ProverbWisdomKorean origin

김칫국부터 마신다 (gimchitgukbuteo masinda)

Meaning: To count your chickens before they hatch.

Literally: To drink the kimchi broth first

Example: “합격 발표도 안 났는데 파티를 계획하다니, 김칫국부터 마시는 거야.” — Planning a party before the results are out is counting your chickens before they hatch.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 4 more languages

  • English: Don't count your chickens before they hatch
  • French: Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué (literally: Don't sell the bear's skin before killing it)
  • Spanish: No vendas la piel del oso antes de cazarlo (literally: Don't sell the bear's skin before hunting it)
  • Japanese: 捕らぬ狸の皮算用 (Toranu tanuki no kawazan'yō) (literally: Counting the skin of an uncaught raccoon dog)
  • German: Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben (literally: One should not praise the day before the evening)
  • Italian: Non dire gatto se non ce l'hai nel sacco (literally: Don't say "cat" until it's in the sack)
  • Dutch: Verkoop de huid niet voordat de beer geschoten is (literally: Don't sell the skin before the bear is shot)
  • Russian: Цыплят по осени считают (Tsyplyat po oseni schitayut) (literally: Chicks are counted in autumn)
  • Polish: Nie dziel skóry na niedźwiedziu (literally: Don't share out the skin while it's still on the bear)

Origin: From a proverb: don't gulp the side-soup expecting rice cake that hasn't been offered, assuming a result too soon.

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