Korean Proverb Series 67
A Living Mouth Won’t Be Webbed by Spiders
“산 입에 거미줄 치랴”
(San ibe geomijul chirya)
🕰️ 1. The Proverb’s Core Meaning
The Korean proverb “산 입에 거미줄 치랴” literally means
“A living mouth will not be covered with spider webs.”
It expresses the idea that as long as a person is alive,
they will somehow manage to survive —
through effort, creativity, or even unexpected opportunities.
This proverb highlights the resilience and resourcefulness of human beings.
Life may be difficult, but survival finds a way.
🪄 2. Meaning & Key Lesson
▪️ As long as you’re alive, you can overcome hardship.
▪️ Human resilience is stronger than hunger or despair.
▪️ Effort, adaptability, and hope prevent stagnation.
The saying encourages optimism in tough times, reminding us that
no situation is hopeless as long as we continue trying.
👀 3. Real-Life Applications
▪️ Someone who loses their job may struggle,
but with perseverance, they find new work or a new skill.
▪️ A student who fails an exam today
may study harder and rise even stronger.
▪️ A family facing financial hardship
still finds ways to support each other and move forward.
Life rarely allows us to starve completely —
human effort keeps the “spider webs” away.
🌏 4. Similar Proverbs Around the World
▪️ United States — “Where there’s life, there’s hope.”
→ As long as you're alive, things can improve.
▪️ United Kingdom — “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
→ Hardship sparks creativity for survival.
▪️ China — “天无绝人之路 (Tiān wú jué rén zhī lù).”
→ Heaven never blocks all paths for people.
▪️ Japan — “生きていれば何とかなる (Ikite ireba nantoka naru).”
→ If you’re alive, things will work out somehow.
Across cultures, the message is universal —
life finds a way for those who refuse to give up.
💬 A Warm Saying
“Hope grows wherever a living heart continues to breathe.”
📌 Note
This is a creative cultural content from the Misojieum Story Blog (kor-telling.com).
Please do not copy without permission.
Sharing is welcome with proper source citation.
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