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공든 탑이 무너지다
gongdeun tape mun-eojida◆proverb
efforts go to waste
수년 동안 준비한 프로젝트가 갑자기 취소되어 공든 탑이 무너졌다.
The project I prepared for years was suddenly canceled, and all my efforts went to waste.
informal
To have all one's hard work and efforts come to nothing, often due to unexpected circumstances or poor planning.
그들은 몇 년 동안 연구를 했지만, 경쟁사에서 먼저 상품을 출시해 공든 탑이 무너졌다.
They had been researching for years, but a competitor released the product first, and all their efforts went to waste.
공부한 내용을 시험에서 다 잊어버려 공든 탑이 무너진 것 같았다.
I forgot everything I studied during the exam, and it felt like all my efforts had been in vain.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of perseverance and careful planning to avoid wasted effort.
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
This proverb is commonly used when describing a situation where hard work leads to no results due to unforeseen circumstances.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Use this proverb sparingly, as it can sound overly dramatic if used too frequently.
Word Origin
The phrase originates from the idea of a tower (탑) that collapses after much effort (공들이다) has been put into building it, symbolizing wasted effort.
Usage Notes
This proverb is often used to express disappointment or frustration when something fails after significant effort. It can be used in both personal and professional contexts.
Word Breakdown
공든
effort put into
root탑이
tower
root무너지다
to collapse
root한영사전