Korean Dictionary
How to say "Strike While the Iron is Hot" in Korean
“Strike While the Iron is Hot” in Korean is 쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라 (pronounced "Soeppuredo Dangie Baera").
쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라
Soeppuredo Dangie Baera
Usage & Context
This Korean proverb literally means pull out the bull's horn while it is hot. It means you should seize the right moment and act decisively when the opportunity arises.
Example Sentence
쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라고, 기회가 왔을 때 바로 행동해요.
Strike while the iron is hot, so act immediately when opportunity comes.
How to use 쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Strike While the Iron is Hot” is 쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라, romanized as Soeppuredo Dangie Baera.
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 쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라.
Pronunciation Guide
쇠뿔도 (Soe-ppul-do) sounds like 'sway-ppool-doe', with a strong 'pp' sound. 단김에 (dan-gim-e) is 'dahn-gim-eh'. 빼라 (ppae-ra) is 'ppay-rah', with a strong 'pp' sound. Note the strong, aspirated 'pp' sounds in '쇠뿔' and '빼라'.
More Example Sentences
Encouraging someone to act quickly on a limited-time offer.
지금 바로 신청해야 해요! 쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라고, 기회가 왔을 때 잡아야죠.
You have to apply right now! As they say, strike while the iron is hot, you have to seize the opportunity when it comes.
A mentor advising a mentee on entrepreneurship.
새로운 아이디어가 떠올랐을 때 바로 실행에 옮겨야 해요. 쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라는 말이 괜히 있는 게 아니죠.
When a new idea comes to mind, you should put it into action immediately. The saying 'strike while the iron is hot' isn't just for show.
A parent explaining their quick decision regarding their child's education.
아이가 공부에 흥미를 보일 때 바로 학원에 등록했어요. 쇠뿔도 단김에 빼는 심정으로요.
When my child showed interest in studying, I immediately enrolled them in an academy. With the mindset of striking while the iron is hot.
Cultural Context
This proverb is a powerful call to action in Korean culture, emphasizing decisiveness and seizing opportunities. The imagery of pulling a bull's horn while it's still warm and pliable (after being cut) perfectly conveys the idea that there's a prime moment for action, and hesitation can lead to missed chances or increased difficulty. It's frequently used in business, education, and personal development contexts to encourage promptness and initiative. You might hear it in K-dramas when a character urges another to confess their feelings or make a crucial decision before it's too late.
Editorial note
We review entries like 쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라 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
쇠뿔도 단김에 빼라고 하잖아요.
You know, they say strike while the iron is hot.
쇠뿔도 단김에 빼야죠.
You should strike while the iron is hot.
기회가 왔을 때 쇠뿔도 단김에 빼세요.
When opportunity comes, strike while the iron is hot.
Related Expressions
기회를 잡다
gihoereul japda
To seize an opportunity (Directly related concept)
때를 놓치다
ttaereul nochida
To miss the timing/opportunity (Antonym concept)
망설이다
mangseorida
To hesitate (Antonym concept, what one should avoid)
일단 저지르다
ildan jeojireuda
To just do it, to commit first (Similar concept of decisive action)
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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