🎥 Introduction
Let me introduce you to a short clip from
the legendary romantic K-drama Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great
God). We'll take a look at the expressions used in this scene.
In the clip, the Goblin and a man sit
together, looking over a river. Judging by their conversation, the man seems unemployed
and mistakenly assumes that the Goblin is going through the same struggles. As
the man hands over half his sandwich to the Goblin, their dialogue unfolds.
Let’s dive in!
🎥 Shorts Video
🎥 Dialogue
김서방: "힘 내요! 샌드위치가 왜 두개인지 알아요?"
Kim Seobang: "Cheer up! Do you know why sandwiches come in twos?"
김서방: "하나씩 나눠 먹으라고 두개에요."
Kim Seobang: "It's because they're meant to be shared, one for each person."
김서방: "사양말고 받아요."
Kim Seobang: "Don't hesitate, just take it."
김서방: "이 넓은 세상에, 우리 써줄 곳 하나 없겠습니까?"
Literal Translation: "In this vast world, isn't there even one place that would use us?"
Paraphrased Translation: "In this vast world, isn’t even one company willing to hire us?"
김서방: "나이도 젊은 양반이 얼마나 답답했겠어요."
Kim Seobang: "A young man like you must feel frustrated."
김서방: "그렇지만 힘 냅시다. 늦게 빛나는 인생도 있지 않겠어요?" (웃음소리)
Kim Seobang: "But let’s keep our spirits up. Isn’t it true that some lives shine brighter later?" (chuckles)
도깨비: "누구의 인생이건, 신이 머물다 가는 순간이 있다."
Goblin: "In everyone’s life, there’s a moment when God lingers by their side."
도깨비: "당신이 세상에서 멀어지고 있을 때, 누군가 세상쪽으로 등을 떠밀어 주었다면 그건 신이 당신 곁에 머물다간 순간이다."
Goblin: "When you’re drifting away from the world, if someone nudges you back toward it, that’s when God stayed by your side."
김서방: "그럼 먼저 갑니다."
Kim Seobang: "All right then, I’ll head off first."
도깨비: "이보게 김서방! 그리 말고 이리로 가게."
Goblin: "Hey, Kim Seobang! Don’t go that way; come this way."
도깨비: "자네의 도움이 필요한 사람이 있을걸세. 샌드위치 값일세."
Goblin: "There’s someone who could use your help. Think of it as repaying for the sandwich."
김서방: "제가 한번 봐드릴까요?"
Kim Seobang: "Should I take a look for you?"
김비서: "보면 아십니까?"
Kim Biseo: "Can you tell just by looking?"
김서방: "제가 기름밥만 한 20년 됩니다."
Kim Seobang: "I've been working with machinery for about 20 years."
김서방: "보험회사에 연락하면 빠르실텐데, 왜 이러고 계세요?"
Kim Seobang: "It’d be faster if you called the insurance company. Why are you doing this yourself?"
김비서: "아, 아마도, 새로운 인연을 만나려고 그랬나봅니다."
Kim Biseo: "Ah, perhaps it was because I wanted to meet someone new."
🎥 Dialogue Translation & Explanation
김서방: "힘 내요! 샌드위치가 왜 두개인지 알아요?"
Kim Seobang: "Cheer up! Do you know why
sandwiches come in twos?"
김서방: "하나씩 나눠 먹으라고 두개에요."
Kim Seobang: "It's
because they're meant to be shared, one for each person."
l “~씩”: A suffix
that adds the meaning of 'divided into or repeated in that quantity or size.'
l “나누다”: To divide
one into two or more.
l “에요”: A
sentence-ending particle that conveys the meaning of an explanation or
question.
김서방: "사양말고 받아요."
Kim Seobang: "Don't
hesitate, just take it."
l “사양”: Refusing, declining politely, or
yielding to someone else.
l “말고”: A particle attached after a noun,
indicating the negation of the preceding subject.
김서방: "이 넓은 세상에, 우리 써줄 곳 하나 없겠습니까?"
Literal Translation: "In
this vast world, isn't there even one place that would use us?"
Paraphrased Translation: "In this vast world, isn’t even one company willing to hire
us?"
l “써주다”: “쓰다” + “~주다”
l “쓰다”: In the
phrase “사람을 쓰다,” “쓰다” means “to hire” or “to employ,” with
the sense of assigning a duty to someone.
l “주다”: Indicates
that the action described by the preceding word affects another person or is
done for the benefit of another person.
l “곳”: Refers to a
specific place or region, either physical or abstract. This sentence abstractly
represents any organization that hires people, such as a company or public
institution.
l “하나”: Modifies "곳" from behind.
김서방: "나이도 젊은 양반이 얼마나 답답했겠어요."
Kim Seobang: "A
young man like you must feel frustrated."
l “~도”: A particle
indicating that something is already included, with an additional meaning of
"and also" or "as well."
Example: "몸도 건강하고 나이도 젊은 양반이 얼마나 답답했겠어요."
Translation: "A person who is both healthy and young must have felt
so frustrated."
l “양반”: Originally
used in the Joseon Dynasty to refer to the ruling class, but in modern times,
it is used to describe someone polite and well-mannered.
l “얼마나”: A word
that emphasizes the intensity of an action or the degree of a state.
l “답답하다” → “답답하겠다” → “답답했겠다” → “답답했겠어요”:
Verb conjugation:
“답답하다”: To feel stifled or suffocated.
“답답하겠다”: Present tense, expressing speculation
or expectation about a current or future situation.
“답답했겠다”: Past tense of “답답하겠다,” expressing speculation or expectation
about a past situation.
“답답했겠어요”: Adds "~어요/~세요" for
politeness, showing understanding or empathy toward the other person's past
emotions or situation.
김서방: "그렇지만 힘 냅시다. 늦게 빛나는 인생도 있지 않겠어요?" (웃음소리)
Kim Seobang: "But
let’s keep our spirits up. Isn’t it true that some lives shine brighter
later?" (chuckles)
l “그렇지만”: A
conjunctive adverb used to acknowledge the preceding content while presenting a
contrasting idea between the previous and following statements.
Meaning: "However" or "But."
l “힘 냅시다”: A
commonly used encouraging expression in Korean, meaning "Let's cheer
up!" or "Let's keep our spirits up!" in English.
Ø This phrase often gives courage and hope to someone going through a
tough time. "힘" refers not only to physical strength but also to mental energy or
willpower. "냅시다" is a hortative ending that means "let's do."
Together, "힘 냅시다" can be interpreted as "Let's gather our strength
together."
l “있지 않겠어요?”: A
frequently used Korean expression, similar to "Wouldn't it be there?"
or "Wouldn't it exist?" in English.
This phrase speculates
about or suggests the possibility of something existing or happening.
Ø "있지"
comes from the verb "있다" (to exist), combined with the ending "~지," which adds nuance or emphasis.
Ø "않겠어요"
combines "않~" (the negative verb stem for "not") with the ending "~겠어요," which expresses speculation or a
polite suggestion.
The phrase can
be understood as "Wouldn't it possibly be there?" or "Wouldn't
it be better if it existed?"
도깨비: "누구의 인생이건, 신이 머물다 가는 순간이 있다."
Goblin: "In everyone’s life, there’s a moment when God lingers
by their side."
l “누구”: A pronoun
meaning "somebody" or "any person."
l “의”: A
possessive particle, making “누구의” mean "someone's" or "belonging to someone."
l “건”: A
contracted form of “것은,” meaning "whatever" or "anything."
“누구의 인생이건” can be translated as "no matter
whose life it is" or "any person's life."
l “머물다”: A verb
meaning "to stay" or "to remain in a certain place for a
significant period."
l “가는”: The
adjectival form of "가다" (to go), meaning
"passing" or "leaving."
“머물다 가는” can be understood as "staying
briefly or passing by."
도깨비: "당신이 세상에서 멀어지고 있을 때, 누군가 세상쪽으로 등을 떠밀어
주었다면 그건 신이 당신 곁에 머물다간 순간이다."
Goblin: "When
you’re drifting away from the world, if someone nudges you back toward it, that’s
when God stayed by your side."
l “멀어지다”: A verb
meaning "to increase the distance between two objects" or "to
become estranged in a relationship."
“있을 때”: A combination of the verb stem "있~" (to exist or be) and the
temporal suffix "~을 때," meaning "the time when a certain situation or action is
occurring."
“멀어지고 있을
때” can be translated as "the
time when the distance is increasing or the relationship is becoming
estranged."
l “떠밀다”: A verb
meaning "to push forward from behind."
“주었다면”: A combination of the verb stem "주~" (to give) and the conditional
suffix "~었다면," meaning "if (someone) had done something."
“떠밀어 주었다면” can be understood as "if someone
had pushed me forward from behind."
l “머물다간”: A
contraction of "머물다 가는," meaning "staying briefly and then leaving."
김서방: "그럼 먼저 갑니다."
Kim Seobang: "All
right then, I’ll head off first."
도깨비: "이보게 김서방! 그리 말고 이리로 가게."
Goblin: "Hey, Kim Seobang! Don’t go that
way; come this way."
l “이보게”: A Korean
term used to address someone, often a friend or acquaintance, in a casual and
familiar tone. It is known as a dialectal variation of “여보게,” which carries the meaning of
"Hey there" or "Look here."
l “김서방”: A common
Korean term of address, especially for men with the surname "Kim." It
combines the surname (성) with "서방," a title traditionally referring to a husband or son-in-law.
Ø In Korea, this term is often used among family, relatives, or
neighbors to express familiarity. For example, “김서방” refers to a husband or son-in-law with
the surname Kim, while “이서방” would refer to someone with the surname Lee.
It is a friendly
way to refer to a man named Kim.
l “그리”: An adverb
meaning "in that direction."
l “말고”: An adverb
meaning "excluding" or "instead of."
l “이리”: An adverb
meaning "in this direction."
l “가게”: The
imperative form of the verb “가다” (to go), meaning "go."
“그리 말고 이리로 가게”
translates to "Don’t go that way; go this way instead.
도깨비: "자네의 도움이 필요한 사람이 있을걸세. 샌드위치 값일세."
Goblin: "There’s
someone who could use your help. Think of it as repaying for the
sandwich."
l “자네”: A
second-person pronoun used to address a friend or someone of lower status with
respect and familiarity.
l “있을걸세”:
Ø “있을”: Derived
from the verb "있다" (to exist) with the adnominal ending "~을," meaning "existing" or
"that exists."
Ø “걸세”: A
contraction of "것일세," where "것" means "fact" and "일세" conveys certainty or confidence
in the statement.
“있을걸세” translates to "It will surely
exist" or "It must exist."
l “값일세”:
Ø “값”: A noun
meaning "price" or "cost."
Ø “일세”: An ending
that conveys certainty or confidence.
“값일세” means "That is the price" or
"That is the cost."
l “있을걸세” and “값일세” are old-fashioned expressions
typically used by someone of higher status when speaking to someone of lower
status in a polite yet authoritative tone.
김서방: "제가 한번 봐드릴까요?"
Kim Seobang: "Should
I take a look for you?"
l “제가”: A Korean
first-person pronoun equivalent to "I" in English. It is used to
refer to oneself while showing respect to the listener.
Ø “제” is a
contracted form of "저의" (possessive), and “가” is a subject marker.
“제가” can mean
"I" or "mine," depending on the context. In this sentence, “제가” is the honorific form of “내가”, meaning "I" in a respectful
tone.
l “한번”: An adverb
in Korean with various meanings depending on the context:
1.
To try something: "한번
먹어보자" (let's try it once).
2.
Only once: "그를 한번 본
적이 있다" (I saw him only once).
3.
Previously: "한번 와본 적이
있다" (I've been here before).
4.
First or for now: "한번
해보자" (let's do it first).
5.
A single occurrence: "태풍이
한번 지나갔다" (a storm passed once).
6.
To some extent: "한번
해볼 만하다" (it's worth trying to some extent).
In "한번 봐 드릴까요?", “한번”
conveys the meaning of "first" or "for now" (definition 4).
l “봐”: Derived
from the verb "보다" (to see), with the verb stem "보~" combined with the connective
ending "~아," meaning "to show" or "to take a look."
l “드릴까요”: A polite
form derived from the verb "드리다" (to give), combined with the question ending "~ㄹ까요," meaning "Shall I
provide?" or "Shall I help?"
Additionally, “드리다” is the honorific form of “주다” (to give), and “드릴까요” is the honorific form of “줄까요” (shall I give?).
l “봐 드릴까요?”
translates to "Shall I show it to you?" or "Shall I help you
with this?"
김비서: "보면 아십니까?"
Kim Biseo: "Can
you tell just by looking?"
l “비서”: A noun
meaning "secretary," referring to someone who assists in managing
tasks or schedules for a superior.
l “보면”: Derived
from the verb "보다" (to see) with the
conditional connective ending "~면," meaning "if you see" or "if you look."
"보면" translates to "if (someone)
sees" or "if (someone) looks."
l “아십니까?”: These
phrases could form a respectful inquiry, such as "Do you know if the
secretary sees this?" depending on the context
Ø “아”: From the
verb "알다" (to know), combined with the
connective ending "-아," meaning
"knowing."
Ø “십니까”: A polite
ending indicating respect, meaning "Do you?" or "Are you?"
"아십니까?" can be translated as "Do you know?" or "Are you
aware?"
김서방: "제가 기름밥만 한 20년 됩니다."
Kim Seobang: "I've been working with
machinery for about 20 years."
l “기름밥”: A
metaphorical term in Korean referring to earning a living by fixing and working
with machinery.
l “한”: A
determiner meaning "approximately" or "about."
l “기름밥만 한 20년”: A shortened form of “기름밥만 먹은 지 한
20년,” omitting “먹은
지” (meaning "since
eating").
It implies that the person has about 20 years of experience in
repairing and working with machinery.
김서방: "보험회사에 연락하면 빠르실텐데, 왜 이러고 계세요?"
Kim Seobang: "It’d
be faster if you called the insurance company. Why are you doing this
yourself?"
l “빠르실 텐데”: The
honorific form of “빠를 텐데.”
Ø “빠를 텐데”: Derived
from the adjective “빠르다” (meaning "to take little time" or "to be
efficient") and the suffix “~ㄹ 텐데” (a contraction of “것일 텐데”) which expresses speculation.
Ø “빠를 텐데” can be
translated as "It would be faster" or "It would be more
efficient."
“빠르실 텐데” means "It would be faster (for
you)" or "It would be more efficient (for you)," in a respectful
tone.
l “이러고”: A
contraction of “이리하고,” meaning "doing this" or "doing it this
way."
l “있어?” → “있어요?” → “계세요?”:
Ø “계세요” is
the honorific form of “있어” (to exist or to be).
It shows increasing levels of politeness, where “계세요” is used to respectfully ask,
"Are you there?" or "Do you exist (in this context)?"
김비서: "아, 아마도, 새로운 인연을 만나려고 그랬나봅니다."
Kim Biseo: "Ah, perhaps it was because I wanted to meet
someone new."
l “아”: A sound
uttered lightly to draw the listener's attention before speaking.
l “아마도”: An
emphasized form of “아마,” meaning "perhaps" or "probably." It
indicates a high likelihood of something being true but with less certainty
than “surely.” Used when there is a strong possibility but no
definitive proof.
l “인연을 만나다”: A
Korean expression meaning "to form a connection" or "to meet
destiny."
This phrase
conveys the idea of encountering someone or something that becomes significant
or meaningful in one’s life. It is similar to "meet destiny" or
"encounter fate" in English. “인연” refers to
"relationships" or "bonds" between people.
l “그랬나봅니다”: A
phrase expressing speculation or assumption about a past event.
It translates to
"might have happened" or "perhaps it was," and it is used
to infer or assume that something occurred in the past.
🎥 Conclusion
The drama Goblin is more than just a simple romance; it is a work of depth and emotion. As seen in the dialogue scene introduced today, the Korean language can delicately express emotions and meanings, even in short sentences.I hope this post helps you in your journey
to learning Korean. Let’s continue to explore new Korean expressions through
fun drama scenes in the future!
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