READING PRACTICE WITH KOREAN CULTURE
2024.03.29 by Tomi Korean
숟가락과 젓가락 Spoon and Chopsticks
FOR BEGINNERS 0
한국 사람은 숟가락과 젓가락으로 밥을 먹어요.
보통 숟가락으로 밥과 국을 먹어요.
그리고 젓가락으로 고기와 반찬을 먹어요.
밥은 보통 왼쪽에 있어요. 국은 오른쪽에 있어요.
숟가락과 젓가락은 국 옆에 있어요.
한국에서는 아이도 젓가락을 써요.
부모님이 아이를 가르쳐요.
Read the article and try to come up with answers to the following questions in your mind.
📋 Read the Korean text and try to answer the following questions, before looking at the
English translation.
1. What do Koreans use to eat their meals?
2. What do Koreans eat with a spoon?
3. Where are rice and soup placed on a Korean dining table?
VOCABULARY
Word Pronunciation Meaning Word Pronunciation Meaning
한국 [han·guk] Korea 사람 [sa·ram] person
숟가락 [sut·kka·rak] spoon 젓가락 [jeot·kka·rak] chopsticks
밥 [bap] rice 먹다 [meok·tta] to eat
밥을 먹다 [ba·beul meok·tta] to have a meal 보통 [bo·tong] usually
국 [guk] soup 고기 [go·gi] meat
반찬 [ban·chan] side dishes 왼쪽 [oen·jjok] left (side)
오른쪽 [o·reun·jjok] right (side) 옆 [yeop] next
아이 [a·i] child 쓰다 [sseu·da] to use
부모님 [bu·mo·nim] parents 가르치다 [ga·reu·chi·da] to teach
TRANSLATION
Koreans eat rice with spoons and chopsticks.
They usually eat rice and soup with a spoon.
And they eat meat and side dishes with chopsticks.
Rice is usually on the left. Soup is on the right.
The spoon and chopsticks are next to the soup.
In Korea, children also use chopsticks.
Parents teach their children.
GRAMMAR POINTS
밥을 먹다 [ba·beul meok·tta] (to have a meal)
"밥" means "rice", but in Korea, it commonly refers not only to "rice" but also to "meal".
Therefore, "밥을 먹다" often translates to "to have a meal." Another expression for this is
"식사하다 [sik·da·ha·da]". However, the expression "밥을 먹다" is more commonly used in
everyday life.
은/는 (topic particle)
These are used to indicate the topic of the sentence, as seen in phrases like "한국
사람은" (Koreans), "밥은" (rice) and "국은" (soup). The particle sets the topic for what the
sentence will discuss.
으로 (with)
"으로" is used to indicate a tool or method. For example, "숟가락으로" (spoon+으로)
means 'with a spoon', and "젓가락으로" (chopsticks+으로) means 'with chopsticks'. The
particle "-으로" is attached to words ending in consonants, while "-로" is attached to
words ending in vowels.
에 (at, on, in)
The particle "에" is used to indicate a specific location or position. It attaches to words
like "왼쪽" (left) and "오른쪽" (right), turning them into "왼쪽에" (on the left) and
"오른쪽에" (on the right).
와/과 (connective particle: and)
"와/과" are particles used to connect nouns, similar to the English 'and'. "와" follows nouns
ending in a vowel, and "과" follows nouns ending in a consonant. For example, "고기와
반찬" (meat and side dishes) uses "와" since "고기" ends in a vowel, whereas "숟가락과
젓가락" (spoon and chopsticks) uses "과" because "숟가락" ends in a consonant.
-에 있다 (to be, to exist)
The Korean pattern "-에 있다" is commonly used to indicate the location or presence of
something or someone, combining the location particle "에" with the verb "있다" (to be or
to exist). It translates to phrases like "is located at", "is in", or "is on" in English. For
instance, "밥은 왼쪽에 있어요" means "The rice is on the left", and "국 옆에 있어요"
translates to "It is next to the soup."
그리고 (and)
"그리고" is a conjunction that means "and" in English. It's used to connect sentences or
phrases.
READING PRACTICE WITH KOREAN CULTURE
2024.03.29 by Tomi Korean
숟가락과 젓가락 Spoon and Chopsticks
FOR UPPER-BEGINNERS0
한국 사람은 식사할 때 주로 숟가락과 젓가락을 사용해요. 숟가락은 밥과 국을 먹을 때 쓰고,
젓가락은 고기와 다른 반찬을 집을 때 써요. 밥은 보통 왼쪽에 놓고 오른쪽에는 국을 놓아요.
숟가락과 젓가락은 국 바로 옆에 놓아요. 한국 사람은 밥을 먹을 때 그릇을 들어요. 숟가락과
젓가락은 두 개를 동시에 들지 않아요. 한국에서는 아이도 젓가락을 쓸 수 있어요. 부모님이
일찍부터 젓가락 쓰는 방법을 가르쳐요. 물론 아주 어릴 때에는 포크를 사용해요.
📋 Read the Korean text and try to answer the following questions, before looking at the
English translation.
1. What do Korean people eat with chopsticks?
2. What are two actions that Koreans typically don't do when eating rice?
3. Do Korean children also use chopsticks?
VOCABULARY
Word Pronunciation Meaning Word Pronunciation Meaning
식사하다 [sik·sa·ha·da] to have a meal 사용하다 [sa·yong·ha·da] to use
다르다 [da·reu·da] to be different 집다 [jip·tta] to pick up
놓다 [no·ta] to put down 바로 [ba·ro] right away
그릇 [geu·reut] dish, bowl 들다 [deul·da] to hold
동시에 [dong·si·e] at the same time 일찍 [il·jjik] early
방법 [bang·beop] way, means 물론 [mul·lon] of course
아주 [a·ju] very 어리다 [eo·ri·da] to be young
포크 [po·keu] fork
TRANSLATION
Koreans mainly use spoons and chopsticks when having meals. They use spoons when
eating rice and soup, and they use chopsticks when picking up meat and other side
dishes. Rice is typically placed on the left and soup on the right. Spoons and chopsticks
are placed right next to the soup. Koreans don't hold the bowl when eating rice. They
don't hold both the spoon and chopsticks at the same time. In Korea, even children can
use chopsticks. Parents teach them how to use chopsticks from an early age. Of course,
when they are very young, they use forks.
GRAMMAR POINTS
Difference between "쓰다" and "사용하다"
"쓰다" and "사용하다" both translate to "to use" in Korean, but "쓰다" is more versatile and
colloquial, also meaning "to write", "to wear", or "to spend". It's commonly used in spoken
Korean. On the other hand, "사용하다" is formal, often found in written language or formal
contexts, primarily for using tools or facilities.
-(으)ㄹ 때 (when)
This is a time expression meaning "when" or "while". It is attached to a verb stem to
indicate the time when an action occurs. For instance, "밥을 먹을 때" translates to "when
eating rice" or "while eating rice."
If the stem ends in a vowel, "ㄹ 때" is attached to the stem.
For example, 가다 (to go) becomes 갈 때 (when going).
If the stem ends in a consonant, "을 때" is attached.
For example, 읽다 (to read) becomes 읽을 때 (when reading).
-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 (can)
This pattern is used to express possibility or ability, meaning "can" or "be able to". In the
text, "아이도 젓가락을 쓸 수 있어요" translates to "Children can also use chopsticks".
If the stem ends in a vowel, "ㄹ 수 있다" is attached to the stem.
For example, 가다 (to go) becomes 갈 수 있다 (can go).
If the stem ends in a consonant, "을 수 있다" is attached.
For example, 먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹을 수 있다 (can eat).
일찍부터 (from an early time)
This term combines "일찍" (early) with "부터" (from), translating to "from an early
time/age/point". It indicates the start of an action or state from an early stage.
Use of "다른" in "다른 반찬"
"다른" is the adjective form of "다르다" (to be different). In "다른 반찬" (other side dishes),
"다른" modifies "반찬," implying "side dishes that are different" or "other side dishes."
Use of "쓰는" in "젓가락 쓰는 방법"
"쓰는" is derived from the verb "쓰다" (to use) and modifies "방법" (method). It turns
"쓰다" (to use) into an adjective-like form, modifying "방법" to mean "the method of
using" or "how to use". In "젓가락 쓰는 방법", it translates to "the method of using
chopsticks".
QUIZ 0
1. 한국 사람은 밥과 국을 주로 무엇으로 먹어요?
What do Koreans usually use to eat rice and soup?
A) 숟가락
B) 젓가락
C) 그릇
2. 한국의 밥상에서 숟가락과 젓가락은 보통 어디에 놓아요?
Where are the spoons and chopsticks usually placed on a Korean dining table?
A) 밥 옆에
B) 국 옆에
C) 반찬 옆에
3. 한국 사람은 보통 밥 먹을 때 그릇을 들어요?
Do Koreans typically hold the bowl while eating rice?
A) 네, 들어요.
B) 아니요, 들지 않아요.
C) 아이만 들어요.
4. 밑줄 친 부분의 “-(으)ㄹ 때”가 잘못 쓰인 것을 고르세요.
Choose the sentence where the underlined part "-(으)ㄹ 때" is used incorrectly.
A) 어릴 때 숟가락을 사용해요.
B) 국을 먹을 때 숟가락을 써요.
C) 식사을 때 그릇을 들지 않아요.
5. 잘못 짝지어진 단어를 고르세요.
Choose the word that is incorrectly paired.
A) 고기 - meat
B) 일찍 - early
C) 물론 - right away
Answers 1.A 2.B 3.B 4.C 5.C
