Example Sentences#

1. “여기에는 어떤 사람들이 살고 있나요?”¹
   “What kind of people live here?”
   • 사람 means ‘person’.
   • 들 is a plural marker.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
2. 마을 사람들은 그에게 큰 불행이라고 말했습니다.²
   The villagers said to him it was a great misfortune.
   • 사람 means ‘person’.
   • 들 is a plural marker.
   • 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…’.
3. 현우: 맞아, 사람이 너무 많아서 지하철도 몇 번이나 그냥 지나가고, 택시도 잘 안 잡혀서 늦을 뻔했어.³
   Hyunwoo: Yeah, there were so many people that a bunch of subways just passed by, and taxis were hard to catch, so I was almost late.
   • 사람 means ‘person’.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
4. 큰 사건도 없는데, 사람들 이야기가 너무 진짜 같고, 그래서 더 감동적이었어.⁴
   Even though there’s no big event, the people’s stories seem so real, so it was more touching.
   • 사람 means ‘person’.
   • 들 is a plural marker.
5. 저는 인류 전체를 사랑할수록 특정 사람을 덜 사랑하게 됩니다.⁵
   The more I love humanity, the less I come to love any particular person.
   • 사람 means ‘person’.
   • 을 is an object marker that identifies the noun as the target directly affected by an action.
6. “사람은 자기가 길들인 것만 알 수 있어.” 여우가 말했다.⁶
   “One only knows the things one has tamed,” said the fox.
   • 사람 means ‘person’.
   • 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…’.
7. 고요한 마을에는 타로라는 성실한 돌을 다듬는 사람이 살고 있었습니다.⁷
   In a quiet village, there lived a diligent stone carver named Taro.
   • 사람 means ‘person’.
   • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.
8. 호랑이가 크게 울면 마을 사람들은 모두 떨었습니다.⁸
   When the tiger roared loudly, all the villagers trembled.
   • 사람 means ‘person’.
   • 들 is a plural marker.
   • 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…’.
9. 앨리스: “하지만 저는 미친 사람들 사이에 가고 싶지 않아요,” 앨리스가 말했다.¹
   Alice: “But I don’t want to go among mad people,” said Alice.
   • 사람 means ‘person’.
   • 들 is a plural marker.
10. 마을 사람들은 이번에는 큰 행운이라고 말했습니다.²
    The villagers said this time it was a great fortune.
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 들 is a plural marker.
    • 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…’.
11. 특히 ‘뚜두뚜두’ 나올 때 사람들 반응이랑 불꽃 터질 때…³
    Especially when ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU’ came on—the crowd’s reaction and the fireworks going off…
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 들 is a plural marker.
12. 지수: 그치, 그 두 사람 다 상처가 많았는데, 그냥 옆에 있어 주는 것만으로도 힘이 되는 게 보여서 좋았어.⁴
    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.
    • 사람 means ‘person’ or ‘people’.
13. 하지만 저는 다른 사람과 함께 방 안에서 이틀 동안 지내는 것조차 견딜 수 없습니다.⁵
    But I can’t even endure staying with other people in a room for two days.
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 과 is a particle meaning ‘with’.
14. “요즘 사람들은 무엇이든 가게에서 이미 만들어진 것을 사지.⁶
    “These days, people buy everything already made in shops.
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 들 is a plural marker.
    • 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…’.
15. 그는 매일 열심히 일했지만, 더 많은 힘과 부를 가진 사람들을 부러워했습니다.⁷
    He worked diligently every day, but envied those with more power and wealth.
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 들 is a plural marker.
    • 을 is an object marker that identifies the noun as the target directly affected by an action.
16. 마을 사람들은 이번에는 큰 불행이라고 말했습니다.²
    The villagers said this time it was a great misfortune.
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 들 is a plural marker.
    • 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…’.
17. 두 사람 다 마음에 상처가 있는데, 서로 조금씩 나아지는 게 진짜 감동이었어.⁴
    Both of them were emotionally hurt, but seeing them gradually heal each other was truly touching.
    • 사람 means ‘person’ or ‘people’.
18. 경험에 따르면, 누군가 제 곁에 있으면 그 사람의 성격이 저를 방해하고 자유를 제한합니다.⁵
    In my experience, if someone is beside me, their personality disturbs me and restricts my freedom.
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 의 is a possessive marker.
19. 그래서 사람들은 친구가 없어.⁶
    So people have no friends.
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 들 is a plural marker.
    • 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…’.
20. 한 돌을 다듬는 사람이 그의 큰 몸을 천천히 깎고 있었습니다.⁷
    A stone carver was slowly carving his large body.
    • 사람 means ‘person’.
    • 이 is a subject marker that identifies the noun as the entity that performs an action or is in a particular state.