“Bear and Two Friends” is a well-known Korean fable that teaches the value of true friendship. In this story, you’ll learn who a real friend is in difficult situations. With short, easy-to-understand sentences, this tale is perfect for Korean learners looking to expand their vocabulary and grasp basic Korean grammar concepts.
곰과 두 친구
gomgwa du chingu
Bear and two friends
Sentence 1
두 친구가 함께 숲을 지나가고 있었습니다.
du chinguga hamkke sup-eul jinagago iss-eoss-seubnida.
Two friends were passing through the forest together.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 두 | du | two | Determiner |
| 친구가 | chingu-ga | friends | 친구(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 함께 | hamkke | together | Adverb |
| 숲을 | sup-eul | forest | 숲(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 지나가고 | jinagago | passing | 지나가다(Verb) |
| 있었습니다 | isseotsseumnida | were | 있다(Verb) +었(past tense) |
Sentence 2
갑자기 커다란 곰이 나타났습니다.
gabjagi keodalan gom-i natanass-seubnida.
Suddenly a big bear appeared.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 갑자기 | gapjagi | suddenly | Adverb |
| 커다란 | keodaran | big | Adjective |
| 곰이 | gomi | bear | 곰(Noun) + 이(Subject Particle) |
| 나타났습니다 | natanatsseumnida | appeared | 나타나다(Verb) |
Sentence 3
한 친구는 재빨리 나무에 올라가 숨었습니다.
han chinguneun jae-ppalli namu-e ollaga sum-eoss-seubnida.
One friend quickly climbed the tree and hid.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 한 | han | one | Determiner |
| 친구는 | chingu-neun | friend | 친구(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 재빨리 | jaeppalli | quickly | Adverb |
| 나무에 | namu-e | to the tree | 나무(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 올라가 | ollaga | climbed | 올라가다(Verb) |
| 숨었습니다 | sum-eossseumnida | hid | 숨다(Verb)+었(past tense) |
Sentence 4
하지만 다른 친구는 나무를 오르지 못해 당황했습니다.
hajiman daleun chinguneun namuleul oleuji moshae danghwanghaess-seubnida.
But the other friend was embarrassed because he could not climb the tree.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하지만 | hajiman | however | Conjunction |
| 다른 | dareun | other | Adjective |
| 친구는 | chingu-neun | friend | 친구(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 나무를 | namu-reul | tree | 나무(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 오르지 | oreuji | climb | 오르다(Verb) |
| 못해 | motha | couldn't | Verb |
| 당황했습니다 | danghwanghaetsseumnida | was embarrassed | 당황하다(Verb) |
Sentence 5
그는 곰이 다가오는 것을 보고 재빨리 땅에 누워 죽은 척을 했습니다.
geuneun gom-i daga-oneun geos-eul bogo jae-ppalli ttang-e nu-wo jug-eun cheog-eul haess-seubnida.
He saw the bear approaching, quickly lay down on the ground, and pretended to be dead.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 그는 | geuneun | he | 그(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 곰이 | gomi | bear | 곰(Noun) + 이(Subject Particle) |
| 다가오는 | dagaoneun | approaching | 다가오다(Verb) |
| 것을 | geoseul | thing | Noun + 을(Object Particle) |
| 보고 | bogo | saw | 보다(Verb) |
| 재빨리 | jaeppalli | quickly | Adverb |
| 땅에 | ttang-e | on the ground | 땅(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 누워 | nuwo | lied down | 눕다(Verb) |
| 죽은 | jugeun | dead | Adjective |
| 척을 | cheogeul | pretend | Noun + 을(Object Particle) |
| 했습니다 | haetsseumnida | did | 하다(Verb) |
Sentence 6
곰은 그에게 다가와 냄새를 맡았습니다.
gom-eun geu-ege daga-wa naemsaeleul mat-ass-seubnida.
The bear approached him and smelled it.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 곰은 | gomeun | bear | 곰(Noun) + 은(Topic Particle) |
| 그에게 | geuege | to him | 그(Noun) + 에게(Dative Particle) |
| 다가와 | dagawa | approached | 다가오다(Verb) |
| 냄새를 | naemsaereul | smell | 냄새(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 맡았습니다 | mat-assseumnida | sniffed | 맡다(Verb) |
Sentence 7
곰은 그가 움직이지 않자 그냥 가버렸습니다.
gom-eun geuga umjig-iji anhja geunyang gabeolyeoss-seubnida.
The bear just went away when he didn't move.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 곰은 | gomeun | bear | 곰(Noun) + 은(Topic Particle) |
| 그가 | geuga | he | 그(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 움직이지 | umjikiji | move | 움직이다(Verb) |
| 않자 | anja | not | Verb |
| 그냥 | geunyang | just | Adverb |
| 가버렸습니다 | gabeoryeossseumnida | left | 가버리다(Verb) |
Sentence 8
곰이 사라지자 나무 위에 있던 친구가 내려와 "곰이 너에게 뭐라고 속삭였니?"라고 물었다.
gom-i salajija namu wi-e issdeon chinguga naelyeo-wa "gom-i neo-ege mwolago sogsag-yeossni?"lago mul-eossda.
When the bear disappeared, a friend on the tree came down and asked, "What did the bear whisper to you?"
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 곰이 | gomi | bear | 곰(Noun) + 이(Subject Particle) |
| 사라지자 | sarajija | disappeared | 사라지다(Verb) |
| 나무 | namu | tree | Noun |
| 위에 | wie | on | Noun + 에(Location Particle) |
| 있던 | itdeon | was | 있다(Verb, past participle) |
| 친구가 | chingu-ga | friend | 친구(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 내려와 | naeryeowa | came down | 내려오다(Verb) |
| 곰이 | gomi | bear | 곰(Noun) + 이(Subject Particle) |
| 너에게 | neo-ege | to you | 너(Noun) + 에게(Dative Particle) |
| 뭐라고 | mworago | what | Pronoun |
| 속삭였니 | soksagyeotni | whisper | 속삭이다(Verb, interrogative) |
| 라고 | rago | quote | Quoting particle |
| 물었다 | muleotda | asked | 묻다(Verb) |
Sentence 9
친구는 대답했습니다.
chinguneun daedabhaess-seubnida.
The friend answered.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 친구는 | chingu-neun | friend | 친구(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 대답했습니다 | daedaphaetsseumnida | answered | 대답하다(Verb) |
Sentence 10
"진정한 친구는 어려울 때 도망치지 않는다고 했어."
"jinjeonghan chinguneun eolyeo-ul ttae domangchiji anhneundago haess-eo."
"A true friend doesn't run away when things get tough."
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 진정한 | jinjeonghan | true | Adjective |
| 친구는 | chingu-neun | friend | 친구(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 어려울 | eoryeoul | difficult | 어렵다(Verb)+울(future participle) |
| 때 | ttae | time | Noun |
| 도망치지 | domangchiji | run away | 도망치다(Verb) |
| 않는다고 | anneundago | not | 않다Verb |
| 했어 | haesseo | said | 하다Verb |
Sentence 11
나무에 올라갔던 친구는 그 말을 듣고 부끄러워했습니다.
namu-e ollagassdeon chinguneun geu mal-eul deudgo bu-kkeuleo-wohaess-seubnida.
The friend who went up to the tree was ashamed to hear it.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 나무에 | namu-e | on the tree | 나무(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 올라갔던 | ollagatteon | climbed | 올라가다(Verb, past participle) |
| 친구는 | chingu-neun | friend | 친구(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 그 | geu | that | Pronoun |
| 말을 | mal-eul | words | 말(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 듣고 | deutgo | heard | 듣다(Verb) |
| 부끄러워했습니다 | bukkeureowohaetsseumnida | was embarrassed | 부끄러워하다(Verb) |
Learning Assessment
What does the Korean word '"진정한' mean in English? (Answer: "authentic)
What is the Korean word for 'On the tree'?
Which of the following is incorrectly paired?
1. 곰은 - Bears
2. 곰은 - incorrect_word
Conclusion
This fable highlights the value of friendship during difficult times. A true friend is someone who stands by you when things get tough, a valuable lesson for all Korean learners exploring this heartwarming tale.
TIP!
Tip for Beginners:
While learning vocabulary, focus on mastering particles first. Gradually move on to studying the conjugations of verbs and adjectives. There's no need to rush or dive too deeply into the material at this stage. If you come across something you don’t understand, just move on. Over time, it will naturally become familiar.