Example Sentences#

1. 내 맘에 들어오는 바람¹
   A breeze that touches my heart
   • 들어오다 is a compound verb formed from 들다 (to enter) and 오다 (to come), meaning ‘to come in’ or ‘to enter’.
   • 마음에 들다 is a common expression meaning ‘to be pleasing’ or ‘to win one’s favor’, often implying that something or someone enters one’s heart figuratively.
   • -는 is a present tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
2. 두 명의 스님, 한 명은 나이 든 스님이고 다른 한 명은 젊은 스님이 함께 여행하고 있었다.²
   Two monks, one old and one young, were traveling together.
   • 나이 들다 is a common and polite expression in Korean meaning ‘to become old’ or ‘to grow older’.
   • -ㄴ is a past tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
3. 그때 나이 든 스님은 아무 말 없이 여자를 들어 강을 건너게 도와주고, 다른 쪽에 내려놓은 후 다시 길을 떠났다.²
   At that moment, the old monk picked up the woman without a word, helped her cross the river, set her down on the other side, and resumed the journey.
   • 나이 들다 is a common and polite expression in Korean meaning ‘to become old’ or ‘to grow older’.
   • -ㄴ is a past tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.
4. “스님, 우리는 여자를 만지지 않기로 했는데, 어떻게 그 여자를 들어 건너셨습니까?”²
   “We promised not to touch a woman. How could you carry her across the river?”
   • 들다 means ‘to hold’, ‘take’, or ‘carry’.
   • -어서 is a connective ending that indicates a sequence of related events, cause and effect, or ways or means. In this context, 서 is omitted.
5. 나이 든 스님은 젊은 스님을 바라보며 말했다.²
   The old monk looked at the young monk and said:
   • 나이 들다 is a common and polite expression in Korean meaning ‘to become old’ or ‘to grow older’.
   • -ㄴ is a past tense modifier that turns the preceding statement into a phrase describing the following noun.