Korean Proverb Series 32
The Grass Is Greener on the Other Side
“남의 떡이 커 보인다”
(Namui tteogi keo boinda)
🕰️ 1. The Proverb’s Core Meaning
The Korean proverb “남의 떡이 커 보인다” literally means
“Other people’s rice cakes look bigger.”
It reflects the human tendency to believe that what others have is better than our own.
This saying humorously describes envy and discontent — the idea that we often fail to appreciate what we already have, while overvaluing what we don’t.
🪄 2. Meaning & Key Lesson
▪️ People easily overestimate others’ situations while undervaluing their own.
▪️ Envy often blinds us to the blessings already within reach.
▪️ True happiness comes not from comparing, but from being content with what we have.
This proverb reminds us that gratitude turns what we have into enough.
👀 3. Real-Life Applications
▪️ A student might envy a friend’s grades without noticing their own unique strengths.
▪️ Someone may long for another person’s job, unaware of its hidden stress.
▪️ On social media, people often compare lives through filtered images and lose sight of real happiness.
The proverb teaches us to look inward and find satisfaction in our own journey.
🌏 4. Similar Proverbs Around the World
▪️ United States — “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence.”
→ People always think others are better off.
▪️ Japan — “隣の芝生は青い (Tonari no shibafu wa aoi).”
→ The neighbor’s lawn looks greener.
▪️ China — “这山望着那山高 (Zhè shān wàng zhe nà shān gāo).”
→ The mountain across seems taller than the one you stand on.
▪️ France — “L’herbe est toujours plus verte chez le voisin.”
→ The neighbor’s grass is always greener.
Across cultures, this wisdom reminds us that contentment is universal, while envy is a common trap.
💬 A Warm Saying
“Appreciate your own blessings —
they might be what others envy.”
📌 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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