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Friends in Seoul # Episode 1 (Learn Korean with this Contents)

어릴 때부터 선생님이 되고 싶었던 건 아니었다. 사실 내 꿈은 전 세계를 돌아다니는 여행가였다. My dream wasn’t always to become a teacher. Back when I was young, I wanted to become an adventurer and travel across the world. - 어릴 때부터: from when I was little; 어린(young) + 때(when) + 부터(from). - 선생님이 되다: to become a teacher; N + 이/가 되다 = become N. - ~고 싶었던 건 아니었다: it wasn’t always that I wanted to ~; past desire + negation. - 사실: actually, in fact; discourse marker to contrast expectation and reality. - 전 세계: the whole world, all over the world. - 돌아다니다: to travel/wander around, move from place to place. - 여행가: a traveler/adventurer as a “profession‑like” noun. 하지만 고등학생 때 고아원에 봉사활동을 다녀온 후 아이들을 가르치는 일에 관심이 생겼고 부모님의 권유로 여행가의 꿈은 잠시 미루게 되었다. But after doing some volunteering at an orphanage during high school, I became more interested in teaching young children. My parents recommended me to put my dreams of adventure on hold for a short while, and that’s what I did. - 하지만: but, however; sentence‑level connector showing contrast. - 고등학생 때: when I was a high‑school student; “N 때” = at the time of N. - 고아원: orphanage, a home for children without parents. - 봉사활동: volunteer work, service activity. - 다녀오다: to go (somewhere) and come back; often used for trips or visits. - V-(으)ㄴ 후: after doing V; here 다녀온 후 = after I went and came back. - 아이들을 가르치는 일: the work of teaching children; V-는 일 = the act of V‑ing. - 관심이 생기다: interest arises, to become interested. - 부모님의 권유: parents’ recommendation/encouragement. - N(으)로: due to/because of/through N; 권유로 = because of their recommendation. - 꿈을 잠시 미루다: to postpone one’s dream for a while. - V-게 되다: to end up V‑ing, to come to V (often due to outside circumstances). 그리고 지금은 초등학생 아이들에게 둘러싸여 있다. Now, I am surrounded by children in an elementary school. - 그리고: and, and then; connects this sentence to the previous ones. - 지금: now, at the present time. - 초등학생 아이들: elementary‑school kids; 초등학생 = elementary student. - N에게 둘러싸이다: to be surrounded by N; 수동형(passive) of 둘러싸다 (to surround). 선생님! 선생님! 남자친구 있어요? 우리 삼촌이 선생님 예쁘대요! 소개시켜드릴까요? 우리 삼촌 완전 아이돌처럼 생겼어요! Teacher! Teacher! Do you have a boyfriend? My uncle said that you’re cute! Do you want me to get his number? He looks like an idol, you know! - 남자친구: boyfriend; literally “male friend,” but usually romantic partner. - 있어요?: polite “do you have…?” from 있다 (to have/exist). - 우리 삼촌: my (our) uncle; “우리” is often used instead of “제” for family. - 예쁘대요: (he) says you’re pretty; 예쁘다고 해요 → 예쁘대요 (reported speech ending). - 소개시켜 드리다: to introduce (someone) for you; 시키다 (make/do) + 드리다 (humble give). - ~까요?: proposal/offer question ending; “shall I ~?”, “do you want me to ~?” - 완전: totally, really; very casual intensifier. - 아이돌처럼 생겼어요: he looks like an idol; N처럼 = like N, 생기다 = to look/appear (a certain way). 어머! 그러니? 삼촌이 그렇게 잘 생겼어? Oh my! Is that so? Is your uncle really that handsome? - 어머!: oh my!, an exclamation often used by women. - 그러니?: really? is that so?; from 그렇다 (to be so). - 삼촌: uncle; typically father’s younger brother, but also used loosely. - 그렇게: that (much/way); degree adverb. - 잘 생겼어?: (he) is handsome; 잘생기다 usually appears as 잘 생겼다 in present meaning. 그럼요! 우리 삼촌 인기 진짜 많아요! 그래서 벌써 결혼도 두 번이나 했어요! 히히! You bet he is! He’s really popular too! That’s why he married twice already! Haha! - 그럼요!: of course!, you bet!; strong affirmative response. - 인기: popularity, being popular. - 진짜: really, truly; casual intensifier like “really.” - 많아요: there is a lot / he has a lot (of fans/popularity); 많다 = to be many/much. - 그래서: so, therefore; connects reason and result. - 벌써: already; often with some surprise. - 결혼(을) 두 번이나 했다: got married as many as two times; -이나 adds “as many as” emphasis. - 히히: giggling sound, childish laughter. 아..그..그래? 고맙지만 선생님은 남자친구 생각이 없단다.. Ah... O-Okay? Thanks, but I’m not interested... - 그래?: really? okay?; from 그렇다, here slightly awkward/shy reaction. - 고맙지만: I’m thankful, but…; A-지만 B = although A, (but) B. - 남자친구 생각이 없다: to have no thought/plan for a boyfriend; “no intention to date.” - ~단다: storytelling/parent‑to‑child ending (from ~다고 한다); soft explanatory tone toward children. 정신없는 하루하루였지만 즐겁고 보람도 있었다. 초등학생 아이들 답지 않은 말들에 종종 당황한 적은 있지만 말이다. The days are hectic, but fun and meaningful. Of course, young children always find ways to surprise you. - 정신없다: to be hectic, chaotic, so busy your “mind isn’t there.” - 하루하루: each day, day after day; repetition emphasizes “every single day.” - 즐겁다: to be enjoyable, pleasant. - 보람(이) 있다: to feel it is worthwhile, rewarding. - ~였지만: although it was ~; past tense + 지만. - 초등학생 아이들 답지 않은: not typical of elementary‑school kids; N답지 않다 = not like N. - 말: words, things someone says. - 종종: often, from time to time. - 당황한 적(이) 있다: have been embarrassed/flustered before; V-(으)ㄴ 적이 있다 = have the experience of V‑ing. Full Content --