열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없다

yeol beon jjigeo an neomeoganeun namu eopda

Word for word

“There's no tree that won't fall after ten chops.”

What it means

Keep trying and even a hard goal — or a hard heart — gives way.

When you'd say it

Encouraging persistence — often, jokingly, in romance.

Closest English saying

Little strokes fell great oaks.

Example

세 번 떨어졌다고 포기하지 마. 열 번 찍어 안 넘어가는 나무 없어.Don't quit after three tries. No tree survives ten chops.