ProverbPerseveranceKorean origin

원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 (Wonsungido namueseo tteoreojinda)

Meaning: Even experts make mistakes.

Literally: Even monkeys fall from trees

Example: “프로 선수도 실수할 때가 있다. 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다.” — Even professional players make mistakes: even Homer nods.

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

  • English: Tis a good horse that never stumbles, and a good wife that never grumbles.
  • French: Il n’y a cheval si bon qui ne bronche (literally: It is a good horse that never stumbles)
  • Spanish: El mejor escribano echa un borrón (literally: The best scribe makes a blot)
  • Japanese: 猿も木から落ちる (Saru mo ki kara ochiru) (literally: Even monkeys fall from trees)
  • German: Auch ein Pferd strauchelt, und hat doch vier Beine (literally: Even a horse stumbles, and yet it has four legs)
  • Italian: Sbaglia anche il prete all'altare (literally: Even the priest makes mistakes at the altar)
  • Dutch: Het beste paard struikelt wel eens (literally: Even the best horse stumbles sometimes)
  • Polish: I koń ma cztery nogi, a potknie się (literally: Even a horse has four legs and still stumbles)
  • Arabic: لكل جواد كبوة (Li-kulli jawādin kabwa) (literally: Every steed stumbles)

Origin: Even monkeys, the best climbers, fall from trees. Japanese has the same monkey: 猿も木から落ちる.

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