Table of Contents
윤동주 “별 헤는 밤”
Thematic
Analysis
Key
Takeaways
Grammatical
Analysis of the Poem
Introduction
to the Poet
✒️
윤동주 “별 헤는 밤”
계절이 지나 가는 하늘에는
가을로 가득 차 있습니다.
나는 아무 걱정도 없이
가을 속의 별들을 다 헤일 듯합니다.
가슴속에 하나 둘 새겨지는 별을
이제 다 못 헤는 것은
쉬이 아침이 오는 까닭이요,
내일 밤이 남은 까닭이요,
아직 나의 청춘이 다하지 않은 까닭입니다.
별 하나에 추억과
별 하나에 사랑과
별 하나에 쓸쓸함과
별 하나에 동경과
별 하나에 시와
별 하나에 어머니, 어머니
어머님, 나는
별 하나에 아름다운 말 한 마디씩 불러봅니다.
소학교 때 책상을 같이 했던 아이들의 이름과,
패, 경, 옥 이런 이국 소녀들의 이름과,
벌써 애기 어머니 된 계집애들의 이름과,
가난한 이웃 사람들의 이름과
비둘기, 강아지, 토끼, 노새, 노루,
프랑시스 잠, 라이너
마리아 릴케 이런 시인의 이름을 불러 봅니다.
이네들은 너무나 멀리 있습니다.
별이 아스라이 멀 듯이
어머님,
그리고 당신은 멀리 북간도에 계십니다.
나는 무엇인지 그리워
이 많은 별빛이 내린 언덕 위에
내 이름자를 써 보고
흙으로 덮어 버리었습니다.
딴은 밤을 새워 우는 벌레는
부끄러운 이름을 슬퍼하는 까닭입니다.
그러나 겨울이 지나고 나의 별에도 봄이 오면
무덤 위에 파란 잔디가 피어나 듯이
내 이름자 묻힌 언덕 위에도
자랑처럼 풀이 무성할 게외다.
🎙️ Recitation
✒️ Thematic Analysis
“A Night
of Counting the Stars (별 헤는 밤)" was
written by the young poet Yun Dong-ju during the dark and oppressive era of
Japanese colonial rule. In this poem, he reflects deeply on his inner world,
expressing the pain of longing and identity and a quiet hope for the future.
The
“stars” in the poem are not merely celestial objects. They function as
emotional conduits symbolizing memory, love, solitude, yearning, poetry, and
the poet’s mother. Each star represents a fragment of the poet’s emotional and
idealistic world.
The
line “I wrote down my name and buried it beneath the soil” is
especially poignant. It metaphorically expresses the forced loss of identity
under colonial policies such as the imposition of Japanese names. It speaks to
the tragic reality of having to suppress one’s existence.
Yet,
even within despair, the poem sings of hope and rebirth through the
line “when winter passes and spring comes.” This quiet resolve
reflects the poet’s will to overcome an oppressive reality and his belief in a
future where his actual name and self may bloom again with pride.
-
Stanza 1
“계절이
지나 가는 하늘에는 / 가을로 가득 차 있습니다.”
“In the
sky where seasons pass / It is filled with autumn.”
→ This
stanza opens with an image of a vast, flowing sky, evoking the quiet passage of
time. The autumn season, often associated with maturity and reflection, sets a
melancholic yet peaceful tone.
-
Stanza 2
“나는
아무 걱정도 없이 / 가을 속의 별들을 다 헤일 듯합니다.”
“I feel
as though I could count all the autumn stars / Without worry.”
→ The
poet momentarily escapes the world’s burdens, immersed in the serenity of the
autumn night. The stars serve as mediums for recollections of the past,
symbolizing longing, beauty, purity, and ideals.
-
Stanza 3
“가슴속에
하나 둘 새겨지는 별을 / 이제 다 못 헤는 것은 / 쉬이
아침이 오는 까닭이요, / 내일 밤이 남은 까닭이요, / 아직
나의 청춘이 다하지 않은 까닭입니다.”
“The
stars engraved one by one into my heart— / I cannot count them all / Because
morning comes too quickly, / Because tomorrow night remains, / Because my youth
has not yet ended.”
→ The
poet connects each star with traces of emotion. However, he cannot count them
all to the end. He does not lack the ability, but because of realistic
constraints: the passing of time and the ongoing journey of youth. Nevertheless,
he reveals an underlying hope and anticipation for the future.
-
Stanza 4
“별
하나에 추억과 / 별 하나에 사랑과 / 별 하나에 쓸쓸함과 / 별 하나에 동경과 / 별 하나에 시와 / 별 하나에 어머니, 어머니”
“A star
for memory, / A star for love, / A star for loneliness, / A star for longing, /
A star for poetry, / A star for Mother, Mother”
→ The
stars serve as emotional markers, representing the inner world that the poet
aspires to.
The poet
emphasizes his yearning for that inner world by repeating similar lines.
-
Stanza 5
“어머님, 나는 별 하나에 아름다운 말 한 마디씩 불러봅니다. / 소학교 때
책상을 같이 했던 아이들의 이름과, / 패, 경, 옥 이런 이국 소녀들의 이름과, / 벌써 애기 어머니 된 계집애들의
이름과, / 가난한 이웃 사람들의 이름과 / 비둘기, 강아지, 토끼, 노새, 노루, / 프랑시스 잠, 라이너
마리아 릴케 이런 시인의 이름을 불러 봅니다.”
“Mother,
I call out to each star with a beautiful word. / The names of children I once
shared a school desk with, / Names of foreign girls like Pae, Kyung, and Ok, /
Names of girls now mothers, / Names of poor neighbors, / And names of doves,
puppies, rabbits, mules, deer, / And poets like Francis Jammes, Rainer Maria
Rilke.”
→ As the
poet’s emotions intensify, his breath quickens, and the poem becomes more
prose-like. The objects of longing described in the earlier four stanzas are
now rendered more specifically, one by one. This listing creates a map of
memories, all tied together beneath the stars.
-
Stanza 6
“이네들은
너무나 멀리 있습니다. / 별이 아스라이 멀 듯이”
“They
are all too far away / Just like the distant stars.”
→ The
sense of distance here is both physical and emotional. The poem concretizes the
emotional distance from the object of longing by likening it to the vast space
between the stars and the Earth.
-
Stanza 7
“어머님, / 그리고 당신은 멀리 북간도에 계십니다.”
“Mother,
/ And you are far away in North Jiandao (북간도).”
→ From
the first to the seventh stanza, the poet expresses a deep sense of longing; in
the seventh stanza, this feeling of longing is especially emphasized.
-
Stanza 8
“나는
무엇인지 그리워 / 이 많은 별빛이 내린 언덕 위에 / 내
이름자를 써 보고 / 흙으로 덮어 버리었습니다.”
“In my
longing for something unknown, / Upon this hill bathed in starlight, / I wrote
down my name / Then buried it beneath the soil.”
→ In
this context, “something unknown (무엇)” refers to the
ideal values the speaker aspires to. It reveals an act of self-reflection (“I
wrote down my name, 내 이름자를 써 보고”) as well as a sense of
shame toward the self (“buried it beneath the soil, 흙으로 덮어 버리었습니다”).
-
Stanza 9
“딴은
밤을 새워 우는 벌레는 / 부끄러운 이름을 슬퍼하는 까닭입니다.”
“And
perhaps the insect crying through the night / Grieves over its shameful name.”
→ The
“insect” becomes a metaphor for the poet, mourning a name he cannot speak
aloud, burdened by history and shame not of his own making.
The
“insect (벌레)” becomes a vessel for the poet’s emotions,
serving as a means to express reflection and shame toward his powerless self.
-
Stanza 10
“그러나
겨울이 지나고 나의 별에도 봄이 오면 / 무덤 위에 파란 잔디가 피어나 듯이 / 내 이름자 묻힌 언덕 위에도 / 자랑처럼 풀이 무성할 게외다.”
“But
when winter passes and spring comes to my star too, / Like green grass blooming
over a grave, / On the hill where my name lies buried / Proudly, the grass will
grow thick.”
→ The
final stanza offers a quiet yet unwavering sense of hope. When “winter (겨울),” a metaphor for the grim and oppressive reality, passes and
“spring (봄),” a symbol of renewal and positivity,
arrives, even over the “grave (무덤)” — representing
death and despair — “green grass (파란 잔디),” a sign of
life, will begin to grow. The poet ends the poem with the expectation that
abundant life will flourish atop the hill of self-sacrifice.
The poem
unfolds in a conversational tone, as if the poet is speaking to his mother,
expressing a deep longing. Through the changing seasons of autumn, winter, and
spring, the poem develops its imagery to reflect a journey from the longing of
the past, to the reflection of the present, and finally to the hope of the
future.
🎯 Key Takeaways
1. 계절이 지나 가는 / 계절이 지나 가다
This
phrase means “the seasons are passing by” or “a season passes.” It’s used literally
and metaphorically to convey the passage of time, often evoking nostalgia,
reflection, or transience.
📌
Example Usage
"계절이
지나 가는 하늘에는 가을로 가득 차 있습니다."
"The
sky where seasons pass is filled with autumn."
"봄이
지나가고 여름이 다가온다."
"Spring
passes and summer approaches."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
시간이 흐르다 (Time
flows) – Focuses more on the abstract passage of time.
세월이 지나가다 (Years
pass by) – Emphasizes the passage of years with a reflective tone.
📌
Example Usage
"시간이
흐를수록 그리움이 깊어진다."
"As
time flows, the longing grows deeper."
"세월이
지나가도 잊을 수 없는 이름이 있다."
"There’s
a name I cannot forget even as the years pass."
2. 하늘
“하늘” means “sky,” but in poetic or emotional contexts, it often
symbolizes vastness, time, the divine, or the speaker's inner world.
📌
Example Usage
"밤하늘의
별을 보며 어릴 적을 떠올렸다."
"Looking
at the stars in the night sky, I remembered my childhood."
🌀
Similar Expressions
창공 (open
sky) – Poetic, often used to convey purity or openness.
📌
Example Usage
"창공을
나는 새를 보며 자유를 느꼈다."
"I
felt freedom watching the bird fly through the open sky."
3. 가을
“가을” means “autumn.” Literature often evokes maturity, loneliness,
longing, and emotional reflection.
📌
Example Usage
"가을
바람이 불면 옛 생각이 난다."
"When
the autumn wind blows, old memories come to mind."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
낙엽의 계절 (season
of falling leaves) – Emphasizes imagery.
수확의 계절 (season
of harvest) – Suggests maturity and abundance.
📌
Example Usage
"낙엽의
계절이 되면 쓸쓸함이 깊어진다."
"In
the season of falling leaves, loneliness deepens."
"수확의
계절엔 감사하는 마음이 앞선다."
"In
the harvest season, a sense of gratitude comes first."
4. ~(으)로 가득 차 있습니다 /
~(으)로 가득 차 있다
Means
“to be filled with ~.” This structure expresses emotional, spatial, or
metaphorical fullness.
📌
Example Usage
"그의
눈에는 슬픔으로 가득 차 있었다."
"His
eyes were filled with sadness."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
~이
넘치다 (to overflow with) – Suggests abundance or intensity.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀는
기쁨이 넘치는 얼굴로 달려왔다."
"She
ran over with a face overflowing with joy."
5. 아무
“아무” means “any” or “no,” depending on context. It often appears in
negative sentences to indicate absence or generality.
📌
Example Usage
"아무도
없는 방에 홀로 앉아 있었다."
"I
was sitting alone in an empty room."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
전혀 / 하나도 (not at all) – Used with negation to emphasize complete
absence.
📌
Example Usage
"그
일에 대해 전혀 아는 바가 없다."
"I
don’t know anything at all about that matter."
6. 걱정도 없이 / 걱정도 없다
Means
“without a single worry.” Emphasizes a state of peace or emotional release.
📌
Example Usage
"나는 걱정도 없이 하늘을 바라봤다."
"I
looked at the sky without a single worry."
"요즘은
진짜 걱정도 없다."
"These
days, I really don’t have a single worry."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
마음이 편하다 (to
feel at ease) – Describes emotional state.
근심이 없다 (to
be free of anxiety) – Literary or formal version.
📌
Example Usage
"좋은
소식 덕분에 마음이 한결 편하다."
"I
feel so much more at ease thanks to the good news."
"그는
근심 하나 없이 웃고 있었다."
"He
was smiling without a trace of anxiety."
7. ~속의
“~속의” means “inside ~” or “within ~,” often indicating something
contained in or part of a larger space, feeling, or concept.
📌
Example Usage
"추억속의 별을 떠올린다."
"I
recall the stars within the memory."
"아이의
눈빛속의 순수함이 느껴졌다."
"You
could feel the purity within the child’s eyes."
🌀
Similar Expressions
~안에
있는 (existing in/inside) – More direct.
~가
담긴 (containing) – Emphasizes content or symbolic meaning.
📌
Example Usage
"마음
안에 있는 슬픔을 털어놓았다."
"I
opened up about the sadness inside my heart."
"편지에
담긴 진심이 전해졌다."
"The
sincerity contained in the letter was conveyed."
8. 별들 / 별
“별” means “star.” In literature, it often symbolizes memory, longing, the
soul, or eternity. The plural form 별들” emphasizes
abundance.
📌
Example Usage
"나는
오늘 밤도 하늘에 별을 헤인다."
"Tonight
as well, I count the stars in the sky."
"어릴
적부터 별들을 좋아했다."
"I've
loved stars since I was a child."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
은하수 (Milky
Way) – Represents clusters of stars, dreams, or the unknown.
📌
Example Usage
"은하수가
흐르는 밤하늘이 아름다웠다."
"The
night sky, flowing with the Milky Way, was beautiful."
9. 가슴속에
“가슴속에” means “in the heart.” Often used metaphorically to refer to deeply
felt emotions or memories.
📌
Example Usage
"그
시절의 기억은 여전히 가슴속에 남아 있다."
"The
memories of those times still remain in my heart."
"슬픔이 가슴속에 차올랐다."
"Sadness
filled up inside my heart."
🌀
Similar Expressions
마음속에 (in
the mind/heart) – Synonymous, slightly more mental than emotional.
📌
Example Usage
"그
말이 아직도 마음속에 남아 있어."
"Those
words still remain in my mind."
10. 새겨지는 / 새겨지다
Means
“to be engraved” or “etched,” either literally (on a surface) or metaphorically
(in memory or emotion).
📌
Example Usage
"그의
말이 내 마음에 깊이 새겨졌다."
"His
words were deeply engraved in my heart."
🌀
Similar Expressions
각인되다 (to
be imprinted) – More formal, intellectual nuance.
📌
Example Usage
"그
장면은 뇌리에 각인되었다."
"That
scene was imprinted in my mind."
11. 아침이 오는 / 아침이 오다
Means
“morning comes” or “the morning is arriving.” Often used metaphorically to
suggest new beginnings, hope, or the end of darkness.
📌
Example Usage
"밤이
지나고 아침이 온다."
"After
the night passes, morning comes."
"그
소식은 마치 아침이 오는 것처럼 반가웠다."
"The
news was as welcome as the coming of morning."
🌀
Similar Expressions
동이 트다 (the
dawn breaks) – More poetic or natural imagery.
📌
Example Usage
"산
위로 동이 트는 장면은 잊을 수 없었다."
"I
could never forget the scene of dawn breaking over the mountain."
12. 까닭
It means
“reason” or “cause.” Slightly literary or formal in tone compared to “이유.”
📌
Example Usage
"그가
울던 까닭을 아무도 몰랐다."
"No
one knew the reason he cried."
"오늘따라
하늘이 슬퍼 보이는 까닭은 무엇일까?"
"What
might be the reason the sky looks so sad today?"
🌀
Similar Expressions
이유 (reason)
– More commonly used.
원인 (cause)
– Often used for logical or scientific contexts.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀가
화난 이유를 설명해 줬다."
"She
explained the reason she was angry."
"그
병의 원인은 아직 밝혀지지 않았다."
"The
cause of the disease is still unknown."
13. 내일
“Tomorrow.”
It can signify literal future or hopeful projection in poetic usage.
📌
Example Usage
"내일은
분명 더 나은 날이 될 거야."
"Tomorrow
will surely be a better day."
"내일을
생각하며 잠이 들었다."
"I
fell asleep thinking of tomorrow."
🌀
Similar Expressions
미래 (future)
– Broader and more abstract.
앞날 (days
ahead) – Poetic or literary synonym for the future.
📌
Example Usage
"그는 미래를 위해 지금을 희생했다."
"He
sacrificed the present for the future."
"밝은 앞날을 기대하며 열심히 준비했다."
"He
worked hard in hopes of a bright future."
14. 밤
“Night.”
Symbolically, it often represents loneliness, introspection, or the unconscious
in Korean poetry.
📌
Example Usage
"밤하늘의
별을 바라보며 추억에 잠겼다."
"I
gazed at the night sky, lost in memories."
"조용한 밤이 되니 마음도 차분해졌다."
"As
night fell, my mind also calmed down."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
어둠 (darkness)
– Focuses on the absence of light, often metaphorical.
📌
Example Usage
"그의
마음속에 깊은 어둠이 자리잡고 있었다."
"A
deep darkness settled in his heart."
15. 남은 / 남다
Means
“left over” or “to remain.” Used both physically and emotionally.
📌
Example Usage
"추억만 남은 계절이 지나간다."
"The
season that left only memories is passing."
"그날의
감정이 아직도 마음에 남아 있다."
"The
emotions from that day still remain in my heart."
🌀
Similar Expressions
머무르다 (to
stay) – Implies stillness.
지속되다 (to
continue) – Suggests duration or persistence.
📌
Example Usage
"그
순간이 마음에 오래 머물렀다."
"That
moment stayed in my heart for a long time."
"그
영향은 오랫동안 지속되었다."
"The
impact lasted for a long time."
16. 아직
Means
“still” or “not yet.” Indicates an ongoing state or incompletion.
📌
Example Usage
"아직 끝나지 않은 이야기 같다."
"It
feels like a story that hasn’t ended yet."
"그는 아직도 그녀를 잊지 못하고 있다."
"He
still hasn’t forgotten her."
🌀
Similar Expressions
여전히 (still,
as ever) – More poetic and consistent.
계속 (continuously)
– Emphasizes repetition or duration.
📌
Example Usage
"여전히 그 자리에서 기다리고 있었다."
"He
was still waiting in the same place."
"비는
하루 종일 계속 내렸다."
"It
kept raining all day long."
17. 청춘이 다하지 않은 / 청춘이 다하지 않다
This
means that “youth is not yet over.” Conveys the sense of potential, time left,
or emotional endurance.
📌
Example Usage
"청춘이
다하지 않은 이 밤, 별을 헤인다."
"On
this night, with youth not yet over, I count the stars."
"그는 청춘이 다하지 않았다며 다시 일어섰다."
"He
got back up, saying his youth was not over yet."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
젊음이 남아 있다 (youth still remains) – More casual.
한창이다 (at
one’s peak) – Suggests prime or vigor.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀의
눈빛에는 아직 젊음이 남아 있었다."
"Her
eyes still held youth."
"지금이
인생의 한창이다."
"This
is the prime of life."
18. 하나
Means
“one.” In poetic language, it can symbolize singularity, uniqueness, or a
single item amidst many.
📌
Example Usage
"하나의
결정이 인생을 바꿀 수 있다."
"A
single decision can change your life."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
유일한 (the
only) – Emphasizes exclusivity.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
나의 유일한 친구였다."
"He
was my only friend."
19. 추억
“Memory.”
Often used for warm, nostalgic reflections on the past.
📌
Example Usage
"그
노래는 학창 시절의 추억을 떠올리게 한다."
"That
song reminds me of my school days."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
기억 (remembrance)
– More neutral.
회상 (recollection)
– Formal or literary.
📌
Example Usage
"그날의 기억은 아직도 생생하다."
"The
memory of that day is still vivid."
"그녀는
옛 시절을 회상하며 눈물을 흘렸다."
"She
shed tears as she recalled the old days."
20. 사랑
“Love.” Poetic
use encompasses deep affection, yearning, or even loss.
📌
Example Usage
"첫사랑은
늘 특별하게 기억된다."
"First
love is always remembered especially."
🌀
Similar Expressions
애정 (affection)
– Broader and less poetic.
📌
Example Usage
"부모님의 애정이 느껴지는 편지였다."
"It
was a letter filled with parental affection."
21. 쓸쓸함 / 쓸쓸하다
“쓸쓸함” means “loneliness” or “solitude,” and “쓸쓸하다” is the adjective form. In Korean poetry, it often implies
emotional emptiness, nostalgia, or quiet yearning.
📌
Example Usage
"비
오는 날에는 괜히 마음이 쓸쓸하다."
"On
rainy days, I feel lonely for no reason."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
외로움 / 외롭다 (loneliness / to be lonely) – More commonly used in daily
speech.
허전함 / 허전하다 (emptiness) – Conveys a sense of something missing or
unfulfilled.
📌
Example Usage
"낯선
도시에서의 외로움이 컸다."
"The
loneliness in the unfamiliar city was overwhelming."
"그의
빈자리에 허전함이 밀려왔다."
"His
absence brought a feeling of emptiness."
22. 동경
“동경” means “longing” or “yearning,” often with admiration. It’s
typically used for someone or something distant or idealized.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀는
예술가에 대한 동경이 있었다."
"She
had a longing admiration for artists."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
그리움 (longing,
homesickness) – More emotional or nostalgic.
갈망 (craving,
aspiration) – Stronger and more intense desire.
📌
Example Usage
"어릴
적 고향에 대한 그리움이 커졌다."
"My
longing for my hometown as a child grew stronger."
"그는
자유를 향한 갈망에 사로잡혀 있었다."
"His
craving for freedom consumed him."
23. 시
“시” means “poem” or “poetry.” In this context, it can also represent
artistic or emotional expression.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀는
감정을 시로 표현했다."
"She
expressed her feelings through poetry."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
시구 (poetic
lines) – Refers to specific lines or phrases in a poem.
운율 (rhythm/meter)
– A more technical aspect of poetry.
📌
Example Usage
"마음에
남는 시구 하나를 떠올렸다."
"I
recalled a poetic line that stayed in my heart."
"그
시에는 독특한 운율이 있었다."
"The
poem had a unique rhythm."
24. 어머님 / 어머니 / 엄마
All
refer to “mother.” “어머님” is more respectful and poetic,
“어머니” is formal, and “엄마” is
casual.
📌
Example Usage
"어머니의
목소리가 들리는 듯했다."
"I
felt as if I could hear my mother’s voice."
"엄마 보고 싶어."
"I
miss you, Mom."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
모친 (mother
– formal/legal term) – Very formal and rarely used in speech.
부모님 (parents)
– General term for both parents.
📌
Example Usage
"그는 모친의 병간호를 위해 고향으로 갔다."
"He
returned to his hometown to care for his mother."
"부모님께
감사 인사를 드렸다."
"I
expressed gratitude to my parents."
25. 말 한 마디씩
“말
한 마디씩” means “each word” or “a word at a time.” It expresses
careful, reflective speech, often with emotional weight.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
조심스럽게 말 한 마디씩 꺼냈다."
"He
cautiously spoke word by word."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
한 마디 한 마디 (each and every word) – Emphasizes deliberation.
천천히 말하다 (to
speak slowly) – Describes the manner of speech.
📌
Example Usage
"한
마디 한 마디에 진심이 느껴졌다."
"I
could feel sincerity in every word."
"그는
상대를 배려하며 천천히 말했다."
"He
spoke slowly, being considerate."
26. 불러봅니다 / 불러보다
“불러보다” means “to try calling out,” and “불러봅니다” is
the polite present-tense form. In poems, it often implies calling out names or
memories with longing.
📌
Example Usage
"그
이름을 조용히 불러봅니다."
"I
quietly call out that name."
"밤하늘의
별들을 하나씩 불러봤다."
"I
tried calling each star in the night sky."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
이름을 부르다 (to
call a name) – Basic version.
되뇌다 (to
repeat, to murmur) – More poetic or internal.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀는
그의 이름을 불렀다."
"She
called his name."
"그
말을 계속 되뇌고 있었다."
"I
kept repeating those words."
27. 소학교 / 국민학교 / 초등학교
All means
“elementary school.” “소학교” is old-fashioned, “국민학교” was used until the 1990s, and “초등학교” is
the modern term.
📌
Example Usage
"나는 국민학교 시절을 떠올렸다."
"I
recalled my elementary school days."
"지금은
모두 초등학교라고 부른다."
"Now
it’s all called elementary school."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
학교 시절 (school
days) – General and nostalgic.
유년 시절 (childhood)
– Broader than school-specific.
📌
Example Usage
"그
시절 학교 시절이 그립다."
"I
miss those school days."
"유년
시절은 늘 따뜻한 기억이다."
"My
childhood is always a warm memory."
28. 책상
“책상” means “desk.” Poetry can represent childhood, study, or personal
space for reflection.
📌
Example Usage
"낡은 책상 위에 그 시절의 흔적이 남아 있었다."
"Traces
of that time remained on the old desk."
"나는 책상에 앉아 옛날 일기를 펼쳤다."
"I
sat at the desk and opened an old journal."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
작업대 (work
table) – Broader in usage.
📌
Example Usage
"그는 작업대에서 그림을 그렸다."
"He
drew at his work table."
29. 아이들
“아이들” means “children.” It reflects innocence, playfulness, or the past.
📌
Example Usage
"운동장에서
노는 아이들이 눈에 띄었다."
"I
noticed the children playing in the schoolyard."
"아이들의
웃음소리가 울려 퍼졌다."
"The
sound of children’s laughter rang out."
🌀
Similar Expressions
어린이 (children
– formal/polite)
꼬마들 (little
kids – casual and affectionate)
📌
Example Usage
"어린이 보호구역을 지켜야 한다."
"We
must respect child safety zones."
"공원에서 꼬마들이 신나게 뛰어놀고 있었다."
"Little
kids were running around excitedly in the park."
30. 이름
“이름” means “name.” It often symbolizes identity, memory, or emotional
attachment in poetic contexts.
📌
Example Usage
"그의 이름을 하늘에 새겨본다."
"I
try engraving his name in the sky."
"그 이름은 영원히 기억될 것이다."
"That
name will be remembered forever."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
성함 (name
– honorific)
호칭 (title,
form of address) – Focuses on naming conventions.
📌
Example Usage
"할아버지의 성함은 김철수입니다."
"My
grandfather’s name is Kim Cheolsu."
"그를
어떻게 호칭해야 할지 몰랐다."
"I
didn’t know how to address him."
31. 이국
“이국” means “foreign country” or “foreign land.” In literary context, it
evokes feelings of distance, unfamiliarity, or homesickness.
📌
Example Usage
"그는 이국의 땅에서 외로움을 느꼈다."
"He
felt loneliness in a foreign land."
"이국 풍경이 낯설지만 아름다웠다."
"The
foreign scenery felt unfamiliar but beautiful."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
타지 (another
region, esp. within the country) – More casual and less literary.
해외 (overseas)
– Practical and modern usage.
📌
Example Usage
"타지 생활이 힘들 때도 많았다."
"Life
in another region was often difficult."
"그는 해외 출장 중이었다."
"He
was on a business trip overseas."
32. 소녀들 / 소녀
“소녀” means “girl,” and “소녀들” is the plural
form. It often represents purity, innocence, or lost youth in poetry.
📌
Example Usage
"예전 소녀들의 웃음소리가 그리웠다."
"I
missed the laughter of girls from long ago."
"그는
순수한 소녀의 눈빛을 기억했다."
"He
remembered the pure eyes of the girl."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
여학생 (female
student) – More academic or formal.
꼬마 아가씨 (little
lady) – Affectionate or old-fashioned.
📌
Example Usage
"그
반에는 여학생이 더 많았다."
"There
were more female students in that class."
"그 꼬마 아가씨는 의젓하게 인사했다."
"The
little lady greeted politely."
33. 애기
“애기” is a colloquial form of “아기,” meaning
“baby” or “young child.” It carries affection and tenderness.
📌
Example Usage
"그 애기는 눈이 크고 귀여웠다."
"That
baby had big eyes and was adorable."
"애기 울음소리가 들렸다."
"I
heard the baby’s cry."
🌀
Similar Expressions
아기 (baby)
– Standard form.
갓난아이 (newborn)
– Refers to a very young infant.
📌
Example Usage
"그 아기는 이제 막 걷기 시작했다."
"The
baby just started walking."
"갓난아이처럼
작고 연약했다."
"He
was small and fragile like a newborn."
34. 계집애들 / 계집애 / 계집
These
are outdated or potentially derogatory terms for “girl.” “계집” was once the general word for female, but now sounds archaic or
offensive. “계집애들” refers to a group of girls in that
older usage.
📌
Example Usage
"옛날엔 계집애들이라는 표현을 자주 썼다."
"In
the past, people often used the word 'gyejib-aedeul' for girls."
"지금은 계집이라는 단어를 잘 쓰지 않는다."
"Nowadays,
the word 'gyejib' is rarely used."
🌀
Similar Expressions
여자아이 (girl
child) – Neutral and appropriate.
소녀 (girl)
– Poetic and respectful.
📌
Example Usage
"그
아이는 조용한 여자아이였다."
"She
was a quiet girl."
"그
시절 나는 한 소녀를 사랑했다."
"Back
then, I loved a girl."
35. 가난한 / 가난하다
“가난하다” means “to be poor,” and “가난한” is the
adjective form. It describes material poverty but can also suggest emotional or
spiritual lack.
📌
Example Usage
"가난한 이웃과 함께 나누며 살았다."
"We
lived sharing with our poor neighbors."
"그
시절은 정말 가난했다."
"Those
times were very poor."
🌀
Similar Expressions
빈곤한 (impoverished)
– More formal and institutional.
넉넉지 못한 (not
well-off) – Euphemistic or softer.
📌
Example Usage
"빈곤한 가정에서 자란 아이였다."
"He
was a child who grew up in an impoverished household."
"우리
형편이 넉넉지 못했다."
"Our
situation wasn’t well-off."
36. 이웃 사람들
Means
“neighbors” or “neighboring people.” Suggests warmth, familiarity, and
community in everyday or nostalgic contexts.
📌
Example Usage
"이웃
사람들과 정을 나누며 살았다."
"We
lived sharing affection with our neighbors."
"이웃
사람들이 도와주셔서 힘이 났다."
"The
neighbors helped, and that gave me strength."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
주변 사람들 (people
around) – Broader scope, less intimate.
📌
Example Usage
"주변
사람들 덕분에 외롭지 않았다."
"I
wasn't lonely thanks to the people around me."
37. 비둘기
“비둘기” means “pigeon” or “dove.” In poetry, it can symbolize peace,
innocence, or the homing instinct.
📌
Example Usage
"공원에
수많은 비둘기가 날아다녔다."
"Many
pigeons flew around the park."
"그 비둘기는 집을 향해 날아갔다."
"The
dove flew toward home."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
새 (bird)
– General and neutral.
📌
Example Usage
"하늘을
나는 새를 보며 자유를 느꼈다."
"I
felt freedom watching the bird in flight."
38. 강아지 / 개
“강아지” means “puppy,” while “개” means “dog.” “강아지” is more affectionate and childlike.
📌
Example Usage
"강아지를
처음 본 아이가 좋아했다."
"The
child was delighted to see the puppy for the first time."
"그 개는 매우 충직했다."
"The
dog was very loyal."
🌀
Similar Expressions
반려견 (companion
dog) – Formal, used in modern discourse.
멍멍이 –
Cute, used by children or affectionately.
📌
Example Usage
"우리
집에는 귀여운 반려견이 있다."
"We
have a cute companion dog at home."
"아이가 멍멍이를 보고 웃었다."
"The
child smiled at the doggy."
39. 토끼
“토끼” means “rabbit.” In literature, it often symbolizes timidity,
innocence, or fertility.
📌
Example Usage
"아이들은 토끼를 보고 신기해했다."
"The
children were fascinated by the rabbit."
"숲
속을 달리는 토끼가 보였다."
"I
saw a rabbit running through the forest."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
산토끼 (wild
rabbit) – Emphasizes natural setting.
토실토실한 토끼 (plump
rabbit) – Descriptive and endearing.
📌
Example Usage
"산토끼 노래는 어린이들에게 인기가 많다."
"The
‘Mountain Rabbit’ song is popular with children."
"토실토실한
토끼가 풀을 뜯고 있었다."
"A
plump rabbit was grazing on grass."
40. 노새
“노새” means “mule.” The animal's strong but slow nature symbolizes
burden, labor, and endurance.
📌
Example Usage
"산을
오르는 노새가 힘들어 보였다."
"The
mule climbing the mountain looked exhausted."
"과거에는 노새가 짐을 옮기는 데 쓰였다."
"In
the past, mules were used to carry loads."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
당나귀 (donkey)
– A Similar but distinct animal.
📌
Example Usage
"농촌에서는 당나귀를 자주 볼 수 있다."
"You
can often see donkeys in rural areas."
41. 노루
“노루” means “roe deer.” In Korean literature, it often symbolizes
purity, quiet beauty, or the fleeting nature of things.
📌
Example Usage
"숲속을
달리던 노루가 인상 깊었다."
"The
roe deer running through the forest was memorable."
"노루는
조용히 숲속을 지나갔다."
"The
roe deer quietly passed through the woods."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
사슴 (deer)
– More general and common.
📌
Example Usage
"산속에서 사슴을 만나는 건 행운이다."
"Meeting
a deer in the mountains is a rare fortune."
42. 시인
“시인” means “poet.” It often refers to someone who reflects the inner
world, beauty, and pain of life through words.
📌
Example Usage
"윤동주는
한국을 대표하는 시인이다."
"Yun
Dong-ju is one of Korea’s representative poets."
"그는
마음속 감정을 시인으로서 표현했다."
"He
expressed his emotions as a poet."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
작가 (writer)
– General term, includes novelists or essayists.
문학가 (literary
artist) – Broader term including critics, poets, etc.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
소설을 쓰는 작가다."
"He
is a writer of novels."
"그는
뛰어난 문학가로 기억된다."
"He
is remembered as a brilliant literary figure."
43. 너무나
“너무나” is an intensified form of “very” or “too.” It adds emotional
depth, often in poetic or heartfelt speech.
📌
Example Usage
"그
날은 너무나 아름다웠다."
"That
day was so beautiful."
"너무나 보고 싶었던 사람을 만났다."
"I
met the person I had dearly missed."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
참으로 (truly)
– More formal and literary.
몹시 (severely)
– More intense or dramatic.
📌
Example Usage
"그의
용기는 참으로 감동적이었다."
"His
courage was truly moving."
"몹시 피곤했지만 끝까지 해냈다."
"I
was terribly tired, but finished it to the end."
44. 멀리 있습니다 / 멀리 있다
Means
“to be far away.” In poetry, it often implies physical as well as emotional
distance.
📌
Example Usage
"당신은
지금 멀리 있습니다."
"You
are far away now."
"그
시절은 이제 멀리 있다."
"Those
days are now far behind."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
떨어져 있다 (to
be apart) – Emphasizes separation.
보이지 않는 곳에 있다 (to be out of sight) – More visual and poetic.
📌
Example Usage
"우리는
먼 도시에서 떨어져 있었다."
"We
were apart in distant cities."
"그는 보이지 않는 곳에 있었지만 항상 느껴졌다."
"Though
out of sight, he was always felt."
45. 아스라이
“아스라이” means “faintly” or “dimly.” It’s a literary adverb used to
describe something barely visible or remembered.
📌
Example Usage
"그의
얼굴이 아스라이 떠올랐다."
"His
face faintly came to mind."
"아스라이 빛나는 별 하나가 보였다."
"A
faintly shining star came into view."
🌀
Similar Expressions
희미하게 (dimly)
– More commonly used.
어렴풋이 (vaguely)
– Refers to memory or perception.
📌
Example Usage
"불빛이 희미하게 비췄다."
"The
light shone dimly."
"그
장면이 아직도 어렴풋이 기억난다."
"That
scene still vaguely remains in my memory."
46. 멀 듯이
“멀
듯이” means “as if far away.” It's a poetic expression used to
describe fading visuals, sounds, or memories.
📌
Example Usage
"그
목소리는 멀 듯이 들려왔다."
"That
voice sounded as if from far away."
"기억은 멀 듯이 사라져 갔다."
"The
memory faded as if it were far away."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
멀게 느껴지다 (feels
distant) – More descriptive.
점점 멀어지다 (gradually
recede) – Time- or space-based.
📌
Example Usage
"그날의
꿈이 멀게 느껴졌다."
"The
dream from that day felt distant."
"그는
나에게서 점점 멀어지고 있었다."
"He
was gradually growing farther from me."
47. 당신
“당신” means “you,” but in poetry it implies intimacy, longing, or deep
personal connection.
📌
Example Usage
"당신은
지금 멀리 있습니다."
"You
are far away now."
"당신의
이름을 부르면 마음이 아프다."
"Calling
your name brings pain to my heart."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
그대 (you–poetic) – More literary and intimate.
📌
Example Usage
"그대와
함께한 시간은 소중했다."
"The
time spent with you was precious."
48. 북간도
“북간도” (Bukgando) refers to a region in Manchuria where many Koreans
lived during the colonial era. For 윤동주, it symbolizes
home, history, and identity.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
어린 시절을 북간도에서 보냈다."
"He
spent his childhood in Bukgando."
"북간도는
많은 한국인의 기억 속에 있다."
"Bukgando
lives in the memories of many Koreans."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
만주 (Manchuria)
– Broader region.
고향 (hometown)
– More emotional and personal.
📌
Example Usage
"만주에서
독립운동이 활발했다."
"The
independence movement was active in Manchuria."
"그는
언제나 고향을 그리워했다."
"He
always longed for his hometown."
49. 계십니다 / 있습니다 / 있다
All mean
“to exist” or “to be,” with differences in formality. “계십니다” is honorific, “있습니다” is polite, “있다” is plain.
📌
Example Usage
"그분은
아직 그곳에 계십니다."
"He
is still there (honorific)."
"지금
집에 있습니다."
"I
am at home now (polite)."
"그는
방 안에 있다."
"He
is in the room (plain)."
🌀
Similar Expressions
존재하다 (to
exist) – More formal and abstract.
머물다 (to
stay) – Emphasizes remaining in place.
📌
Example Usage
"그의
이름은 역사에 존재한다."
"His
name exists in history."
"그는
한참 동안 그 자리에 머물렀다."
"He
stayed in that spot for a long time."
50. 무엇인지
“무엇인지” means “what it is.” It’s often used in reflective or rhetorical
contexts to express doubt, wonder, or contemplation.
📌
Example Usage
"이
마음이 무엇인지 모르겠다."
"I
don’t know what this feeling is."
"그
별이 상징하는 게 무엇인지 궁금하다."
"I
wonder what that star symbolizes."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
무엇일까 (I
wonder what) – Softer, more questioning.
정체 (identity,
true nature) – More formal and analytical.
📌
Example Usage
"그
표정의 의미가 무엇일까?"
"What
could that expression mean?"
"그
조직의 정체가 밝혀졌다."
"The
identity of that group was revealed."
51. 그리워 / 그립다
“그립다” means “to miss,” and “그리워” is its informal
present form. It conveys emotional longing for a person, place, or time.
📌
Example Usage
"어릴
적 고향이 그리워 오늘도 하늘을 본다."
"I
miss my childhood hometown, so I look at the sky again today."
"그
사람의 미소가 참 그립다."
"I
really miss that person’s smile."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
보고 싶다 (to
want to see) – More commonly used in daily speech.
그리움이 밀려오다 (a wave of longing comes) – More poetic.
📌
Example Usage
"멀리
떠난 친구가 보고 싶다."
"I
want to see the friend who left far away."
"가을
하늘을 보니 그리움이 밀려온다."
"Looking
at the autumn sky brings a wave of longing."
52. 별빛이 내린 / 별빛이 내리다
“별빛이
내리다” means “starlight falls” or “starlight descends.” A poetic
expression evoking beauty, serenity, or the passage of time.
📌
Example Usage
"별빛이
내린 언덕 위에 앉아 있었다."
"I
sat on the hill where the starlight had fallen."
"조용한
밤에 별빛이 내리듯이 감정이 스며든다."
"On
a quiet night, emotions seep in like falling starlight."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
달빛이 비추다 (moonlight
shines) – Similar atmospheric imagery.
빛이 스며들다 (light
seeps in) – Subtle emotional tone.
📌
Example Usage
"달빛이
비추는 창가에서 책을 읽었다."
"I
read a book by the moonlit window."
"그
장면이 마음에 빛이 스며들듯이 남았다."
"That
scene stayed in my heart like light seeping in."
53. 언덕 위에
Means
“on the hill.” Often used in literature to describe peaceful, elevated places
of reflection or memory.
📌
Example Usage
"나는 언덕 위에 앉아 별을 세었다."
"I
sat on the hill and counted the stars."
"그녀는 언덕 위에 지은 작은 집에 살았다."
"She
lived in a small house built on the hill."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
고개 위에 (on
the slope) – Refers to a rise or ridge.
산 위에 (on
the mountain) – Larger and more imposing.
📌
Example Usage
"고개
위에 핀 들꽃이 아름다웠다."
"The
wildflowers blooming on the slope were beautiful."
"산
위에 올라서 바라본 경치는 장관이었다."
"The
view from the mountaintop was magnificent."
54. 이름자
An old
or poetic word for “name,” more emotional than the modern “이름.” Often used to emphasize personal identity or memory.
📌
Example Usage
"나는 이름자를 써보고 흙으로 덮었다."
"I
wrote my name and covered it with earth."
"그 이름자는 내 가슴에 영원히 남는다."
"That
name remains in my heart forever."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
성함 (honorific
name) – Polite, respectful.
호칭 (title
or designation) – More technical or social.
📌
Example Usage
"그분의 성함은 김윤석입니다."
"His
name is Kim Yoon-seok."
"그의 호칭은 과장이었다."
"His
title was department manager."
55. 써 보고 / 써 보다
“써
보다” means “to try writing,” and “써 보고”
is the connective form. Often used when trying out names, thoughts, or
confessions.
📌
Example Usage
"나는
그의 이름을 조심스레 써 봤다."
"I
carefully tried writing his name."
"그
시절의 시를 다시 써 보고 싶다."
"I
want to try writing poems from those days again."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
적어 보다 (to
try jotting down) – More casual.
기록하다 (to
record) – Formal or factual.
📌
Example Usage
"노트에
한 문장을 적어 봤다."
"I
jotted down a sentence in my notebook."
"그는
하루의 일정을 꼼꼼히 기록했다."
"He
carefully recorded the day’s schedule."
56. 흙
“흙” means “earth” or “soil.” It symbolizes life, death, and return to nature, and it has roots in Korean literature.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
자신의 이름 위에 흙을 덮었다."
"He
covered his name with earth."
"흙냄새가
나는 시골길을 걸었다."
"I
walked along a country road that smelled of earth."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
대지 (land,
the earth) – More literary and majestic.
진흙 (mud)
– Wetter, less poetic.
📌
Example Usage
"대지는
생명의 근원이다."
"The
earth is the source of life."
"비
온 뒤 진흙길이 미끄러웠다."
"The
muddy road was slippery after the rain."
57. 덮어 버리었습니다 / 덮어 버리다
“덮어
버리다” means “to cover completely,” with “버리다” adding a sense of finality or letting go.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
자신의 이름을 덮어 버리었습니다."
"He
completely covered his name."
"기억을 덮어 버리고 싶었다."
"I
wanted to cover up the memory completely."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
가리다 (to
conceal or hide) – More neutral.
묻다 (to
bury) – Used metaphorically for suppression or hiding.
📌
Example Usage
"얼굴을
손으로 가렸다."
"He
covered his face with his hands."
"그
사건을 마음속에 묻었다."
"He
buried that incident in his heart."
58. 딴은
“딴은” is an old connective adverb meaning “indeed,” “in truth,” or
“actually.” Adds a shift or clarification of thought.
📌
Example Usage
"딴은 나도 그렇게 생각했다."
"Indeed,
I thought so too."
"딴은 그의 말이 맞는지도 모르겠다."
"Actually,
he might be right."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
사실은 (in
fact) – Modern and neutral.
엄밀히 말하면 (strictly
speaking) – More precise or technical.
📌
Example Usage
"사실은 나도 그 자리에 있었어."
"In
fact, I was also there."
"엄밀히
말하면 그건 다른 문제야."
"Strictly
speaking, that’s a different issue."
59. 밤을 새워 / 밤을 새우다
Means
“to stay up all night.” Poetry evokes effort, sorrow, or reflection
during sleepless nights.
📌
Example Usage
"밤을
새워 별을 세며 생각에 잠겼다."
"I
stayed up all night counting stars and thinking."
"그는
공부하느라 밤을 새웠다."
"He
stayed up all night studying."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
잠 못 이루다 (cannot
sleep) – Emotional or poetic sleeplessness.
밤을 지새우다 (to
pass the night) – More literary tone.
📌
Example Usage
"그
생각에 잠을 못 이뤘다."
"I
couldn’t sleep because of that thought."
"그녀는 밤을 지새우며 편지를 썼다."
"She
stayed up all night writing a letter."
60. 우는 / 울다
“울다” means “to cry,” and “우는” is the present
participle. Symbolizes sorrow, emotional overflow, or deep reflection.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀는
사진을 보다가 조용히 울었다."
"She
quietly cried while looking at the photo."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
눈물을 흘리다 (to
shed tears) – More poetic.
오열하다 (to
sob) – Intense emotional release.
📌
Example Usage
"그는
편지를 읽으며 눈물을 흘렸다."
"He
shed tears while reading the letter."
"그녀는
갑자기 오열하며 자리를 떴다."
"She
suddenly sobbed and left the room."
61. 벌레
“벌레” means “insect.” In Yun Dong-ju’s poem, he compares himself to
a “crying insect,” portraying himself as fragile and sorrowful.
📌
Example Usage
"벌레 한 마리가 조용히 창문에 붙어 있었다."
"An
insect was quietly clinging to the window."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
곤충 (insect
– scientific term)
📌
Example Usage
"박물관에는
다양한 곤충 표본이 전시돼 있었다."
"Various
insect specimens were on display in the museum."
62. 부끄러운 / 부끄럽다
“부끄럽다” means “to be ashamed” or “embarrassed.” “부끄러운” is the attributive form. This poem reflects moral shame and
self-awareness.
📌
Example Usage
"나는 부끄러운 이름을 묻고 싶었다."
"I
wanted to bury my shameful name."
"그는
실수한 것이 부끄러웠다."
"He
was embarrassed about his mistake."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
창피한 / 창피하다 (shameful) – More casual and external.
수치스러운 / 수치스럽다 (disgraceful) – Stronger, formal tone.
📌
Example Usage
"사람들
앞에서 넘어져서 창피했다."
"I
was embarrassed after falling in front of people."
"그의
행동은 정말 수치스러웠다."
"His
behavior was truly disgraceful."
63. 슬퍼하는 / 슬퍼하다
“슬퍼하다” means “to be sad,” and “슬퍼하는” is its
attributive form. Used when describing someone feeling or expressing sorrow.
📌
Example Usage
"나는 슬퍼하는 별이 되고 싶었다."
"I
wanted to become a star who feels sadness."
"그녀는
친구의 죽음을 슬퍼했다."
"She
mourned her friend’s death."
🌀
Similar Expressions
애도하다 (to
mourn) – Formal or used for loss.
가슴 아파하다 (to
feel heartache) – More emotional.
📌
Example Usage
"온
나라가 위인의 죽음을 애도했다."
"The
whole nation mourned the death of the great man."
"그는
그녀의 사연에 가슴 아파했다."
"He
felt heartache over her story."
64. 그러나
“그러나” means “but” or “however.” It introduces a contrast or unexpected
result, often used in literary or formal contexts.
📌
Example Usage
"그러나, 나는 끝내 그 이름을 부르지 못했다."
"However,
I could not bring myself to say the name."
"그러나 그는 아무 말 없이 떠났다."
"But
he left without saying a word."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
하지만 (but)
– Common in everyday speech.
그럼에도 불구하고 (nevertheless) – Stronger contrast.
📌
Example Usage
"노력했지만 하지만 결과는 좋지 않았다."
"I
tried, but the result wasn’t good."
"많은
장애가 있었지만 그럼에도 불구하고 포기하지
않았다."
"There
were many obstacles, but I didn’t give up."
65. 겨울이 지나고 / 겨울이 지나다
Means
“winter passes.” Often symbolizes the end of hardship or emotional coldness,
with spring symbolizing hope.
📌
Example Usage
"겨울이
지나고 봄이 온다."
"Winter
passes, and spring arrives."
"그
긴 겨울이 지났다."
"That
long winter has passed."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
추운 계절이 끝나다 (the cold season ends) – Similar literal expression.
혹한을 넘기다 (to
endure the severe cold) – Emphasizes hardship.
📌
Example Usage
"드디어 추운 계절이 끝났다."
"Finally,
the cold season has ended."
"우리는
함께 혹한을 넘겼다."
"We
endured the severe cold together."
66. 봄이 오는 / 봄이 오다
“봄이
오다” means “spring comes.” In poetic language, it represents
renewal, hope, or a new beginning.
📌
Example Usage
"봄이
오는 언덕에 파란 잔디가 피어난다."
"On
the hill where spring comes, green grass grows."
"이젠
정말 봄이 온 것 같다."
"It
really feels like spring has come now."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
새싹이 돋다 (new
sprouts appear) – Symbol of rebirth.
따뜻한 계절이 다가오다 (warm season approaches) – Descriptive.
📌
Example Usage
"나무에 새싹이 돋기 시작했다."
"New
sprouts began to appear on the tree."
"드디어 따뜻한 계절이 다가왔다."
"Finally,
the warm season has arrived."
67. 무덤 위에
Means
“on the grave.” Evokes death, remembrance, and often rebirth or legacy in
poetic works.
📌
Example Usage
"무덤
위에 파란 잔디가 자라났다."
"Green
grass grew on the grave."
"그는
조용히 무덤 위에 꽃을 놓았다."
"He
quietly placed flowers on the grave."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
묘소에 (at
the tomb) – More formal.
산소에 (at
the burial site) – More common in Korean expressions.
📌
Example Usage
"추모객들이 묘소에 모였다."
"Mourners
gathered at the tomb."
"명절마다
가족이 함께 산소에 간다."
"Every
holiday, the family goes to the burial site together."
68. 파란 / 파랗다
“파랗다” means “to be blue,” and “파란” is the
attributive form. In literature, it can symbolize vitality, freshness, or
nature.
📌
Example Usage
"파란 잔디가 무덤 위에 돋아났다."
"Blue-green
grass sprouted on the grave."
"하늘이
참 파랗다."
"The
sky is truly blue."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
푸른 (blue/green
– poetic) – More literary.
선명한 (vivid)
– Emphasizes clarity.
📌
Example Usage
"그는 푸른 나뭇잎을 바라보며 미소 지었다."
"He
smiled as he looked at the green leaves."
"사진
속 하늘은 선명하게 보였다."
"The
sky in the photo looked vivid."
69. 잔디
“잔디” means “grass” or “lawn.” The poem symbolizes life continuing after
death.
📌
Example Usage
"잔디가
무덤 위를 덮고 있었다."
"Grass
covered the grave."
"운동장에는 잔디가 잘 깔려 있었다."
"The
field was well-covered with grass."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
풀밭 (grass
field) – Emphasizes a vast space.
📌
Example Usage
"아이들은 풀밭에서 뛰어놀았다."
"Children
played in the grassy field."
70. 피어나 듯이 / 피어나다
“피어나다” means “to bloom,” and “~듯이” adds
comparison: “as if blooming.” Used metaphorically for revival, hope, or memory, emerging.
📌
Example Usage
"무덤
위에 잔디가 피어나 듯이 자랐다."
"Grass
grew as if blooming on the grave."
"그녀의
미소가 꽃처럼 피어났다."
"Her
smile bloomed like a flower."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
되살아나다 (to
come back to life) – Emphasizes revival.
돋아나다 (to
sprout) – Describes emergence or growth.
📌
Example Usage
"그
추억이 다시 되살아났다."
"The
memory came back to life."
"이른
봄, 새싹이 돋아났다."
"In
early spring, new shoots sprouted."
71. 묻힌 / 묻히다
“묻히다” means “to be buried,” and “묻힌” is the
attributive form. Often used both literally (buried in the ground) and
metaphorically (forgotten or hidden).
📌
Example Usage
"이름자는
흙 속에 묻혔다."
"The
name was buried in the earth."
"그의
기억은 깊이 묻힌 채 사라졌다."
"His
memory disappeared, deeply buried."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
잠기다 (to
be submerged) – Implies sinking into water or feeling.
잊히다 (to
be forgotten) – Emotional or social forgetting.
📌
Example Usage
"생각에 잠겨 아무 말도 하지 않았다."
"He
was lost in thought and said nothing."
"그의
이름은 사람들 기억에서 잊혔다."
"His
name was forgotten from people’s memory."
72. 자랑처럼
“자랑처럼” means “like a pride” or “as if proudly.” The poem carries
irony—something buried (a name) eventually returns as if proud.
📌
Example Usage
"그
이름이 다시 자랑처럼 피어난다."
"That
name blooms again as if with pride."
"상처를 자랑처럼 떠들고 싶지 않았다."
"I
didn’t want to boast about my wounds."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
당당하게 (confidently)
– More neutral, positive.
자부심을 가지고 (with
pride) – Emphasizes internal pride.
📌
Example Usage
"그녀는
무대에 당당하게 섰다."
"She
stood on stage confidently."
"그는
자신의 일에 대해 자부심을 가지고 있었다."
"He
had pride in his work."
73. 풀
“풀” means “grass” or “plants.” In literary use, it represents life,
resilience, or silent endurance.
📌
Example Usage
"무덤
위에는 생명의 풀이 자라고 있었다."
"Life's
grass was growing on the grave."
"비가
오자 풀잎이 반짝였다."
"The
grass blades sparkled as the rain fell."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
초목 (plants
and trees) – Literary, formal.
잡초 (weeds)
– Unwanted, but symbolizes persistence.
📌
Example Usage
"들판엔
다양한 초목이 자라고 있다."
"Various
plants are growing in the field."
"잡초처럼
끈질기게 살아남았다."
"He
survived tenaciously like a weed."
74. 무성할 / 무성하다
“무성하다” means “to be lush” or “to be thick with vegetation.” “무성할” is the attributive form. It conveys abundance and natural
vitality, often overgrowing or overwhelming.
📌
Example Usage
"무덤
위에 무성할 풀들이 자라고 있다."
"Thick
grasses are growing over the grave."
"정원은
오랫동안 방치되어 무성해졌다."
"The
garden became overgrown after being neglected for a long time."
🎨 Additional
Expressions
우거지다 (to
be thickly grown) – More poetic, describes forests or thickets.
풍성하다 (to
be full, rich) – Suggests abundance and beauty.
📌
Example Usage
"숲이 우거진 길을 따라 걸었다."
"I
walked along a path where the forest was thick."
"그녀의
머리카락은 매우 풍성했다."
"Her
hair was very full and rich."
✒️ Grammatical Analysis of the Poem
계절이 지나 가는 하늘에는
- "계절이": "계절 (season)" + subject
particle "-이"
- "지나
가는": "지나다 (to pass)" +
connector "-아" + auxiliary verb "가다 (to go)" + attributive "-는"
→ ‘passing’
- "하늘에는": "하늘 (sky)" + locative
particle "-에" + topic particle "-는"
→ ‘In
the sky where seasons pass’
📝
Meaning
The
speaker observes the passage of time through the changing sky, evoking a sense
of quiet observation and natural flow.
가을로 가득 차 있습니다.
- "가을로": "가을 (autumn)" +
directional/instrumental particle "-로" (as,
with)
- "가득
차": "가득 (full)" +
"차다 (to be filled)"
- "있습니다": "있다 (to be)" + formal
polite ending
→ ‘is
filled with autumn’
📝
Meaning
The sky
is so immersed in autumn that the season becomes tangible, symbolizing
emotional richness and maturity.
나는 아무 걱정도 없이
- "나는": "나 (I)" + topic particle
"-는"
- "아무
걱정도": "아무 (any)" +
"걱정 (worry)" + additive/emphatic particle
"-도" (not even a single)
- “없이”: “없다 (to not exist)” + adverbial form “-이” → ‘without’
→ ‘I am
without any worries’
📝
Meaning
A
peaceful moment where the speaker feels utterly unburdened, emotionally free in
the presence of nature.
가을 속의 별들을 다 헤일 듯합니다.
- "가을
속의": "가을 (autumn)" +
"속 (inside)" + possessive particle "-의"
- "별들을": "별 (star)" + object
particle "-들" (plural) + "-을"
- "다": all
- "헤일
듯합니다": "헤다 (to count)"
+ hypothetical ending "-(으)ㄹ 듯하다" (seems like)
→ ‘It
feels like I could count all the stars in autumn’
📝
Meaning
The
speaker feels close to the cosmos, suggesting emotional clarity and a sense of harmony.
가슴속에 하나 둘 새겨지는 별을
- "가슴속에": "가슴 (chest, heart)" +
"속 (inside)" + locative particle "-에"
- "하나
둘": one by one
- "새겨지는": "새기다 (to engrave)" +
passive present attributive "-지는"
• “새기다” → “새겨지다” → “새겨지는”
- “별을”: “별 (star)” + object particle “-을”
→ ‘Stars
being engraved one by one in my heart’
📝
Meaning
Each
star becomes a lasting memory or emotion, engraved deeply within the speaker’s
heart.
이제 다 못 헤는 것은
- "이제": now
- "다": all
- "못
헤는": "헤다 (to count)" +
negation "못" → ‘cannot count’
- "것은": "것 (thing)" + topic
particle "-은"
→ ‘The
reason I can’t count them all now is…’
📝
Meaning
This
line sets up the following reflective reasoning, suggesting that time or life
circumstances prevent emotional completion.
쉬이 아침이 오는 까닭이요,
- "쉬이": easily, quickly
- "아침이": "아침 (morning)" + subject
particle "-이"
- "오는": "오다 (to come)" + present
attributive "-는"
- "까닭이요": "까닭 (reason)" + copula
"-이" + formal ending "요"
→
‘Because morning comes too easily’
📝
Meaning
Time
passes too quickly, leaving little time for introspection or emotional
processing.
내일 밤이 남은 까닭이요,
- "내일
밤이": "내일 (tomorrow)" +
"밤 (night)" + subject particle "-이"
- "남은": "남다 (to remain)" +
attributive "-은"
- "까닭이요": same as above
→
‘Because tomorrow night remains’
📝
Meaning
There is
still time ahead, so the speaker does not feel urgency to count all memories
now.
아직 나의 청춘이 다하지 않은 까닭입니다.
- "아직": still
- "나의": "나 (I)" + possessive
"-의"
- "청춘이": "청춘 (youth)" + subject
particle "-이"
- "다하지
않은": "다하다 (to end, to be
exhausted)" + negation "-지 않다" +
attributive "-은"
- "까닭입니다": reason + polite declarative ending
→
‘Because my youth has not yet ended’
📝
Meaning
Life and
youth are still left, so the speaker has time to cherish memories and
experiences.
별 하나에 추억과
- "별
하나에": "별 (star)" +
numeral "하나" + locative/instrumental particle
"-에"
- "추억과": "추억 (memory)" +
conjunction "-과 (and)"
→ ‘In
one star, memory’
📝
Meaning
Each
star holds a different emotional significance—this line begins the poetic
enumeration of what each star represents.
별 하나에 사랑과
Same
structure as above
→ ‘In
one star, love’
📝
Meaning
A poetic
layering of emotion, where love is another memory the stars carry.
별 하나에 쓸쓸함과
→ ‘In
one star, loneliness’
📝
Meaning
Loneliness
is presented as another deeply ingrained emotion, part of life’s constellation.
별 하나에 동경과
→ ‘In
one star, yearning’
📝
Meaning
The poet
expresses longing for people, ideals, or past times.
별 하나에 시와
→ ‘In
one star, poetry’
📝
Meaning
Stars
become sources or embodiments of poetic inspiration.
별 하나에 어머니, 어머니
→ ‘In
one star, mother, mother’
📝
Meaning
A mighty
emotional peak, invoking the mother repeatedly as a symbol of love, comfort,
and absence.
어머님, 나는 별 하나에 아름다운 말 한 마디씩 불러봅니다.
- "어머님": vocative form of "어머니
(mother)", an intimate and respectful call
- "나는": "나 (I)" + topic particle
"-는"
- "별
하나에": "별 (star)" +
numeral "하나" + locative particle "-에"
- "아름다운": beautiful, gorgeous
- "말
한 마디씩": "말 (word)" +
counter "한 마디 (one phrase)" + distributive
particle "-씩 (each)"
- “불러봅니다”: “부르다 (to call)” + trying suffix “-어보다” + formal present ending
→
‘Mother, I call one beautiful word into each star’
📝
Meaning
The
speaker communicates tenderly with his absent mother, placing heartfelt words
into the stars as emotional vessels of remembrance and beauty.
소학교 때 책상을 같이 했던 아이들의 이름과,
- "소학교
때": "소학교 (elementary
school)" + time particle "때 (at the
time)"
- "책상을
같이 했던": "책상 (desk)" +
"같이 하다 (to share)" + past attributive "-던"
- “아이들의
이름과”: “아이들 (children)” + possessive “-의” + “이름 (name)” + conjunction “-과”
→ ‘The
names of the children I shared a desk with in elementary school’
📝
Meaning
A
nostalgic recollection of innocent friendships from youth, preserved like stars
in memory.
패, 경, 옥 이런 이국 소녀들의 이름과,
- "패, 경, 옥": “Pae,
Gyeong, Ok,” likely names
- "이런": "this kind of"
- "이국
소녀들의 이름과": "이국 (foreign
land)" + "소녀들 (girls)" + possessive
"-의" + "이름
(names)" + "-과"
→ ‘The
names of girls from foreign lands like Pae, Kyung, and Ok’
📝
Meaning
A
recollection of fleeting or distant relationships, possibly imagined or
poeticized, adds to the bittersweet mosaic of memory.
벌써 애기 어머니 된 계집애들의 이름과,
- "벌써": already
- "애기
어머니 된": "애기 (baby)" +
"어머니 (mother)" + "되다 (to become)" + attributive "-ㄴ"
- “계집애들의
이름과”: “계집애들 (girls)” + possessive “-의” + “이름 (names)” + “-과”
→ ‘The
names of girls who have already become mothers’
📝
Meaning
Time has
passed, and childhood companions have moved into adulthood, showing the
inevitable flow of life.
가난한 이웃 사람들의 이름과
- "가난한": poor, indigent, destitute
- “이웃
사람들의 이름과”: “이웃 (neighbor)” + “사람들 (people)” + possessive “-의” + “이름 (names)” + “-과”
→ ‘The
names of poor neighbors’
📝
Meaning
The poet
honors the marginalized and humble people of his memory with equal tenderness.
비둘기, 강아지, 토끼, 노새, 노루,
Series
of nouns: “비둘기 (pigeon)”, “강아지
(puppy)”, “토끼 (rabbit)”, “노새
(mule)”, “노루 (roe deer)”
→
‘Pigeon, puppy, rabbit, mule, roe deer’
📝
Meaning
Animals
represent a part of the poet’s emotional and sensory world, evoking innocence,
nature, and rural life.
프랑시스 잠, 라이너 마리아 릴케 이런 시인의 이름을 불러 봅니다.
- "프랑시스
잠, 라이너 마리아 릴케": names of poets
Francis Jammes and Rainer Maria Rilke
- "이런
시인의 이름을": "이런 (such)" +
"시인 (poet)" + possessive "-의" + "이름 (name)" + object
particle "-을"
- "불러
봅니다": "부르다 (to call)" +
trying suffix "-어보다" + polite present
• “부르다” → “불러보다” → “불러봅니다”
→ ‘I
call the names of poets like Francis Jammes and Rainer Maria Rilke’
📝
Meaning
The
speaker draws strength and connection from poetic predecessors, linking
personal memory with universal artistry.
이네들은 너무나 멀리 있습니다.
- "이네들": these people/beings (colloquial or poetic form)
- "너무나": very much, too far
- "멀리
있습니다": "멀리 (far, far away)"
+ polite present ending “있습니다 (be located)”
• “있다” → “있습니다”
→ ‘These
beings are far, far away’
📝
Meaning
Time and
distance have carried away people and memories, leaving the speaker in a state
of separation and longing.
별이 아스라이 멀 듯이
- "별이": "별 (star)" + subject
particle "-이"
- "아스라이": faintly, hazily (literary word for distant and dim)
- “멀
듯이”: “멀다 (to be far)” +
hypothetical/analogy ending “-듯이”
→ ‘Like
stars that are faintly far away’
📝
Meaning
An image
of emotional and physical distance, likened to the dim remoteness of
stars—untouchable, yet present.
어머님,
Vocative
call to “Mother”
→
‘Mother,’
📝
Meaning
A
repeated emotional anchor, evoking familial warmth and deep yearning.
그리고 당신은 멀리 북간도에 계십니다.
- "그리고": and
- "당신은": "당신 (you, formal)" + topic
particle "-은"
- "멀리
북간도에": "멀리 (far)" +
"북간도 (North Jiandao, region in Manchuria)" +
locative particle "-에"
- "계십니다": honorific form of "있다 (to
be)" + formal polite ending
• “있다” → “있습니다” → “계십니다”
→ ‘And
you are far away in North Jiandao’
📝
Meaning
The
geographical separation mirrors emotional distance; the poet’s mother resides
far away, deepening the sense of homesickness and sorrow.
나는 무엇인지 그리워
- "나는": "나 (I)" + topic particle
"-는"
- "무엇인지": "무엇 (what)" + indirect
question/nominalizer "-인지"
- "그리워": "그립다 (to miss, to long
for)" + present tense descriptive form
→ ‘I
miss something, though I’m not sure what it is’
📝
Meaning
A vague
but powerful longing fills the speaker—undefined, emotional yearning, possibly
for home, innocence, or lost time.
이 많은 별빛이 내린 언덕 위에
- "이
많은": "이 (this)" +
"많은 (many, much)"
- "별빛이": "별빛 (starlight)" + subject
particle "-이"
- "내린": "내리다 (to fall, to come
down)" + past attributive "-ㄴ"
- "언덕
위에": "언덕 (hill)" + “위 (on)” + locative particle “-에”
→ ‘On
the hill where all this starlight has fallen’
📝
Meaning
The
setting becomes ethereal and dreamlike; a landscape soaked in starlight,
symbolic of memory and imagination.
내 이름자를 써 보고
- "내": "나 (I)" + possessive
"-의"
• “나의” → “내” (shortened expression)
- "이름자": humble/formal version of "이름
(name)" + “-를” (objective particle)
- "써
보고": "쓰다 (to write)" +
trying suffix "-아 보다" + “-고” (connective ending)
→ ‘I
tried writing my name’
📝
Meaning
Writing
one’s name is a symbolic act of self-assertion, identity, and permanence in a
fleeting world.
흙으로 덮어 버리었습니다.
- "흙으로": "흙 (soil, dirt)" +
instrumental particle "-으로"
- "덮어
버리었습니다": "덮다 (to
cover)" + auxiliary "-어 버리다" (complete
and irreversible action) + formal past tense
• “버리었습니다” is an
old-fashioned form that is rarely used in modern Korean. The standard and
commonly used form today is “버렸습니다.”
→ ‘I
covered it over with soil’
📝
Meaning
A
powerful metaphor for self-erasure or forced anonymity, possibly reflecting the
historical trauma of name loss (e.g., under Japanese colonial rule).
딴은 밤을 새워 우는 벌레는
- "딴은": archaic/formal adverb meaning "indeed" or "as
for"
- "밤을
새워": "밤 (night)" +
object particle "-을" + "새우다 (to stay up all night)" + “-어” (connective
ending)
- "우는
벌레는": "울다 (to cry)" +
present attributive "-는" + "벌레 (insect)" + topic particle "-는"
→
‘Indeed, the insect that cries through the night’
📝
Meaning
The poet
introduces a parallel figure—a weeping insect—used symbolically to reflect his
own internal lament.
부끄러운 이름을 슬퍼하는 까닭입니다.
- "부끄러운": "부끄럽다 (to be shameful)" +
attributive "-은"
- "이름을": "이름 (name)" + object
particle "-을"
- "슬퍼하는": "슬퍼하다 (to mourn)" +
attributive "-는"
"까닭입니다": "까닭 (reason)" + copula
"-이다" + formal ending
• 까닭이다 → “까닭입니다”
→ ‘is
because it mourns a shameful name’
📝
Meaning
The
insect becomes a metaphor for the poet, burdened with historical shame
or identity loss, unable to speak his name proudly.
그러나 겨울이 지나고 나의 별에도 봄이 오면
- "그러나": but
- "겨울이
지나고": "겨울 (winter)" +
subject particle "-이" + "지나다 (to pass)" + connector "-고"
- "나의
별에도": "나의 (my)" +
"별 (star)" + additive/locative particle
"-에도"
- “봄이
오면”: “봄 (spring)” + subject particle “-이” + “오다 (to come)” + conditional ending “-면”
→ ‘But
when winter passes and spring comes to my star too’
📝
Meaning
A
hopeful transition begins. Despite hardship, spring (rebirth, healing) will
reach even the speaker’s star—his heart or fate.
무덤 위에 파란 잔디가 피어나듯이
- "무덤
위에": "무덤 (grave)" +
"위 (on top)" + locative particle "-에"
- "파란
잔디가": "파랗다 (to be
blue/green)" + attributive "-ㄴ" + "잔디 (grass)" + subject particle "-가"
- "피어나
듯이": "피어나다 (to bloom,
sprout)" + analogy ending "-듯이"
→ ‘Like
blue-green grass blooming over a grave’
📝
Meaning
Life and
beauty can return even over a grave. This image symbolizes renewal and the
resilience of identity or dignity.
내 이름자 묻힌 언덕 위에도
"내
이름자": "my name" (humble form)
"묻힌": "묻다 (to bury)" + passive
past attributive "-힌"
"언덕
위에도": "언덕 (hill)" +
"위 (on)" + additive/locative particle "-에도"
→ ‘Even
on the hill where my name is buried’
📝
Meaning
Even if
the poet’s identity has been suppressed or erased, that place will not remain
barren.
자랑처럼 풀이 무성할 게외다.
"자랑처럼": "자랑 (pride, honor)" +
analogy particle "-처럼 (like)"
"풀이
무성할": "풀 (grass)" +
subject particle "-이" + "무성하다 (to grow thick)" + future attributive "-ㄹ"
"게외다": archaic/honorific ending equivalent to "것입니다"
• “것이다” → “것이오이다” → “게외다”
• “게외다” is an
old-fashioned form that is rarely used in modern Korean. The standard and
commonly used form today is “것입니다”
→ ‘Grass
will flourish like pride’
📝
Meaning
Despite
adversity, the speaker’s buried identity will one day flourish proudly and
abundantly—hopeful, resilient, dignified.
✒️ Introduction to the Poet
Please
refer to the link below for an introduction to poet Yun Dong-ju and his
representative works.
🔖
Yun Dong-ju’s ‘Prologue’ Explained: Korean Poem of Conscience and Resistance
0 Comments