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잘되면 제 탓, 못되면 조상 탓 Jaldoemyeon Je Tat, Motdoemyeon Josang Tat - Success Is My Credit, Failure Is My Ancestors' Fault 🇰🇷 Korean Proverb



Success Is My Credit, Failure Is My Ancestors' Fault

🇰🇷 Korean Proverb

잘되면 제 탓, 못되면 조상 탓

🔤 Romanization

Jaldoemyeon Je Tat, Motdoemyeon Josang Tat

📖 Literal Meaning

If things go well, it's my credit. If they go badly, it's my ancestors' fault.

The proverb humorously describes a person who proudly takes all the credit for success but refuses to accept responsibility for failure, blaming others instead.

💡 Figurative Meaning

This proverb criticizes self-serving behavior—claiming personal credit when things succeed while shifting blame to others when things fail.

It reminds us that true character is revealed by how we handle mistakes.

Real leaders accept responsibility for failures just as willingly as they celebrate successes.

Humility earns trust; excuses destroy it.

🌍 English Equivalent

Closest Match

Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.

Other Similar Expressions

  • Pass the buck.

  • Blame everyone but yourself.

  • Take responsibility for your actions.

  • Own your mistakes.

📝 Example Sentences

1.

The manager praised himself when sales increased but blamed his employees when profits fell.

Success was his credit, failure was everyone else's fault.

2.

A true leader celebrates the team's success and accepts responsibility when things go wrong.

Leadership begins with accountability.

3.

Instead of making excuses, she admitted her mistake and quickly found a solution.

That honesty earned everyone's respect.

🏯 Why Koreans Say This

Korean culture has long valued humility, responsibility, and respect for others.

This humorous proverb pokes fun at people who always protect their own pride by taking credit for success while blaming external circumstances—or even their ancestors—for failure.

Although the mention of ancestors is intentionally exaggerated, it highlights a timeless truth:

People naturally find excuses unless they intentionally choose accountability.

For generations, Koreans have used this proverb to encourage honesty, maturity, and personal responsibility.

❤️ Life Lesson

  • Accept both success and failure with humility.

  • Responsibility builds trust.

  • Excuses solve nothing.

  • Great leaders own their mistakes.

📚 Learn Korean

잘되면 (Jaldoemyeon) = If things go well

제 (Je) = My

탓 (Tat) = Fault / Credit / Responsibility

못되면 (Motdoemyeon) = If things go badly

조상 (Josang) = Ancestors

⭐ Fun Fact

This proverb is often used jokingly in Korea whenever someone refuses to admit a mistake or constantly blames others.

It appears frequently in family conversations, workplaces, politics, sports, and television comedy, making it one of Korea's most recognizable sayings about accountability.

🌎 Real Life Applications

Business & Career

Strong leaders recognize their team's contributions during success and accept responsibility during setbacks.

Sports

Championship teams analyze their mistakes instead of making excuses after a loss.

Relationships

Healthy relationships grow when people apologize sincerely instead of shifting blame.

Personal Growth

Taking responsibility is the fastest path to learning, improvement, and long-term success.

🔍 SEO Keywords

Korean Proverbs, Korean Wisdom, Jaldoemyeon Je Tat Motdoemyeon Josang Tat, Accountability, Leadership, Responsibility, Korean Culture, Life Lessons, Personal Growth, BB MASTER SERIES

#️⃣ Hashtags

#KoreanProverbs #LearnKorean #KoreanWisdom #Accountability #Leadership #Responsibility #PersonalGrowth #LifeLessons #BBMasterSeries #DailyWisdom

🏆 BB Master's Insight

"Anyone can celebrate success. True character appears when things go wrong. The strongest people don't look for someone to blame—they look for a way to improve."

✨ Closing Quote

Success may impress people, but responsibility earns their trust.

Own your victories with humility, own your failures with courage, and let integrity define your legacy.

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