늦게 배운 도둑이 날 새는 줄 모른다

neutge baeun dodugi nal saeneun jul moreunda

Word for word

“A thief who learned late doesn't notice the dawn.”

What it means

People who discover a hobby late in life get completely absorbed in it.

When you'd say it

Your parent who just discovered online games — or K-dramas.

Example

아빠가 쉰 넘어 등산을 시작하시더니 주말마다 산에 가셔. 늦게 배운 도둑이 날 새는 줄 모른다니까.Dad took up hiking past fifty and now he's on a mountain every weekend. The late thief misses the dawn.