열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다
yeol beon jjik-eo an neomeoganeun namu eopda
No tree falls with ten axe chops
意思
With persistence and continuous effort, any goal can be achieved.
文化背景
The proverb reflects the 'Pali-pali' (hurry-hurry) culture's hidden side: extreme persistence. While Koreans like speed, they also value the 'Grit' required to finish a task. There is a cynical take on this: 'If you chop ten times and it doesn't fall, your axe is broken.' This reflects the frustration with limited social mobility. Managers often use this to push employees. It can be a source of 'Kkon-dae' (old person/bossy) behavior if used to demand impossible results. This phrase is a trope in romantic movies from the early 2000s, often used by the male lead to justify his persistent pursuit of the female lead.
Use it for motivation
It's the perfect phrase to write on a sticky note for your desk when you're studying for an exam.
Dating Warning
Never use this to justify pursuing someone who has said 'no' in a romantic context. It's considered outdated and rude.
意思
With persistence and continuous effort, any goal can be achieved.
Use it for motivation
It's the perfect phrase to write on a sticky note for your desk when you're studying for an exam.
Dating Warning
Never use this to justify pursuing someone who has said 'no' in a romantic context. It's considered outdated and rude.
Natural Ending
In conversation, people often just say '열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없지' to sound more natural and confident.
The 'Ten' Rule
Remember that 'ten' is symbolic. Don't stop exactly at ten if the 'tree' hasn't fallen yet!
自我测试
Fill in the missing word to complete the proverb.
열 번 ___ 안 넘어가는 나무 없다.
'찍다' (to chop/strike) is the specific verb used for an axe hitting a tree.
Which situation best fits this proverb?
When would you say '열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다'?
The proverb is used to encourage persistence after failure.
Complete the dialogue naturally.
가: 이 일이 너무 힘들어서 포기하고 싶어요. 나: ________________________________.
This response uses the proverb correctly to motivate the speaker.
Choose the grammatically correct version of the proverb.
Which one is the standard proverb?
While others are grammatically possible, proverbs are fixed 'idiomatic' strings. '찍어' is the standard form.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
练习题库
4 练习열 번 ___ 안 넘어가는 나무 없다.
'찍다' (to chop/strike) is the specific verb used for an axe hitting a tree.
When would you say '열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다'?
The proverb is used to encourage persistence after failure.
가: 이 일이 너무 힘들어서 포기하고 싶어요. 나: ________________________________.
This response uses the proverb correctly to motivate the speaker.
Which one is the standard proverb?
While others are grammatically possible, proverbs are fixed 'idiomatic' strings. '찍어' is the standard form.
🎉 得分： /4
常见问题
10 个问题No, 'ten' is a symbolic number in Korean meaning 'many' or 'enough.' It just means you should keep trying until you succeed.
Yes, it's one of the most well-known proverbs in Korea, though its application in dating is declining.
Yes, but be careful. It's better to use it when the boss is encouraging you, rather than you telling the boss to keep trying.
The main hanja roots are {十|열} (ten), {番|번} (time), and {木|나무} (tree).
People sometimes just say '열 번 찍기' (ten-time chopping) to refer to the concept.
'안' is a negative prefix. '안 넘어가는' means 'that which does not fall.'
Yes, many lyrics about overcoming hardship or pursuing love use this metaphor.
The proverb implies that no tree is too big for persistence, but modern skeptics might disagree!
Yes, '찍다' can mean to take a photo, to stamp, or to choose an answer on a test, but in this proverb, it specifically means to chop with an axe.
It's not rude, but it's usually the elder who says it to the younger person as advice.
相关表达
칠전팔기
synonymFall seven times, stand up eight.
지성이면 감천이다
similarSincerity moves heaven.
우물을 파도 한 우물을 파라
builds onIf you dig a well, dig only one.
낙수물이 바윗돌을 뚫는다
synonymFalling water drops pierce the rock.
