Two Goats Story - A Fun Korean Fable for Learning the Importance of Concessions

"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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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.