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How to Say “Even a monkey falls from a tree” in Korean

원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다

wonsungido namueseo tteoreojinda

Situation: Proverbs & idiomsLevel: Intermediate (TOPIK 3–4)

Meaning

Even a monkey falls from a tree. (Even experts make mistakes.)

Literally “even monkeys fall from trees.” Even masters sometimes make mistakes.

Romanization follows the Revised Romanization system and is a guide to pronunciation.

Syllables: 12 · Words: 3

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
원숭이도
원	ㅇ+ㅝ+ㄴ	won
숭	ㅅ+ㅜ+ㅇ	sung
이	ㅇ+ㅣ	i
도	ㄷ+ㅗ	do
나무에서
나	ㄴ+ㅏ	na
무	ㅁ+ㅜ	mu
에	ㅇ+ㅔ	e
서	ㅅ+ㅓ	seo
떨어진다
떨	ㄸ+ㅓ+ㄹ	tteol
어	ㅇ+ㅓ	eo
진	ㅈ+ㅣ+ㄴ	jin
다	ㄷ+ㅏ	da

A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.

Style: Plain form (-다)Sentence type: Statement or set phrase

Ends in -다. Common in proverbs, writing and the news, but not how you normally speak to the person in front of you.

Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.

Question 1 What does “원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다” mean?

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Answer: Even a monkey falls from a tree. (Even experts make mistakes.)

Question 2 How do you say “Even a monkey falls from a tree. (Even experts make mistakes.)” in Korean?

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Answer: 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 wonsungido namueseo tteoreojinda

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아는 길도 물어 가라Even if you know the way, ask
우물 안 개구리Like a frog in a well, unaware of the wider world
세 살 버릇 여든까지 간다Habits formed young last a lifetime
호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다Speak of the devil
발 없는 말이 천 리 간다Words travel fast, even without feet
낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다Walls have ears. (Birds hear what you say by day, and mice by night.)