Korean Grammar Lessons Inspired by When Life Gives You Tangerines
- Cami
- Mar 30
- 4 min read
Heartfelt Lines, Helpful Lessons: Learning Korean Grammar with 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'
IU and Park Bo-gum in the same drama? There’s no way I could miss that! When Life Gives You Tangerines truly moved me. It’s a warm yet heartbreaking story, filled with poetic lines and unforgettable moments. Honestly, it’s one of those dramas that stays with you—one of my all-time favorites.
Set in 1950s Jeju, the story follows Ae-soon, a brave young girl who dreams of becoming a poet, and Gwan-sik, a quiet and hardworking young man who loves her deeply.
It’s not just a romance—it’s a beautiful reflection on life, relationships, and growing up. It’s the kind of show that leaves your heart feeling full and warm.
That said, some of the expressions and vocabulary can be a little tricky for Korean beginners.So in today’s post, I’ve chosen one iconic line from the drama and one simple, everyday expression that you can actually use in real life.
Ready to learn Korean through the unforgettable scenes of this heartwarming drama?Let’s get started!
"참 이상하게도 부모는 미안했던 것만 사무치고 자식은 서운했던 것만 사무친다.
그래서 몰랐다
내게는 허기지기만 했던 유년기가
그 허름하기만 한 유년기가
그들이 얼마나 치열하게 만든 요새였는지."
"It's strange, really. Parents are haunted only by the things they feel sorry for, while children are left aching only from the things they feel hurt by. So I never realized that the childhood I remember only as worn-down and shabby, was actually a fortress for which they fought so fiercely."
1. Noun + 만 (Verb+ 기 + 만) ("Only" or "Just")
"부모는 미안했던 것만 사무치고..."
"Parents are haunted only by the things they feel sorry for..."
"...그 허름하기만 한 유년기가 그들이 얼마나치열하게 만든 요새였는지."
"...the childhood I remember only as worn-down and shabby, was actually a fortress they built with my hunger-ridden youth was a fortress for which they fought so fiercely."
Vocabulary
사무치다 (v.) - To deeply touch or pierce the heart; to linger deeply
서운하다 (adj.) - To feel hurt, disappointed, or sad
허기지다 (v.) - To feel famished or empty
유년기 (n.) - Childhood
허름하다 (adj.) - To be shabby, run-down
치열하다 (adj.) - To be intense, fierce
요새 (n.) - Fortress
Grammar Explanation
This grammar pattern is used to emphasize exclusivity, meaning "only" or "just" in English. Adding 기 before 만 makes it more abstract, often used with verbs in their nominalized form.
Noun + 만: Attach 만 to nouns to indicate "only."
Verb + 기만: Add 기 to the verb root, followed by 만, to emphasize "just doing" or "only doing" that action.
Example Sentences
공부만 했어요. I only studied.
책 읽기만 좋아해요. I only like reading books.
학교에 가기만 하면 돼요. You just need to go to school.
2. Verb/Adjective + -고 ("And" or Connecting Actions/States)
"부모는 미안했던 것만 사무치고 자식은 서운했던 것만 사무친다."
"It's strange, really. Parents are haunted only by the things they feel sorry for, while children are left aching only from the things they feel hurt by."
Grammar Explanation
This grammar is used to connect two clauses, actions, or descriptions, similar to "and" in English.
Attach -고 to the stem of the verb or adjective.
Example Sentences
밥을 먹고 숙제를 했어요. I ate and did my homework.
날씨가 덥고 비가 와요. Its hot, and its raining.
책이 재미있고 내용도 좋아요. The book is interesting, and the content is good.
3. Verb + -는데 ("But" or Providing Background Context)
"나 줘요 나! 애순이 조구도 내가 챙겼고 애순이 양배추도 내가 다 팔았고.
이 세상에서 내가 애순이 제일 좋아하는데!
친작은 아빠보다도 내가 나은데 왜 떼 놔요!"
"Give me her! I gave her fish and I sold her cabbage. I like Ae-sun the most in the world. I’m better off than her little dad. So why break up the relationship?!"
Vocabulary
조구 (n.) - Jeju dialect for 'Croaker'
챙기다 (v.) - Took care of, looked after
떼 놓다 (v.) - To separate or detach
Grammar Explanation
This pattern is used to contrast ideas, provide background information, or express mild disagreement.
Use -는데 after verb stems. (e.g., 가다 → 가는데)
Use -은데/ㄴ데 after adjectives.
If the adjective stem ends in a consonant, use -은데 (e.g., 작다 → 작은데)
If the adjective stem ends in a vowel, use -ㄴ데 (e.g., 예쁘다 → 예쁜데)
For 있다/없다, use -는데 (e.g., 있다 → 있는데 / 없다 → 없는데)
Example Sentences
집에 가는데 비가 왔어요. I was going home, but it started raining.
날씨가 추운데 비도 와요. It's cold, and it's raining too.
책이 재미있는데 내용도 좋아요. The book is interesting, and the content is good as well.
And that's it for this lesson!
Learning Korean becomes more exciting with Korean grammar lessons inspired by When Life Gives You Tangerines. The drama’s heartfelt lines make studying meaningful and fun!
Which grammar pattern or scene from the drama inspired you the most? Let’s talk in the comments below!🍊
And if you'd like to learn more Korean with BDB Korean, click the button below to learn more about our live classes!
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