Nuance Dictionary / Culture & Language
서당 개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다 Seodang gae sam nyeonimyeon pungworeul eupneunda
Even a dog at a village school recites poetry after three years — used to modestly deflect praise for one's long-earned competence.
What does 서당 개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다 mean?
서당 개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다 (Seodang gae sam nyeonimyeon pungworeul eupneunda) means: Even a dog at a village school recites poetry after three years — used to modestly deflect praise for one's long-earned competence.
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How it's actually used
- A: 대리님은 디자인 감각이 정말 프로 같아요. B: 에이, 서당 개 삼 년이면 풍월을 읊는다고, 어깨너머로 주워들은 게 다죠.
A: Daer-nimeun dijain gamgagi jeongmal peuro gatayo. B: Ei, seodang gae sam nyeonimyeon pungworeul eupneundago, eokkaeneomeoro juwodeureun ge dajyo.
A: Assistant Manager, your design sense is truly professional. B: Nah, even a school dog recites poetry after three years—it's just what I picked up watching over shoulders.
💡 The classic deflection when a colleague praises your hard-won professional expertise. - 외국인인데 한국어를 너무 잘하시네요! — 아뇨 뭐, 서당 개 삼 년이라 그런지 귀만 트였어요.
Oegugininde hangugeoreul neomu jalhasineyo! — Anyo mwo, seodang gae sam nyeonira geureonji gwiman tuyeosseoyo.
You speak Korean so well for a foreigner! — Oh, not really, I guess just my ears opened up because of the 'school dog' effect.
💡 Using the shortened idiom casually to wave away compliments on language fluency. - 이 정도 수리는 저도 해요. 서당 개 삼 년 덕분이죠.
I jeongdo surineun jeodo haeyo. Seodang gae sam nyeon deokbunijyo.
I can do this much repairs too. All thanks to being a three-year school dog.
💡 A lighthearted nod to practical competence gained simply through long exposure.
Related words in Culture & Language
선 Seon손민수 son-min-su수고하세요 Su-go-ha-se-yo숨듣명 sum-deuk-myeong탈덕 tal-deok