Example Sentences
“세상이 날마다 더 좁아지고 있어.1
“The world is getting narrower every day.남겨진 마음은 어디로 가는 걸까?2
Where does a heart left behind go?- 남기다 means ‘to leave behind’ or ‘to leave remaining’. It is the causative form of 남다 (to remain), formed by adding the causative suffix -기-.
- -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement. When attached to transitive verbs, it converts them into intransitive passive forms.
- ㄴ is a past tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.
그래서 더 현실적으로 느껴졌어.3
So it felt more realistic.바람 따라 흩어지는 꽃잎들4
Petals scattered by the wind- 흩어지다 is a verb formed by attaching the suffix -어지다 (used to indicate a gradual change or transformation and to convert transitive verbs into intransitive passive forms) to the transitive verb root 흩다 (to scatter), converting it into an intransitive passive verb meaning ‘to become scattered’.
- 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.
모아둔 기억들, 점점 높아진 벽5
The memories I’ve gathered, a wall growing taller태양의 엄청난 힘을 보면서 자신이 작게 느껴졌습니다.6
Seeing the tremendous power of the sun, he felt small.하지만 이 긴 벽들이 너무 빨리 가까워져서 이제는 마지막 방에 있고, 저기 구석에 내가 달려가는 덫이 있어.”1
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.”두 사람 다 마음에 상처가 있는데, 서로 조금씩 나아지는 게 진짜 감동이었어.3
Both of them were emotionally hurt, but seeing them gradually heal each other was truly touching.- 나아지다 is a verb meaning ‘to improve’ or ‘to get better’. It is formed by combining 낫다 (‘to be better’ or ‘to recover’) and -아지다, a grammatical pattern indicating a change of state or gradual becoming.
- 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.
다음이 궁금해지는 순간4
A moment that makes me curious about what’s next굳어진 발밑의 커지는 그림자5
A growing shadow beneath my frozen feet- 굳다 means ‘to be hard’ or ‘to become stiff’.
- -어지다 is a grammar pattern used to indicate that someone or something gradually becomes the state mentioned in the preceding statement.
- ㄴ is a past tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.
그러나 그의 힘은 큰, 움직이지 않는 산에 부딪히면서 약해졌습니다.6
However, his power weakened as he hit a big, immovable mountain.분위기도 참 따뜻해서 계속 보고 싶어지더라.3
The atmosphere was so heartwarming that I found myself wanting to keep watching.- 싶다 is an adjective meaning ‘to be desirous of’, and when used after the connective ending -고, it expresses a desire to do something or to be in a certain state.
- -어지다 is a grammatical pattern indicating a change of state or gradual becoming.
- -더라 is a grammar pattern used to report a personal observation or experience from the past, often conveying a sense of surprise or new realization. It’s composed of -더- (a retrospective suffix conveying past personal experience or observation) and -라 (a declarative sentence-ending used to state a fact or observation).
잡으려 하면 멀어지는 꿈4
A dream that drifts away when I try to catch it소음 속에서 잊혀진 날 찾아5
Searching for myself, forgotten in the noise- 잊혀지다 is a verb formed by attaching the passive suffix -히- to the root verb 잊다 (to forget), creating the passive form 잊히다 (to be forgotten), and then adding the suffix -어지다, which indicates a gradual change or transformation and converts transitive verbs into intransitive passive forms, creating a double passive form, 잊혀지다, which is grammatically redundant but more commonly used than 잊히다.
- ㄴ is a past tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.
끝없이 이어지는 나의 이야기4
My endless story- 이어지다 is a verb formed by attaching the suffix -어지다 (used to indicate a gradual change or transformation and to convert transitive verbs into intransitive passive forms) to the transitive verb root 잇다 (to connect or continue), converting it into an intransitive verb meaning ‘to become connected’ or ‘to continue’.
- 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.
쥔 손에서 흩어지는 모래5
Sand slipping through my clenched fingers- 흩어지다 is a verb formed by attaching the suffix -어지다 (used to indicate a gradual change or transformation and to convert transitive verbs into intransitive passive forms) to the transitive verb root 흩다 (to scatter), converting it into an intransitive verb meaning ‘to become scattered’.
- 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.
끝없이 이어지는 새로운 풍경4
Endlessly unfolding new scenery- 이어지다 is a verb formed by attaching the suffix -어지다 (used to indicate a gradual change or transformation and to convert transitive verbs into intransitive passive forms) to the transitive verb root 잇다 (to connect or continue), converting it into an intransitive verb meaning ‘to become connected’ or ‘to continue’.
- 는 is a present tense modifier that makes the preceding statement function as an adnominal phrase describing the following noun.
부서질수록 내 맘 가벼워져5
The more I break, the lighter I feel- 부서지다 means ‘to be shattered’ or ‘to be broken’ and is the intransitive counterpart of 부수다 (to break). It derives from the Middle Korean verb 브스다 (a historical form of 부수다) through the addition of the suffix -어지다, which indicates a gradual change or transformation and converts transitive verbs into intransitive passive forms.
- ㄹ수록 is a grammar pattern indicating that as the extent of the preceding action or condition increases, the following statement changes accordingly. It means ‘the more (something happens)’.
Footnotes
Sentence from A Little Fable Story. ↩ ↩2
Sentence from A New Beginning. ↩
Sentence from Exploring K Drama Favorites. ↩ ↩2 ↩3
Sentence from The Stonecutter Journey Story. ↩ ↩2