A2 Proverb Neutro

고양이에게 생선 맡기기.

Goyang-iege saengseon matgigi.

Entrusting fish to a cat.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Don't trust a thief with your treasure! This proverb warns against giving someone a temptation they simply cannot resist.

  • Means: Entrusting something valuable to a person who is likely to steal or misuse it.
  • Used in: Situations involving money, secrets, or responsibilities given to untrustworthy people.
  • Don't confuse: This isn't about accidental mistakes, but about inherent, predictable temptation.
🐱 + 🐟 + 🤝 = ❌ (Disaster)

Explanation at your level:

This is a very famous Korean saying. It uses simple words: 'cat' (고양이) and 'fish' (생선). It means you give something good to someone who will take it. Like giving candy to a child and saying 'don't eat it.' They will eat it! It is a funny but important warning.
고양이에게 생선 맡기기 is a proverb used when you trust the wrong person. A cat loves fish, so if you give a fish to a cat, the cat will eat it. In the same way, if you give money to a person who likes money too much, they might steal it. It's an A2 level phrase because it uses the ~에게 (to) and ~기 (nominalizer) patterns.
This proverb serves as a metaphorical warning against creating a conflict of interest. It suggests that certain temptations are too strong for certain people to resist. By using the imagery of a cat and a fish, it illustrates that the fault lies with the person who provided the opportunity. It's commonly used in daily life to criticize poor judgment in delegating tasks or sharing secrets.
This idiomatic expression encapsulates the concept of 'moral hazard.' It implies that by placing an individual in a position where they can benefit from dishonesty without much oversight, one is practically inviting betrayal. The phrase is often employed in socio-political discourse to describe systemic corruption or the appointment of unqualified individuals to sensitive positions. It highlights the predictability of the negative outcome.
Linguistically, this proverb functions as a cautionary archetype regarding the inherent fallibility of human nature when faced with instinctual desires. It critiques the lack of {辨別力|변별력} (discernment) in the trust-giver. The use of '맡기기' (entrusting) as a gerundive focus emphasizes the action of the misplaced trust as the primary error. It is a staple of Korean rhetorical strategy to use such animal-based metaphors to soften a harsh critique of someone's judgment.
This proverb operates on a level of cognitive linguistics where the 'Cat' and 'Fish' serve as conceptual primitives for 'Predator/Consumer' and 'Prey/Resource.' Mastery of this phrase involves understanding its nuanced application in high-stakes environments, such as corporate governance or legal ethics, where it denotes a fundamental breach of fiduciary duty. It reflects a deeply ingrained cultural skepticism toward altruism in the face of overwhelming personal gain, necessitating structural safeguards over mere interpersonal trust.

Significado

Putting someone in charge of something they are likely to misuse or steal.

🌍

Contexto cultural

In traditional Korean markets, fish were often hung on strings to dry. Cats were the primary 'thieves' merchants had to guard against, leading to this proverb. Japan has a nearly identical proverb 'Neko ni katsuobushi,' reflecting the shared culinary importance of fish in both cultures. Western versions often use 'foxes' and 'wolves,' reflecting a history of livestock farming (geese, sheep) rather than fish markets. In Korea today, this is often used when talking about data privacy or giving personal info to big tech companies.

💡

Use '격'

Adding '~ㄴ 격이다' makes you sound very natural and advanced. '고양이에게 생선 맡긴 격이네요!'

⚠️

Don't offend

Calling someone a 'cat' in this context is calling them a potential thief. Be careful!

Significado

Putting someone in charge of something they are likely to misuse or steal.

💡

Use '격'

Adding '~ㄴ 격이다' makes you sound very natural and advanced. '고양이에게 생선 맡긴 격이네요!'

⚠️

Don't offend

Calling someone a 'cat' in this context is calling them a potential thief. Be careful!

🎯

Modern Variation

Use '생선 가게' (fish shop) to emphasize that the risk is huge, not just a small thing.

Teste-se

Choose the most appropriate situation for this proverb.

다음 중 '고양이에게 생선 맡기기'라는 속담을 쓰기에 가장 적절한 상황은?

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 거짓말을 자주 하는 사람에게 중요한 비밀을 말할 때

Trusting a liar with a secret is a perfect example of giving a 'fish' to a 'cat.'

Fill in the blanks to complete the proverb.

( )에게 ( ) 맡기기

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 고양이, 생선

The standard form of the proverb uses 'cat' and 'fish'.

Complete the dialogue using the correct form of the proverb.

가: 이번 프로젝트 예산을 박 대리한테 맡기기로 했어. 나: 박 대리는 지난번에도 공금을 마음대로 썼잖아. 그건 ( ).

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 고양이에게 생선 맡기기야

Since Park Daeri has a history of misusing funds, trusting him again is the 'cat and fish' situation.

🎉 Pontuação: /3

Recursos visuais

Perguntas frequentes

5 perguntas

It can be. It implies the person is untrustworthy. Use it to describe a third party or a situation, rather than saying it directly to someone.

No, the proverb is fixed with 'cat.' Using 'dog' would sound like a mistake.

It's the noun form of '맡기다' (to entrust). The '~기' ending turns the verb into a concept like 'the act of entrusting.'

Yes, very often! It's used to describe bad hiring decisions or risky partnerships.

It is {生鮮|생선}, meaning 'living and fresh.'

Frases relacionadas

🔄

도둑에게 열쇠를 주다

synonym

Giving the key to a thief.

🔗

밑 빠진 독에 물 붓기

similar

Pouring water into a bottomless pot.

🔗

믿는 도끼에 발등 찍힌다

builds on

Getting chopped in the foot by a trusted axe.

🔗

범에게 날개를 달아주다

contrast

Giving wings to a tiger.

Onde usar

🎰

Lending money to a gambler

A: 철수한테 돈을 좀 빌려줬어. 도박 빚을 갚는대.

B: 뭐? 철수한테 돈을 빌려주다니, 고양이에게 생선 맡기기야!

informal
🤫

Office gossip

Manager: 이 비밀 프로젝트, 김 대리한테 맡겨도 될까요?

Director: 김 대리는 입이 가벼워요. 고양이에게 생선 맡기기일 겁니다.

neutral
🍰

Dieting struggles

Friend 1: 나 다이어트 중이니까 이 케이크 좀 보관해줘.

Friend 2: 나 빵순이인 거 알잖아. 고양이에게 생선 맡기기인데 괜찮겠어?

informal
🏛️

Political scandal

Reporter: 이번 비리 사건에 대해 어떻게 생각하십니까?

Citizen: 부패한 사람에게 감사를 맡긴 것 자체가 고양이에게 생선 맡기기였습니다.

formal
👶

Babysitting a mischievous kid

Mom: 형한테 동생 좀 보고 있으라고 했어.

Dad: 둘이 맨날 싸우는데? 고양이에게 생선 맡기기 아냐?

informal
🔑

Sharing a password

User: 비밀번호를 그냥 메모장에 적어놨어.

IT Guy: 그건 해커한테 고양이에게 생선 맡기기 하는 거랑 똑같아요.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a **Cat** (Goyangi) and a **Fish** (Saengseon). The cat says 'Thanks for the snack!' as soon as you turn your back.

Visual Association

Imagine a cat wearing a security guard uniform, sitting in front of a giant, delicious grilled fish. The cat is sweating and licking its lips while looking at the fish.

Rhyme

고양이는 생선, 맡기면 망선 (Cats love fish, entrust them and it's a 'ruined' fish - 'mang-seon' is a play on words).

Story

Once, a fishmonger had to go to the bathroom. He saw a cat sitting nearby and asked, 'Hey, watch my fish for a minute.' When he came back, the cat was gone, and so was the most expensive fish. He realized he didn't just lose a fish; he made a foolish choice.

Word Web

고양이 (Cat)생선 (Fish)맡기다 (Entrust)도둑 (Thief)위험 (Danger)신뢰 (Trust)욕심 (Greed)실수 (Mistake)

Desafio

Try to find one situation in a news article today where someone trusted the wrong person, and write '고양이에게 생선 맡기기예요' in the comments (mentally or actually!).

In Other Languages

English high

Setting the fox to keep the geese

English uses a fox/geese, Korean uses a cat/fish.

Spanish high

Poner al lobo a cuidar las ovejas

Uses a wolf and sheep, common in pastoral cultures.

French high

Donner la bergerie à garder au loup

Focuses on the 'sheepfold' rather than just the animal.

German moderate

Den Bock zum Gärtner machen

The goat doesn't 'steal' in the same way a cat or wolf does; it just eats the garden.

Japanese high

猫に鰹節 (Neko ni katsuobushi)

Specifies 'dried bonito' rather than general 'fish'.

Arabic moderate

حاميها حراميها (Hamiha haramiha)

Lacks the animal imagery but captures the exact same irony.

Chinese high

狐狸守鸡舍 (Húlí shǒu jīshè)

Uses a chicken coop as the setting.

Portuguese high

Raposa no galinheiro

Often implies the fox is already inside, rather than being 'entrusted' with the job.

Easily Confused

고양이에게 생선 맡기기. vs 고양이 목에 방울 달기

Both involve cats and are proverbs.

This one means 'an impossible task' (who will bell the cat?), while our phrase is about 'misplaced trust.'

Perguntas frequentes (5)

It can be. It implies the person is untrustworthy. Use it to describe a third party or a situation, rather than saying it directly to someone.

No, the proverb is fixed with 'cat.' Using 'dog' would sound like a mistake.

It's the noun form of '맡기다' (to entrust). The '~기' ending turns the verb into a concept like 'the act of entrusting.'

Yes, very often! It's used to describe bad hiring decisions or risky partnerships.

It is {生鮮|생선}, meaning 'living and fresh.'

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