A1 Proverb 中性

우는 아이 젖 준다.

uneun ai jeot junda.

The crying child gets the milk.

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This proverb means that if you don't speak up about your needs, you won't get what you want.

  • Means: You must express your needs to receive help or attention.
  • Used in: Salary negotiations, asking for help, or expressing dissatisfaction.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about being annoying; it is about being clear.
Crying baby + Mother's milk = Expressing needs leads to results

Explanation at your level:

This means you must ask for what you need. If you are quiet, people think you are happy.
It is a proverb about communication. If you have a problem, you should tell people. If you stay silent, you will not get help.
This idiom suggests that proactive communication is key to getting results. It implies that others cannot read your mind, so you must voice your requirements clearly.
The proverb highlights the necessity of self-advocacy in social and professional environments. It suggests that silence is often misinterpreted as satisfaction, thereby hindering one's ability to receive support.
This proverb functions as a socio-linguistic tool to encourage agency. It critiques the passive assumption that merit will be recognized without explicit signaling, emphasizing the pragmatic necessity of vocalizing one's needs.
Rooted in the domestic paradigm of infant care, this proverb has transcended its literal origins to become a cornerstone of Korean pragmatic communication. It serves as a cognitive heuristic for navigating hierarchical structures where one's needs might otherwise be neglected due to the observer's lack of awareness.

意思

Those who express their needs or complaints are more likely to receive attention or help.

🌍

文化背景

Reflects a shift from traditional modesty to modern assertiveness. Similar concepts exist in almost every culture, highlighting a universal human truth.

🎯

Use it as a nudge

Use this to gently nudge someone who is being too passive.

意思

Those who express their needs or complaints are more likely to receive attention or help.

🎯

Use it as a nudge

Use this to gently nudge someone who is being too passive.

自我测试

Fill in the missing word.

우는 아이 ____ 준다.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 젖

The original proverb uses '젖' (milk).

🎉 得分： /1

视觉学习工具

常见问题

1 个问题

It can be, unless you frame it as a professional request for clarity.

相关表达

🔗

말 안 하면 귀신도 모른다

similar

If you don't speak, even ghosts won't know.

在哪里用

💼

Salary Negotiation

Manager: Why are you asking for a raise now?

Employee: 우는 아이 젖 준다는 말도 있듯이, 제 성과를 정당하게 평가받고 싶습니다.

formal
💬

Friend's Complaint

Friend: They keep ignoring my emails.

You: 우는 아이 젖 준다고, 직접 전화해서 따져봐!

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a baby crying loudly at a restaurant until the waiter brings milk. If the baby stayed quiet, the waiter would walk right past.

Visual Association

A baby in a high chair pointing at a bottle while crying, and a mother smiling as she hands it over.

Rhyme

우는 아이 젖 준다, 말 안 하면 안 준다.

Story

Min-su was underpaid for years. He never complained. Finally, he remembered the proverb. He asked for a raise. He got it. He realized he should have spoken up sooner.

Word Web

요구표현적극적불만해결소통

挑战

Identify one thing you need this week and ask for it politely using this proverb as your motivation.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

El que no llora, no mama.

The Spanish version is slightly more direct/blunt.

French moderate

Qui ne demande rien n'a rien.

Less metaphorical, more practical.

German low

Wer nicht fragt, bleibt dumm.

Different semantic focus (knowledge vs. material needs).

Japanese low

泣く子と地頭には勝てぬ.

The Korean version is positive (proactive), the Japanese is negative (unreasonable).

Arabic moderate

اللي ما يطلب ما ياخذ.

Direct and lacks the 'crying' metaphor.

Easily Confused

우는 아이 젖 준다. 对比 우는 아이 떡 하나 더 준다

Learners think it's a different proverb.

It's just a variation emphasizing an extra reward.

常见问题 (1)

It can be, unless you frame it as a professional request for clarity.

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