떡 줄 사람은 생각도 않는데, 김칫국부터 마신다

Literal Meaning

Don't drink kimchi soup before someone offers you rice cake. Koreans used to drink kimchi soup after eating rice cake (떡).

Usage

This is used to tell someone not think about the future before we reach it. Don’t act as though you have something before you actually have it. Don't get ahead of yourself.

English Equivalent

• Don't count your chickens before they hatch
• Don't get ahead of yourself
• Don't jump the gun.