Example Sentences#

1. 여기 곶감이 있단다.”¹
   Here’s a dried persimmon.”
   • 곶감 means ‘dried persimmon’, a traditional Korean fruit whose name combines 곶 (an old word for ‘skewer’) and 감 (persimmon), reflecting the traditional drying method of hanging the fruit on skewers.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
2. 엄마가 곶감을 주자 아기는 바로 울음을 멈췄습니다.¹
   As soon as the mother gave the baby the dried persimmon, the baby stopped crying immediately.
   • 곶감 means ‘dried persimmon’, a traditional Korean fruit whose name combines 곶 (an old word for ‘skewer’) and 감 (persimmon), reflecting the traditional drying method of hanging the fruit on skewers.
   • 을 is an object marker that identifies the noun as the target directly affected by an action.
3. “호랑이도 안 무서워하는 아기가 곶감은 무서워하네?¹
   “So a baby who isn’t even scared of a tiger is afraid of a dried persimmon?
   • 곶감 means ‘dried persimmon’, a traditional Korean fruit whose name combines 곶 (an old word for ‘skewer’) and 감 (persimmon), reflecting the traditional drying method of hanging the fruit on skewers.
   • 은 is a topic marker, here used for contrast.
4. 곶감이 나보다 더 무섭구나!”¹
   A dried persimmon must be scarier than me!”
   • 곶감 means ‘dried persimmon’, a traditional Korean fruit whose name combines 곶 (an old word for ‘skewer’) and 감 (persimmon), reflecting the traditional drying method of hanging the fruit on skewers.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
5. “곶감이 나를 잡았다!”¹
   “The dried persimmon has caught me!”
   • 곶감 means ‘dried persimmon’, a traditional Korean fruit whose name combines 곶 (an old word for ‘skewer’) and 감 (persimmon), reflecting the traditional drying method of hanging the fruit on skewers.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
6. “곶감은 역시 무서운 괴물이구나!”¹
   “So, dried persimmons really are terrifying monsters after all!”
   • 곶감 means ‘dried persimmon’, a traditional Korean fruit whose name combines 곶 (an old word for ‘skewer’) and 감 (persimmon), reflecting the traditional drying method of hanging the fruit on skewers.
   • 은 is a topic marker, indicating what the sentence is about or the topic of discussion. It can emphasize an element, contrast it with another, or set the context for what follows, highlighting the theme rather than the actor and conveying a sense of ‘as for…’ or ‘regarding…’.