Korean Dictionary
How to say "Where There is Smoke There is Fire" in Korean
“Where There is Smoke There is Fire” in Korean is 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까 (pronounced "Ani Ttaen Gulttuge Yeongi Nalka").
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까
Ani Ttaen Gulttuge Yeongi Nalka
Usage & Context
This Korean proverb literally asks if smoke can rise from a chimney where no fire is burning. It means rumors or speculation usually have some basis in fact.
Example Sentence
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까, 소문에는 근거가 있을 거예요.
Where there is smoke there is fire, rumors probably have some basis.
How to use 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Where There is Smoke There is Fire” is 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까, romanized as Ani Ttaen Gulttuge Yeongi Nalka.
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 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까.
Pronunciation Guide
The phrase is pronounced 'Ah-nee Ttaen Gool-ttoog-eh Yeon-gee Nahl-kka'. 'Ah-nee' rhymes with 'ah-knee'. 'Ttaen' sounds like 'ten' with a strong, unaspirated 'T'. 'Gool-ttoog-eh' is like 'gull-too-geh' with a strong 'T' in 'ttoo'. 'Yeon-gee' sounds like 'yawn-gee' (like 'key'). 'Nahl-kka' is like 'null-kka' (like 'car' with a strong 'K').
More Example Sentences
Discussing a celebrity scandal that turned out to be true.
그 배우 스캔들 소문이 진짜였어. 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까 싶더라.
The rumor about that actor's scandal was true. I guess where there's smoke, there's fire.
Expressing concern about workplace rumors.
회사에 구조조정 소문이 파다한데, 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까 봐 걱정돼.
There are widespread rumors about restructuring at the company, and I'm worried because where there's smoke, there's fire.
Accusing someone of wrongdoing based on rumors.
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까라고 하잖아. 네가 뭔가 잘못한 게 있으니 그런 말이 나오는 거야.
They say where there's smoke, there's fire. You must have done something wrong for such talk to come out.
Cultural Context
This proverb is very commonly used in Korean society, especially when discussing rumors or suspicions, whether in daily life, news, or K-dramas. It reflects a pragmatic view that even seemingly baseless gossip often has some underlying truth. It's often invoked when someone is trying to dismiss a rumor, only for another person to counter with this proverb, implying that the rumor might be true after all. It can also be used to caution someone about their actions, suggesting that their behavior might be inviting unwanted speculation.
Editorial note
We review entries like 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까 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
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까 싶더라.
I thought, 'where there's smoke, there's fire.'
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까라고 하잖아.
They say, 'where there's smoke, there's fire,' don't they?
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날 리가 없지.
There's no way smoke would rise from a chimney where no fire is lit (i.e., it must be true).
Related Expressions
소문은 소문을 낳는다
Somuneun somuneul nanneunda
Rumors breed rumors
근거 없는 소문
Geungeo eomneun somun
Groundless rumor
아니 땐 굴뚝
Ani ttaen gulttuk
A chimney where no fire is lit (implies no reason for something)
연기가 나다
Yeongiga nada
Smoke rises / Smoke comes out
More Idioms & Proverbs Words
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