My Story

Korean Basic Conversation 3

Chapter 7 Β· Telling Your Story: Childhood, School & Life So Far

πŸ“œ Telling Your Story β€” λ‚΄ 이야기

Telling someone about your life means linking events in time and explaining how things turned out: "when I was a child…", "I came to like it…", "…you see, I had no choice". The three tools are -(으)γ„Ή λ•Œ (when), -게 λ˜λ‹€ (come to be; end up) and -κ±°λ“ μš” (the friendly "you see" explanation). The vocabulary covers school stages, birthplace and graduation. Dialogs have a Hard words note, and a short reading text closes the chapter.

eo = γ…“ (short, open "uh") eu = γ…‘ (unrounded "oo") kk, tt, pp, ss, jj = tense (tight, unaspirated) consonants

β‘  Where Are You From? β€” μ–΄λ””μ—μ„œ νƒœμ–΄λ‚¬μ–΄μš”?

A:κ³ ν–₯이 μ–΄λ””μ˜ˆμš”?Where is your hometown?
B:μ €λŠ” 영ꡭ λ¦¬λ²„ν’€μ—μ„œ νƒœμ–΄λ‚˜μ„œ κ±°κΈ°μ—μ„œ μžλžμ–΄μš”.I was born in Liverpool in the UK and grew up there.
A:그럼 ν•œκ΅­μ—λŠ” μ–Έμ œ 였게 λμ–΄μš”?Then when did you come to Korea?
B:λŒ€ν•™κ΅λ₯Ό μ‘Έμ—…ν•œ 후에 νšŒμ‚¬ 일 λ•Œλ¬Έμ— 였게 λμ–΄μš”.After graduating from university I ended up coming because of work.
A:μ²˜μŒμ— ν•œκ΅­ μƒν™œμ΄ νž˜λ“€μ§€ μ•Šμ•˜μ–΄μš”?Wasn't life in Korea hard at first?
B:μ’€ νž˜λ“€μ—ˆμ–΄μš”. ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό ν•˜λ‚˜λ„ λͺ°λžκ±°λ“ μš”.It was a bit hard. You see, I didn't know any Korean.
Hard words: κ³ ν–₯ go-hyang Β· νƒœμ–΄λ‚˜μ„œ tae-eo-na-seo Β· μžλžμ–΄μš” ja-ra-sseo-yo Β· 였게 λμ–΄μš” o-ge dwae-sseo-yo Β· μ‘Έμ—…ν•œ jo-reo-pan Β· λͺ°λžκ±°λ“ μš” mol-lat-kkeo-deun-nyo

β‘‘ Childhood β€” 어렸을 λ•Œ

A:어렸을 λ•Œ μ–΄λ–€ μ•„μ΄μ˜€μ–΄μš”?What kind of child were you when you were little?
B:μ‘°μš©ν•˜κ³  책을 μ’‹μ•„ν•˜λŠ” μ•„μ΄μ˜€μ–΄μš”. ν•™κ΅μ—μ„œ λ„μ„œκ΄€μ— 자주 κ°”μ–΄μš”.I was a quiet child who liked books. I often went to the library at school.
A:μ΄ˆλ“±ν•™κ΅ λ•Œ 꿈이 λ­μ˜€μ–΄μš”?What was your dream in primary school?
B:κ·Έλ•ŒλŠ” μ„ μƒλ‹˜μ΄ 되고 μ‹Άμ—ˆμ–΄μš”. μ§€κΈˆμ€ λ‹€λ₯Έ 일을 ν•˜μ§€λ§Œμš”.Back then I wanted to be a teacher. Now I do something else, though.
A:μ €λŠ” 어릴 λ•Œ 좕ꡬ μ„ μˆ˜κ°€ 되고 μ‹Άμ—ˆμ–΄μš”.When I was little I wanted to be a football player.
Hard words: 어렸을 λ•Œ eo-ryeot-sseul ttae Β· 아이 a-i Β· λ„μ„œκ΄€ do-seo-gwan Β· μ΄ˆλ“±ν•™κ΅ λ•Œ cho-deung-hak-kkyo ttae Β· κ·Έλ•Œ geu-ttae Β· 좕ꡬ μ„ μˆ˜ chuk-kku seon-su

β‘’ School and University β€” 학ꡐ 이야기

A:λŒ€ν•™κ΅μ—μ„œ 무엇을 μ „κ³΅ν–ˆμ–΄μš”?What did you major in at university?
B:κ²½μ œν•™μ„ μ „κ³΅ν–ˆμ–΄μš”. 그런데 μ‘Έμ—…ν•  λ•Œμ―€ 컴퓨터에 관심이 μƒκ²Όμ–΄μš”.I majored in economics. But around the time of graduation I became interested in computers.
A:κ·Έλž˜μ„œ μ§€κΈˆ κ·Έ 일을 ν•˜κ²Œ λμ–΄μš”?So is that how you came to do that work now?
B:λ„€. μΉœκ΅¬κ°€ μ†Œκ°œν•΄ μ€˜μ„œ μž‘μ€ νšŒμ‚¬μ—μ„œ μΌν•˜κ²Œ λμ–΄μš”.Yes. A friend introduced me, so I ended up working at a small company.
A:인생은 정말 μ•Œ 수 μ—†λ„€μš”.Life really is unpredictable.
Hard words: μ „κ³΅ν–ˆμ–΄μš” jeon-gong-hae-sseo-yo Β· κ²½μ œν•™ gyeong-je-hak Β· μ‘Έμ—…ν•  λ•Œμ―€ jo-reo-pal ttae-jjeum Β· 관심 gwan-sim Β· μ†Œκ°œν•΄ μ€˜μ„œ so-gae-hae jwo-seo Β· 인생 in-saeng

β‘£ Korean Age and Real Age β€” λͺ‡ μ‚΄μ΄μ—μš”?

A:μ‹€λ‘€μ§€λ§Œ μ˜¬ν•΄ λ‚˜μ΄κ°€ μ–΄λ–»κ²Œ λ˜μ„Έμš”?Excuse me, how old are you this year?
B:만으둜 μ„œλ₯Έ μ‚΄μ΄μ—μš”. ν•œκ΅­ λ‚˜μ΄λ‘œλŠ” μ„œλ₯Έν•˜λ‚˜λ‚˜ μ„œλ₯Έλ‘˜μ΄μ—μš”.I'm thirty in international age. In Korean age I'd be thirty-one or thirty-two.
A:μš”μ¦˜μ€ 만 λ‚˜μ΄λ₯Ό μ“°λŠ” μ‚¬λžŒμ΄ λ§Žμ§€λ§Œ μΉœκ΅¬λΌλ¦¬λŠ” 아직도 ν•œκ΅­ λ‚˜μ΄λ‘œ λ§ν•΄μš”.These days many people use international age, but friends still often talk in Korean age.
B:κ·Έλž˜μ„œ 처음 λ§Œλ‚˜λ©΄ λͺ‡ 년생인지 λ¬Όμ–΄λ³΄λŠ” κ²½μš°κ°€ λ§Žκ±°λ“ μš”.So when people first meet, they often ask what year you were born. You see.
A:μ €λŠ” κ΅¬μ‹­μ˜€ λ…„μƒμ΄μ—μš”.I was born in '95.
Hard words: λ‚˜μ΄ na-i Β· 만으둜 ma-neu-ro Β· μ„œλ₯Έν•˜λ‚˜ seo-reun-ha-na Β· ν•œκ΅­ λ‚˜μ΄ han-guk na-i Β· λͺ‡ 년생 myeot nyeon-saeng Β· 경우 gyeong-u

β‘€ Big Changes β€” μΈμƒμ˜ λ³€ν™”

A:κ²°ν˜Όμ€ μ–Έμ œ ν•˜κ²Œ λμ–΄μš”?When did you get married?
B:μž‘λ…„μ—μš”. ν•œκ΅­μ–΄ μˆ˜μ—…μ—μ„œ λ§Œλ‚œ μ‚¬λžŒκ³Ό κ²°ν˜Όν•˜κ²Œ λμ–΄μš”.Last year. I ended up marrying someone I met in Korean class.
A:μ •λ§μš”? ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό 배울 λ•Œ 인연이 μ‹œμž‘λλ„€μš”.Really? So it began when you were learning Korean.
B:λ„€. 정말 μš°μ—°μ΄μ—ˆμ–΄μš”. 어릴 λ•ŒλŠ” ν•œκ΅­μ„ 잘 λͺ°λžκ±°λ“ μš”.Yes. It was pure chance. When I was little I didn't know much about Korea, you see.
A:μ•žμœΌλ‘œ μ–΄λ””μ—μ„œ μ‚΄κ³  μ‹Άμ–΄μš”?Where would you like to live in the future?
B:일단 μ—¬κΈ°μ—μ„œ μ‚΄κ³  λ‚˜μ€‘μ— κ³ ν–₯에 λŒμ•„κ°ˆ μˆ˜λ„ μžˆμ–΄μš”.For now here, and later I might go back to my hometown.
Hard words: 결혼 gyeol-hon Β· μˆ˜μ—… su-eop Β· 인연 i-nyeon Β· μ‹œμž‘λλ„€μš” si-jak-dwaen-ne-yo Β· μš°μ—° u-yeon Β· 일단 il-dan

β‘₯ Two Friends (casual) β€” 우리 어렸을 λ•Œ

A:우리 어렸을 λ•Œ 맀일 λ†€μ΄ν„°μ—μ„œ λ†€μ•˜μ§€?When we were little we played at the playground every day, didn't we?
B:λ§žμ•„! λ„ˆλŠ” 항상 ν•΄κ°€ 질 λ•ŒκΉŒμ§€ μ•ˆ 듀어갔지.Right! You never went home until the sun set.
A:μ—„λ§ˆν•œν…Œ 맨날 ν˜Όλ‚¬κ±°λ“ . 근데 μ§€κΈˆμ€ 일 λ•Œλ¬Έμ— λͺ» 놀아.I used to get scolded by mum all the time. But now I can't play because of work.
B:μ–΄λ₯Έμ΄ 되면 μ‹œκ°„μ΄ μ—†μ–΄. κ·Έλž˜λ„ 우리 아직 μΉœκ΅¬μ§€.Time vanishes once you're an adult. But we're still friends, right?
A:λ‹Ήμ—°ν•˜μ§€! λ‹€μŒ 주말에 λ§Œλ‚˜μž.Of course! Let's meet next weekend.
Hard words: 놀이터 no-ri-teo Β· λ†€μ•˜μ§€ no-rat-jji Β· ν•΄κ°€ 질 λ•Œ hae-ga jil ttae Β· 맨날 maen-nal Β· ν˜Όλ‚¬κ±°λ“  hon-nat-kkeo-deun Β· λ‹Ήμ—°ν•˜μ§€ dang-yeon-ha-ji

πŸ—οΈ Key Phrases β€” μ€‘μš”ν•œ ν‘œν˜„

SituationPoliteCasual
Where were you born?μ–΄λ””μ—μ„œ νƒœμ–΄λ‚¬μ–΄μš”?μ–΄λ””μ„œ νƒœμ–΄λ‚¬μ–΄?
Where did you grow up?μ–΄λ””μ—μ„œ μžλžμ–΄μš”?μ–΄λ””μ„œ μžλžμ–΄?
What did you study?무엇을 μ „κ³΅ν–ˆμ–΄μš”?뭐 μ „κ³΅ν–ˆμ–΄?
When I was little…어렸을 λ•Œβ€¦μ–΄λ¦΄ λ•Œβ€¦
I ended upβ€¦β€¦κ²Œ λμ–΄μš”.β€¦κ²Œ 됐어.
What year were you born?λͺ‡ λ…„μƒμ΄μ—μš”?λͺ‡ 년생이야?

πŸ”€ Three Verbs for Life Stories β€” 동사

VerbEveryday polite (-μš”)Past (-μ•˜/μ—ˆμ–΄μš”)Casual
to be born (νƒœμ–΄λ‚˜λ‹€)νƒœμ–΄λ‚˜μš”νƒœμ–΄λ‚¬μ–΄μš”νƒœμ–΄λ‚¬μ–΄
to grow up (μžλΌλ‹€)μžλΌμš”μžλžμ–΄μš”μžλžμ–΄
to graduate (μ‘Έμ—…ν•˜λ‹€)μ‘Έμ—…ν•΄μš”μ‘Έμ—…ν–ˆμ–΄μš”μ‘Έμ—…ν–ˆμ–΄

🧱 Three Tools for Telling a Story

1. "When…" β€” -(으)γ„Ή λ•Œ

Attach -γ„Ή λ•Œ to a vowel stem and -을 λ•Œ to a consonant stem: 학ꡐ에 갈 λ•Œ ("when I go to school"), 먹을 λ•Œ, ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό 배울 λ•Œ. It is the same form as the future modifier from Chapter 4, followed by λ•Œ ("time"). The tense of the last verb tells you whether it is past or present. For a past moment, attach the past ending first: 어렸을 λ•Œ (when I was small), μ΄ˆλ“±ν•™κ΅μ— 닀녔을 λ•Œ. With a noun, use noun + λ•Œ: μ΄ˆλ“±ν•™κ΅ λ•Œ ("when I was at primary school"), λ°©ν•™ λ•Œ. Don't confuse it with -κΈ° 전에 (before) and -(으)γ„΄ 후에 (after) from Chapter 2.

2. "Come to / end up" β€” -게 λ˜λ‹€

Add -게 λ˜λ‹€ to a verb or adjective stem when a situation comes about, often not entirely by your own choice: ν•œκ΅­μ— 였게 λμ–΄μš” ("I ended up coming to Korea"), κ·Έ 일을 ν•˜κ²Œ λμ–΄μš” ("I came to do that job"), ν•œκ΅­ μŒμ‹μ„ μ’‹μ•„ν•˜κ²Œ λμ–΄μš” ("I came to like Korean food"). It is usually used in the past (-게 λμ–΄μš”) to explain how things turned out, or in the future (-게 될 κ±°μ˜ˆμš”) for what is likely to happen.

3. "You see…" β€” -κ±°λ“ μš”

The sentence ending -κ±°λ“ μš” gives a friendly explanation or reason, as if saying "you see, …" or "the thing is, …". It follows a stem directly: ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό λͺ°λžκ±°λ“ μš” ("I didn't know any Korean, you see"), λ°”μ˜κ±°λ“ μš”. For the past, put the past ending before it (-μ•˜/μ—ˆκ±°λ“ μš”). The casual form is -κ±°λ“ . It also introduces a new topic or an answer that you expect the listener not to know. Use it for background, not for plain statements, and not with a superior as a blunt excuse.

PatternExampleEnglish
-(으)γ„Ή λ•Œμ–΄λ Έμ„ λ•Œ 좕ꡬλ₯Ό μ’‹μ•„ν–ˆμ–΄μš”.When I was little I liked football.
-게 λ˜λ‹€μΉœκ΅¬ λ•Œλ¬Έμ— ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό 배우게 λμ–΄μš”.I ended up learning Korean because of a friend.
-κ±°λ“ μš”μ œκ°€ μš”λ¦¬λ₯Ό λͺ»ν•˜κ±°λ“ μš”.You see, I can't cook.

πŸ“– Reading β€” 읽기: μ œμž„μŠ€ μ”¨μ˜ 이야기

μ œμž„μŠ€ μ”¨μ˜ 이야기 μ œμž„μŠ€ μ”¨λŠ” 영ꡭ λ¦¬λ²„ν’€μ—μ„œ νƒœμ–΄λ‚˜μ„œ κ±°κΈ°μ—μ„œ μžλžμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. 어렸을 λ•Œ 책을 μ’‹μ•„ν•˜λŠ” μ‘°μš©ν•œ μ•„μ΄μ˜€μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. λŒ€ν•™κ΅μ—μ„œλŠ” κ²½μ œν•™μ„ κ³΅λΆ€ν–ˆμ§€λ§Œ μ‘Έμ—…ν•  λ•Œμ―€ 컴퓨터에 관심이 μƒκ²ΌμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. μ‘Έμ—…ν•œ 후에 μž‘μ€ νšŒμ‚¬μ—μ„œ μΌν•˜κ²Œ 됐고, κ·Έ νšŒμ‚¬ λ•Œλ¬Έμ— ν•œκ΅­μ— 였게 λμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. μ²˜μŒμ—λŠ” ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό ν•˜λ‚˜λ„ λͺ°λžκ±°λ“ μš”. κ·Έλž˜μ„œ ν•œκ΅­μ–΄ μˆ˜μ—…μ— λ‹€λ‹ˆκΈ° μ‹œμž‘ν–ˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. μˆ˜μ—…μ—μ„œ μ§€κΈˆμ˜ μ•„λ‚΄λ₯Ό λ§Œλ‚¬κ³  μž‘λ…„μ— κ²°ν˜Όν–ˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. μ œμž„μŠ€ μ”¨λŠ” μ§€κΈˆ μ„œμšΈμ—μ„œ μ‚΄κ³  μžˆμ§€λ§Œ λ‚˜μ€‘μ— κ³ ν–₯에 λŒμ•„κ°ˆ μˆ˜λ„ μžˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.
Word list: μ•„λ‚΄ (wife) Β· 관심이 생기닀 (to become interested) Β· λ‹€λ‹ˆκΈ° μ‹œμž‘ν•˜λ‹€ (to start attending) Β· λ‚˜μ€‘μ— (later)

True or false? (맞으면 O, 틀리면 X)

1. μ œμž„μŠ€ μ”¨λŠ” λ¦¬λ²„ν’€μ—μ„œ νƒœμ–΄λ‚˜μ„œ μžλžμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.
2. μ œμž„μŠ€ μ”¨λŠ” λŒ€ν•™κ΅μ—μ„œ 컴퓨터λ₯Ό μ „κ³΅ν–ˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.
3. μ œμž„μŠ€ μ”¨λŠ” νšŒμ‚¬ λ•Œλ¬Έμ— ν•œκ΅­μ— 였게 λμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.
4. μ œμž„μŠ€ μ”¨λŠ” ν•œκ΅­μ–΄ μˆ˜μ—…μ—μ„œ μ§€κΈˆμ˜ μ•„λ‚΄λ₯Ό λ§Œλ‚¬μŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.

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1. O Β· 2. X (he studied economics; the interest in computers came around graduation) Β· 3. O Β· 4. O

πŸ“– Vocabulary β€” μ–΄νœ˜

#KoreanSay itEnglishType
1κ³ ν–₯go-hyanghometownnoun
2μ΄ˆλ“±ν•™κ΅cho-deung-hak-kkyoprimary schoolnoun
3쀑학ꡐjung-hak-kkyomiddle schoolnoun
4고등학ꡐgo-deung-hak-kkyohigh schoolnoun
5λŒ€ν•™κ΅dae-hak-kkyouniversitynoun
6전곡jeon-gongmajor; field of studynoun
7μ‘Έμ—…jo-reopgraduationnoun
8λ‚˜μ΄na-iagenoun
9인생in-saenglife (one's whole life)noun
10꿈kkumdreamnoun
11결혼gyeol-honmarriagenoun
12μ–΄λ₯Έeo-reunadult; eldernoun
13νƒœμ–΄λ‚˜λ‹€tae-eo-na-dato be bornverb
14μžλΌλ‹€ja-ra-dato grow upverb
15μ‘Έμ—…ν•˜λ‹€jo-eo-pa-dato graduateverb
16μ „κ³΅ν•˜λ‹€jeon-gong-ha-dato major inverb
17κ²°ν˜Όν•˜λ‹€gyeol-hon-ha-dato get marriedverb
18λŒμ•„κ°€λ‹€do-ra-ga-dato go back; to returnverb
19어리닀eo-ri-dato be young; littleadj
20νž˜λ“€λ‹€him-deul-dato be hard; tiringadj
Korean Age and International Age (check official sources) On 28 June 2023 South Korea made the international age system (만 λ‚˜μ΄, counted from birth) the standard for most legal and administrative purposes, through amendments to the Civil Act. Reports say some areas, such as the school year, still follow a separate "year age" calculation, and sources differ on exact details such as the age at primary-school entry, so check an official source like the Ministry of Education before relying on a figure. In everyday talk the old Korean age (everyone is 1 at birth and gains a year each 1 January) is still often used, especially between friends and when discussing children. People may also ask λͺ‡ λ…„μƒμ΄μ—μš”? ("what year were you born?") to work out who is older, which decides who uses which speech level. For your own age, use Native Korean numbers: 슀무 μ‚΄ (20), μ„œλ₯Έ μ‚΄ (30), λ§ˆν” μ‚΄ (40).
The School Ladder The usual stages are μ΄ˆλ“±ν•™κ΅ (primary), 쀑학ꡐ (middle), 고등학ꡐ (high school) and λŒ€ν•™κ΅ (university). Years are counted with ν•™λ…„: μ΄ˆλ“±ν•™κ΅ μ‚Ό ν•™λ…„ is "third grade of primary". The school year begins in March, according to sources. People often shorten the stage names to μ΄ˆλ”©, 쀑딩 and κ³ λ”© in casual talk, but those are slangy.
As Heard in Dramas β€” λ“œλΌλ§ˆμ—μ„œ Flashback scenes begin with 어렸을 λ•Œβ€¦ or κ·Έλ•ŒλŠ”β€¦ ("back then…"), and a character explaining an awkward fact will say μ œκ°€ μ›λž˜ 그런 μ‚¬λžŒμ΄κ±°λ“ μš” ("I'm just that kind of person, you see"). A common surprised reaction to a life story is 인생은 μ•Œ 수 μ—†λŠ” κ±°μ˜ˆμš” ("you never know in life"). Tense school reunions often mention which λͺ‡ 년생 everyone is.
Grammar Pointer The past tense -μ•˜/μ—ˆμ–΄μš” is from Korean Basic Conversation 2, Chapter 9 (The Past); the future modifier -(으)γ„Ή is from Chapter 4 of this course, and -κΈ° 전에 and -(으)γ„΄ 후에 from Chapter 2. -(으)γ„΄ 적이 μžˆλ‹€ (Chapter 5) describes experiences, while -(으)γ„Ή λ•Œ sets the time. The connection with the "when I was little" stories continues in Chapter 12, where time spent abroad is counted with -(으)γ„΄ 지 … λμ–΄μš”.

✍️ Try It Yourself β€” μ—°μŠ΅

Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.

1. Say "I was born in Liverpool and grew up there."

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μ €λŠ” λ¦¬λ²„ν’€μ—μ„œ νƒœμ–΄λ‚˜μ„œ κ±°κΈ°μ—μ„œ μžλžμ–΄μš”.

2. Say "When I was little I wanted to be a teacher."

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어렸을 λ•Œ μ„ μƒλ‹˜μ΄ 되고 μ‹Άμ—ˆμ–΄μš”.

3. Say "I ended up coming to Korea because of work."

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일 λ•Œλ¬Έμ— ν•œκ΅­μ— 였게 λμ–΄μš”.

4. Explain with -κ±°λ“ μš”: "I didn't know any Korean, you see."

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ν•œκ΅­μ–΄λ₯Ό ν•˜λ‚˜λ„ λͺ°λžκ±°λ“ μš”.

5. Ask someone "What year were you born?" and "What did you major in?"

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λͺ‡ λ…„μƒμ΄μ—μš”? 무엇을 μ „κ³΅ν–ˆμ–΄μš”?

6. Tell a friend casually "When we were little we played at the playground every day, didn't we?"

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우리 어렸을 λ•Œ 맀일 λ†€μ΄ν„°μ—μ„œ λ†€μ•˜μ§€?