Example Sentences#

1. 차라리 카페 가서 수다 떠는 게 낫지 않아?¹
   Wouldn’t it be better to go to a cafe and chat instead?

   • 떨다 typically means ‘to tremble’ or ‘to shake’. However, it can also mean ‘to repeat a certain act lightly and carelessly’. In the idiomatic expression 수다를 떨다, meaning ‘to chat’ or ‘to engage in casual conversation’, 떨다 takes on this latter, figurative meaning.
   • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

2. 하지만 이 긴 벽들이 너무 빨리 가까워져서 이제는 마지막 방에 있고, 저기 구석에 내가 달려가는 덫이 있어.”²
   But these long walls closed in so quickly that now I am in the last room, and over there in the corner is the trap I am running towards.”

   • 달려가다 is a compound verb formed by 달리다 (to run) and 가다 (to go), meaning ‘to run towards’.
   • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

3. 걷고 나면 보이는 길은 왜일까³
   Why do the roads only reveal themselves after I walk?

   • 보이다 means ‘to be seen’ or ‘to appear’ and is formed by adding the passive suffix -이- to the verb 보다 (to see).
   • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

4. 네가 원하는 쪽으로 가 봐.⁴
   Go whichever way you want.

   • 원하다 means ‘to want’.
   • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

5. 네가 내게 다가오는 걸까?⁵
   Could it be you, coming closer to me?

   • 다가오다 means ‘to come near’ or ‘to approach’.
   • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

6. 다들 힘들게 사는데, 서로 도와주고 이해하면서 조금씩 변해가는 게 너무 좋았어.⁶
   While everyone lives with difficulty, I really liked how they help each other, understand each other, and gradually change.

   • 변하다 means ‘to change’.
   • -여 가다 is a grammatical construction indicating that the action or state mentioned in the preceding statement continues or progresses over time.
   • -는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

7. 아마 실제로 십자가형을 당해야 하는 상황이 온다면, 저는 그것을 이겨낼 수 있을 것입니다.⁷
   Perhaps if a situation were to come where I had to actually be crucified, I would be able to overcome it.

   • 하다 means ‘to do’.
   • -여야 하다 is an expression used to indicate that the preceding statement is a required act or condition to realize a certain situation, meaning ‘have to (do something)’.
   • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

8. 내가 하나 먹으면, 너도 하나만 먹는 거야.⁸
   If I eat one, you also eat one.

   • 먹다 means ‘to eat’.
   • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

9. 숨바꼭질하는 빛과 그림자⁹
   Light and shadow playing hide and seek

   • 숨바꼭질 is a Korean term for the children’s game hide and seek, with debated origins. Some suggest it derives from words like 숨다 (to hide) and 바꾸다 (to change), while others trace it to the old Korean term 숨막질 (where 숨 means breath and -질 is a suffix indicating repeated action), which described diving underwater.
   • 하다 means ‘to do’ and allows the noun to function as part of a verb phrase (to play hide and seek).
   • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

10. 걸어온 길, 발을 묶는 줄처럼¹⁰
    The path I’ve walked, like a rope binding my feet

    • 묶다 means ‘to bind’ or ‘to tie’.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

11. 세상에서 가장 다행스러운 것은 인간의 마음이 모든 것을 연결하지 못하는 능력이라고 생각합니다.¹¹
    I think the most fortunate thing in the world is the human mind’s inability to connect everything.

    • 못하다 is an auxiliary adjective used to indicate that the state described by the preceding words cannot be reached. It is composed of 못 (meaning ‘cannot’ or ‘poorly’) and 하다 (to do).
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

12. 여자는 스님들에게 강을 건너는 것을 도와달라고 부탁했다.¹²
    The woman asked the monks to help her cross the river.

    • 건너다 means ‘to cross’.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

13. 고요한 마을에는 타로라는 성실한 돌을 다듬는 사람이 살고 있었습니다.¹³
    In a quiet village, there lived a diligent stone carver named Taro.

    • 다듬다 means ‘to shape’ or ‘to trim’.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

14. 너 진짜 밥 안 먹고 사는 거 아니야?¹⁴
    Are you really living without eating proper meals?

    • 살다 means ‘to live’.
    • -는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

15. 같이 한강에 자전거 타러 가는 건 어때?¹
    How about we go biking along the Han River together?

    • 가다 means ‘to go’.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

16. 남겨진 마음은 어디로 가는 걸까?³
    Where does a heart left behind go?

    • 가다 means ‘to go’.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

17. “여기 있는 우리는 모두 미쳤거든.⁴
    “We’re all mad here.

    • 있다 means ‘to exist’ or ‘to be’.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

18. 모르는 것처럼 할까⁵
    Should I pretend not to know?

    • 모르다 means ‘to not know’.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.

19. 지수: 그치, 그 두 사람 다 상처가 많았는데, 그냥 옆에 있어 주는 것만으로도 힘이 되는 게 보여서 좋았어.⁶
    Jisoo: Right, both of those people had many wounds, but it was good to see that just being by their side was enough to give them strength.

    • 주다 means ‘to give’.
    • -어 주다 is a grammar pattern where 주다 (to give) is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that the action is done for someone else’s benefit.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding phrase function as an adjective.

20. 하지만 저는 다른 사람과 함께 방 안에서 이틀 동안 지내는 것조차 견딜 수 없습니다.⁷
    But I can’t even endure staying with other people in a room for two days.

    • 지내다 means ‘to stay’ or ‘to live in a certain state or condition’.
    • 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.