'Fox and Grapes' is one of Aesop's fables, a perfect choice for Korean learners. This story includes simple sentence structures and repeated vocabulary, making it an excellent tool for language practice. In this post, we introduce 'Fox and Grapes' in easy and clear Korean, perfect for beginners
여우와 포도
yeo-u-wa podo
Fox and grapes
Sentence 1
어느 날, 배고픈 여우가 길을 걷고 있었습니다.
eoneu nal, baegopeun yeo-uga gil-eul geodgo iss-eoss-seubnida.
One day, a hungry fox was walking on the street.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 어느 | eoneu | one | 어느(Determiner) |
| 날 | nal | day | 날(Noun) |
| 배고픈 | baegopeun | hungry | 배고프다(Adjective) + ㄴ(Adjective Suffix) |
| 여우가 | yeouga | the fox | 여우(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 길을 | gireul | the road | 길(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 걷고 있었습니다 | geotgo isseotseumnida | was walking | 걷다(Verb) + 고 있다(Progressive Form) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 2
여우는 높은 나무에 달린 포도를 보았습니다.
yeo-uneun nop-eun namu-e dallin podoleul bo-ass-seubnida.
The fox saw grapes on high trees.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 여우는 | yeouneun | the fox | 여우(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 높은 | nopeun | high | 높다(Adjective) + ㄴ(Adjective Suffix) |
| 나무에 | namue | on the tree | 나무(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 달린 | dallin | hanging | 달리다(Verb) + ㄴ(Adjective Suffix) |
| 포도를 | podoreul | grapes | 포도(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 보았습니다 | boasseumnida | saw | 보다(Verb) + 았(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 3
여우는 그 포도를 먹고 싶어서 점프했습니다.
yeo-uneun geu podoleul meoggo sip-eoseo jeompeuhaess-seubnida.
The fox jumped because he wanted to eat the grape.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 여우는 | yeouneun | the fox | 여우(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 그 | geu | that | 그(Determiner) |
| 포도를 | podoreul | grapes | 포도(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 먹고 | meokgo | eat | 먹다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 싶어서 | sip-eoseo | wanting | 싶다(Verb) + 어서(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 점프했습니다 | jeompeuhaetseumnida | jumped | 점프하다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 4
하지만 여우는 포도에 닿을 수 없었습니다.
hajiman yeo-uneun podo-e dah-eul su eobs-eoss-seubnida.
But the fox could not reach the grapes.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하지만 | hajiman | but | 하지만(Conjunction) |
| 여우는 | yeouneun | the fox | 여우(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 포도에 | podoe | to the grapes | 포도(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 닿을 수 | daheul su | reach | 닿다(Verb) + ㄹ 수(Ability Expression) |
| 없었습니다 | eopseotseumnida | could not | 없다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 5
여우는 여러 번 시도했지만 포도는 너무 높았습니다.
yeo-uneun yeoleo beon sidohaessjiman podoneun neomu nop-ass-seubnida.
The fox tried several times, but the grapes were too high.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 여우는 | yeouneun | the fox | 여우(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 여러 번 | yeoreo beon | several times | 여러(Adverb) + 번(Noun) |
| 시도했지만 | sidohaetjiman | tried but | 시도하다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 지만(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 포도는 | podoneun | the grapes | 포도(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 너무 | neomu | too | 너무(Adverb) |
| 높았습니다 | nopasseumnida | was too high | 높다(Adjective) + 았(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 6
결국 여우는 포도가 시다고 말하며 포기했습니다.
gyeolgug yeo-uneun podoga sidago malhamyeo pogihaess-seubnida.
In the end, the fox gave up, saying that the grapes were so steadily.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 결국 | gyeolguk | in the end | 결국(Adverb) |
| 여우는 | yeouneun | the fox | 여우(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 포도가 | podoga | the grapes | 포도(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 시다고 | sidago | are sour | 시다(Adjective) + 다고(Reported Speech) |
| 말하며 | malhamyeo | saying | 말하다(Verb) + 며(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 포기했습니다 | pogiihaetseumnida | gave up | 포기하다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 7
여우는 빈손으로 다시 길을 걸어갔습니다.
yeo-uneun binson-eulo dasi gil-eul geol-eogass-seubnida.
The fox walked back with empty hands.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 여우는 | yeouneun | the fox | 여우(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 빈손으로 | binsoneuro | empty-handed | 빈손(Noun) + 으로(Postposition) |
| 다시 | dasi | again | 다시(Adverb) |
| 길을 | gireul | the road | 길(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 걸어갔습니다 | georeogasseumnida | walked away | 걸어가다(Verb) + 았(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Learning Assessment
What does the word '하지만' mean in English?
a) and
b) but
c) because
Which of the following is the correct meaning of '결국'?
a) finally
b) never
c) slowly
What is the Korean word for 'Fox'?
Conclusion
'Fox and Grapes' teaches us an important lesson: knowing our limits and approaching challenges wisely. I hope this story helps you improve your Korean vocabulary and sentence structure. Learning Korean can be more fun and effective through simple but meaningful stories like this one.
TIP!
How to Distinguish Between Korean Particles and Verb Endings!
Korean Particles:
- They are always attached to a noun, pronoun, or numeral (a word representing numbers or order).
- The form of the noun, pronoun, or numeral before the particle does not change.
Korean Verb Endings:
- They are attached to a verb or adjective.
- The form of the verb or adjective before the ending changes. (This change at the end of the verb or adjective that alters its meaning or function is called "verb/adjective conjugation" in Korean.)
Now, review the sentences above and try to distinguish between particles and verb endings!