Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
고생 끝에 낙이 온다 Gosaeng kkeute nagi onda
Joy follows hardship; a reassuring proverb elders use to validate a younger person's current suffering and promise a bright payoff.
What does 고생 끝에 낙이 온다 mean?
고생 끝에 낙이 온다 (Gosaeng kkeute nagi onda) means: Joy follows hardship; a reassuring proverb elders use to validate a younger person's current suffering and promise a bright payoff.
Elders and mentors use this proverbially when speaking to younger people who are facing difficult studies, rigorous preparation periods, or hard physical labor. It is offered as encouragement during times of prolonged stress to suggest that the present difficulty leads eventually to a rewarding outcome. Speakers deliver this as standalone advice or reassurance when watching someone struggle through a demanding phase of life.
Depending on the tone, this can sometimes sound like a well-worn cliché that minimizes current distress, though it is usually intended warmly.
Depending on the tone, this can sometimes sound like a well-worn cliché that minimizes current distress, though it is usually intended warmly.
Other sides of 고생 끝에 낙이 온다
◆ Post-Deadline Relief — Speakers use this four-word idiom to mark the completion of a difficult period, such as a major project, exam preparation, or military service. It is frequently exclaimed among peers or muttered to oneself immediately upon finishing the ordeal. The phrase frames the preceding suffering as a necessary precursor to the relief that follows.
When used immediately after surviving a grueling task, it can sound like a collective exhale among peers, signaling that the shared hardship has finally ended.
When used immediately after surviving a grueling task, it can sound like a collective exhale among peers, signaling that the shared hardship has finally ended.
🎙️ 고생 끝에 낙이 온다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [고생 끄세 나기 온다]로 소리나요 (연음법칙). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 고생 끝에 낙이 온다니까 조금만 더 참아 보자.
gosaeng kkeute nagi ondanikka jogeumman deo chama boja.
They say joy comes after hardship, so let's endure just a little bit more.
💡 A mentor encouraging someone currently undergoing rigorous preparation. - 시험 준비하느라 힘들겠지만 고생 끝에 낙이 온다고 생각하며 힘내세요.
siheom junbihaneura himdeulgessjiman gosaeng kkeute nagi ondago saeng-gakhamyeo himnaeseyo.
Studying for exams must be hard, but keep your spirits up thinking that joy follows hardship.
💡 An instructor or older acquaintance offering motivation. - 지금의 이 고생 끝에 낙이 올 날이 반드시 있을 겁니다.
jigeum-ui i gosaeng kkeute nagi ol nari bandeusi isseul geomnida.
There will surely come a day when joy follows this present hardship.
💡 A reassuring statement given to someone working through a long period of difficulty.
Related words in Social Situations
과연 gwayeon귀에 못이 박히다 Gwi-e mot-i bakhida귀가 솔깃하다 Gwi-ga solgithada귀를 기울이다 Gwi-reul giulida귀가 얇다 gwiga yalda