Korean Proverb : A Hoe Could Have Stopped It, but Now It Takes a Spade

Korean Proverb Series 8

A Hoe Could Have Stopped It, but Now It Takes a Spade

"호미로 막을 것을 가래로 막는다"
(Homi-ro mageul geoseul garae-ro makneunda)

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🕰️ 1. The Proverb’s Core Meaning

The Korean proverb “호미로 막을 것을 가래로 막는다” literally translates to:
“What could have been stopped with a hoe must now be stopped with a spade.”

This conveys the crucial lesson that neglecting small problems or mistakes early on allows them to grow into serious difficulties that require far greater effort and sacrifice to resolve later. It emphasizes the need for timely intervention.

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🪄 2. Meaning & Key Lesson

• Small issues, if ignored, inevitably balloon into much larger, harder-to-manage crises.
• The proverb teaches the essential value of foresight, prevention, and responsibility.
• It stresses that a small, timely effort can save a huge amount of effort and struggle in the future — a timeless principle of wisdom and discipline.

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👀 3. Real-Life Examples

• A company overlooks a minor accounting error, which later escalates into a costly financial crisis.
• An individual ignores small health symptoms, only to face a serious, complex illness later on.
• A student continually procrastinates on a small assignment, leading to an overwhelming buildup of stress before exams.

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🌏 4. Similar Proverbs Around the World

CountryProverb / SayingInterpretation

United States	“A stitch in time saves nine.”	Solving a small problem quickly prevents a much larger one later.
United Kingdom	“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”	Preventive effort is vastly superior to dealing with the consequences.
China	“防微杜渐” (Fáng wēi dù jiàn)	Stop problems when they are still subtle (micro) and prevent them from spreading (gradual).

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💬 A Warm Saying

“Small care and attention today
can save great pain tomorrow.”

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📌 Note

This is a creative cultural content from the Misojieum Story Blog (kor-telling.com).

Please do not copy without permission.
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