Korean Dictionary
How to say "Once Bitten Twice Shy" in Korean
“Once Bitten Twice Shy” in Korean is 자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다 (pronounced "Jara Bogo Nollan Gaseum Sotdukkong Bogo Nollanda").
자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다
Jara Bogo Nollan Gaseum Sotdukkong Bogo Nollanda
Usage & Context
This Korean proverb literally means someone startled by a turtle will also be startled by a pot lid. It expresses that past bad experiences make people overly cautious.
Example Sentence
자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다더니 작은 소리에도 깜짝 놀라네요.
Once bitten twice shy, you get startled even by small sounds.
How to use 자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Once Bitten Twice Shy” is 자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다, romanized as Jara Bogo Nollan Gaseum Sotdukkong Bogo Nollanda.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다.
Pronunciation Guide
For "Jara Bogo Nollan Gaseum Sotdukkong Bogo Nollanda": "Ja-ra" is like "jah-rah". "Bo-go" is "boh-goh". "Nol-lan" is like "noll-lahn". "Ga-seum" is "gah-soom". "Sot-duk-kong" is like "sot-dook-kong". "Bo-go" again. "Nol-lan-da" is "noll-lahn-dah". This is a long proverb, so maintain a steady, even pace.
More Example Sentences
Explaining financial caution due to a past negative experience.
전에 사기당한 적이 있어서, 자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다고 작은 투자에도 겁이 나요.
Because I was scammed before, like 'once bitten, twice shy,' I'm scared even of small investments.
Describing someone's increased caution after a significant failure.
그 사람은 한번 크게 실패한 후로, 자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다고 모든 일에 조심스러워졌어요.
After that person failed big once, like 'once bitten, twice shy,' they became cautious in everything.
A personal anecdote about a lingering fear from childhood.
어릴 때 개한테 물린 적이 있어서, 자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다고 아직도 강아지만 봐도 움찔해요.
I was bitten by a dog when I was young, so like 'once bitten, twice shy,' I still flinch even at the sight of a puppy.
Cultural Context
This is a very vivid and commonly used Korean proverb. '자라' (jara) is a soft-shelled turtle, and '솥뚜껑' (sotdukkong) is a heavy, round lid for a traditional Korean iron pot. The imagery of someone being so traumatized by a turtle that even a pot lid (which resembles a turtle shell) scares them perfectly conveys the idea of being overly cautious due to a past negative experience. It's often used to explain why someone is unusually timid, hesitant, or fearful in situations that might seem harmless to others, highlighting the lasting psychological impact of past traumas.
Editorial note
We review entries like 자라 보고 놀란 가슴 솥뚜껑 보고 놀란다 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
트라우마가 생겼어
I got a trauma.
다시는 안 해
I won't do it again.
너무 조심스러워졌어
I've become too cautious.
Related Expressions
트라우마
teurauma
trauma
겁이 많다
geobi manta
to be easily scared / timid
조심성이 지나치다
josimseongi jinachida
to be overly cautious
과민 반응
gwamin baneung
overreaction / hypersensitivity
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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