KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean phrases › Proverbs & idioms › 돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라
How to Say “Look before you leap” in Korean
돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라
doldarido dudeulgyeo bogo geonneora
Meaning
Look before you leap.
Usage note
Literally “even a stone bridge, tap it before crossing.” It advises double-checking even things that seem certain, much like “look before you leap.”
Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.
How to pronounce it
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 돌다리도 | ||
| 돌 | ㄷ+ㅗ+ㄹ | dol |
| 다 | ㄷ+ㅏ | da |
| 리 | ㄹ+ㅣ | ri |
| 도 | ㄷ+ㅗ | do |
| 두들겨 | ||
| 두 | ㄷ+ㅜ | du |
| 들 | ㄷ+ㅡ+ㄹ | deul |
| 겨 | ㄱ+ㅕ | gyeo |
| 보고 | ||
| 보 | ㅂ+ㅗ | bo |
| 고 | ㄱ+ㅗ | go |
| 건너라 | ||
| 건 | ㄱ+ㅓ+ㄴ | geon |
| 너 | ㄴ+ㅓ | neo |
| 라 | ㄹ+ㅏ | ra |
Speech style
No -요 at the end. Used with close friends, younger people and family; avoid it with strangers and elders.
Words in this phrase
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | verb | to see, to watch | TOPIK level 1 |
Phrases that use the same word
Phrases with “보고”
- 보고 싶어요I miss you
- 노래를 따라 불러 보고 싶어요I want to try singing along
- 한복을 입어 보고 싶어요I want to try wearing a hanbok
- 찜질방에 가 보고 싶어요I want to try a jjimjilbang
Quick self-check
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 What does “돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라” mean?
Show the answer
Answer: Look before you leap
Question 2 How do you say “Look before you leap” in Korean?
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Answer: 돌다리도 두들겨 보고 건너라 doldarido dudeulgyeo bogo geonneora
Learn this phrase by playing: typing drills and quizzes help it stick.
Practice in the gameMore phrases for this situation
- 꿩 먹고 알 먹기Killing two birds with one stone
- 금강산도 식후경Food first, sightseeing later
- 고생 끝에 낙이 온다After hardship comes happiness
- 백지장도 맞들면 낫다Many hands make light work
- 가는 말이 고우면 오는 말이 곱다Speak kindly, and you’ll be answered kindly
- 웃으면 복이 온다Laughter brings good fortune
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