[Korean Culture & Language] If long-tailed bushtit tries to catch up with a stork, its legs will splay


Hello, this is Uptempo Marketers!


There are numerous articles and books about ‘success’. The authors often claim that successful people have particular characteristics or habits that set them apart from the rest. But can simply copying the habits of successful people make one successful?

Photo by Daniil Komov on Unsplash

In Korea, there’s a saying “뱁새가 황새를 따라가면 다리가 찢어진다. (If long-tailed bushtit tries to catch up with a stork, its legs will splay.)” It means one should try to live within one’s means or try not to push themselves too much to be like someone else.

Ex)

A: 지현이네 남편이 강남에 아파트를 샀대. (I heard that Ji-hyun’s husband bought an apartment in Gangnam.)

B: 와, 집들이 선물 줘야겠네 (Wow, we should get them a housewarming present!)

A: 우리는? 우리도 집 사야지. (What about us? We should buy a house too.)

B: 뱁새가 황새를 따라가면 다리가 찢어져. (If long-tailed bushtit tries to catch up with a stork, its legs will splay; We should live within our means)


Ex) 

A: 지수야, 나 옷 박스에 정리 하는 것 좀 도와줄 수 있어? (Ji-su, would you help me pack my clothes?)

B: 응 당연하지. 그런데, 너 유치원 선생님이잖아. 어떻게 이렇게 비싼 옷들이 많아? (Sure. But hey, you’re a kindergarten teacher. How
do you afford all of these expensive clothes? 

A: 다른 사람들도 다 사는건데 뭐. 그리고 신용카드가 있잖아! (Everyone buys them! Plus, I’ve got my credit cards!)

B: 다 신용카드로 산거야? (Did you buy all these with a credit card?)

A: 응! (Yeah!)

B: 오 마이갓! (Oh, my gosh) 뱁새가 황새를 따라가면 다리가 찢어져. (If long-tailed bushtit tries to catch up with a stork, its legs will splay; You should live within your means)


Pushing ourselves can sometimes assist us in achieving a goal or lead us closer to ‘success’. However, we should be aware of the point where it becomes excessive. 

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