A1 Proverb तटस्थ

돌다리도 두드려 보고 건너라.

doldarido dudeuryeo bogo geonneora.

Look before you leap.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Even when something seems perfectly safe, double-check it before proceeding.

  • Means: Exercise extreme caution even in familiar or seemingly safe situations.
  • Used in: Planning projects, making financial decisions, or starting new relationships.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about being fearful, but about being thorough.
Stone bridge + Tapping sound = Better safe than sorry

Explanation at your level:

This is a Korean proverb. It means you should be careful. Even if something looks safe, check it again. It is good advice for work or life.
This proverb is used to tell someone to be cautious. Even when a situation seems safe, like a stone bridge, you should test it. It is a very common way to advise someone to be thorough and avoid mistakes.
This phrase is a piece of traditional wisdom. It serves as a reminder that appearances can be deceiving. By using the metaphor of a stone bridge, it emphasizes that even in familiar or seemingly secure circumstances, one should verify the facts before taking action. It is frequently used in professional and personal contexts to advocate for risk management.
The proverb '돌다리도 두드려 보고 건너라' is a quintessential example of Korean risk-aversion culture. It functions as a cautionary directive, urging individuals to validate their assumptions. In modern discourse, it is often invoked to criticize hasty decision-making, highlighting the necessity of due diligence. It is a versatile idiom that bridges the gap between ancient survival wisdom and modern professional standards.
This proverb encapsulates the cognitive heuristic of 'verify before trust.' It functions as a socio-cultural imperative for meticulousness. Linguistically, it utilizes the imperative mood to enforce a behavioral norm. It is particularly interesting because it juxtaposes the physical act of testing a bridge with the abstract concept of due diligence, illustrating how traditional metaphors continue to shape modern Korean decision-making processes.
The proverb serves as a linguistic artifact of historical risk-assessment strategies, now repurposed as a standard idiom for prudence. It reflects a cultural preference for minimizing variance in outcomes through iterative verification. From a cognitive perspective, it encourages the mitigation of confirmation bias by mandating an active 'testing' phase before commitment. Its usage frequency remains high due to its alignment with the cultural value of '꼼꼼함,' which is highly prized in Korean corporate and social hierarchies.

मतलब

Even with seemingly safe things, one should proceed with caution.

🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

Reflects the value of '꼼꼼함' (meticulousness) in society.

💡

Use it in business

It makes you sound professional and thoughtful.

मतलब

Even with seemingly safe things, one should proceed with caution.

💡

Use it in business

It makes you sound professional and thoughtful.

खुद को परखो

Fill in the missing verb.

돌다리도 _____ 보고 건너라.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 두드려

The verb '두드리다' (to tap) is the core of the proverb.

What does this proverb mean?

돌다리도 두드려 보고 건너라의 의미는?

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: 조심해서 확인해라

It means to be cautious and verify.

🎉 स्कोर: /2

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

1 सवाल

Yes, it shows you are responsible.

संबंधित मुहावरे

🔄

신중을 기하다

synonym

To be very cautious.

🔗

유비무환

similar

If you are prepared, there is no worry.

कहाँ इस्तेमाल करें

🚗

Buying a used item

Friend: 이 중고차 바로 살까?

You: 돌다리도 두드려 보고 건너라잖아. 정비소 가서 점검부터 받아봐.

neutral
📈

Starting a new project

Manager: 이번 프로젝트 바로 시작할까요?

You: 돌다리도 두드려 보고 건너라는 말처럼, 리스크 분석부터 확실히 합시다.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a bridge made of stone. You tap it with a stick—'tap, tap'—to make sure it's solid before you step on it.

Visual Association

A traveler in traditional Korean clothes (Hanbok) standing before a small stone bridge, holding a wooden staff, tapping the stone carefully.

Rhyme

돌다리 두드려 건너라, 실수를 줄여라.

Story

Min-su was about to buy a car without checking the engine. His grandfather said, 'Min-su, remember: 돌다리도 두드려 보고 건너라.' Min-su checked the engine and found a leak. He saved his money thanks to the advice.

Word Web

신중함 (caution)확인 (verification)실수 (mistake)준비 (preparation)안전 (safety)지혜 (wisdom)

चैलेंज

For the next 24 hours, whenever you make a decision, say the phrase out loud to remind yourself to double-check.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Más vale prevenir que curar.

Korean uses a specific metaphor (bridge), while Spanish uses a general principle.

French moderate

Il vaut mieux prévenir que guérir.

Focuses on the medical/preventative aspect rather than the physical testing aspect.

German low

Vorsicht ist die Mutter der Porzellankiste.

German emphasizes the fragility of the object, Korean emphasizes the stability of the path.

Japanese high

石橋を叩いて渡る (Ishibashi o tataite wataru).

The Japanese version is often used to describe someone who is *too* cautious, whereas the Korean version is usually positive advice.

Arabic moderate

في التأني السلامة وفي العجلة الندامة.

Arabic focuses on the emotional state (patience/haste) rather than the physical action (tapping).

Chinese moderate

三思而后行 (Sānsī ér hòu xíng).

Chinese emphasizes cognitive deliberation; Korean emphasizes physical verification.

Korean high

돌다리도 두드려 보고 건너라.

None.

Portuguese moderate

É melhor prevenir do que remediar.

Focuses on the outcome of prevention.

Easily Confused

돌다리도 두드려 보고 건너라. बनाम 돌다리도 두드려 보고 건너라 vs. 유비무환

Both mean to be careful, but one is about checking, the other is about preparing.

Use '돌다리' for checking facts, '유비무환' for general preparation.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (1)

Yes, it shows you are responsible.

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