Phrase in 30 Seconds
A timeless Korean proverb teaching that the kindness you put into your words determines the kindness you receive in return.
- Means: If you speak kindly to others, they will naturally respond with kindness.
- Used in: Parenting, workplace conflicts, and teaching basic social etiquette to children.
- Don't confuse: It's not about physical actions, but specifically about the quality of speech.
आपके स्तर पर व्याख्या:
मतलब
If you speak kindly to others, they will speak kindly to you; good words beget good words.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
In Korea, the use of honorifics ({존댓말|尊待話}) is a practical application of this proverb. Using the correct level of politeness is the first step in ensuring a 'beautiful' outgoing word. The proverb aligns with the Confucian concept of 'Ren' (benevolence). Speaking kindly is seen as a duty to maintain social order and respect hierarchy. The Korean government and schools often run 'Beautiful Speech' campaigns to combat cyberbullying, using this proverb as their main slogan. In Korean business, the 'vibe' of a meeting is often set by the initial small talk. This proverb guides professionals to be humble and polite to ensure a smooth negotiation.
Use it to de-escalate
If someone is being slightly rude, saying this proverb with a smile can often shame them into being more polite without you having to be aggressive.
The power of 'Gopda'
Remember that 'Gopda' is a very positive, warm word. Using it shows you value the aesthetic beauty of social harmony.
Use it to de-escalate
If someone is being slightly rude, saying this proverb with a smile can often shame them into being more polite without you having to be aggressive.
The power of 'Gopda'
Remember that 'Gopda' is a very positive, warm word. Using it shows you value the aesthetic beauty of social harmony.
Don't sound preachy
If you say this to someone much older than you, it might sound like you are lecturing them. Use it carefully with superiors.
खुद को परखो
Fill in the blanks to complete the proverb.
가는 ( )이 고와야 ( )는 말이 곱다.
The proverb is '가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다.'
Which situation best fits the proverb '가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다'?
상황: 지수가 친구에게 화를 내며 소리를 질렀더니, 친구도 지수에게 소리를 질렀습니다.
The proverb explains that the way you speak to others determines how they speak to you.
Complete the dialogue using the proverb.
가: 저 직원은 왜 저렇게 불친절할까요? 나: 손님이 먼저 반말로 소리를 지르셨잖아요. ( ).
The context is about the relationship between the customer's rude speech and the staff's response.
🎉 स्कोर: /3
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
अभ्यास बैंक
4 अभ्यास가는 ( )이 고와야 ( )는 말이 곱다.
The proverb is '가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다.'
상황: 지수가 친구에게 화를 내며 소리를 질렀더니, 친구도 지수에게 소리를 질렀습니다.
The proverb explains that the way you speak to others determines how they speak to you.
가: 저 직원은 왜 저렇게 불친절할까요? 나: 손님이 먼저 반말로 소리를 지르셨잖아요. ( ).
The context is about the relationship between the customer's rude speech and the staff's response.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
5 सवालYes, although they might use it ironically or in specific contexts like gaming, the core message is still very much a part of modern Korean life.
It's a bit too informal for a direct email, but you could use it in a speech or a presentation about team building.
'친절하다' is the modern word for 'kind.' '곱다' is more traditional and implies a sense of beauty, softness, and refinement.
Absolutely! In fact, it's often cited when people discuss 'Kakaotalk' etiquette.
Yes, '売り言葉に買い言葉' in Japanese is the negative version. In Korean, people just say the proverb to warn against the negative cycle.
संबंधित मुहावरे
말 한마디에 천 냥 빚도 갚는다
similarA single word can repay a huge debt.
웃는 낯에 침 못 뱉는다
similarYou can't spit on a smiling face.
발 없는 말이 천 리 간다
builds onWords without feet travel a thousand miles (rumors spread fast).
말이 씨가 된다
similarWords become seeds.
कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें
Parenting
Child: 동생이 제 장난감을 망가뜨렸어요! 바보 같아요!
Mother: 지수야, 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다고 했지? 예쁘게 말해봐.
Workplace Conflict
Manager: 김 대리님, 아까 회의에서 너무 공격적이었어요.
Employee: 죄송합니다. 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다는 걸 깜빡했네요.
Customer Service
Customer: 항상 친절하게 응대해 주셔서 감사합니다.
Staff: 아니에요. 고객님이 가는 말을 곱게 해 주셔서 저도 즐겁게 일할 수 있었습니다.
Online Gaming
Player A: 야, 너 왜 그렇게 못해? 진짜 짜증 나네.
Player B: 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱지. 욕하지 말고 게임이나 해.
Dating
Boyfriend: 너 오늘 왜 이렇게 늦었어? 짜증 나.
Girlfriend: 미안해, 근데 말투가 너무 심하다. 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 고운 거 알지?
Negotiating at a Market
Shopper: 사장님, 이거 조금만 깎아주세요~ 네?
Vendor: 아이고, 말을 참 예쁘게 하시네! 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다고, 하나 더 드릴게!
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Think of 'Ganeun' (Going) and 'Oneun' (Coming) as a tennis match. If you serve a 'Gopda' (Beautiful) ball, you get a 'Gopda' return.
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a person speaking flowers into a mirror. The reflection speaks flowers back. If the person speaks thorns, the reflection speaks thorns.
Rhyme
Ganeun mari gowaya, oneun mari gopda! (The rhythm is 4-3-4-3 in Korean syllables, making it very catchy).
Story
Once, a grumpy traveler entered a village and shouted, 'Hey, where's the food?' The villagers ignored him. A kind traveler entered and said, 'Excuse me, could you help me find a meal?' The villagers gave him a feast. The kind traveler knew: 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다.
In Other Languages
English has 'What goes around comes around' (though more general) and 'You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.' German has a very close equivalent: 'Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus.'
Word Web
चैलेंज
Try to use '고운 말' (beautiful words) for the next 5 hours. If someone is rude to you, respond with kindness and see if the proverb holds true.
Review this phrase on Day 1, 3, and 7. Focus on the connection between 'Ganeun' (Going) and 'Oneun' (Coming).
उच्चारण
The 'l' in 'mal' moves to the next syllable because of the particle 'i'.
The 'w' sound is soft.
Similar to the first part.
The 'd' in 'da' becomes a tense 'tt' sound after the 'p' in 'gop'.
औपचारिकता का स्तर
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다는 격언처럼, 우리 서로 예의를 갖춥시다. (General reminder of the rule)
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 고운 법이에요. 친절하게 말해 주세요. (General reminder of the rule)
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱지! 말 좀 예쁘게 해. (General reminder of the rule)
말 예쁘게 안 하냐? 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 고운 거 몰라? (General reminder of the rule)
The proverb is a native Korean expression that has existed for centuries. It uses simple, everyday words (go, come, word, beautiful) that suggest it originated among commoners rather than the scholarly elite who used Sino-Korean idioms (Saja-seong-eo). It reflects the 'Pung-ryu' (appreciation of beauty and harmony) inherent in Korean folk culture.
रोचक तथ्य
The word '곱다' in this proverb is the same word used to describe the beautiful colors of a Hanbok (traditional Korean dress).
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
In Korea, the use of honorifics ({존댓말|尊待話}) is a practical application of this proverb. Using the correct level of politeness is the first step in ensuring a 'beautiful' outgoing word.
“Using '안녕하세요' instead of '안녕' to a stranger.”
The proverb aligns with the Confucian concept of 'Ren' (benevolence). Speaking kindly is seen as a duty to maintain social order and respect hierarchy.
“Children are taught to use 'beautiful words' as part of their moral character development.”
The Korean government and schools often run 'Beautiful Speech' campaigns to combat cyberbullying, using this proverb as their main slogan.
“Posters in schools saying '가는 말이 고와야 댓글이 곱다' (The outgoing words must be kind for the comments to be kind).”
In Korean business, the 'vibe' of a meeting is often set by the initial small talk. This proverb guides professionals to be humble and polite to ensure a smooth negotiation.
“Starting a meeting with sincere compliments about the other company's achievements.”
बातचीत की शुरुआत
한국에서는 왜 '가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다'라고 할까요?
최근에 누군가에게 '고운 말'을 들어서 기분이 좋았던 적이 있나요?
인터넷 댓글 문화에서 이 속담이 왜 중요할까요?
सामान्य गलतियाँ
가는 말이 좋아야 오는 말이 좋다
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
L1 Interference
오는 말이 고와야 가는 말이 곱다
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
L1 Interference
가는 말이 고와서 오는 말이 곱다
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
L1 Interference
가는 말이 예뻐야 오는 말이 예쁘다
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Obras son amores, y no buenas razones
Spanish focuses more on actions, while Korean focuses specifically on the quality of speech.
On récolte ce que l'on sème
The French version is an agricultural metaphor for all actions, not just words.
Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus
German uses a forest echo metaphor, while Korean uses the 'going and coming' of words.
売り言葉に買い言葉 (Uri kotoba ni kai kotoba)
The Japanese phrase is almost exclusively used for negative exchanges/arguments.
كما تدين تدان (Kama tudinu tudan)
The Arabic version has a stronger sense of divine or ultimate justice.
礼尚往来 (Lǐ shàng wǎng lái)
The Chinese version is more formal and covers gifts and favors as well as words.
말 한마디에 천 냥 빚도 갚는다
Focuses on the *value* of words rather than the *reciprocity* of words.
Gentileza gera gentileza
It is a more modern, direct statement rather than an ancient agricultural proverb.
Spotted in the Real World
“가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 고운 거야, 광수야!”
Yoo Jae-suk scolding Lee Kwang-soo for being jokingly rude during a mission.
“가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱지요~”
A standard nursery rhyme taught in Korean kindergartens.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Both start with '가는' (Ganeun).
Remember that '말' (mal) means word, while '날' (nal) means day. 'Jang-nal' is market day (bad timing).
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (5)
Yes, although they might use it ironically or in specific contexts like gaming, the core message is still very much a part of modern Korean life.
usage contextsIt's a bit too informal for a direct email, but you could use it in a speech or a presentation about team building.
practical tips'친절하다' is the modern word for 'kind.' '곱다' is more traditional and implies a sense of beauty, softness, and refinement.
grammar mechanicsAbsolutely! In fact, it's often cited when people discuss 'Kakaotalk' etiquette.
usage contextsYes, '売り言葉に買い言葉' in Japanese is the negative version. In Korean, people just say the proverb to warn against the negative cycle.
comparisons
