Korean Proverb : Hiding a Duck’s Foot After Eating the Chicken

Korean Proverb Series 46

Hiding a Duck’s Foot After Eating the Chicken
“닭 잡아먹고 오리발 내민다”
(Dak jabameokgo oribal naeminda)

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🕰️ 1. The Proverb’s Core Meaning

The Korean proverb “닭 잡아먹고 오리발 내민다” literally means
“After eating the chicken, one shows a duck’s foot.”

It describes someone who commits a wrongdoing but pretends to be innocent, offering an unconvincing excuse instead.
The image is comical — as if someone ate the chicken and tried to prove innocence by showing a duck’s webbed foot instead of chicken bones.

At its heart, the proverb criticizes dishonesty and shallow excuses.

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🪄 2. Meaning & Key Lesson

▪️ Lies may hide the truth for a moment, but never erase it.
▪️ Excuses only make faults bigger.
▪️ Taking responsibility earns respect more than denial ever could.

This proverb reminds us that truth, once lost, is hard to regain — and sincerity is the foundation of trust.

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👀 3. Real-Life Applications

▪️ A child blames the dog after breaking a vase — though everyone knows the truth.
▪️ An employee denies a mistake instead of fixing it, making matters worse.
▪️ In daily life, pretending innocence often causes more harm than honest apology.

Owning up to mistakes may be hard,
but it’s always lighter than carrying a lie.

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🌏 4. Similar Proverbs Around the World

▪️ United States / United Kingdom — “A guilty dog barks the loudest.”
　→ Those who deny too strongly often reveal their guilt.
▪️ China — “此地无银三百两 (Cǐ dì wú yín sān bǎi liǎng).”
　→ “There are no 300 taels of silver buried here.” (A clumsy attempt to hide wrongdoing.)
▪️ Japan — “泥棒を捕らえて縄をなう (Dorobō o toraete nawa o nau).”
　→ “Making the rope after catching the thief.” (Trying to fix things after it’s too late.)
▪️ France — “Qui s’excuse s’accuse.”
　→ “He who excuses himself, accuses himself.”

Across cultures, people smile at the same truth —
honesty is always simpler than pretending.

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💬 A Warm Saying

“Excuses are heavier than mistakes —
but honesty sets the heart free.”

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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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