A1 Proverb Neutre

선무당이 사람 잡는다.

seonmudang-i saram jamneunda.

An unskilled shaman kills people.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A warning that someone with little knowledge can cause serious harm when they try to do a professional's job.

  • Means: Incompetence or half-knowledge leads to dangerous mistakes.
  • Used in: Warning against DIY repairs, medical advice, or amateur interference.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about being a beginner; it is about pretending to be an expert.
Unqualified person + Complex task = Disaster

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means that if you don't know how to do something, you should not try it. It can be dangerous.
It is a warning. If someone has only a little bit of knowledge and tries to do a hard job, they will cause big problems.
This proverb warns against the dangers of amateurism. It suggests that superficial knowledge is often worse than no knowledge at all, especially when dealing with critical tasks.
The phrase serves as a cautionary idiom regarding the Dunning-Kruger effect. It implies that those who lack deep expertise but act with confidence are prone to causing significant, often irreversible, damage.
This proverb functions as a sociolinguistic critique of overconfidence. It highlights the discrepancy between perceived competence and actual skill, warning that the intervention of an unqualified actor in a complex system inevitably leads to systemic failure.
Rooted in traditional shamanistic culture, this proverb serves as a cognitive heuristic for risk management. It encapsulates the danger of 'epistemic arrogance,' where partial information is mistaken for mastery, leading to catastrophic outcomes in high-stakes environments.

Signification

A little knowledge can be dangerous; incompetence causes harm.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Shamans were central to village life. The term '선무당' was a derogatory label for those who lacked the 'spirit' or training. The phrase is used in corporate settings to criticize 'armchair experts' who interfere in technical projects. Similar to Japanese '生兵法', there is a shared cultural value of respecting professional boundaries.

💡

Context is key

Only use this when someone is actively causing harm or about to.

⚠️

Don't be rude

It can sound condescending if used against a friend who is just trying their best.

Signification

A little knowledge can be dangerous; incompetence causes harm.

💡

Context is key

Only use this when someone is actively causing harm or about to.

⚠️

Don't be rude

It can sound condescending if used against a friend who is just trying their best.

💬

Shaman roots

Knowing the shaman origin helps you remember it's about 'ritual' or 'technical' failure.

Teste-toi

Which situation is appropriate for this proverb?

A friend who has never cooked tries to make a complex 5-course meal.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : A

The friend is an amateur attempting a professional task.

Fill in the missing word.

선무당이 ____ 잡는다.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 사람

The proverb is '선무당이 사람 잡는다'.

Complete the dialogue.

A: 내가 이 기계를 고쳐볼게. B: ____. 전문가를 불러.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 선무당이 사람 잡는다

It's a warning against amateur repair.

Match the proverb to the meaning.

선무당이 사람 잡는다

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : B

It warns against amateurism.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

8 questions

No, it is specifically for amateurs.

It depends on your tone; it can be a friendly warning or a harsh critique.

It means 'half' or 'incomplete' in this context.

Yes, often to criticize incompetent management.

Sometimes people just say '선무당이 사람 잡네'.

It means to 'take' or 'catch' a life.

Yes, '선무당이 사람 잡는다고 내가 고치려다 망쳤어' (I tried to fix it and ruined it).

Yes, but this is the most common for this specific meaning.

Expressions liées

🔗

아는 것이 힘이다

contrast

Knowledge is power.

🔗

돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라

similar

Check the stone bridge before crossing.

🔗

배보다 배꼽이 더 크다

similar

The belly button is bigger than the belly.

Où l'utiliser

🛠️

DIY Repair

A: 내가 이 컴퓨터 고쳐볼게.

B: 그만둬, 선무당이 사람 잡는다고 더 망가질 거야.

informal
💊

Medical Advice

A: 인터넷에서 보니까 이 약이 좋대.

B: 선무당이 사람 잡는다는데, 의사한테 물어봐.

neutral
💻

Workplace Task

Manager: 이 코드는 누가 짰나?

Colleague: 인턴이요. 선무당이 사람 잡는다고, 다 꼬여버렸습니다.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'Sun' (선) shaman trying to heal someone but failing. The 'Sun' is too bright and blinds them, causing them to 'catch' (kill) the patient.

Visual Association

A person wearing a doctor's coat but holding a toy hammer, looking confused while a patient runs away.

Rhyme

선무당이 사람 잡는다, 조심하지 않으면 큰일 난다.

Story

Min-su tried to fix his own car engine. He didn't know anything about it. He turned a screw, and the whole engine exploded. His dad sighed and said, '선무당이 사람 잡는다!'

Word Web

무당어설프다전문가위험실수경고

Défi

Find one situation today where someone is doing something they aren't trained for and say the phrase in your head.

In Other Languages

Spanish partial

El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta.

Korean is about danger; Spanish is about lack of focus.

French low

Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.

Korean warns against incompetence, French warns against over-complication.

German moderate

Schuster, bleib bei deinem Leisten.

German is a command to stay in your lane; Korean is a warning of the consequences.

Japanese high

生兵法は怪我の元

Japanese uses a martial arts metaphor; Korean uses a shamanistic one.

Arabic moderate

أعطِ خبزك للخباز ولو أكل نصفه

Arabic encourages hiring pros; Korean warns against amateurs.

Easily Confused

선무당이 사람 잡는다. vs 선무당이 사람 잡는다 vs. 낫 놓고 기역 자도 모른다

Both involve lack of knowledge.

The first is about doing harm; the second is about being illiterate/ignorant.

선무당이 사람 잡는다. vs 선무당이 사람 잡는다 vs. 서당 개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다

Both involve learning.

The first is about failed learning; the second is about successful learning.

선무당이 사람 잡는다. vs 선무당이 사람 잡는다 vs. 벼는 익을수록 고개를 숙인다

Both involve experts.

The first is about fake experts; the second is about real experts.

FAQ (8)

No, it is specifically for amateurs.

It depends on your tone; it can be a friendly warning or a harsh critique.

It means 'half' or 'incomplete' in this context.

Yes, often to criticize incompetent management.

Sometimes people just say '선무당이 사람 잡네'.

It means to 'take' or 'catch' a life.

Yes, '선무당이 사람 잡는다고 내가 고치려다 망쳤어' (I tried to fix it and ruined it).

Yes, but this is the most common for this specific meaning.

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