Reading material: Korean folk tale 'Hungbu and Nolbu'
Introduction
Vocabulary
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 옛날 | yetnal | long ago | 옛날 옛날에 형제가 살았어요.Long ago, two brothers lived. |
| 형제 | hyungje | brothers | 두 형제는 함께 살았어요.The two brothers lived together. |
| 살다 | salda | to live | 저는 서울에 살아요.I live in Seoul. |
| 쫓아내다 | jjochanaeda | to kick out; to chase away | 형이 동생을 쫓아냈어요.The older brother kicked out the younger brother. |
| 먹을 것 | meogul geot | food; something to eat | 먹을 것을 주세요.Please give me food. |
| 때리다 | ttaerida | to hit; to beat | 그는 친구를 때렸어요.He hit his friend. |
| 봄 | bom | spring | 봄이 왔어요.Spring has come. |
| 제비 | jebi | swallow (bird) | 제비가 날아왔어요.A swallow flew here. |
| 다리 | dari | leg | 제비의 다리가 부러졌어요.The swallow's leg was broken. |
| 부러지다 | bureojida | to break | 팔이 부러졌어요.My arm broke. |
| 친절하다 | chinjolhada | to be kind | 흥부는 친절해요.Heungbu is kind. |
| 착하다 | chakhada | to be good; to be virtuous | 착한 사람이 되고 싶어요.I want to be a good person. |
Reading Text
옛날 옛날에 흥부와 놀부라는 형제가 살았습니다.
Long ago, there lived two brothers named Heungbu and Nolbu.
놀부는 형이고 흥부는 동생입니다.
Nolbu was the older brother and Heungbu was the younger brother.
놀부는 착하지 않았습니다. 놀부는 매우 나빴습니다.
Nolbu was not good. Nolbu was very bad.
흥부는 착했습니다. 흥부는 형을 찾아갔습니다.
Heungbu was good. Heungbu went to find his older brother.
흥부는 형에게 먹을 것을 달라고 했습니다.
Heungbu asked his older brother for food.
하지만 놀부는 흥부를 때렸습니다. 놀부는 흥부를 쫓아냈습니다.
But Nolbu hit Heungbu. Nolbu kicked out Heungbu.
봄이 왔습니다. 날씨가 좋았습니다.
Spring came. The weather was nice.
제비 한 마리가 흥부의 집에 왔습니다. 제비의 다리가 부러졌습니다.
One swallow came to Heungbu's house. The swallow's leg was broken.
Grammar Points
-ㅂ/습니다 formal polite statement
Formal polite statement ending. Attach -ㅂ니다 after a vowel stem or -습니다 after a consonant stem.
📖 옛날 옛날에 흥부와 놀부라는 형제가 살았습니다. Once upon a time, there lived siblings named Heungbu and Nolbu.
✏️ 저는 학교에 갑니다. I go to school.
-지 않다 not (negation)
Negation pattern meaning 'not ~'. Place -지 않다 after the verb/adjective stem to negate it.
📖 놀부는 착하지 않았습니다. Nolbu was not kind.
✏️ 저는 커피를 마시지 않습니다. I do not drink coffee.
Cultural Notes
"Heungbu and Nolbu" (흥부와 놀부) is one of Korea's most cherished folk tales, reflecting deep Korean values about filial piety, karma, and moral justice. The story emphasizes that kindness and virtue are rewarded, while greed and cruelty lead to downfall—a belief central to Korean Confucian philosophy. This tale has been retold for generations through oral storytelling, pansori (traditional Korean narrative singing), and modern adaptations, making it as relevant today as it was centuries ago in Korean culture.
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