A heart frightened by a turtle is startled by a pot lid.

— Korean proverb; individual author and earliest origin unknown

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A river flowing around smooth stones beneath a willow at sunset. — AI-generated editorial illustration · Quotations

What does this proverb mean?

A painful experience can make similar-looking situations feel alarming.

Sources and attribution

Unattributed Traditional proverb; individual author and earliest use unknown.

Source: National Institute of Korean Language — Korean Basic Dictionary , Korean Basic Dictionary proverb lookup: 자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다

Origin: Korean proverb; individual author and earliest origin unknown

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Traditional Korean saying. English rendering and explanation by Quotations; not copied from the dictionary’s definitions. The reference documents usage, not first authorship.

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