Phrase in 30 Seconds
A warning that someone with little knowledge can cause serious harm when they try to do a professional's job.
- Means: Incompetence or half-knowledge leads to dangerous mistakes.
- Used in: Warning against DIY repairs, medical advice, or amateur interference.
- Don't confuse: It is not about being a beginner; it is about pretending to be an expert.
适合你水平的解释：
意思
A little knowledge can be dangerous; incompetence causes harm.
文化背景
Shamans were central to village life. The term '선무당' was a derogatory label for those who lacked the 'spirit' or training. The phrase is used in corporate settings to criticize 'armchair experts' who interfere in technical projects. Similar to Japanese '生兵法', there is a shared cultural value of respecting professional boundaries.
Context is key
Only use this when someone is actively causing harm or about to.
Don't be rude
It can sound condescending if used against a friend who is just trying their best.
Context is key
Only use this when someone is actively causing harm or about to.
Don't be rude
It can sound condescending if used against a friend who is just trying their best.
Shaman roots
Knowing the shaman origin helps you remember it's about 'ritual' or 'technical' failure.
自我测试
Which situation is appropriate for this proverb?
A friend who has never cooked tries to make a complex 5-course meal.
The friend is an amateur attempting a professional task.
Fill in the missing word.
선무당이 ____ 잡는다.
The proverb is '선무당이 사람 잡는다'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 내가 이 기계를 고쳐볼게. B: ____. 전문가를 불러.
It's a warning against amateur repair.
Match the proverb to the meaning.
선무당이 사람 잡는다
It warns against amateurism.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
练习题库
5 练习A friend who has never cooked tries to make a complex 5-course meal.
The friend is an amateur attempting a professional task.
선무당이 ____ 잡는다.
The proverb is '선무당이 사람 잡는다'.
A: 내가 이 기계를 고쳐볼게. B: ____. 전문가를 불러.
It's a warning against amateur repair.
선무당이 사람 잡는다
It warns against amateurism.
🎉 得分： /5
常见问题
8 个问题No, it is specifically for amateurs.
It depends on your tone; it can be a friendly warning or a harsh critique.
It means 'half' or 'incomplete' in this context.
Yes, often to criticize incompetent management.
Sometimes people just say '선무당이 사람 잡네'.
It means to 'take' or 'catch' a life.
Yes, '선무당이 사람 잡는다고 내가 고치려다 망쳤어' (I tried to fix it and ruined it).
Yes, but this is the most common for this specific meaning.
相关表达
아는 것이 힘이다
contrastKnowledge is power.
돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라
similarCheck the stone bridge before crossing.
배보다 배꼽이 더 크다
similarThe belly button is bigger than the belly.
在哪里用
DIY Repair
A: 내가 이 컴퓨터 고쳐볼게.
B: 그만둬, 선무당이 사람 잡는다고 더 망가질 거야.
Medical Advice
A: 인터넷에서 보니까 이 약이 좋대.
B: 선무당이 사람 잡는다는데, 의사한테 물어봐.
Workplace Task
Manager: 이 코드는 누가 짰나?
Colleague: 인턴이요. 선무당이 사람 잡는다고, 다 꼬여버렸습니다.
记住它
记忆技巧
Imagine a 'Sun' (선) shaman trying to heal someone but failing. The 'Sun' is too bright and blinds them, causing them to 'catch' (kill) the patient.
视觉联想
A person wearing a doctor's coat but holding a toy hammer, looking confused while a patient runs away.
Rhyme
선무당이 사람 잡는다, 조심하지 않으면 큰일 난다.
Story
Min-su tried to fix his own car engine. He didn't know anything about it. He turned a screw, and the whole engine exploded. His dad sighed and said, '선무당이 사람 잡는다!'
In Other Languages
English: 'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.' French: 'Un peu de savoir est une chose dangereuse.'
Word Web
挑战
Find one situation today where someone is doing something they aren't trained for and say the phrase in your head.
Review in 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month.
发音
Pronounce 'sun' like 'sun' in English, 'mu' like 'moo', 'dang' like 'dung' but with an 'ah' sound.
Note the nasalization of 'b' to 'm' in '잡는다'.
正式程度
선무당이 사람 잡는다는 말이 있습니다. (General warning)
선무당이 사람 잡는다고 하잖아요. (General warning)
선무당이 사람 잡는다더니! (General warning)
완전 선무당이 사람 잡는 꼴이네. (General warning)
Derived from the practice of shamanism. A 'seon-mudang' was an apprentice who hadn't mastered the rituals.
趣味小知识
In some regions, it is said that an untrained shaman would scare the patient to death rather than heal them.
文化笔记
Shamans were central to village life. The term '선무당' was a derogatory label for those who lacked the 'spirit' or training.
“선무당이 굿을 망쳤다.”
The phrase is used in corporate settings to criticize 'armchair experts' who interfere in technical projects.
“선무당이 사람 잡는다고, 경영진이 기술팀에 간섭하지 마세요.”
Similar to Japanese '生兵法', there is a shared cultural value of respecting professional boundaries.
“전문가에게 맡기는 것이 가장 안전합니다.”
对话开场白
Have you ever tried to fix something and made it worse?
What do you think is the most dangerous thing to do without training?
Do you agree that a little knowledge is dangerous?
常见错误
선무당이 사람을 죽인다
선무당이 사람 잡는다
L1 Interference
전문가가 사람 잡는다
선무당이 사람 잡는다
L1 Interference
선무당이 사람을 잡고 있다
선무당이 사람 잡는다
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta.
Korean is about danger; Spanish is about lack of focus.
Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.
Korean warns against incompetence, French warns against over-complication.
Schuster, bleib bei deinem Leisten.
German is a command to stay in your lane; Korean is a warning of the consequences.
生兵法は怪我の元
Japanese uses a martial arts metaphor; Korean uses a shamanistic one.
أعطِ خبزك للخباز ولو أكل نصفه
Arabic encourages hiring pros; Korean warns against amateurs.
Spotted in the Real World
“선무당이 사람 잡는다고, 가만히 있어!”
A character is trying to fix a radio.
“선무당이 사람 잡는 정책, 재검토해야 한다.”
Critique of a government policy.
“코인 투자 선무당이 사람 잡는다더니...”
Comment on crypto losses.
容易混淆
Both involve lack of knowledge.
The first is about doing harm; the second is about being illiterate/ignorant.
Both involve learning.
The first is about failed learning; the second is about successful learning.
Both involve experts.
The first is about fake experts; the second is about real experts.
常见问题 (8)
No, it is specifically for amateurs.
usage contextsIt depends on your tone; it can be a friendly warning or a harsh critique.
usage contextsIt means 'half' or 'incomplete' in this context.
grammar mechanicsYes, often to criticize incompetent management.
usage contextsSometimes people just say '선무당이 사람 잡네'.
basic understandingIt means to 'take' or 'catch' a life.
grammar mechanicsYes, '선무당이 사람 잡는다고 내가 고치려다 망쳤어' (I tried to fix it and ruined it).
practical tipsYes, but this is the most common for this specific meaning.
comparisons
