"The Greedy Dog" is a short story that teaches the lesson that greed can lead to losing everything. It features simple sentence structures and vocabulary, making it ideal for Korean learners who are working on their reading and comprehension skills. This story offers a great opportunity to learn Korean through the theme of greed and loss.
욕심 많은 개
yogsim manh-eun gae
Greedy dog
Sentence 1
어느 날, 개 한 마리가 커다란 고기를 물고 다리를 건너고 있었습니다.
eoneu nal, gae han maliga keodalan gogileul mulgo dalileul geonneogo iss-eoss-seubnida.
One day, a dog was crossing the bridge with a large piece of meat.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 어느 | eoneu | one | 어느(Determiner) |
| 날 | nal | day | 날(Noun) |
| 개 | gae | dog | 개(Noun) |
| 한 | han | one | 한(Determiner) |
| 마리의 | mariui | of animal | 마리(Noun) + 의(Possessive Particle) |
| 개가 | gaega | subject particle | 개(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 커다란 | keodaran | big | 커다랗다(Adjective) + ㄴ(Adjective Suffix) |
| 고기를 | gogireul | meat | 고기(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 물고 | mulggo | holding in mouth | 물다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 다리를 | darireul | bridge | 다리(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 건너고 | geonneogo | crossing | 건너다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 있었습니다 | isseotsseumnida | was | Basic Type: 있었다(Verb) |
Sentence 2
그러다 다리 아래 물에 비친 한 마리의 개가 고기를 물고 있는 것을 보게 되었습니다.
geuleoda dali alae mul-e bichin han mali-ui gaega gogileul mulgo issneun geos-eul boge doe-eoss-seubnida.
Then I saw a dog in the water under the bridge.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 그러다 | geureoda | then | 그러다(Verb) |
| 다리 | dari | bridge | 다리(Noun) |
| 아래 | arae | under | 아래(Noun) |
| 물에 | mure | in the water | 물(Noun) + 에(Postposition) |
| 비친 | bichin | reflected | 비치다(Verb) + ㄴ(Adjective Suffix) |
| 한 | han | one | 한(Determiner) |
| 마리의 | mariui | of animal | 마리(Noun) + 의(Possessive Particle) |
| 개가 | gaega | dog | 개(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 고기를 | gogireul | meat | 고기(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 물고 | mulggo | holding in mouth | 물다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 있는 | inneun | being | 있다(Verb) + 는(Adjective Suffix) |
| 것을 | geoseul | thing | 것(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 보게 | boge | see | 보다(Verb) + 게(Adverbial Suffix) |
| 되었습니다 | doeeotsseumnida | became | 되다(Verb) + 었습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 3
물에 비친 개는 자신이 물고 있는 고기보다 더 커 보이는 고기를 물고 있었습니다.
mul-e bichin gaeneun jasin-i mulgo issneun gogiboda deo keo bo-ineun gogileul mulgo iss-eoss-seubnida.
The dog reflected in the water was biting the meat that looked bigger than the meat he was biting.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 물에 | mure | in the water | 물(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 비친 | bichin | reflected | 비치다(Verb) + ㄴ(Adjective Suffix) |
| 개는 | gaeneun | the dog | 개(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 자신이 | jasini | itself | 자신(Noun) + 이(Subject Particle) |
| 물고 | mulggo | holding in mouth | 물다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 있는 | inneun | being | 있다(Verb) + 는(Adjective Suffix) |
| 고기보다 | gogiboda | than the meat | 고기(Noun) + 보다(Postposition) |
| 더 | deo | more | 더(Adverb) |
| 커 | keo | big | 크다(Adjective) |
| 보이는 | boineun | seemed | 보다(Verb) + 는(Adjective Suffix) |
| 고기를 | gogireul | meat | 고기(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 물고 | mulggo | holding in mouth | 물다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 있었습니다 | isseotsseumnida | was | 있다(Verb) + 었습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 4
그래서 그 개는 고기를 빼앗기 위해 물에 비친 자신의 모습을 향해 크게 짖었습니다.
geulaeseo geu gaeneun gogileul ppae-asgi wihae mul-e bichin jasin-ui moseub-eul hyanghae keuge jij-eoss-seubnida.
So the dog barked greatly toward himself in the water to take away the meat.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 그래서 | geuraeseo | so | 그래서(Conjunction) |
| 그 | geu | that | 그(Determiner) |
| 개는 | gaeneun | the dog | 개(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 고기를 | gogireul | meat | 고기(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 빼앗기 | ppaeatgi | take away | 빼앗다(Verb) + 기(Noun Suffix) |
| 위해 | wihae | for | 위하다(Verb) + 해(Postposition) |
| 물에 | mure | in the water | 물(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 비친 | bichin | reflected | 비치다(Verb) + ㄴ(Adjective Suffix) |
| 자신의 | jasinui | its own | 자신(Noun) + 의(Possessive Particle) |
| 모습을 | moseubeul | appearance | 모습(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 향해 | hyanghae | toward | 향하다(Verb) + 해(Postposition) |
| 크게 | keuge | loudly | 크다(Adjective) + 게(Adverbial Suffix) |
| 짖었습니다 | jjijeotseumnida | barked | 짖다(Verb) + 었습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 5
하지만 그 순간, 자신이 물고 있던 고기를 물에 빠뜨렸습니다.
hajiman geu sungan, jasin-i mulgo issdeon gogileul mul-e ppa-tteulyeoss-seubnida.
But at that moment, he drowned the meat he was biting.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 하지만 | hajiman | but | 하지만(Conjunction) |
| 그 | geu | that | 그(Determiner) |
| 순간 | sungan | moment | 순간(Noun) |
| 자신이 | jasini | itself | 자신(Noun) + 이(Subject Particle) |
| 물고 | mulggo | holding in mouth | 물다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 있던 | itteon | was | 있다(Verb) + 던(Adjective Suffix) |
| 고기를 | gogireul | meat | 고기(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 물에 | mure | into the water | 물(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 빠뜨렸습니다 | ppatteuryeotseumnida | dropped | 빠뜨리다(Verb) + 었습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 6
그 개는 당황하며 고기를 잡으려 했지만, 고기는 이미 떠내려가고 말았습니다.
geu gaeneun danghwanghamyeo gogileul jab-eulyeo haessjiman, gogineun imi tteonaelyeogago mal-ass-seubnida.
The dog was embarrassed and tried to catch the meat, but the meat was already floated.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 그 | geu | that | 그(Determiner) |
| 개는 | gaeneun | the dog | 개(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 당황하며 | danghwanghamyeo | in confusion | 당황하다(Verb) + 며(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 고기를 | gogireul | meat | 고기(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 잡으려 | jabeuryeo | to catch | 잡다(Verb) + 으려(Intentive Suffix) |
| 했지만 | haetjiman | tried but | 하다(Verb) + 었지만(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 고기는 | gogineun | the meat | 고기(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 이미 | imi | already | 이미(Adverb) |
| 떠내려가고 | tteonaeryeogago | floating away | 떠내려가다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 말았습니다 | maratseumnida | completely | 말다(Verb) + 았습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 7
그 개는 결국 자신의 욕심 때문에 물고 있던 커다란 고기마저 잃고 말았습니다.
geu gaeneun gyeolgug jasin-ui yogsim ttaemun-e mulgo issdeon keodalan gogimajeo ilhgo mal-ass-seubnida.
The dog eventually lost even the big meat he was biting because of his greed.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | English Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 그 | geu | that | 그(Determiner) |
| 개는 | gaeneun | the dog | 개(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 결국 | gyeolguk | in the end | 결국(Adverb) |
| 자신의 | jasinui | its own | 자신(Noun) + 의(Possessive Particle) |
| 욕심 때문에 | yoksim ttaemune | because of greed | 욕심(Noun) + 때문에(Postposition) |
| 물고 | mulggo | holding in mouth | 물다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 있던 | itteon | was | 있다(Verb) + 던(Adjective Suffix) |
| 커다란 | keodaran | big | 커다랗다(Adjective) + ㄴ(Adjective Suffix) |
| 고기마저 | gogimajeo | even the meat | 고기(Noun) + 마저(Auxiliary Particles) |
| 잃고 | ilgo | lost | 잃다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 말았습니다 | maratseumnida | completely | 말다(Verb) + 았습니다(Verb Ending) |
Learning Assessment
What is the Korean word for 'but'?
Fill in the blank with the correct Korean word: _____ 개는 당황하며 고기를 잡으려 했지만, 고기는 이미 떠내려가고 말았습니다.
What does the Korean word '그러다' mean in English? (Answer: Then)
What is the verb for 'to bark' in Korean? (Answer:짖다)
Which Korean particle indicates possession? (Answer:의)
Conclusion
By learning from this simple story, beginners can not only expand their Korean vocabulary and grammar knowledge but also gain insight into valuable life lessons about the consequences of greed. Try using some of the new words and expressions in your own sentences to practice!
TIP!
Characteristics of Koreans:
Koreans don't get offended or laugh when foreigners can't speak Korean. Even if your grammar isn't perfect or you don't know all the words, Koreans have an amazing ability to guess the meaning based on the context. In Korean, this skill is often referred to as "눈치" (nunchi), which means being perceptive or having situational awareness. So, there's no need to be afraid of talking to Koreans!