In this post, we will explore the story of "The Ant and the Grasshopper," a fable that is easily understandable for Korean learners. This story helps in learning Korean through simple vocabulary and sentence structure, while also conveying important life lessons.
개미와 베짱이
gaemi-wa be-jjang-i
Ants and grasshoppers
Sentence 1
어느 여름날, 개미들은 열심히 일하며 겨울을 준비하고 있었습니다.
eoneu yeoleumnal, gaemideul-eun yeolsimhi ilhamyeo gyeo-ul-eul junbihago iss-eoss-seubnida.
One summer day, the ants were working hard and preparing for winter.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 어느 | eoneu | one | 어느(Determiner) |
| 여름날 | yeoreumnal | summer day | 여름(Noun) + 날(Noun) |
| 개미들 | gaemideul | ants | 개미(Noun) + 들(Plural Particle) |
| 열심히 | yeolsimhi | hard | 열심히(Adverb) |
| 일하며 | ilhameo | working | Basic Type: 일하다(Verb) + 며(Conjunctive Particle) |
| 겨울을 | gyeoureul | winter | 겨울(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 준비하고 | junbihago | preparing | Basic Type: 준비하다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Particle) |
| 있었습니다 | isseotsseumnida | was | Basic Type: 있었다(Verb) |
Sentence 2
그때 베짱이는 나무 아래에서 바이올린을 켜며 놀고 있었습니다.
geu-ttae be-jjang-ineun namu alae-eseo ba-i-ollin-eul kyeomyeo nolgo iss-eoss-seubnida.
At that time, the grasshopper was playing the violin under the tree.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 그때 | geuttae | at that time | 그때(Noun) |
| 베짱이 | bejjangi | grasshopper | 베짱이(Noun) |
| 는 | neun | (topic marker) | 는(Topic Particle) |
| 나무 | namu | tree | 나무(Noun) |
| 아래에서 | araeseo | under | 아래(Noun) + 에서(Location Particle) |
| 바이올린을 | baiolin-eul | violin | 바이올린(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 켜며 | kyeomyeo | playing | Basic Type: 켜다(Verb) + 며(Conjunctive Particle) |
| 놀고 | nolgo | playing | Basic Type: 놀다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Particle) |
| 있었습니다 | isseotsseumnida | was | Basic Type: 있었다(Verb) |
Sentence 3
개미들이 베짱이에게 다가와 말했습니다, "너도 겨울 준비를 해야 해."
gaemideul-i be-jjang-i-ege daga-wa malhaess-seubnida, "neodo gyeo-ul junbileul hae-ya hae.
The ants approached the grasshopper, saying, "You need to prepare for the winter too."
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 개미들 | gaemideul | ants | 개미(Noun) + 들(Plural Particle) |
| 이 | i | (subject marker) | 이(Subject Particle) |
| 베짱이 | bejjangi | grasshopper | 베짱이(Noun) |
| 에게 | ege | to | 에게(Particle) |
| 다가와 | daga-wa | approach | Basic Type: 다가오다(Verb) + 와(Conjunctive Particle) |
| 말했습니다 | malhaetsseumnida | said | Basic Type: 말하다(Verb)+었+습니다 |
| 너도 | neodo | you also | 너(Pronoun) + 도(Particle) |
| 겨울 | gyeoul | winter | 겨울(Noun) |
| 준비를 | junbireul | preparation | 준비(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 해야 | haeya | must do | Basic Type: 하다(Verb) + 아야(Particle) |
| 해 | hae | (ending form) | 해(Ending) |
Sentence 4
"하지만 베짱이는 웃으며 대답했습니다, "지금은 즐거운 여름이잖아!"
"hajiman be-jjang-ineun us-eumyeo daedabhaess-seubnida, "jigeum-eun jeulgeo-un yeoleum-ijanh-a!
"But the grasshopper smiled and replied, "It's a fun summer now!"
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하지만 | hajiman | but | 하지만(Adverb) |
| 베짱이 | bejjangi | grasshopper | 베짱이(Noun) |
| 는 | neun | (topic marker) | 는(Topic Particle) |
| 웃으며 | useumyeo | laughing | Basic Type: 웃다(Verb) + 며(Conjunctive Particle) |
| 대답했습니다 | daedaphaetsseumnida | answered | Basic Type: 대답하다(Verb) |
| 지금은 | jigeumeun | now | 지금(Noun) + 은(Topic Particle) |
| 즐거운 | jeulgeoun | enjoyable | Basic Type: 즐겁다(Adjective) + 은(Adjective Modifier) |
| 여름 | yeoreum | summer | 여름(Noun) |
| 이잖아 | ijanha | (isn't it?) | 이다(Verb) + 잖아(Ending) |
Sentence 5
시간이 흘러 겨울이 다가왔고, 베짱이는 먹을 것이 없어 굶주렸습니다.
sigan-i heulleo gyeo-ul-i daga-wassgo, be-jjang-ineun meog-eul geos-i eobs-eo gulmjulyeoss-seubnida.
As time passed and winter approached, the grasshopper starved because there was nothing to eat.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 시간이 | sigani | time | 시간(Noun) + 이(Subject Particle) |
| 흘러 | heulleo | passes | Basic Type: 흐르다(Verb) |
| 겨울이 | gyeouli | winter | 겨울(Noun) + 이(Subject Particle) |
| 다가왔고 | daga-wassgo | approached | Basic Type: 다가오다(Verb) + 았(Verb Tense) + 고(Conjunctive Particle) |
| 베짱이는 | bejjangineun | grasshopper | 베짱이(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 먹을 | meogeul | food | Basic Type: 먹다(Verb) + 을(Object Modifier) |
| 것이 | geosi | thing | 것(Noun) + 이(Subject Particle) |
| 없어 | eopseo | none | Basic Type: 없다(Verb) |
| 굶주렸습니다 | gulmjuryeotsseumnida | starved | Basic Type: 굶주리다(Verb)+었+습니다 |
Sentence 6
반면, 개미들은 여름 동안 모아둔 음식을 먹으며 따뜻하게 지냈습니다.
banmyeon, gaemideul-eun yeoleum dong-an mo-adun eumsig-eul meog-eumyeo tta-tteushage jinaess-seubnida.
On the other hand, the ants stayed warm, eating the food they had gathered during the summer.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 반면 | banmyeon | on the other hand | 반면(Noun) |
| 개미들 | gaemideul | ants | 개미(Noun) + 들(Plural Particle) |
| 은 | eun | (topic marker) | 은(Topic Particle) |
| 여름 | yeoreum | summer | 여름(Noun) |
| 동안 | dongan | during | 동안(Noun) |
| 모아둔 | moadun | gathered | Basic Type: 모으다(Verb) + 아둔(Past Participle) |
| 음식을 | eumsigeul | food | 음식(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 먹으며 | meogeumyeo | eating | Basic Type: 먹다(Verb) + 며(Conjunctive Particle) |
| 따뜻하게 | ttatteuthage | warmly | 따뜻하게(Adverb) |
| 지냈습니다 | jinaetsseumnida | spent time | Basic Type: 지내다(Verb)+었+습니다 |
Sentence 7
베짱이는 후회하며 개미들에게 배운 교훈을 마음에 새겼습니다.
be-jjang-ineun huhoehamyeo gaemideul-ege bae-un gyohun-eul ma-eum-e saegyeoss-seubnida.
The grasshopper regretted its choices and engraved the lesson learned from the ants in its heart.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 베짱이 | bejjangi | grasshopper | 베짱이(Noun) |
| 는 | neun | (topic marker) | 는(Topic Particle) |
| 후회하며 | huhoehameo | regretting | Basic Type: 후회하다(Verb) + 며(Conjunctive Particle) |
| 개미들 | gaemideul | ants | 개미(Noun) + 들(Plural Particle) |
| 에게 | ege | to | 에게(Particle) |
| 배운 | baeun | learned | Basic Type: 배우다(Verb) + 은(Past Participle) |
| 교훈을 | gyohun-eul | lesson | 교훈(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 마음에 | maeume | in the heart | 마음(Noun) + 에(Particle) |
| 새겼습니다 | saegyeotsseumnida | engraved | Basic Type: 새기다(Verb)+었+습니다 |
Learning Assessment
Which of the following is incorrectly paired?
1. 개미들이 - Ants
2. 개미들이 - incorrect_word
What is the Korean word for 'the other side,'?
Translate the following Korean sentence into English: 베짱이는 후회하며 개미들에게 배운 교훈을 마음에 새겼습니다.
Conclusion
The story of "The Ant and the Grasshopper" teaches us the importance of sincerity and preparation. Through this fable, not only can you learn Korean, but you can also reflect on the important values of life.