Korean Proverb Series 54
Give a Peck and Receive a Bushel
“되로 주고 말로 받는다”
(Doero jugo mallo batneunda)
🕰️ 1. The Proverb’s Core Meaning
The Korean proverb “되로 주고 말로 받는다” literally means
“Give by the peck and receive by the bushel.”
It means that what you do — whether good or bad —
returns to you in greater measure.
A small deed, word, or intention can multiply in effect,
bringing back consequences far beyond what was expected.
At its heart, this proverb teaches the moral law of cause and effect —
that everything we give to the world eventually comes back to us.
🪄 2. Meaning & Key Lesson
▪️ Every action has a return, often greater than its origin.
▪️ Good deeds grow into blessings; selfish acts grow into burdens.
▪️ The world magnifies what we send out — kindness or cruelty alike.
This proverb reminds us to sow good seeds,
because the harvest will always be larger than the handful we plant.
👀 3. Real-Life Applications
▪️ A kind gesture may inspire a chain of goodness far beyond your sight.
▪️ A small lie or betrayal can grow into major loss.
▪️ In work, life, or relationships — what we give returns multiplied.
Whether in words or actions, what you put out shapes what comes back.
🌏 4. Similar Proverbs Around the World
▪️ United States / United Kingdom — “What goes around comes around.”
→ Whatever you do will come back to you.
▪️ China — “种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 (Zhòng guā dé guā, zhòng dòu dé dòu).”
→ “Plant melons and you get melons; plant beans and you get beans.”
▪️ Japan — “因果応報 (Inga ōhō).”
→ “Cause and effect always repay.”
▪️ France — “On récolte ce que l’on sème.”
→ “You reap what you sow.”
Across cultures, people agree —
the measure you give becomes the measure you receive.
💬 A Warm Saying
“Every seed you plant — in words, in deeds, in love —
returns to you, multiplied.”
📌 Note
This is a creative cultural content from the Misojieum Story Blog (kor-telling.com).
Please do not copy without permission.
Sharing is welcome with proper source citation.
Explore more traditional Korean sayings here.
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