A1 Proverb Neutro 1 min de leitura

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다.

Ganeun mari gowaya oneun mari gopda.

Good words bring good words.

Pratique

Phrase in 30 Seconds

If you speak kindly to others, they will speak kindly to you in return.

  • Means: Kindness is reciprocal; your attitude determines how others treat you.
  • Used in: Advising someone to be polite, or explaining why someone is being rude.
  • Don't confuse: It is not a guarantee of kindness, but a social expectation.
Kind words + Kind response = Happy social cycle

Explicação no seu nível:

This proverb means if you are nice to people, they will be nice to you. It is a very common way to teach people to be polite.
This is a popular Korean proverb about reciprocity. It teaches that your words and actions influence how others respond to you. If you want a positive reaction, you should start with a positive attitude.
Used to describe the law of reciprocity in communication, this proverb suggests that social interactions are mirrors. By initiating a conversation with kindness, you increase the likelihood of a favorable response. It is frequently used as advice to de-escalate potential conflicts.
This proverb encapsulates the Confucian emphasis on social harmony and personal responsibility in discourse. It serves as a pragmatic guideline for interpersonal relations, suggesting that one's communicative output is the primary determinant of the feedback loop in social settings.
Functioning as a socio-linguistic heuristic, this proverb posits that communicative intent is inherently reflexive. It highlights the performative nature of politeness, where the speaker's initial verbal choices act as a catalyst for the interlocutor's subsequent behavioral response, thereby maintaining social equilibrium.
This proverb serves as a quintessential example of Korean cultural pragmatics, illustrating the concept of 'reciprocal communicative agency.' It posits that the speaker is not merely an observer of social dynamics but an active architect of their own social environment. Through the lens of cognitive linguistics, the proverb frames the interaction as a closed-loop system where the 'beauty' (politeness) of the output is a prerequisite for the 'beauty' of the input, effectively internalizing social norms into the individual's communicative strategy.

Significado

Speaking kindly will result in others speaking kindly to you; treat others as you wish to be treated.

🌍

Contexto cultural

This is one of the first proverbs children learn in school. The emphasis on '말' (speech) highlights the importance of harmony in Confucian-influenced societies.

🎯

Use it as a soft correction

If a friend is being rude, say this proverb to gently remind them that their behavior is causing the bad response.

🎯

Use it as a soft correction

If a friend is being rude, say this proverb to gently remind them that their behavior is causing the bad response.

Teste-se

Complete the proverb.

가는 말이 ____ 오는 말이 곱다.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 고와야

The proverb uses '고와야' to mean 'must be kind'.

🎉 Pontuação: /1

Recursos visuais

Banco de exercicios

2 exercicios
Escolha a resposta certa Fill Blank

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa:
Complete the proverb. Fill Blank A1

가는 말이 ____ 오는 말이 곱다.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: 고와야

The proverb uses '고와야' to mean 'must be kind'.

🎉 Pontuação: /2

Perguntas frequentes

1 perguntas

No, it's a proverb, not a law of physics. Sometimes people are rude regardless of your kindness.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

가는 정이 있어야 오는 정이 있다

similar

Affection must go out to come back.

Onde usar

💬

Giving advice to a friend

Friend A: 걔가 나한테 너무 무례하게 굴어!

Friend B: 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다잖아. 너도 먼저 예쁘게 말해봐.

informal
💼

Workplace conflict

Manager: 팀원들과 대화할 때 주의하세요. 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱습니다.

Employee: 네, 명심하겠습니다.

formal

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of a 'Go' (Go-wa-ya) and 'Come' (O-neun) ball. If you throw a soft, beautiful ball, it bounces back to you.

Associação visual

Imagine throwing a soft, glowing ball to a friend, and they catch it and throw a similar glowing ball back to you.

Rhyme

가는 말이 고와야, 오는 말이 곱다.

Story

Min-su was always grumpy. One day, he decided to try being nice. He said 'Hello' with a smile to his neighbor. The neighbor smiled back and gave him a cookie. Min-su realized: '가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다!'

In Other Languages

It is the Korean version of the Golden Rule. Similar to 'What goes around, comes around' or 'You reap what you sow'.

Word Web

말 (word/speech)곱다 (beautiful/kind)오다 (to come)가다 (to go)친절 (kindness)상호 (mutual)

Desafio

For one day, consciously use polite language with everyone and observe how their tone changes toward you.

Review in 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month.

Pronúncia

Stress Even stress across the phrase.

Pronounced clearly with a soft 'w' sound.

Espectro de formalidade

Formal
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱습니다.

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱습니다. (General advice)

Neutro
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱아요.

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱아요. (General advice)

Informal
가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다.

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다. (General advice)

Gíria
말 예쁘게 해야 예쁘게 돌아와.

말 예쁘게 해야 예쁘게 돌아와. (General advice)

The proverb has existed for centuries in Korea, rooted in the oral tradition of moral instruction. It evolved from the general understanding that human relationships are reciprocal.

Joseon Dynasty:

Curiosidade

It is so common that it is often shortened to just '가는 말이 고와야...' in casual conversation.

Notas culturais

This is one of the first proverbs children learn in school.

“Teacher: '가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다, 알겠지?'”

The emphasis on '말' (speech) highlights the importance of harmony in Confucian-influenced societies.

“It is often cited in family settings to maintain peace.”

Iniciadores de conversa

“

Do you think people are generally kind if you are kind to them?

Erros comuns

✗

가는 말이 예뻐야 오는 말이 예쁘다.

✓

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다.

wrong conjugation
While '예쁘다' means pretty, the fixed proverb uses '곱다' (fine/beautiful/kind).

L1 Interference

0

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Trata a los demás como quieres ser tratado.

The Korean version is specifically about verbal communication.

French moderate

On récolte ce que l'on sème.

The French version is broader, applying to all actions, not just speech.

German Very Similar

Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus.

The German version uses a nature metaphor, while the Korean uses a speech metaphor.

Japanese moderate

情けは人のためならず (Nasake wa hito no tame narazu).

The Japanese version focuses on the benefit to the self.

Arabic moderate

كما تدين تدان (Kama tadeen tudaan).

The Arabic version has a stronger moral/judgmental connotation.

Spotted in the Real World

📺

(2015)

“가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱지.”

A mother teaching her child about neighborhood etiquette.

Fácil de confundir

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다. vs 말 한마디로 천 냥 빚을 갚는다

Both involve '말' (speech).

This one is about the power of a single word; the other is about reciprocity.

Perguntas frequentes (1)

No, it's a proverb, not a law of physics. Sometimes people are rude regardless of your kindness.

basic understanding

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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