콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다
You reap what you sow
Literalmente: Where beans are planted, beans grow; where red beans are planted, red beans grow.
Use this to highlight that results—good or bad—are the direct consequence of one's own previous actions.
En 15 segundos
- You get exactly what you put in.
- Results match your actions perfectly.
- Like father, like son; effort equals success.
Significado
This phrase means that you get exactly what you deserve based on your actions. If you put in good effort, you get good results; if you act poorly, you get bad results.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6Congratulating a friend on a promotion
역시 콩 심은 데 콩 나네요! 그동안 정말 열심히 하셨잖아요.
As expected, you reap what you sow! You worked so hard, after all.
Observing a child who behaves exactly like their parent
아이를 보니 콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다는 말이 딱 맞네요.
Looking at the child, the saying 'beans grow where beans are planted' is exactly right.
Giving advice to a younger sibling about failing a test
공부 안 하고 좋은 점수 바라면 안 돼. 콩 심은 데 콩 나는 법이야.
You can't expect good grades without studying. You reap what you sow.
Contexto cultural
This idiom stems from Korea's traditional agricultural roots where beans and red beans (pat) were staples. It reflects a deep-seated belief in 'In-gwa-eung-bo' (cause and effect), suggesting that the universe is orderly and fair. It is frequently used by older generations to emphasize the importance of early education and family environment.
Shorten it for impact
In casual conversation, you can just say '콩콩팥팥' (Kong-Kong-Pat-Pat) as a cute, trendy abbreviation inspired by a popular TV show!
Don't blame victims
Be careful using this when someone is suffering. It can sound like you're saying 'It's your fault,' which is very rude in sad situations.
En 15 segundos
- You get exactly what you put in.
- Results match your actions perfectly.
- Like father, like son; effort equals success.
What It Means
Think of this as the ultimate law of cause and effect. It is the Korean version of 'you reap what you sow.' If you plant a bean, you won't magically get a watermelon. Life is predictable in this way. Your current situation is usually the direct result of your past choices. It is a reminder that outcomes don't happen by accident.
How To Use It
You can use this phrase to praise someone's hard work. If a friend studies hard and gets an A, this phrase fits perfectly. It is also used to explain why children act like their parents. If a polite child has polite parents, Koreans will nod and say this. It works as both a compliment and a cold hard truth.
When To Use It
Use it when the connection between cause and effect is crystal clear. It is great for academic success or fitness goals. It is also common when discussing family traits or habits. Use it when you want to sound wise and observant. It works well in casual chats or even semi-formal advice sessions. Just make sure the 'seed' and the 'result' are obvious to everyone.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this when someone is dealing with a random tragedy. If a friend loses their job due to a company bankruptcy, don't say this. It will sound like you are blaming them for their misfortune. Also, avoid it in high-stakes business negotiations where it might sound too dismissive. It is a proverb, not a legal argument. Don't use it if you aren't sure of the backstory.
Cultural Background
Korea has a deep history of agriculture and Confucian values. Farming required patience and honest labor. You couldn't cheat the soil. This phrase reflects that agrarian honesty. It also ties into 'Karma' or 'In-gwa-eung-bo' (cause and effect). In Korean culture, family reputation is huge. This phrase often reinforces the idea that good families produce good children.
Common Variations
Often, people just say the first half: 콩 심은 데 콩 나고. Everyone already knows the second half about the red beans! You might also hear 인과응보 (In-gwa-eung-bo) in more serious or religious settings. Another similar vibe is 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까, which means 'where there is smoke, there is fire.' But for pure effort and results, the beans are your best bet.
Notas de uso
This is a neutral proverb. It becomes informal if you drop the sentence endings, and formal if you add '-nida' endings. It is safe to use in most social situations as long as you aren't blaming someone for a tragedy.
Shorten it for impact
In casual conversation, you can just say '콩콩팥팥' (Kong-Kong-Pat-Pat) as a cute, trendy abbreviation inspired by a popular TV show!
Don't blame victims
Be careful using this when someone is suffering. It can sound like you're saying 'It's your fault,' which is very rude in sad situations.
The Red Bean Secret
In Korea, red beans (팥) are believed to ward off evil spirits, but in this proverb, they just represent a different kind of 'honest seed'.
Ejemplos
6역시 콩 심은 데 콩 나네요! 그동안 정말 열심히 하셨잖아요.
As expected, you reap what you sow! You worked so hard, after all.
Used here as a warm compliment for earned success.
아이를 보니 콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다는 말이 딱 맞네요.
Looking at the child, the saying 'beans grow where beans are planted' is exactly right.
Refers to hereditary traits or learned behaviors from parents.
공부 안 하고 좋은 점수 바라면 안 돼. 콩 심은 데 콩 나는 법이야.
You can't expect good grades without studying. You reap what you sow.
A bit of 'tough love' advice.
철저한 준비 덕분에 성공했군요. 콩 심은 데 콩 난 결과입니다.
We succeeded thanks to thorough preparation. It's the result of reaping what we sowed.
Validates that the process led to the outcome.
어제 그렇게 마셨으니 머리가 아프지... 콩 심은 데 콩 난다더니.
Of course your head hurts after drinking like that... they say you reap what you sow.
Humorous self-reflection or teasing.
서로 노력했으니 이렇게 행복한 거죠. 콩 심은 데 콩 난 거예요.
We are happy because we both tried. We reaped what we sowed.
Expresses that happiness is a result of mutual effort.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct word to complete the proverb.
콩 심은 데 콩 나고 ___ 심은 데 ___ 난다.
The proverb specifically pairs 'beans' (콩) with 'red beans' (팥) to show consistency.
When would you most likely use this phrase?
Someone won the lottery? (A) or Someone got a promotion after 5 years of overtime? (B)
This phrase is for earned results, not random luck like the lottery.
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Formality & Context Spectrum
Teasing friends about their choices.
So you're tired? Well, you stayed up late!
Common daily observations.
He's talented just like his father.
Giving a speech or writing an essay.
Success is the fruit of honest labor.
Where the Beans Grow
Parenting
Child mimics dad's habits
Diet/Health
Feeling great after eating well
Work
Big bonus after a hard year
Education
Passing a hard exam
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntas'Pat' means red bean. It's a very common ingredient in Korean desserts like Bingsu or bread.
Yes! If someone is lazy and fails, you can use it to say their failure was expected. For example, 결국 시험에 떨어졌어? 콩 심은 데 콩 나는 법이지.
Not at all. While it's an old proverb, Koreans of all ages use it. It's a 'timeless classic' in conversation.
Add the polite ending: 콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다더니 정말 그렇네요.
Yes, people often just say the first half: 콩 심은 데 콩 나죠.
No. The lottery is luck. This phrase is only for things that have a clear, logical cause, like effort or genetics.
Very often! If a kind person has a kind child, this is the #1 phrase to use.
Mixing up the beans! Don't say 'plant beans and get rice.' It's always beans (콩) and red beans (팥).
Exactly. When used about family traits, it's a perfect match for that English idiom.
Yes, to emphasize that the success of a project was due to the team's solid foundational work.
Frases relacionadas
인과응보 (Cause and effect / Karma)
자업자득 (Reaping what one has sown - often negative)
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까 (Where there's smoke, there's fire)
뿌린 대로 거둔다 (You harvest what you scatter/plant)
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