Korean Proverb : Looking for Scorched-Rice Tea at the Well

Korean Proverb Series 72

Looking for Scorched-Rice Tea at the Well

“우물가에서 숭늉 찾는다”
(Umulga-eseo sungnyung channeunda)

---

🕰️ 1. The Proverb’s Core Meaning

The Korean proverb “우물가에서 숭늉 찾는다” literally means
“Looking for scorched-rice tea at the well.”

It describes a situation where someone seeks something in a place where it clearly cannot be found —
a mismatch between desire and reality.

Just as scorched-rice tea (숭늉) can only be made from cooked rice,
not from water drawn from a well,
this proverb warns against expecting results in the wrong way or wrong place.

---

🪄 2. Meaning & Key Lesson

▪️ Don’t look for results where they cannot exist.
▪️ Effort must match the nature of the goal.
▪️ Understanding the situation prevents wasted time.

The lesson is simple but powerful:
use the right method for the right purpose.
Misaligned expectations bring only frustration.

---

👀 3. Real-Life Applications

▪️ Expecting success without preparation
　is like looking for scorched tea at a well.
▪️ Trying to build trust without honesty
　cannot produce real relationships.
▪️ Hoping for health without discipline
　leads nowhere.

Life becomes easier when we seek outcomes
where they can actually grow.

---

🌏 4. Similar Proverbs Around the World

▪️ United States — “Barking up the wrong tree.”
　→ Going after something in the wrong direction.

▪️ United Kingdom — “You won’t find gold in a coal mine.”
　→ Looking in the wrong place.

▪️ China — “缘木求鱼 (Yuán mù qiú yú).”
　→ Climbing a tree to look for fish — impossible expectations.

▪️ Japan — “見当違い (Kentō chigai).”
　→ Completely missing the point.

Across cultures, the message is the same —
don’t seek answers where they cannot exist.

---

💬 A Warm Saying

“Look where the truth lives,
and your efforts will finally bear fruit.”

---

📌 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.