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열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없...

A1 Proverb तटस्थ

열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다

yeol beon jjik-eo an neomeoganeun namu eopda

No tree falls with ten axe chops

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Keep swinging the axe; even the biggest challenges fall to persistent effort.

Means: Success is inevitable if you keep trying repeatedly.
Used in: Encouraging someone who is struggling with a difficult task.
Don't confuse: It's about effort, not literally cutting down trees.

🪓 + 🌳 x 10 = 🎉

Explanation at your level:

This is a very famous Korean saying. It says: 'Chop a tree ten times, and it will fall.' It means if you try many times, you will succeed. It is good for students. If Korean is hard, don't stop. Try ten times! You can do it.

This proverb uses the image of a woodcutter. Even if a tree is very big, it cannot stay standing if you hit it ten times with an axe. In life, we use this when a goal is difficult. It tells us that persistence is more important than being perfect at the start. It's a common way to cheer up a friend.

This proverb, 'Yeol beon jjigeo an neomeoganeun namu eopda,' illustrates the Korean value of perseverance. Grammatically, it uses a double negative to emphasize that success is inevitable. While it's often used to encourage people in their studies or jobs, you should be careful using it in romantic situations nowadays, as it might be misunderstood as ignoring someone's boundaries.

This idiomatic expression serves as a motivational maxim, suggesting that consistent effort can overcome any obstacle. The 'ten chops' represent the cumulative power of small, repeated actions. In a professional context, it's used to praise someone's tenacity. However, learners should note the shifting sociolinguistic landscape; what was once seen as 'romantic persistence' is now often scrutinized through the lens of modern social etiquette and consent.

This proverb encapsulates the 'can-do' spirit that fueled Korea's rapid modernization. From a linguistic perspective, the structure '안 [Verb]-는 [Noun] 없다' is a powerful rhetorical device used to state a universal truth. It functions as a cultural script for resilience. Advanced learners should analyze how this proverb is often parodied in modern media to critique the 'Noryeok' culture, where excessive effort is sometimes seen as futile in a rigid social hierarchy.

The proverb 'Yeol beon jjigeo an neomeoganeun namu eopda' functions as a linguistic manifestation of the Korean psychological construct of '끈기' (tenacity). It operates on a deterministic logic—that the external world is ultimately malleable through human agency and repetition. A cognitive linguistic analysis reveals the 'Tree' as a metaphor for any seemingly immovable object or status quo. Mastery involves navigating its dual legacy: as a noble call to perseverance and as a potentially problematic justification for boundary-crossing in interpersonal relationships.

मतलब

With persistence and continuous effort, any goal can be achieved.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

The proverb reflects the 'Pali-pali' (hurry-hurry) culture's hidden side: extreme persistence. While Koreans like speed, they also value the 'Grit' required to finish a task. There is a cynical take on this: 'If you chop ten times and it doesn't fall, your axe is broken.' This reflects the frustration with limited social mobility. Managers often use this to push employees. It can be a source of 'Kkon-dae' (old person/bossy) behavior if used to demand impossible results. This phrase is a trope in romantic movies from the early 2000s, often used by the male lead to justify his persistent pursuit of the female lead.

💡

Use it for motivation

It's the perfect phrase to write on a sticky note for your desk when you're studying for an exam.

⚠️

Dating Warning

Never use this to justify pursuing someone who has said 'no' in a romantic context. It's considered outdated and rude.

मतलब

With persistence and continuous effort, any goal can be achieved.

💡

Use it for motivation

It's the perfect phrase to write on a sticky note for your desk when you're studying for an exam.

⚠️

Dating Warning

Never use this to justify pursuing someone who has said 'no' in a romantic context. It's considered outdated and rude.

🎯

Natural Ending

In conversation, people often just say '열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없지' to sound more natural and confident.

💬

The 'Ten' Rule

Remember that 'ten' is symbolic. Don't stop exactly at ten if the 'tree' hasn't fallen yet!

खुद को परखो

Fill in the missing word to complete the proverb.

열 번 ___ 안 넘어가는 나무 없다.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 찍어

'찍다' (to chop/strike) is the specific verb used for an axe hitting a tree.

Which situation best fits this proverb?

When would you say '열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다'?

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: When a friend is sad because they failed a difficult exam for the third time.

The proverb is used to encourage persistence after failure.

Complete the dialogue naturally.

가: 이 일이 너무 힘들어서 포기하고 싶어요. 나: ________________________________.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없잖아요. 조금만 더 해봐요.

This response uses the proverb correctly to motivate the speaker.

Choose the grammatically correct version of the proverb.

Which one is the standard proverb?

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다

While others are grammatically possible, proverbs are fixed 'idiomatic' strings. '찍어' is the standard form.

🎉 स्कोर: /4

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

10 सवाल

No, 'ten' is a symbolic number in Korean meaning 'many' or 'enough.' It just means you should keep trying until you succeed.

Yes, it's one of the most well-known proverbs in Korea, though its application in dating is declining.

Yes, but be careful. It's better to use it when the boss is encouraging you, rather than you telling the boss to keep trying.

The main hanja roots are {十|열} (ten), {番|번} (time), and {木|나무} (tree).

People sometimes just say '열 번 찍기' (ten-time chopping) to refer to the concept.

'안' is a negative prefix. '안 넘어가는' means 'that which does not fall.'

Yes, many lyrics about overcoming hardship or pursuing love use this metaphor.

The proverb implies that no tree is too big for persistence, but modern skeptics might disagree!

Yes, '찍다' can mean to take a photo, to stamp, or to choose an answer on a test, but in this proverb, it specifically means to chop with an axe.

It's not rude, but it's usually the elder who says it to the younger person as advice.

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

📚

Encouraging a student

Student: 수학 문제가 너무 어려워서 못 풀겠어요.

Teacher: 열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없단다. 다시 해보자.

neutral

💼

Job hunting frustration

Friend A: 또 면접에서 떨어졌어. 난 안 되나 봐.

Friend B: 야, 열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없어. 다음엔 꼭 붙을 거야.

informal

🎸

Learning a new hobby

Beginner: 기타 코드가 너무 안 잡혀요.

Instructor: 열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없어요. 매일 10분씩만 더 하세요.

neutral

🤝

Business Sales

Manager: 그 거래처는 제안을 계속 거절하고 있습니다.

Director: 열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없습니다. 다른 제안서를 준비해서 다시 가보세요.

formal

💌

Dating advice (Old school)

Guy: 민지 씨가 제 데이트 신청을 또 거절했어요.

Older Brother: 열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다잖아. 정성을 더 보여봐.

informal

⚽

Sports Training

Player: 감독님, 슛이 자꾸 빗나가요.

Coach: 열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다! 들어갈 때까지 차!

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the number 10 (Yeol) and a tree (Namu). 10 hits = 0 trees standing.

Visual Association

Imagine a small woodcutter hitting a giant tree. With every hit, a small '1, 2, 3...' appears in the air. At '10', the tree suddenly turns into a trophy.

Rhyme

열 번 찍어 (Yeol-beon jjigeo), 나무 없어 (Namu eopseo).

Story

A young man wanted to learn the piano. He practiced one song for ten days. On the tenth day, he played it perfectly. His teacher said, 'See? Ten chops, no tree stays up!'

Word Web

찍다 (to chop)넘어가다 (to fall)나무 (tree)열 (ten)끈기 (persistence)노력 (effort)성공 (success)포기 (giving up)

चैलेंज

Try to say the phrase 5 times fast without tripping over 'jjigeo' and 'neomeoganeun'.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

La gota horada la piedra.

Spanish uses water/stone, Korean uses axe/tree.

French moderate

Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid.

French is constructive; Korean is about overcoming an obstacle.

German high

Steter Tropfen höhlt den Stein.

Focuses on the 'steady' nature of the action.

Japanese moderate

石の上にも三年

Japanese emphasizes time/endurance; Korean emphasizes active effort/repetition.

Arabic partial

من سار على الدرب وصل

Focuses on the path/journey rather than a specific obstacle.

Chinese high

磨杵成針

The Chinese idiom is more about extreme patience and transformation.

English high

Constant dripping wears away the stone.

Uses the same water/stone metaphor.

Portuguese high

Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura.

The rhyme makes it very catchy in Portuguese.

Easily Confused

열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다 बनाम 믿는 도끼에 발등 찍힌다

Both involve an axe (도끼) and the verb 'to chop' (찍다).

The 'tree' proverb is positive (persistence), while the 'axe' proverb is negative (betrayal by someone you trust).

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (10)