Reading material: Korean folk tale 'Simcheongjeon'
Introduction
Vocabulary
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 아버지 | abeoji | father | 아버지는 착한 사람입니다.My father is a good person. |
| 효도하다 | hyodohada | to be filial; to honor parents | 심청이는 아버지에게 효도합니다.Simcheong shows filial piety to her father. |
| 장님 | jangnim | blind person | 아버지가 장님입니다.Father is blind. |
| 돈 | don | money | 돈을 벌어요.I earn money. |
| 걱정 | geokjeong | worry; concern | 아버지는 걱정이 많아요.Father has many worries. |
| 약속 | yaksok | promise | 아버지가 약속했어요.Father made a promise. |
| 공양미 | gongyangmi | offering rice | 공양미 300석입니다.It is 300 sacks of offering rice. |
| 용왕 | yongwang | Dragon King | 용왕님이 있어요.The Dragon King exists. |
| 바다 | bada | sea; ocean | 바다가 깊어요.The sea is deep. |
| 물살 | mulsal | water current; stream | 물살이 강해요.The water current is strong. |
| 몸을 팔다 | momeul palda | to sell oneself | 심청이가 몸을 팔았어요.Simcheong sold herself. |
| 처녀 | cheonyeo | young woman; girl | 처녀가 예뻐요.The girl is pretty. |
Reading Text
심청이는 아버지를 많이 사랑했어요.
Simcheong loved her father very much.
아버지는 눈이 안 보여요. 심청이는 매일 아버지를 도와줘요.
Her father cannot see. Simcheong helps her father every day.
심청이는 돈도 벌어요. 집에서 일도 해요. 심청이는 아버지에게 효도해요.
Simcheong earns money. She also works at home. Simcheong shows filial piety to her father.
아버지는 매일 걱정이 많아요. 심청이는 아버지를 봐요. 아버지가 왜 걱정하는지 물어봐요.
Her father worries every day. Simcheong sees her father. She asks why her father is worried.
아버지는 약속했어요. 눈이 열리면 좋겠어요. 그런데 돈이 없어요. 공양미 300석이 필요해요.
Father made a promise. He hopes his eyes will open. But he has no money. He needs 300 sacks of offering rice.
그때 중국 상인들이 와요. 물살이 너무 강해요. 바다의 용왕님이 처녀를 원해요.
At that time, Chinese merchants come. The water current is very strong. The sea's Dragon King wants a young woman.
심청이는 생각해요. 아버지를 도와줄 수 있어요. 심청이는 공양미 300석에 몸을 팔기로 해요.
Simcheong thinks. She can help her father. Simcheong decides to sell herself for 300 sacks of offering rice.
심청이는 검은 바다에 빠져요. 심청이는 용왕님을 만나요.
Simcheong falls into the black sea. Simcheong meets the Dragon King.
Grammar Points
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 can / be able to
Attach -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 to a verb stem to express ability or possibility ('can / be able to').
📖 아버지를 도와줄 수 있어요. I can help my father.
✏️ 저는 한국어를 말할 수 있어요. I can speak Korean.
-기로 하다 decide to
Attach -기로 하다 to a verb stem to express a decision or plan ('decide to do something').
📖 심청이는 공양미 300석에 몸을 팔기로 해요. Sim Cheong decides to sell herself for 300 seok of rice.
✏️ 우리는 내일 도서관에서 공부하기로 했어요. We decided to study at the library tomorrow.
Cultural Notes
"Simcheongjeon" is a cornerstone of Korean literature and reflects the deep cultural value of filial piety (효도, hyo-do), which has been central to Korean society for centuries, influenced by Confucian philosophy. In Korean culture, honoring and caring for one's parents is considered one of the highest moral virtues, and Simcheong's willingness to sacrifice everything for her blind father represents the ideal of this value. This folk tale has been passed down through generations via oral storytelling, pansori (판소리 – traditional Korean narrative singing), and written versions, making it a living part of Korean cultural heritage that Koreans of all ages continue to learn and appreciate today.
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