Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
바늘 도둑이 소 도둑 된다 Baneul dodugi so doduk doenda
A needle thief grows up to be a cow thief; minor dishonesty invariably escalates into major crime if left unchecked.
What does 바늘 도둑이 소 도둑 된다 mean?
바늘 도둑이 소 도둑 된다 (Baneul dodugi so doduk doenda) means: A needle thief grows up to be a cow thief; minor dishonesty invariably escalates into major crime if left unchecked.
🔒 The full native nuance note and audio for this card are locked. Unlock it with a token on the Nuance Dictionary — your first unlock every day is free.
How it's actually used
- 거짓말하는 버릇 고쳐야 돼. 바늘 도둑이 소 도둑 된다잖아.
Geojitmalhaneun beoreut gochyeoya dwae. Baneul dodugi so doduk doendaajana.
You need to fix that habit of lying. You know what they say: a needle thief becomes a cow thief.
💡 The classic parental correction used to instantly shut down minor deception before it spirals. - 친구 물건 훔치는 거 그냥 넘어가면 안 돼. 바늘 도둑이 소 도둑 된다고.
Chingu mulgeon humchineun geo geunyang neomeogamyeon an dwae. Baneul dodugi so doduk doendaago.
We can't just let stealing a friend's stuff slide. A needle thief turns into a cow thief, after all.
💡 Used by teachers or adults to justify treating minor peer misconduct with unexpected seriousness. - 처음엔 숙제나 베끼는 거지만, 바늘 도둑이 소 도둑 된다고 나중엔 큰일 난다.
Cheoeumen sukjena bekineun geojiman, baneul dodugi so doduk doendago najungen keunil nanda.
It starts out just copying homework, but like the saying goes, small thefts lead to big crimes later.
💡 Highlights the slippery-slope warning applied to cheating and academic dishonesty.
Related words in Social Situations
발을 빼다 Bareul ppaeda비행기 태우다 Bihaeng-gi taeuda보기에는 bogieneun병 주고 약 준다 Byeong jugo yak junda찬물을 끼얹다 Chanmureul kkianhda