A1 Proverb 中性

돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라

193

Tap stone bridge before crossing

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Even if a path looks solid, check for cracks before you step.

  • Means: Always double-check things that seem obvious or safe.
  • Used in: Business deals, travel plans, and important life decisions.
  • Don't confuse: It's not about being afraid, but about being thorough.
🪨🌉 + 🔨👀 = ✅🚶‍♂️

Explanation at your level:

This is a famous Korean saying. It says: 'Even if a bridge is made of stone, tap it before you walk on it.' It means you should be careful. Even if something looks very safe, you should check it one more time. It is good advice for students and workers.
This proverb uses the image of a stone bridge to teach us about caution. In the past, stone bridges were very strong, but people still checked them. Today, we use this when we do important things like signing a contract or finishing homework. It tells us that double-checking is always a smart idea to avoid mistakes.
Known as 'Dol-dari-do dudeulgyeobogo geonneora,' this proverb emphasizes the importance of thoroughness. Even if you are confident in a situation, there might be hidden risks. It's frequently used in business contexts to encourage due diligence. By 'tapping the stone bridge,' you ensure that your foundation is solid before moving forward with a project or investment.
This idiomatic expression serves as a metaphorical warning against overconfidence. The 'stone bridge' represents a situation that appears deceptively secure. The action of 'tapping' symbolizes the verification process. In a professional environment, this proverb advocates for a meticulous approach, suggesting that the time spent on verification is a necessary investment to prevent catastrophic failures later on.
This proverb encapsulates the traditional Korean virtue of prudence, acting as a linguistic safeguard against the pitfalls of 'Pali-pali' culture. It suggests an epistemological humility—acknowledging that our perception of safety might be flawed. Linguistically, the use of the auxiliary verb '-아/어 보다' highlights the experiential nature of the caution required, suggesting that one must actively test the environment rather than passively observing it.
The proverb '돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라' functions as a cultural heuristic for risk mitigation. It juxtaposes the perceived permanence of stone ({石}) with the transient reliability of human structures. From a cognitive linguistics perspective, it maps the physical act of tactile verification onto the abstract domain of logical validation. It remains a cornerstone of Korean social ethics, balancing the drive for rapid progress with the necessity of structural integrity in both physical and metaphorical endeavors.

意思

Even if something seems safe, it's wise to be cautious and check carefully before proceeding.

🌍

文化背景

Stone bridges (Doldari) were often community projects in ancient Korea. Tapping them wasn't just for personal safety, but a way to monitor the infrastructure for the whole village. In Samsung or Hyundai, this proverb is often invoked during 'Quality Control' meetings. It's a way to justify the high cost of testing and inspection. Teachers use this phrase constantly during exam periods to prevent students from making 'sil-su' (careless mistakes) on easy questions. With the rise of 'fake news,' this proverb is making a comeback online, encouraging netizens to check sources before sharing a post.

💡

Use it as a soft suggestion

If you want to tell a boss or senior to check something without being rude, use the phrase '돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너는 셈 치고...' (As if tapping a stone bridge...).

⚠️

Don't over-tap

In modern Korean, if you are *too* slow, people might jokingly say you are 'tapping the bridge until it breaks' (돌다리를 두들기다 부수겠다).

意思

Even if something seems safe, it's wise to be cautious and check carefully before proceeding.

💡

Use it as a soft suggestion

If you want to tell a boss or senior to check something without being rude, use the phrase '돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너는 셈 치고...' (As if tapping a stone bridge...).

⚠️

Don't over-tap

In modern Korean, if you are *too* slow, people might jokingly say you are 'tapping the bridge until it breaks' (돌다리를 두들기다 부수겠다).

🎯

The 'Do' is key

Always remember the '-도'. It's the difference between 'Check a bridge' and 'Check even the strongest bridge in the world'.

自我测试

Fill in the missing particle to complete the proverb.

돌다리__ 두들겨 보고 건너라.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 도

The particle '도' means 'even,' which is essential to the meaning: even a strong bridge needs checking.

Which situation best fits the proverb '돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라'?

Choose the best situation:

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： A person checking their passport three times before leaving for the airport.

This shows the caution and double-checking that the proverb advocates.

Complete the dialogue using the correct form of the proverb.

가: 이 보고서 바로 제출할까요? 나: 아니요, ___________________. 오타가 있는지 한 번 더 보세요.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 둘 다 정답

Both '돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라' and '아는 길도 물어가라' fit perfectly as advice to double-check work.

What is the literal meaning of '두들겨 보고'?

Select the correct literal translation:

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： Try tapping and then...

-아/어 보다 means 'to try doing' and -고 means 'and then.'

🎉 得分： /4

视觉学习工具

常见问题

4 个问题

Yes, but often in a slightly ironic or self-deprecating way when they are being overly anxious about something small.

Absolutely. It's common to text '돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너자!' to a friend before a big trip or purchase.

They are essentially the same. '두들기다' implies a slightly stronger or more repetitive hitting than '두드리다', but in this proverb, they are interchangeable.

It can be if said directly as a command. Use the '...라는 말이 있잖아요' (As the saying goes...) ending to make it polite.

相关表达

🔄

아는 길도 물어가라

synonym

Even if you know the way, ask for directions.

🔗

설마가 사람 잡는다

similar

The thought 'it couldn't be' kills people.

🔗

천 리 길도 한 걸음부터

builds on

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

🔄

꺼진 불도 다시 보자

synonym

Let's check the extinguished fire again.

在哪里用

📧

Sending an important email

Junior: 메일 다 썼어요. 지금 바로 보낼게요.

Senior: 잠깐만요, 돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라고 했잖아요. 첨부파일 확인했나요?

neutral
🚗

Buying a used car

Friend A: 이 차 진짜 싸게 나왔어! 바로 사야겠어.

Friend B: 야, 돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너야지. 사고 이력은 확인해 봤어?

informal
🗺️

Traveling to a new place

Traveler: 지도가 있으니까 금방 찾을 수 있을 거예요.

Local: 돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너는 셈 치고, 저기 경찰관한테 한 번 더 물어보세요.

neutral
💼

Before a job interview

Candidate: 준비는 다 된 것 같습니다.

Mentor: 돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너는 마음으로 예상 질문을 한 번 더 검토하세요.

formal
🛒

Online Shopping

Daughter: 엄마, 이 옷 예쁘지? 결제할게!

Mother: 돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라는데, 사이즈랑 상품평은 제대로 읽어봤니?

informal
💻

Software Update

IT Staff: 서버 업데이트 바로 시작할까요?

Manager: 돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너야죠. 백업은 확실히 되어 있습니까?

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Dull' (Dol) bridge that might 'Dud' (Dudeul) if you don't check it.

Visual Association

Imagine a person in traditional Korean hanbok standing before a beautiful stone bridge. Instead of running across, they are leaning down with a wooden staff, gently tapping the center stone to hear a solid 'thud' rather than a hollow 'clack.'

Rhyme

Dol-dari tap-tap, avoid the trap.

Story

A young scholar was rushing to his exam. He saw a stone bridge and thought, 'It's stone, it's safe!' He ran, a stone slipped, and his ink spilled everywhere. An old man passed by, tapped each stone with his cane, and crossed safely, saying: 'Dol-dari-do dudeulgyeobogo geonneora.'

Word Web

돌다리 (Stone bridge)두들기다 (To tap/knock)건너다 (To cross)조심 (Caution)확인 (Verification)안전 (Safety)실수 (Mistake)신중 (Prudence)

挑战

Today, find one thing you do automatically (like locking the door or sending an email) and 'tap the stone bridge' by checking it one extra time. Say the phrase out loud while you do it.

In Other Languages

English high

Look before you leap

Korean uses a bridge metaphor; English uses a jump metaphor.

Japanese high

石橋を叩いて渡る (Ishibashi o tataite wataru)

Virtually no difference in meaning or usage.

Chinese moderate

小心驶得万年船 (Xiǎoxīn shǐ dé wànnián chuán)

Focuses on longevity and safety of a journey rather than a specific crossing.

Spanish partial

Antes que te cases, mira lo que haces

Much more specific to life choices than general tasks.

French partial

Il faut tourner sept fois sa langue dans sa bouche avant de parler

Limited to verbal communication.

German high

Erst wiegen, dann wagen

Uses a scale/weight metaphor instead of a bridge.

Arabic high

في التأني السلامة وفي العجلة الندامة

Focuses on speed vs. slowness rather than verification.

Portuguese moderate

Cautela e caldo de galinha não fazem mal a ninguém

More humorous and focuses on the harmlessness of caution.

Easily Confused

돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라 对比 다리를 두들기다

Learners might think this means 'to have a leg cramp' or 'to massage legs' because '다리' also means 'leg'.

In the proverb, '다리' is always the bridge. Context is key!

돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라 对比 금강산도 식후경

Both start with '...도' and are very famous proverbs.

This one is about eating before doing anything else (even seeing beautiful mountains).

常见问题 (4)

Yes, but often in a slightly ironic or self-deprecating way when they are being overly anxious about something small.

Absolutely. It's common to text '돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너자!' to a friend before a big trip or purchase.

They are essentially the same. '두들기다' implies a slightly stronger or more repetitive hitting than '두드리다', but in this proverb, they are interchangeable.

It can be if said directly as a command. Use the '...라는 말이 있잖아요' (As the saying goes...) ending to make it polite.

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