This post introduces fables composed of short and simple sentences for learners who want to learn Korean. Korean traditional fables called 'Fox and Crane' make it easy to learn Korean sentence structure and vocabulary.
여우와 두루미
yeo-u-wa dulumi
Fox and crane
Sentence 1
어느 날 여우가 길을 걷고 있었습니다.
eoneu nal yeo-uga gil-eul geodgo iss-eoss-seubnida.
One day the fox was walking on the road.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 어느 | eoneu | one | 어느(Determiner) |
| 날 | nal | day | 날(Noun) |
| 여우가 | yeouga | fox | 여우(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 길을 | gileul | road | 길(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 걷고 | geotgo | walking | Basic Type: 걷다(Verb) |
| 있었습니다 | isseotsseumnida | was | Basic Type: 있었다(Verb) |
Sentence 2
여우는 두루미를 만나 저녁 식사를 초대했습니다.
yeo-uneun dulumileul manna jeonyeog sigsaleul chodaehaess-seubnida.
The fox met a crane and invited dinner.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 여우는 | yeouneun | fox | 여우(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 두루미를 | durumireul | crane | 두루미(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 만나 | manna | met | Basic Type: 만나다(Verb) |
| 저녁 | jeonyeok | dinner | 저녁(Noun) |
| 식사를 | siksareul | meal | 식사(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 초대했습니다 | chodaehaetseumnida | invited | Basic Type: 초대하다(Verb) |
Sentence 3
여우는 넓고 얕은 접시에 음식을 담아 두루미에게 주었습니다.
yeo-uneun neolbgo yat-eun jeobsi-e eumsig-eul dam-a dulumi-ege ju-eoss-seubnida.
The fox put food on a spacious and shallow dish and gave it to the crane.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 여우는 | yeouneun | fox | 여우(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 넓고 | neolgo | wide | Basic Type: 넓다(Adjective) |
| 얕은 | yat-eun | shallow | Basic Type: 얕다(Adjective) |
| 접시에 | jeopsie | in a plate | 접시(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 음식을 | eumsigeul | food | 음식(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 담아 | dama | put | Basic Type: 담다(Verb) |
| 두루미에게 | durumiege | to crane | 두루미(Noun) + 에게(Dative Particle) |
| 주었습니다 | jueotsseumnida | gave | Basic Type: 주다(Verb) |
Sentence 4
두루미는 음식을 먹을 수 없어서 굶었습니다.
dulumineun eumsig-eul meog-eul su eobs-eoseo gulm-eoss-seubnida.
The crane was starved because it could not eat food.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 두루미는 | durumineun | crane | 두루미(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 음식을 | eumsigeul | food | 음식(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 먹을 | meogeul | eat | Basic Type: 먹다(Verb) |
| 수 | su | ability | 수(Noun) |
| 없어서 | eopseoseo | cannot | Basic Type: 없다(Adjective) |
| 굶었습니다 | gulmeotseumnida | starved | Basic Type: 굶다(Verb) |
Sentence 5
다음 날 두루미는 여우를 초대했습니다.
da-eum nal dulumineun yeo-uleul chodaehaess-seubnida.
The next day, the crane invited foxes.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 다음 | da-eum | next | 다음(Noun) |
| 날 | nal | day | 날(Noun) |
| 두루미는 | durumineun | crane | 두루미(Noun)+는(Topic Particle) |
| 여우를 | yeoureul | fox | 여우(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 초대했습니다 | chodaehaetseumnida | invited | Basic Type: 초대하다(Verb) |
Sentence 6
두루미는 길고 좁은 병에 음식을 담아 여우에게 주었습니다.
dulumineun gilgo job-eun byeong-e eumsig-eul dam-a yeo-u-ege ju-eoss-seubnida.
The crane was given to the fox with food in a long, narrow bottle.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 두루미는 | durumineun | crane | 두루미(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 길고 | gilgo | long | Basic Type: 길다(Adjective) |
| 좁은 | job-eun | narrow | Basic Type: 좁다(Adjective) |
| 병에 | byeonge | in a bottle | 병(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 음식을 | eumsigeul | food | 음식(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 담아 | dama | put | Basic Type: 담다(Verb) |
| 여우에게 | yeouege | to fox | 여우(Noun) +에게(Dative Particle) |
| 주었습니다 | jueotsseumnida | gave | Basic Type: 주다(Verb) |
Sentence 7
여우는 음식을 먹을 수 없어서 결국 깨달음을 얻었습니다.
yeo-uneun eumsig-eul meog-eul su eobs-eoseo gyeolgug kkaedal-eum-eul eod-eoss-seubnida.
The fox could not eat food and eventually got enlightenment.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 여우는 | yeouneun | fox | 여우(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 음식을 | eumsigeul | food | 음식(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 먹을 | meogeul | eat | Basic Type: 먹다(Verb) |
| 수 | su | ability | 수(Noun) |
| 없어서 | eopseoseo | cannot | Basic Type: 없다(Adjective) |
| 결국 | gyeolgug | finally | 결국(Adverb) |
| 깨달음을 | kkaedareumeul | realization | 깨달음(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 얻었습니다 | eodeotsseumnida | gained | Basic Type: 얻다(Verb) |
Learning Assessment
What is the Korean word for 'any'?
What does the Korean word '여우는' mean in English? (Answer: Fox)
Fill in the blank with the correct Korean word: _____ 날 두루미는 여우를 초대했습니다.
Conclusion
Through this fable, you can learn about the basic sentence structure and vocabulary of Korean, while also thinking about the importance of consideration for the other person. This story consists of content that is easy to understand for beginners, which will be a great help in Korean learning.