Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
아니 뗀 굴뚝에 연기 나랴 Ani tteon gulttuge yeon-gi narya
Dismissing groundless gossip by asserting that rumors never spread without some underlying truth.
What does 아니 뗀 굴뚝에 연기 나랴 mean?
아니 뗀 굴뚝에 연기 나랴 (Ani tteon gulttuge yeon-gi narya) means: Dismissing groundless gossip by asserting that rumors never spread without some underlying truth.
Speakers use this proverb when pointing out that rumors, suspicions, or accusations rarely arise completely out of nowhere. It appears in discussions where someone is defending an initial suspicion or arguing that an ongoing rumor holds a core of truth. It often stands alone as a complete statement to counter claims that an accusation is entirely baseless.
This can sound dismissive of someone's denials, often implying that an investigation or further questioning is warranted despite a lack of concrete proof.
This can sound dismissive of someone's denials, often implying that an investigation or further questioning is warranted despite a lack of concrete proof.
🎙️ 아니 뗀 굴뚝에 연기 나랴는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [아니 뗀 굴뚜게 연기 나랴]로 소리나요 (연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 아니 뗀 굴뚝에 연기 나랴? 다 이유가 있어서 소문이 난 거야.
ani tteon gulttuge yeon-gi narya? da iyuga isseoseo somuni nan geoya.
Would smoke rise from a chimney that hasn't even been lit? There's a reason for the rumor.
💡 A speaker arguing that a rumor must be based on some underlying truth - 아니 뗀 굴뚝에 연기 나겠어? 철저하게 사실관계를 확인해 봐야 해.
ani tteon gulttuge yeon-gi nagesseo? cheoljeohage sasilgwangyereul hwaginhae bwa-ya hae.
Would smoke come out of a chimney without a fire? We need to thoroughly check the facts.
💡 A speaker suggesting an investigation based on existing suspicions - 그런 소문은 아니 뗀 굴뚝에 연기 나는 격이니까 너무 신경 쓰지 마.
geureon somuneun ani tteon gulttuge yeon-gi naneun gyeoginikka neomu singyeong sseuji ma.
That rumor is like smoke without a fire, so don't pay too much attention to it.
💡 A speaker using the proverb to dismiss an unfounded piece of gossip
Related words in Social Situations
바람을 쐬다 Ba-ram-eul ssoe-da배보다 배꼽이 더 크다 Baeboda baekobi deo keuda바가지 쓰다 Bagaji sseuda발버둥 bal-beo-dung발 벗고 나서다 Bal beotgo naseoda