rather than moral judgment.
O sujo falando do mal lavado.
Uses people/states of cleanliness rather than dogs and chaff.
Spotted in the Real World
“똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라는 꼴이네요.”
Vincenzo says this to a corrupt lawyer who is trying to lecture him on legal ethics.
“정치권의 비난전은 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라는 격이다.”
An article criticizing both major parties for accusing each other of the same scandals.
“형, 똥 묻은 개가 겨 묻은 개 나무라는 거야?”
Kwang-soo says this to Yoo Jae-suk when Jae-suk criticizes him for cheating in a game.
Facile à confondre
Both involve 'dog' and 'dung'.
This one means 'even something common is hard to find when you need it.' It has nothing to do with hypocrisy.
Both involve 'dogs'.
This means 'even a dog can learn if it hangs around a school.' It's about the power of environment/habit.
Questions fréquentes (8)
It's not a swear word, but it is blunt. It's like saying 'poop' or 'dung.' In a proverb, it's perfectly acceptable.
basic understandingIt is the husk or chaff of grain (like rice). It's very light and barely considered 'dirt,' which creates the contrast with 'dung.'
vocabularyOnly with close colleagues. Using it about a boss or in a formal meeting would be seen as very aggressive.
practical tipsYou can use '내로남불' (Nae-ro-nam-bul) or '적반하장' (Jeok-ban-ha-jang), which are slightly more abstract.
comparisonsIn old Korea, dogs were everywhere and often got into messes. They were the easiest animals to use for social metaphors.
cultural usageYes, it's the plain present tense (-ㄴ다), which is standard for proverbs to show a universal truth.
grammar mechanicsNo, proverbs are fixed expressions. If you change the words, it's no longer the proverb.
usage contextsThen you might say '도긴개긴' (Do-gin-gae-gin), which means 'there's no difference between the two.'
comparisons
