This article introduces the story of the famous fables, The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This story provides a lesson that emphasizes the importance of honesty. It will help learners who learn Korean through simple sentences and words analysis.
양치기 소년
yangchigi sonyeon
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Sentence 1
양을 돌보는 소년이 있었어요.
yang-eul dolboneun sonyeon-i iss-eoss-eo-yo.
There was a boy taking care of the sheep.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 양을 | yang-eul | sheep | 양(noun) + 을(object particle) |
| 돌보는 | dol-bo-neun | taking care of | 돌보다(verb) + 는(present tense suffix) |
| 소년이 | son-yeon-i | boy | 소년(noun) + 이(subject particle) |
| 있었어요 | iss-eoss-eo-yo | there was | 있다(verb) + 었어요(past tense ending) |
Sentence 2
그는 지루해서 장난을 치기로 했어요.
geuneun jiluhaeseo jangnan-eul chigilo haess-eo-yo.
He was bored and decided to play.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 그는 | geu-neun | He | 그(noun) + 는(topic particle) |
| 지루해서 | ji-ru-hae-seo | bored | 지루하다(adjective) + 해서(cause/reason suffix) |
| 장난을 | jang-nan-eul | prank | 장난(noun) + 을(object particle) |
| 치기로 | chi-gi-ro | to play | 치다(verb) + 기로(decision suffix) |
| 했어요 | haess-eo-yo | decided | 하다(verb) + 었어요(past tense ending) |
Sentence 3
"늑대다!늑대다!"라고 외쳤지만, 늑대는 없었어요.
"neugdaeda!neugdaeda!"lago oechyeossjiman, neugdaeneun eobs-eoss-eo-yo.
"Wolf! Wolf!"
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 늑대다! | neuk-dae-da | "It's a wolf!" | 늑대(noun) + 다(ending) |
| 라고 | ra-go | said | 라고(quotative particle) |
| 외쳤지만 | oe-chyeoss-ji-man | shouted, but | 외치다(verb) + 었지만(past tense + but suffix) |
| 늑대는 | neuk-dae-neun | the wolf | 늑대(noun) + 는(topic particle) |
| 없었어요 | eobs-eoss-eo-yo | was not | 없다(verb) + 었어요(past tense ending) |
Sentence 4
마을 사람들이 달려왔지만, 늑대는 없었어요.
ma-eul salamdeul-i dallyeo-wassjiman, neugdaeneun eobs-eoss-eo-yo.
The villagers ran, but there was no wolf.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 마을 | ma-eul | village | 마을(noun) |
| 사람들이 | sa-ram-deul-i | people | 사람(noun) + 들(plural marker) + 이(subject particle) |
| 달려왔지만 | dal-lyeo-wass-ji-man | came running, but | 달려오다(verb) + 았지만(past tense + but suffix) |
| 늑대는 | neuk-dae-neun | the wolf | 늑대(noun) + 는(topic particle) |
| 없었어요 | eobs-eoss-eo-yo | was not | 없다(verb) + 었어요(past tense ending) |
Sentence 5
소년은 거짓말을 믿은 사람들을 비웃었어요.
sonyeon-eun geojismal-eul mid-eun salamdeul-eul bi-us-eoss-eo-yo.
The boy laughed at those who believed in lies.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 소년은 | son-yeon-eun | boy | 소년(noun) + 은(topic particle) |
| 거짓말을 | geo-jit-mal-eul | lie | 거짓말(noun) + 을(object particle) |
| 믿은 | mit-eun | believed | 믿다(verb) + 은(past tense suffix) |
| 사람들을 | sa-ram-deul-eul | people | 사람(noun) + 들(plural marker) + 을(object particle) |
| 비웃었어요 | bi-us-eoss-eo-yo | laughed at | 비웃다(verb) + 었어요(past tense ending) |
Sentence 6
어느 날, 진짜 늑대가 나타났어요.
eoneu nal, jin-jja neugdaega natanass-eo-yo.
One day, a real wolf appeared.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 어느 | eo-neu | One | 어느(adjective) |
| 날 | nal | day | 날(noun) |
| 진짜 | jin-jja | real | 진짜(adjective) |
| 늑대가 | neuk-dae-ga | wolf | 늑대(noun) + 가(subject particle) |
| 나타났어요 | na-ta-nass-eo-yo | appeared | 나타나다(verb) + 았어요(past tense ending) |
Sentence 7
소년이 "늑대다!늑대다!"라고 외쳤지만, 아무도 오지 않았어요.
sonyeon-i "neugdaeda!neugdaeda!"lago oechyeossjiman, amudo oji anh-ass-eo-yo.
The boy shouted, "Wolf! Wolf!"
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 소년이 | son-yeon-i | boy | 소년(noun) + 이(subject particle) |
| "늑대다! | "neuk-dae-da! | "It's a wolf!" | 늑대(noun) + 다(ending) |
| 라고 | ra-go | said | 라고(quotative particle) |
| 외쳤지만 | oe-chyeoss-ji-man | shouted, but | 외치다(verb) + 었지만(past tense + but suffix) |
| 아무도 | a-mu-do | no one | 아무도(pronoun) |
| 오지 않았어요 | o-ji anh-ass-eo-yo | came | 오다(verb) + 지 않다(negative form) + 았어요(past tense ending) |
Learning Assessment
Fill in the blank with the correct Korean word: _____ 돌보는 소년이 있었어요.
What does the Korean word '소년은' mean in English? (Answer: The boy)
Which of the following is incorrectly paired?
1. 어느 - any
2. 어느 - incorrect_word
Conclusion
This story shows the importance of honesty. Repeated lies eventually make people lose their trust and no one believes in a real crisis. Honesty must be the basis in all relationships, and this fable conveys the lesson simple and intensely.
TIP!
Korean is like a set of Lego blocks.
It has a unique flexibility that allows you to combine an infinite number of blocks with a base piece, something other languages don’t quite offer. This is why I think it’s nearly impossible to fully translate the emotions and expressions of Koreans into other languages.
For beginners learning Korean, the first block you’ll encounter—aside from vocabulary—will likely be Korean particles. But don’t worry! Even if you read this blog just a few times, you’ll naturally get the hang of particles. I’ll do my best to help you build a great Lego structure.
"If you want tips on past tense for verbs and adjectives, click to learn more."