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.
Explanation at your level:
Significado
Someone who is guilty criticizing another for a lesser fault; pot calling the kettle black.
Contexto cultural
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.
Significado
Someone who is guilty criticizing another for a lesser fault; pot calling the kettle black.
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-se
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.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Dung vs. Chaff
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasIt'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.'
Frases relacionadas
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).
Onde usar
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.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
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?
Visual Association
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!'
Word Web
Desafio
Try to find one news article today where two people are arguing, and see if this proverb applies to their situation.
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.
Easily Confused
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.
Perguntas frequentes (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.
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.'
