Example Sentences#

1. 옛날에 한 노인이 있었습니다.¹
   Once upon a time, there was an old man.

   • 옛날 literally means ‘ancient times’ or ‘old days’. It is composed of 옛 (old) and 날 (day).
   • 에 is a particle indicating a point in time.
   • 옛날에 is a conventional phrase often used at the beginning of folktales or children’s stories, functioning like ‘once upon a time’ or ‘a long time ago’ in English. It can stand alone or appear in extended expressions such as 옛날 옛적에, where 옛적 also means ‘a long time ago’, with 적 referring to a time or an occasion.

2. 옛날에 산 아래 작은 마을이 있었습니다.²
   Once upon a time, there was a small village at the foot of a mountain.

   • 옛날 literally means ‘ancient times’ or ‘old days’. It is composed of 옛 (old) and 날 (day).
   • 에 is a particle indicating a point in time.
   • 옛날에 is a conventional phrase often used at the beginning of folktales or children’s stories, functioning like ‘once upon a time’ or ‘a long time ago’ in English. It can stand alone or appear in extended expressions such as 옛날 옛적에, where 옛적 also means ‘a long time ago’, with 적 referring to a time or an occasion.