Korean Proverb : Beyond One Mountain Lies Another

Korean Proverb Series 26

Beyond One Mountain Lies Another

"산 넘어 산이다"
(San neomeo san-ida)

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🕰️ 1. The Proverb’s Core Meaning

The Korean proverb “산 넘어 산이다” literally translates to:
“Beyond one mountain lies another.”

It means that life’s challenges often come one after another. When we overcome one difficulty, another may appear — yet this is not to discourage us, but to remind us that persistence and courage are essential for the journey of life.

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🪄 2. Meaning & Key Lesson

• Life is a continuous climb; each obstacle leads to another, but also to growth.
• The proverb teaches patience and endurance — wisdom gained from hardship prepares us for the next.
• It reminds us that peace and success often come through difficulty, not before it.

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👀 3. Real-Life Applications

• A person finishes a difficult project at work, only to face another new challenge immediately.
• Parents raise children through one stage of hardship, only to encounter a new one as they grow.
• A traveler climbs one hill and finds yet another — but also a broader, more beautiful view ahead.

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🌏 4. Similar Proverbs Around the World

CountryProverb / SayingInterpretation

 

United States	“Out of the frying pan, into the fire.”	Escaping one problem only to meet another.
United Kingdom	“One trouble seldom comes alone.”	Difficulties often arrive together or in succession.
China	“前山不远，后山更高” (Qián shān bù yuǎn, hòu shān gèng gāo)	“The next mountain is higher than the last.” — life’s challenges are unending.

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💬 A Warm Saying

“Each mountain may seem endless,
but every climb reveals a wider sky.”

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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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