Korean Proverbs
아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까
ani ttaen gulttuge yeongi nalkka
Word for word
“Would smoke rise from a chimney with no fire lit?”
What it means
Rumors usually have some cause behind them.
When you'd say it
When a rumor won't go away and you suspect there's something to it.
Closest English saying
There's no smoke without fire.
Example
둘이 사귄다는 소문이 계속 나네. 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까.The dating rumor keeps coming up. No fire, no smoke, right?
Frequently asked questions
What does the Korean proverb “아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까” mean?
“아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까” (ani ttaen gulttuge yeongi nalkka) is a Korean proverb: rumors usually have some cause behind them.
What is the literal translation of “아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까”?
Word for word, it says: “Would smoke rise from a chimney with no fire lit?”
When do Koreans say “아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까”?
Typical use: when a rumor won't go away and you suspect there's something to it.
Is there an English saying like “아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까”?
Yes — the English saying “There's no smoke without fire” is close in meaning.
How do you use “아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까” in a sentence?
“둘이 사귄다는 소문이 계속 나네. 아니 땐 굴뚝에 연기 날까.” means “The dating rumor keeps coming up. No fire, no smoke, right?”