"Two Goats" is a simple yet profound fable that teaches the importance of making concessions. This story helps learners understand how stubborn competition without compromise can lead to negative consequences for everyone involved. We present this tale in 10 easy-to-read sentences, designed to be enjoyable and accessible for Korean language learners.
두 마리 염소
du mali yeomso
Two goats
Sentence 1
좁은 다리 위에 한 마리 염소가 있었습니다.
job-eun dali wi-e han mali yeomsoga iss-eoss-seubnida.
There was a goat on a narrow bridge.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 좁은 | jobeun | narrow | 좁다(Adjective) + 은(Adjective Suffix) |
| 다리 | dari | bridge | 다리(Noun) |
| 위에 | wie | on | 위(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 한 마리 | han mari | one | 한(Determiner) + 마리(Counter) |
| 염소가 | yeomsoga | goat | 염소(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 있었습니다 | isseotseumnida | was | 있다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 2
반대쪽에서 다른 한 마리 염소가 다가왔습니다.
bandae-jjog-eseo daleun han mali yeomsoga daga-wass-seubnida.
Another goat approached from the opposite side.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 반대쪽에서 | bandaejjogeseo | from the opposite side | 반대쪽(Noun) + 에서(Location Particle) |
| 다른 | dareun | another | 다른(Determiner) |
| 한 마리 | han mari | one | 한(Determiner) + 마리(Counter) |
| 염소가 | yeomsoga | goat | 염소(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 다가왔습니다 | dagawasseumnida | approached | 다가오다(Verb) + 았(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 3
다리는 너무 좁아, 한 마리만 지나갈 수 있었습니다.
dalineun neomu job-a, han maliman jinagal su iss-eoss-seubnida.
The bridge was too narrow for more than one goat to pass.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 다리는 | darineun | the bridge | 다리(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 너무 | neomu | too | 너무(Adverb) |
| 좁아 | joba | narrow | 좁다(Adjective) + 아(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 한 마리만 | han mariman | only one | 한(Determiner) + 마리(Counter) + 만(Particle) |
| 지나갈 수 | jinagal su | can pass | 지나가다(Verb) + ㄹ 수(Ability Expression) |
| 있었습니다 | isseotseumnida | could | 있다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 4
첫 번째 염소가 말했습니다, "내가 먼저 지나가야 해!"
cheos beon-jjae yeomsoga malhaess-seubnida, "naega meonjeo jinaga-ya hae!"
The first goat said, "I must go first!"
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 첫 번째 | cheot beonjae | first | 첫(Determiner) + 번째(Counter) |
| 염소가 | yeomsoga | the goat | 염소(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 말했습니다 | malhaetseumnida | said | 말하다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
| 내가 | naega | I | 나(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 먼저 | meonjeo | first | 먼저(Adverb) |
| 지나가야 해 | jinagaya hae | must pass | 지나가다(Verb) + ~야 하다(Obligation Expression) |
Sentence 5
두 번째 염소도 말했습니다, "아니, 내가 먼저 지나갈 거야!"
du beon-jjae yeomsodo malhaess-seubnida, "ani, naega meonjeo jinagal geo-ya!"
The second goat also said, "No, I will go first!"
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 두 번째 | du beonjae | second | 두(Determiner) + 번째(Counter) |
| 염소도 | yeomsodo | the goat too | 염소(Noun) + 도(Particle) |
| 말했습니다 | malhaetseumnida | said | 말하다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
| 아니 | ani | no | 아니(Adverb) |
| 내가 | naega | I | 나(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 먼저 | meonjeo | first | 먼저(Adverb) |
| 지나갈 거야 | jinagal geoya | will pass | 지나가다(Verb) + ㄹ 거야(Future Expression) |
Sentence 6
두 염소는 서로 양보하지 않고 싸우기 시작했습니다.
du yeomsoneun seolo yangbohaji anhgo ssa-ugi sijaghaess-seubnida.
Neither goat would yield, and they began to fight.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 두 | du | two | 두(Determiner) |
| 염소는 | yeomsoneun | the goats | 염소(Noun) + 는(Topic Particle) |
| 서로 | seoro | each other | 서로(Adverb) |
| 양보하지 않고 | yangbohaji anko | without yielding | 양보하다(Verb) + 지 않다(Negative Expression) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 싸우기 | ssaugi | fight | 싸우다(Verb) + 기(Noun Suffix) |
| 시작했습니다 | sijakhaetseumnida | started | 시작하다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 7
둘 다 뒤로 물러나지 않고, 서로 뿔을 맞댔습니다.
dul da dwilo mulleonaji anhgo, seolo ppul-eul majdaess-seubnida.
Neither of them backed down, and they butted their horns together.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 둘 다 | dul da | both | 둘(Determiner) + 다(Particle) |
| 뒤로 | dwiro | backward | 뒤(Noun) + 로(Postposition) |
| 물러나지 않고 | mulleonaji anko | without retreating | 물러나다(Verb) + 지 않다(Negative Expression) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 서로 | seoro | each other | 서로(Adverb) |
| 뿔을 | ppureul | horns | 뿔(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 맞댔습니다 | matdaesseumnida | butted together | 맞대다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 8
그러다 둘 다 균형을 잃고, 강물에 빠지고 말았습니다.
geuleoda dul da gyunhyeong-eul ilhgo, gangmul-e ppajigo mal-ass-seubnida.
Then, both lost their balance and fell into the river.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 그러다 | geureoda | then | 그러다(Verb) |
| 둘 다 | dul da | both | 둘(Determiner) + 다(Particle) |
| 균형을 | gyunhyeongeul | balance | 균형(Noun) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 잃고 | ilkko | lost | 잃다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 강물에 | gangmure | into the river | 강물(Noun) + 에(Location Particle) |
| 빠지고 | ppajigo | fell | 빠지다(Verb) + 고(Conjunctive Ending) |
| 말았습니다 | maratseumnida | ended up | 말다(Verb) + 았(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 9
염소들은 젖은 채로 강에서 나왔습니다.
yeomsodeul-eun jeoj-eun chaelo gang-eseo na-wass-seubnida.
The goats came out of the river soaking wet.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 염소들은 | yeomsodeureun | the goats | 염소(Noun) + 들(Plural) + 은(Topic Particle) |
| 젖은 채로 | jeojeun chaero | wet | 젖다(Verb) + 은(Adjective Suffix) + 채로(Postposition) |
| 강에서 | gangeseo | from the river | 강(Noun) + 에서(Location Particle) |
| 나왔습니다 | nawasseumnida | came out | 나오다(Verb) + 았(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Sentence 10
결국, 양보하지 않으면 모두가 손해를 본다는 것을 배웠습니다.
gyeolgug, yangbohaji anh-eumyeon moduga sonhaeleul bondaneun geos-eul bae-woss-seubnida.
In the end, they learned that without concessions, everyone loses.
Sentence Analysis:
| Word | Romanization | Translation | Part of Speech / Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 결국 | gyeolguk | in the end | 결국(Adverb) |
| 양보하지 않으면 | yangbohaji aneumyeon | if not yielded | 양보하다(Verb) + 지 않다(Negative Expression) + 면(Conditional Ending) |
| 모두가 | moduga | everyone | 모두(Noun) + 가(Subject Particle) |
| 손해를 | sonhaereul | damage | 손해(Noun) + 를(Object Particle) |
| 본다는 것을 | bondaneun geoseul | that they suffer | 보다(Verb) + ㄴ다(Reported Speech Ending) + 는 것(Noun Clause) + 을(Object Particle) |
| 배웠습니다 | baewotseumnida | learned | 배우다(Verb) + 었(Past Tense) + 습니다(Verb Ending) |
Learning Assessment
Which of the following is incorrectly paired?
1. 반대쪽에서 - On the other side
2. 반대쪽에서 - incorrect_word
Translate the following Korean sentence into English: 좁은 다리 위에 한 마리 염소가 있었습니다.
What does the Korean word '그러다' mean in English? (Answer: Then)
Conclusion
This fable emphasizes the importance of concessions and consideration for others. Rather than insisting on being first, we can achieve better outcomes by cooperating. The lesson applies not only to children but also to adults.