For autodidact students of Korean, 생각하다 (saenggakada) is "to think": to turn a matter over in the mind, to hold an opinion, to consider, to bear someone in mind, to intend. It is the noun 생각 (saenggak), "a thought, an idea, an opinion, a plan," plus 하다 (hada), "to do," so it is literally "to do thought." 저는 그렇게 생각해요 (I think so). 무슨 생각을 해요? (What are you thinking about?) 잠깐 생각해 볼게요 (Let me think for a moment). The noun is as busy as the verb: 좋은 생각이에요 (That's a good idea), 제 생각에는 … (In my opinion …), 생각보다 … (More … than I thought).
English "think" does several jobs at once, and Korean gives each its own pattern. That is why this lesson has a family of neighbours: - 생각하다 (saenggakada): to think, to consider, to hold an opinion. The opinion is quoted: -다고 생각하다, "to think that …". - 생각해 보다 (saenggakae boda): to think it over, to give it real thought. - 생각나다 / 생각이 나다 (saenggangnada): to come to mind, to remember. The thought arrives by itself. - 생각이 들다 (saenggagi deulda): a thought or feeling comes over one, "it strikes me that …". - -ㄹ 생각이다 (-l saenggagida): to intend to, to be thinking of doing: 내일 갈 생각이에요 (I intend to go tomorrow). - 기억하다 (gieokada): to remember, to keep in memory. - 믿다 (mitda): to believe, to trust. - 고민하다 (gominhada): to agonise over a decision.
The word is built plainly, from 생각 and 하다, and the noun can be pulled out of the verb: 생각을 하다 means the same as 생각하다. This is how many Korean verbs work: a noun plus 하다. Once you know the noun 생각, you can use it in its own right, in 좋은 생각 (a good idea), 생각 중 (in the middle of thinking), 생각 없이 (without a thought), and 생각보다 (than expected).
Because Korean quotes a thought rather than reporting it, "I think that it is good" is 좋다고 생각해요, literally "I think, 'it is good.'" Without the quoting ending (-다고, -라고) the sentence is incomplete. Section D sets out the endings.
Script note: 생각하다 is four syllable blocks. 생 = ㅅ + ㅐ + ㅇ, with ㅇ as the final consonant (it sounds "ng"); 각 = ㄱ + ㅏ + ㄱ; 하 = ㅎ + ㅏ; 다 = ㄷ + ㅏ. The final ㄱ of 각 meets the ㅎ of 하, and the two fuse into one aspirated sound, ㅋ. The word is written 생각하다 but said 생가카다, and 생각해요 is said 생가캐요. The Revised Romanization of this course spells what is said: saenggakada, saenggakaeyo. Today the vowels ㅐ and ㅔ sound almost alike to most speakers, so 생 has to be learned by eye.
Key Takeaways: - 생각하다 (saenggakada): to think, to consider. Noun: 생각 (saenggak), a thought, an idea, an opinion - -다고 생각해요: I think that … (the thought is quoted) - 생각해 보다: to think it over; 생각나다: to come to mind, to remember - 제 생각에는 …: in my opinion; 생각보다: than I thought; 생각 중이에요: I'm thinking it over - -ㄹ 생각이다: to intend to; 생각이 없다: to have no intention - 생각 is said 생가카다 for 생각하다, 생가기 for 생각이, 생각또 for 생각도
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53.1a 저는 I 그렇게 like-that 생각해요 think
53.1b jeoneun (JUH-neun) I-HUMBLE.TOP geureoke (GEU-ruh-keh) like-that saenggakaeyo (SENG-ga-keh-yo) think-POLITE
53.2a 무슨 what-kind-of 생각을 thought 해요 do
53.2b museun (MOO-seun) what-kind-of saenggageul (SENG-ga-geul) thought-OBJ haeyo (HEH-yo) do-POLITE
53.3a 잠깐 a-moment 생각해 thinking 볼게요 will-try
53.3b jamkkan (JAM-kkan) a-moment saenggakae (SENG-ga-keh) think-CONN bolgeyo (BOL-geh-yo) try-PROMISE.POLITE
53.4a 지금 now 생각났어요 came-to-mind
53.4b jigeum (JEE-geum) now saenggangnasseoyo (SENG-gang-nass-suh-yo) come-to-mind-PAST.POLITE
53.5a 이건 this-one 좋은 good 생각이에요 is-an-idea
53.5b igeon (EE-guhn) this-thing.TOP joeun (JO-eun) good-ADNOMINAL saenggagieyo (SENG-ga-gi-eh-yo) thought-COP.POLITE
53.6a 저는 I 아직 still 생각 thinking 중이에요 in-the-middle-of
53.6b jeoneun (JUH-neun) I-HUMBLE.TOP ajik (A-jik) still saenggak (SENG-gak) thought jungieyo (JJOONG-i-eh-yo) middle-COP.POLITE
53.7a 오늘은 today 아무 any 생각도 thought-even 하고 doing 싶지 want 않아요 not
53.7b oneureun (O-neu-reun) today-TOP amu (A-moo) any saenggakdo (SENG-gak-ddo) thought-ALSO hago (HA-go) do-AND sipji (SHIP-jji) want-NEG.CONN anayo (A-na-yo) not-POLITE
53.8a 그 that 영화는 film 생각보다 than-expected 재미있었어요 was-fun
53.8b geu (GEU) that yeonghwaneun (YUHNG-hwa-neun) film-TOP saenggakboda (SENG-gak-bbo-da) thought-THAN jaemiisseosseoyo (JEH-mee-iss-suh-yo) fun-exist-PAST.POLITE
53.9a 제 my 생각에는 in-opinion 지금 now 출발하는 departing 게 thing 좋겠어요 would-be-good
53.9b je (JEH) I-HUMBLE.GEN saenggageneun (SENG-ga-geh-neun) thought-LOC.TOP jigeum (JEE-geum) now chulbalhaneun (CHOOL-bal-ha-neun) depart-ADNOMINAL ge (GEH) thing.SUBJ jokesseoyo (JO-kess-suh-yo) good-WOULD.POLITE
53.10a 그 that 사람이 person 왜 why 그렇게 like-that 말했는지 said-whether 생각해 thinking 보세요 please-try
53.10b geu (GEU) that sarami (SA-ra-mee) person-SUBJ wae (WEH) why geureoke (GEU-ruh-keh) like-that malhaenneunji (MAL-hen-neun-ji) say-PAST-WHETHER saenggakae (SENG-ga-keh) think-CONN boseyo (BO-seh-yo) try-HONORIFIC.POLITE
53.11a 밤새 all-night 생각했지만 thought-but 아직 still 결정하지 deciding 못했어요 couldn't
53.11b bamsae (BAM-seh) all-night saenggakaetjiman (SENG-ga-ket-jji-man) think-PAST-BUT ajik (A-jik) still gyeoljeonghaji (GYUHL-juhng-ha-ji) decide-NEG.CONN mothaesseoyo (MO-tess-suh-yo) cannot-do-PAST.POLITE
53.12a 그 that 사람이 person 저를 me 어떻게 how 생각하는지 thinks-whether 모르겠어요 don't-know
53.12b geu (GEU) that sarami (SA-ra-mee) person-SUBJ jeoreul (JUH-reul) I-HUMBLE.OBJ eotteoke (UH-ttuh-keh) how saenggakaneunji (SENG-ga-ka-neun-ji) think-WHETHER moreugesseoyo (MO-reu-gess-suh-yo) not-know-WOULD.POLITE
53.13a 아이들은 children 어른들이 adults 생각하는 think 것보다 than-what 훨씬 far 많은 many 것을 things 알아요 know
53.13b aideureun (A-ee-deu-reun) child-PL.TOP eoreundeuri (UH-reun-deu-ri) adult-PL.SUBJ saenggakaneun (SENG-ga-ka-neun) think-ADNOMINAL geotboda (GUHT-bbo-da) thing-THAN hwolssin (HWOL-ssin) far-more maneun (MA-neun) many-ADNOMINAL geoseul (GUH-seul) thing-OBJ arayo (A-ra-yo) know-POLITE
53.14a 길을 road 걷다가 while-walking 갑자기 suddenly 어릴 young 때 time 살던 used-to-live 집이 house 생각났어요 came-to-mind
53.14b gireul (GEE-reul) road-OBJ geotdaga (GUHT-dda-ga) walk-WHILE gapjagi (GAP-jja-gi) suddenly eoril (UH-ril) young-PROSPECTIVE ttae (TTEH) time saldeon (SAL-duhn) live-RETROSPECTIVE.ADNOMINAL jibi (JEE-bee) house-SUBJ saenggangnasseoyo (SENG-gang-nass-suh-yo) come-to-mind-PAST.POLITE
53.15a 그 that 선생님은 teacher 모든 every 사람이 person 평등하게 equally 대우받아야 must-be-treated 한다고 that-one-must 생각하셨어요 thought
53.15b geu (GEU) that seonsaengnimeun (SUHN-saeng-ni-meun) teacher-HONORIFIC.TOP modeun (MO-deun) every sarami (SA-ra-mee) person-SUBJ pyeongdeunghage (PYUHNG-deung-ha-geh) equal-ADVERB daeubadaya (DEH-oo-ba-da-ya) be-treated-MUST handago (HAN-da-go) do-QUOTE saenggakasyeosseoyo (SENG-ga-ka-shyuss-uh-yo) think-HONORIFIC-PAST.POLITE
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53.1 저는 그렇게 생각해요. (jeoneun geureoke saenggakaeyo) "I think so." 53.2 무슨 생각을 해요? (museun saenggageul haeyo?) "What are you thinking about?" (literally: "What thought do you do?") 53.3 잠깐 생각해 볼게요. (jamkkan saenggakae bolgeyo) "Let me think about it for a moment." 53.4 지금 생각났어요. (jigeum saenggangnasseoyo) "I've just remembered." (literally: "it came to mind just now") 53.5 이건 좋은 생각이에요. (igeon joeun saenggagieyo) "That's a good idea." 53.6 저는 아직 생각 중이에요. (jeoneun ajik saenggak jungieyo) "I'm still thinking it over." 53.7 오늘은 아무 생각도 하고 싶지 않아요. (oneureun amu saenggakdo hago sipji anayo) "I don't want to think about anything today." 53.8 그 영화는 생각보다 재미있었어요. (geu yeonghwaneun saenggakboda jaemiisseosseoyo) "The film was more fun than I had expected." 53.9 제 생각에는 지금 출발하는 게 좋겠어요. (je saenggageneun jigeum chulbalhaneun ge jokesseoyo) "In my opinion, it would be best to set off now." 53.10 그 사람이 왜 그렇게 말했는지 생각해 보세요. (geu sarami wae geureoke malhaenneunji saenggakae boseyo) "Think about why that person said it like that." 53.11 밤새 생각했지만 아직 결정하지 못했어요. (bamsae saenggakaetjiman ajik gyeoljeonghaji mothaesseoyo) "I thought all night, but I still haven't decided." 53.12 그 사람이 저를 어떻게 생각하는지 모르겠어요. (geu sarami jeoreul eotteoke saenggakaneunji moreugesseoyo) "I don't know what that person thinks of me." 53.13 아이들은 어른들이 생각하는 것보다 훨씬 많은 것을 알아요. (aideureun eoreundeuri saenggakaneun geotboda hwolssin maneun geoseul arayo) "Children know far more than adults think." 53.14 길을 걷다가 갑자기 어릴 때 살던 집이 생각났어요. (gireul geotdaga gapjagi eoril ttae saldeon jibi saenggangnasseoyo) "Walking along the road, I suddenly remembered the house where I lived as a child." 53.15 그 선생님은 모든 사람이 평등하게 대우받아야 한다고 생각하셨어요. (geu seonsaengnimeun modeun sarami pyeongdeunghage daeubadaya handago saenggakasyeosseoyo) "That teacher thought that everyone should be treated equally."
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53.1 저는 그렇게 생각해요. 53.2 무슨 생각을 해요? 53.3 잠깐 생각해 볼게요. 53.4 지금 생각났어요. 53.5 이건 좋은 생각이에요. 53.6 저는 아직 생각 중이에요. 53.7 오늘은 아무 생각도 하고 싶지 않아요. 53.8 그 영화는 생각보다 재미있었어요. 53.9 제 생각에는 지금 출발하는 게 좋겠어요. 53.10 그 사람이 왜 그렇게 말했는지 생각해 보세요. 53.11 밤새 생각했지만 아직 결정하지 못했어요. 53.12 그 사람이 저를 어떻게 생각하는지 모르겠어요. 53.13 아이들은 어른들이 생각하는 것보다 훨씬 많은 것을 알아요. 53.14 길을 걷다가 갑자기 어릴 때 살던 집이 생각났어요. 53.15 그 선생님은 모든 사람이 평등하게 대우받아야 한다고 생각하셨어요.
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These are the grammar rules for 생각하다 (saenggakada), "to think."
How 생각하다 is built. 생각 (saenggak) is a noun, "thought, idea, opinion, intention," and 하다 (hada) turns a noun into a verb. Like every 하다 verb it takes the form 해 (hae) before the endings -아/어, so 하다 + -요 gives 해요. The noun can also stand apart from 하다 with the object particle between: 생각을 하다 (to do thinking) has the same meaning as 생각하다 (53.2). Forms you will meet: - 생각하다 (saenggakada): dictionary form - 생각해요 (saenggakaeyo): polite, the everyday form - 생각합니다 (saenggakamnida): formal polite, for speeches, news and business - 생각해 (saenggakae): informal, among friends and family - 생각한다 (saenggakanda): plain, for narration and writing (see the Genre Section) - 생각했어요 (saenggakaesseoyo): polite past - 생각할 거예요 (saenggakal geoyeyo): polite future - 생각하고 있어요 (saenggakago isseoyo): am thinking, am of the view - 생각하세요 (saenggakaseyo): honorific, "please think" or "you think" of an elder - 생각하셨어요 (saenggakasyeosseoyo): honorific past (53.15)
What is thought about. The thing thought of takes 을/를: 가족을 생각해요 (I think of my family). To say "about" in the sense of a topic, use 에 대해: 그 문제에 대해 생각해 봤어요 (I thought about that problem). Someone thought of with care is also the object: 부모님을 생각해서 (out of thought for my parents).
"I think that …": -다고 생각하다. Korean quotes the thought, and the quoted clause ends in the plain-style form plus -고: - verb, present: 그 사람이 온다고 생각해요 (I think that person is coming). -ㄴ다 / -는다 + 고. - adjective: 이 책은 어렵다고 생각해요 (I think this book is hard). -다 + 고. - copula: 그분은 좋은 선생님이라고 생각해요 (I think he is a good teacher). 이라고 after a consonant, 라고 after a vowel. - past: 그가 벌써 갔다고 생각해요 (I think he has already gone). -았/었다고. - future: 내일 비가 올 거라고 생각해요 (I think it will rain tomorrow). -ㄹ 거라고. - necessity: 일찍 자야 한다고 생각해요 (I think one should sleep early). 53.15 is the same, 한다고 생각하셨어요. Where the thought is an adverb or a pronoun and not a clause, no quoting is needed: 그렇게 생각해요 (53.1), 어떻게 생각해요? (what do you think?). 53.12 shows an embedded question: 어떻게 생각하는지 (what, or how, he thinks). The ending -는지 turns a question into a noun clause.
The negative thought. Korean tends to put the negative inside the thought: 그가 안 올 거라고 생각해요 or 그가 오지 않을 거라고 생각해요 (I think he will not come). The other order is also correct and also heard: 그가 올 거라고 생각하지 않아요 (I do not think he will come).
생각해 보다, "think it over." -아/어 보다 means "to try doing." With 생각하다 it gives a gentle "give it some thought": 생각해 볼게요 (53.3, I'll think about it), 생각해 보세요 (53.10, please think about it), 생각해 본 적이 없다 (53.25, I have never thought about it). The form -기로 하다 means "to decide to": 생각해 보기로 하다 is "to decide to think it over" (53.20).
생각나다 / 생각이 나다, "to come to mind." Here the thing remembered is the subject, not the object. 이름이 생각나요 (the name comes to mind), 집이 생각났어요 (53.14: the house came to mind). It is not an act of will but an arrival. A related pattern is 생각이 들다: 이상한 생각이 들었어요 (a strange thought came over me), "it occurs to me."
Intending: -ㄹ 생각이다. 내일 갈 생각이에요 (I intend to go tomorrow). 한국에 갈까 생각 중이에요 (I'm thinking about going to Korea). The negative is 갈 생각이 없어요 (I have no intention of going).
The noun in set phrases: - 제 생각에는 (je saenggageneun): in my opinion (53.9); 내 생각에는 among friends - 생각보다 (saenggakboda): than one thought, than expected (53.8). Same pattern with 것보다 in 53.13. - 생각대로 (saenggakdaero): as one thinks, as one wishes (53.28) - 생각 없이 (saenggak eopsi): without thinking, carelessly (53.23, 53.30) - 생각이 짧다 (saenggagi jjalpda): to be short on thought, to have been thoughtless - 생각이 깊다 (saenggagi gipda): to be thoughtful - 생각을 바꾸다 (saenggageul bakkuda): to change one's mind - 생각 중 (saenggak jung): in the middle of thinking (53.6)
The neighbours, and where each takes over: - 기억하다 (gieokada): to hold in memory. 그 이름을 기억해요 (I remember that name). 생각나다 is the memory arriving; 기억하다 is the memory kept. - 믿다 (mitda): to believe or trust. 그 사람을 믿어요 (I trust that person). 생각하다 states an opinion, 믿다 states faith. - 고민하다 (gominhada): to worry over a choice. 어느 쪽을 고를지 고민해요 (I agonise over which to choose). It is thinking with distress. - 떠올리다 (tteoollida): to call to mind, on purpose: 그 시절을 떠올려요 (I call those days to mind). - 상상하다 (sangsanghada): to imagine. - 여기다 (yeogida): to regard as. 그 일을 중요하게 여겨요 (I regard that matter as important). - 사색하다 (sasaekada): to ponder, to meditate; written, deep, solitary thought. - 보고 싶다 (bogo sipda): to miss someone. Not 생각하다.
Common Mistakes: - Leaving out the quoting ending. \*좋다 생각해요 is wrong. Say 좋다고 생각해요. - Saying "I can't think of the name" with 생각하다. \*이름을 생각할 수 없어요 is wrong in this sense. Say 이름이 생각나지 않아요 or 이름이 생각이 안 나요. - Using 생각해요 for "I miss you." 보고 싶어요 is "I miss you." 네 생각이 나요 is "you come to my mind," and 네 생각을 해요 is "I think of you," which says less. - Confusing 생각나다 and 기억하다. 어릴 때 일이 생각나요 is "something from childhood comes to mind"; 어릴 때 일을 잘 기억해요 is "I remember childhood well." - Spelling it as it is said. 생각하다 is not written \*생가카다. Write the ㄱ and the ㅎ where the word has them. - Using 생각하고 있어요 for an everyday opinion. 생각하고 있어요 stresses a process or a standing view ("I have been thinking, I am of the opinion"); for "I think so" in speech, 생각해요 is the usual form. - Writing 생각 하다 in two words. The verb is one word. The noun is separate only when something stands between, as in 생각을 하다 or 생각도 하다.
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생각해 볼게요 (I'll think about it) is one of the commonest ways to put a request off, and it is often gentler than a plain no. Asked to lend money, to join a trip, or to accept an offer that one does not want, a Korean may say 생각해 볼게요, which both postpones the answer and spares the asker. Whether it means "yes, later" or "probably not" is read from the tone, and from what follows.
생각해 주셔서 감사합니다 (thank you for thinking of me, thank you for your consideration) is a standing phrase of letters, emails and polite conversation. It thanks the other person for holding you in mind.
제가 생각이 짧았어요 (my thinking was short) is a common apology: "I did not think it through." It admits to thoughtlessness without making a large confession.
잘 생각해 보세요 (think it over carefully) is what parents, teachers and older colleagues say before an important choice. 생각 좀 해 봐 (think about it a bit) is the same, among friends and in the family, with 좀 as softener.
Two famous lines about thinking are well known from school philosophy: 나는 생각한다, 고로 존재한다 (I think, therefore I am; Descartes) and 인간은 생각하는 갈대다 (man is a thinking reed; Pascal). Both use the plain-style -ㄴ다 / -는 forms of the lesson's verb.
생각에 잠기다 (saenggage jamgida) is "to be sunk in thought," and 생각에 잠긴 얼굴 is a face lost in thought. 생각이 많다 (to have much on one's mind) names the state of the person who cannot sleep, as Sujin cannot in the Genre Section.
Register: 생각하다 is neutral and safe at every level of speech. 생각합니다 belongs to speeches, news, interviews and the office. 생각하시다 honours the person who is thinking. In written and philosophical contexts, 사고하다 and 사색하다 name deeper thought. For one's own opinion 제 생각에는 is polite and 내 생각에는 is plain.
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윤동주 (Yun Dong-ju, 1917–1945), 〈자화상〉 — "Self-Portrait," written in September 1939 and collected in 《하늘과 바람과 별과 시》 (Sky, Wind, Stars and Poems), 1948
The whole poem, in modern spacing:
산모퉁이를 돌아 논가 외딴 우물을 홀로 찾아가선 가만히 들여다봅니다.
우물 속에는 달이 밝고 구름이 흐르고 하늘이 펼치고 파아란 바람이 불고 가을이 있습니다.
그리고 한 사나이가 있습니다. 어쩌인지 그 사나이가 미워져 돌아갑니다.
돌아가다 생각하니 그 사나이가 가엾어집니다. 도로 가 들여다보니 사나이는 그대로 있습니다.
다시 그 사나이가 미워져 돌아갑니다. 돌아가다 생각하니 그 사나이가 그리워집니다.
우물 속에는 달이 밝고 구름이 흐르고 하늘이 펼치고 파아란 바람이 불고 가을이 있고 추억처럼 사나이가 있습니다.
F-A: Interlinear
F.1a 산모퉁이를 mountain-bend 돌아 turning 논가 paddy-edge 외딴 solitary 우물을 well 홀로 alone 찾아가선 having-gone-to 가만히 quietly 들여다봅니다 look-into
F.1b sanmotungireul (SAN-mo-toong-i-reul) mountain-bend-OBJ dora (DO-ra) turn-CONN nonga (NON-ga) paddy-edge oedan (WEH-dan) solitary-ADNOMINAL umureul (OO-moo-reul) well-OBJ hollo (HOL-lo) alone chajagaseon (CHA-ja-ga-suhn) seek-go-CONN.TOP gamanhi (GA-man-hee) quietly deuryeodabomnida (DEU-ryuh-da-bom-ni-da) look-into-FORMAL
F.2a 우물 well 속에는 inside 달이 moon 밝고 bright 구름이 cloud 흐르고 flows 하늘이 sky 펼치고 unfolds 파아란 deep-blue 바람이 wind 불고 blows 가을이 autumn 있습니다 exists
F.2b umul (OO-mool) well sogeneun (SO-geh-neun) inside-LOC.TOP dari (DA-ri) moon-SUBJ balgo (BAL-go) bright-AND gureumi (GOO-reu-mi) cloud-SUBJ heureugo (HEU-reu-go) flow-AND haneuri (HA-neu-ri) sky-SUBJ pyeolchigo (PYUHL-chi-go) spread-AND paaran (PA-a-ran) blue-ADNOMINAL barami (BA-ra-mi) wind-SUBJ bulgo (BOOL-go) blow-AND gaeuri (GA-eu-ri) autumn-SUBJ isseumnida (EESS-seum-ni-da) exist-FORMAL
F.3a 그리고 and 한 one 사나이가 man 있습니다 exists
F.3b geurigo (GEU-ri-go) and han (HAN) one sanaiga (SA-na-ee-ga) man-SUBJ isseumnida (EESS-seum-ni-da) exist-FORMAL
F.4a 어쩌인지 somehow 그 that 사나이가 man 미워져 hateful-becoming 돌아갑니다 go-back
F.4b eojjeoinji (UH-jjuh-in-ji) somehow geu (GEU) that sanaiga (SA-na-ee-ga) man-SUBJ miwojyeo (MEE-wo-jyuh) hateful-BECOME-CONN doragamnida (DO-ra-gam-ni-da) go-back-FORMAL
F.5a 돌아가다 going-back 생각하니 upon-thinking 그 that 사나이가 man 가엾어집니다 pitiable-becomes
F.5b doragada (DO-ra-ga-da) go-back-WHILE saenggakani (SENG-ga-ka-ni) think-UPON geu (GEU) that sanaiga (SA-na-ee-ga) man-SUBJ gayeopseojimnida (GA-yuhp-suh-jim-ni-da) pitiable-BECOME-FORMAL
F.6a 도로 back 가 going 들여다보니 upon-looking-in 사나이는 man 그대로 as-before 있습니다 exists
F.6b doro (DO-ro) back-again ga (GA) go-CONN deuryeodaboni (DEU-ryuh-da-bo-ni) look-into-UPON sanaineun (SA-na-ee-neun) man-TOP geudaero (GEU-deh-ro) as-it-was isseumnida (EESS-seum-ni-da) exist-FORMAL
F.7a 다시 again 그 that 사나이가 man 미워져 hateful-becoming 돌아갑니다 go-back
F.7b dasi (DA-shi) again geu (GEU) that sanaiga (SA-na-ee-ga) man-SUBJ miwojyeo (MEE-wo-jyuh) hateful-BECOME-CONN doragamnida (DO-ra-gam-ni-da) go-back-FORMAL
F.8a 돌아가다 going-back 생각하니 upon-thinking 그 that 사나이가 man 그리워집니다 longed-for-becomes
F.8b doragada (DO-ra-ga-da) go-back-WHILE saenggakani (SENG-ga-ka-ni) think-UPON geu (GEU) that sanaiga (SA-na-ee-ga) man-SUBJ geuriwojimnida (GEU-ri-wo-jim-ni-da) longed-for-BECOME-FORMAL
F.9a 우물 well 속에는 inside 달이 moon 밝고 bright 구름이 cloud 흐르고 flows 하늘이 sky 펼치고 unfolds 파아란 deep-blue 바람이 wind 불고 blows 가을이 autumn 있고 exists 추억처럼 like-a-memory 사나이가 man 있습니다 exists
F.9b umul (OO-mool) well sogeneun (SO-geh-neun) inside-LOC.TOP dari (DA-ri) moon-SUBJ balgo (BAL-go) bright-AND gureumi (GOO-reu-mi) cloud-SUBJ heureugo (HEU-reu-go) flow-AND haneuri (HA-neu-ri) sky-SUBJ pyeolchigo (PYUHL-chi-go) spread-AND paaran (PA-a-ran) blue-ADNOMINAL barami (BA-ra-mi) wind-SUBJ bulgo (BOOL-go) blow-AND gaeuri (GA-eu-ri) autumn-SUBJ itgo (IT-go) exist-AND chueokcheoreom (CHOO-uk-chuh-ruhm) memory-LIKE sanaiga (SA-na-ee-ga) man-SUBJ isseumnida (EESS-seum-ni-da) exist-FORMAL
F-B: Original and Translation
산모퉁이를 돌아 논가 외딴 우물을 홀로 찾아가선 가만히 들여다봅니다. / 우물 속에는 달이 밝고 구름이 흐르고 하늘이 펼치고 파아란 바람이 불고 가을이 있습니다. / 그리고 한 사나이가 있습니다. 어쩌인지 그 사나이가 미워져 돌아갑니다. / 돌아가다 생각하니 그 사나이가 가엾어집니다. 도로 가 들여다보니 사나이는 그대로 있습니다. / 다시 그 사나이가 미워져 돌아갑니다. 돌아가다 생각하니 그 사나이가 그리워집니다. / 우물 속에는 달이 밝고 구름이 흐르고 하늘이 펼치고 파아란 바람이 불고 가을이 있고 추억처럼 사나이가 있습니다.
"I go round the bend of the hill, to the lonely well at the edge of the paddy, and quietly look in. / In the well the moon is bright, clouds drift, the sky unfolds, a deep blue wind blows, and autumn is there. / And there is a man. Somehow I come to hate him, and I go back. / As I go back I think of him, and come to pity him. I return and look in, and the man is there as before. / Again I come to hate him, and I go back. As I go back I think of him, and come to long for him. / In the well the moon is bright, clouds drift, the sky unfolds, a deep blue wind blows, autumn is there, and, like a memory, the man is there." (Translation: Latinum Institute.)
F-C: Original
산모퉁이를 돌아 논가 외딴 우물을 홀로 찾아가선 가만히 들여다봅니다. 우물 속에는 달이 밝고 구름이 흐르고 하늘이 펼치고 파아란 바람이 불고 가을이 있습니다. 그리고 한 사나이가 있습니다. 어쩌인지 그 사나이가 미워져 돌아갑니다. 돌아가다 생각하니 그 사나이가 가엾어집니다. 도로 가 들여다보니 사나이는 그대로 있습니다. 다시 그 사나이가 미워져 돌아갑니다. 돌아가다 생각하니 그 사나이가 그리워집니다. 우물 속에는 달이 밝고 구름이 흐르고 하늘이 펼치고 파아란 바람이 불고 가을이 있고 추억처럼 사나이가 있습니다.
F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
The poem was written in September 1939 and gathered into the posthumous collection of 1948. Yun Dong-ju died in 1945, and the poem is in the public domain. The text above follows the printed transcriptions consulted, which agree on the wording of the lines quoted here; the spacing is modernised, and 어쩌인지 is kept as in the original, an older form of 어쩐지, "somehow, for some reason" (some modern editions print 어쩐지). The line breaks and paragraph divisions are those of the common modern printing. The poem opens and closes on the well, and the last stanza repeats the second with one addition, 추억처럼.
The lesson's word falls twice, and in the same four words: 돌아가다 생각하니 (F.5, F.8). Here 생각하다 is not "to hold an opinion." It has no object and no quoted clause. It is the act of turning something over while walking away, and it changes what the speaker feels: before the thinking, he hates the man in the well (미워져), after it he pities him (가엾어집니다); after the second round, he longs for him (그리워집니다). The three feelings are all -아/어지다, "to become": 밉다 (hateful) → 미워지다, 가엾다 (pitiable) → 가엾어지다, 그립다 (longed for) → 그리워지다. Thinking is what moves the speaker from one to the next. In the frame of the lesson: a thought is not a conclusion but a movement.
-(으)니 is the ending that says "when I did this, I found that." 생각하니 is "upon thinking," and the clause that follows is what thinking brings about. Compare 들여다보니 (F.6), "upon looking in," where what follows is that the man is still there. The poem sets the two verbs side by side: to look in and find, to think and feel. Both are discoveries. The -다 in 돌아가다 (F.5, F.8) is the short form of -다가: "while going back."
The poem is written in the formal polite style: 들여다봅니다, 돌아갑니다, 있습니다 (-ㅂ니다 / -습니다). It tells a private matter in the tone of a quiet report, and the evenness of that tone is a part of its effect. The present tense turns the story into something that is happening each time it is read.
A few words in the poem are not everyday ones. 사나이 is "man, fellow," a warmer and older word than 남자. 산모퉁이 is the bend of a mountain path. 파아란 is 파란 (blue) with its first vowel drawn out for emphasis. 펼치고 is normally a transitive verb, "to spread out"; with 하늘이 (the sky) as its subject it reads as "the sky unfolds," as if it were 펼쳐지고. 추억처럼 (like a memory) closes the poem: the man in the well has been something recalled the whole time.
The title says whom the poem is about. Most readers take the man in the well to be the speaker's own reflection, and the going-back and the looking-in to be the work of a mind that cannot stop looking at itself. That reading rests on the title and the shape of the poem and not on any statement in the text.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Sujin has a letter offering her work in Busan, and she has until morning to think. The narrative is in the plain written style (-ㄴ다 / -다) and in the present tense, as in the previous lessons. Every sentence group uses 생각하다 or 생각.
53.16a 수진은 Sujin 부산에서 from-Busan 온 came 편지를 letter 읽고 reading 오래 long 생각한다 thinks
53.16b sujineun (SOO-jin-eun) Sujin-TOP busaneseo (BOO-sa-neh-suh) Busan-FROM on (ON) come-PAST.ADNOMINAL pyeonjireul (PYUHN-ji-reul) letter-OBJ ilgo (IL-go) read-AND orae (O-reh) long saenggakanda (SENG-ga-kan-da) think-PLAIN
53.17a 월급은 salary 지금보다 than-now 많다 is-more 그래도 even-so 서울을 Seoul 떠난다고 that-leaves 생각하면 if-thinks 마음이 heart 무겁다 is-heavy
53.17b wolgeubeun (WOL-geu-beun) salary-TOP jigeumboda (JEE-geum-bo-da) now-THAN manta (MAN-ta) many-PLAIN geuraedo (GEU-reh-do) even-so seoureul (SUH-oo-reul) Seoul-OBJ tteonandago (TTUH-nan-da-go) leave-QUOTE saenggakamyeon (SENG-ga-ka-myuhn) think-IF maeumi (MA-eu-mi) heart-SUBJ mugeopda (MOO-guhp-da) heavy-PLAIN
53.18a 수진은 Sujin 친구 friend 민호에게 to-Minho 전화해 phoning 의견을 opinion 묻는다 asks 민호는 Minho 수진이 Sujin 잘할 will-do-well 것이라고 that-it-is 생각한다고 that-he-thinks 말한다 says
53.18b sujineun (SOO-jin-eun) Sujin-TOP chingu (CHIN-goo) friend minhoege (MIN-ho-eh-geh) Minho-DAT jeonhwahae (JUHN-hwa-heh) phone-CONN uigyeoneul (UI-gyuh-neul) opinion-OBJ mutneunda (MUN-neun-da) ask-PLAIN minhoneun (MIN-ho-neun) Minho-TOP sujini (SOO-jin-ee) Sujin-SUBJ jalhal (JAL-hal) do-well-PROSPECTIVE geosirago (GUH-shi-ra-go) thing-COP.QUOTE saenggakandago (SENG-ga-kan-da-go) think-PLAIN.QUOTE malhanda (MAL-han-da) say-PLAIN
53.19a 하지만 but 수진에게 to-Sujin 중요한 important 것은 thing 남의 other-people's 생각이 thought 아니라 not-but 자기 own 생각이다 is-thought
53.19b hajiman (HA-ji-man) but sujinege (SOO-jin-eh-geh) Sujin-DAT jungyohan (JOONG-yo-han) important-ADNOMINAL geoseun (GUH-seun) thing-TOP namui (NA-meh) other-GEN saenggagi (SENG-ga-gi) thought-SUBJ anira (A-ni-ra) not-BUT jagi (JA-gi) own saenggagida (SENG-ga-gi-da) thought-COP.PLAIN
53.20a 수진은 Sujin 하룻밤 one-night 더 more 생각해 thinking 보기로 to-try 한다 decides
53.20b sujineun (SOO-jin-eun) Sujin-TOP harutbam (HA-rut-bbam) one-night deo (DUH) more saenggakae (SENG-ga-keh) think-CONN bogiro (BO-gi-ro) try-NOMINALISER-TO handa (HAN-da) do-PLAIN
53.21a 밤이 night 깊어도 even-if-deep 잠이 sleep 오지 coming 않는다 doesn't 머릿속에는 in-the-head 온갖 all-sorts 생각이 thoughts 떠오른다 rise
53.21b bami (BA-mi) night-SUBJ gipeodo (GI-puh-do) deep-EVEN.IF jami (JA-mi) sleep-SUBJ oji (O-ji) come-NEG.CONN anneunda (AN-neun-da) not-PLAIN meorissogeneun (MUH-ri-ssok-eh-neun) head-inside-LOC.TOP ongat (ON-gat) all-sorts saenggagi (SENG-ga-gi) thought-SUBJ tteooreunda (TTUH-o-reun-da) rise-PLAIN
53.22a 그때 then 어머니와 with-mother 함께 together 찍은 taken 오래된 old 사진이 photograph 생각난다 comes-to-mind
53.22b geuttae (GEU-tteh) then eomoniwa (UH-mo-ni-wa) mother-WITH hamkke (HAM-kkeh) together jjigeun (JJI-geun) take-PAST.ADNOMINAL oraedoen (O-reh-dwen) old-PAST.ADNOMINAL sagini (SA-gin-ee) photograph-SUBJ saenggangnanda (SENG-gang-nan-da) come-to-mind-PLAIN
53.23a 그 that 사진을 photograph 찍던 used-to-take 날 day 두 two 사람은 people 아무 any 생각 thought 없이 without 웃고 laughing 있었다 were
53.23b geu (GEU) that sajineul (SA-ji-neul) photograph-OBJ jjikdeon (JJIK-ddeon) take-RETROSPECTIVE.ADNOMINAL nal (NAL) day du (DOO) two sarameun (SA-ra-meun) person-TOP amu (A-moo) any saenggak (SENG-gak) thought eopsi (UHP-ssi) without utgo (UT-kko) laugh-AND isseotda (EESS-sseot-da) exist-PAST-PLAIN
53.24a 그 that 시절을 days 떠올리며 recalling 수진은 Sujin 천천히 slowly 생각을 thoughts 정리한다 arranges
53.24b geu (GEU) that sijeoreul (SHEE-juh-reul) days-OBJ tteoollimyeo (TTUH-ol-li-myuh) call-to-mind-WHILE sujineun (SOO-jin-eun) Sujin-TOP cheoncheonhi (CHUHN-chuhn-hee) slowly saenggageul (SENG-ga-geul) thought-OBJ jeongnihanda (JUHNG-ni-han-da) arrange-PLAIN
53.25a 지금까지 until-now 서울을 Seoul 떠나는 leaving 것을 act 진지하게 seriously 생각해 thinking 본 tried 적이 occasion 없다 is-not
53.25b jigeumkkaji (JEE-geum-kka-ji) until-now seoureul (SUH-oo-reul) Seoul-OBJ tteonaneun (TTUH-na-neun) leave-ADNOMINAL geoseul (GUH-seul) thing-OBJ jinjihage (JIN-ji-ha-geh) serious-ADVERB saenggakae (SENG-ga-keh) think-CONN bon (BON) see-PAST.ADNOMINAL jeogi (JUH-gi) occasion-SUBJ eopda (UHP-da) not-exist-PLAIN
53.26a 다음 next 날 day 아침 morning 수진은 Sujin 마음을 mind 정한다 settles 이제는 now 부산에서 in-Busan 새로 anew 시작해도 even-if-begins 좋다고 that-it's-fine 생각한다 thinks
53.26b daeum (DA-eum) next nal (NAL) day achim (A-chim) morning sujineun (SOO-jin-eun) Sujin-TOP maeumeul (MA-eu-meul) heart-OBJ jeonghanda (JUHNG-han-da) decide-PLAIN ijeneun (EE-jeh-neun) now-TOP busaneseo (BOO-sa-neh-suh) Busan-AT saero (SEH-ro) anew sijakaedo (SHEE-ja-keh-do) begin-EVEN.IF jotago (JO-ta-go) good-QUOTE saenggakanda (SENG-ga-kan-da) think-PLAIN
53.27a 수진은 Sujin 어머니에게 to-mother 전화한다 phones 어머니는 mother 벌써 already 오래전부터 long-ago-from 그렇게 like-that 생각하고 thinking 있었다고 had-been 말한다 says
53.27b sujineun (SOO-jin-eun) Sujin-TOP eomoniege (UH-mo-ni-eh-geh) mother-DAT jeonhwahanda (JUHN-hwa-han-da) phone-PLAIN eomonineun (UH-mo-ni-neun) mother-TOP beolsseo (BUHL-ssuh) already oraejeonbuteo (O-reh-juhn-boo-tuh) long-ago-FROM geureoke (GEU-ruh-keh) like-that saenggakago (SENG-ga-ka-go) think-AND isseotdago (EESS-sseot-da-go) exist-PAST-QUOTE malhanda (MAL-han-da) say-PLAIN
53.28a 어머니는 mother 내 my 생각은 thought 하지 doing 말고 stop-and 네 your 생각대로 as-you-think 해 do 라고 QUOTE 말한다 says
53.28b eomonineun (UH-mo-ni-neun) mother-TOP nae (NEH) I-GEN saenggageun (SENG-ga-geun) thought-TOP haji (HA-ji) do-NEG.CONN malgo (MAL-go) stop-AND ne (NEH) you-GEN saenggakdaero (SENG-gak-ttae-ro) thought-AS hae (HEH) do-INFORMAL rago (RA-go) QUOTE malhanda (MAL-han-da) say-PLAIN
53.29a 수진은 Sujin 전화를 call 끊고 ending 한참 a-good-while 동안 during 창밖을 outside-window 바라본다 gazes 생각이 thoughts 정리되자 as-soon-as-arranged 마음이 heart 가벼워진다 grows-light
53.29b sujineun (SOO-jin-eun) Sujin-TOP jeonhwareul (JUHN-hwa-reul) phone-OBJ kkeunko (KKEUN-ko) cut-AND hancham (HAN-cham) a-good-while dongan (DONG-an) during changbakkeul (CHANG-ba-kkeul) window-outside-OBJ barabonda (BA-ra-bon-da) gaze-PLAIN saenggagi (SENG-ga-gi) thought-SUBJ jeongnidoeja (JUHNG-ni-dweh-ja) be-arranged-AS-SOON-AS maeumi (MA-eu-mi) heart-SUBJ gabyeowojinda (GA-byuh-wo-jin-da) become-light-PLAIN
53.30a 그날 that-day 밤 night 수진은 Sujin 오랜만에 after-a-long-time 아무 any 생각 thought 없이 without 깊이 deeply 잠든다 falls-asleep
53.30b geunal (GEU-nal) that-day bam (BAM) night sujineun (SOO-jin-eun) Sujin-TOP oraenmane (O-ren-ma-neh) after-a-long-time amu (A-moo) any saenggak (SENG-gak) thought eopsi (UHP-ssi) without gipi (GI-pi) deeply jamdeunda (JAM-deun-da) fall-asleep-PLAIN
53.16 수진은 부산에서 온 편지를 읽고 오래 생각한다. (sujineun busaneseo on pyeonjireul ilgo orae saenggakanda.) "Sujin reads a letter that has come from Busan and thinks for a long time." 53.17 월급은 지금보다 많다. 그래도 서울을 떠난다고 생각하면 마음이 무겁다. (wolgeubeun jigeumboda manta. geuraedo seoureul tteonandago saenggakamyeon maeumi mugeopda.) "The salary is higher than now. Even so, when she thinks of leaving Seoul, her heart is heavy." 53.18 수진은 친구 민호에게 전화해 의견을 묻는다. 민호는 수진이 잘할 것이라고 생각한다고 말한다. (sujineun chingu minhoege jeonhwahae uigyeoneul mutneunda. minhoneun sujini jalhal geosirago saenggakandago malhanda.) "Sujin phones her friend Minho and asks his opinion. Minho says that he thinks Sujin will do well." 53.19 하지만 수진에게 중요한 것은 남의 생각이 아니라 자기 생각이다. (hajiman sujinege jungyohan geoseun namui saenggagi anira jagi saenggagida.) "But what matters to Sujin is not other people's thoughts but her own." 53.20 수진은 하룻밤 더 생각해 보기로 한다. (sujineun harutbam deo saenggakae bogiro handa.) "Sujin decides to think it over for one more night." 53.21 밤이 깊어도 잠이 오지 않는다. 머릿속에는 온갖 생각이 떠오른다. (bami gipeodo jami oji anneunda. meorissogeneun ongat saenggagi tteooreunda.) "Even as the night grows deep, sleep does not come. All sorts of thoughts rise in her head." 53.22 그때 어머니와 함께 찍은 오래된 사진이 생각난다. (geuttae eomoniwa hamkke jjigeun oraedoen sagini saenggangnanda.) "Then an old photograph taken together with her mother comes to mind." 53.23 그 사진을 찍던 날 두 사람은 아무 생각 없이 웃고 있었다. (geu sajineul jjikdeon nal du sarameun amu saenggak eopsi utgo isseotda.) "On the day that photograph was taken, the two of them were laughing without a thought in their heads." 53.24 그 시절을 떠올리며 수진은 천천히 생각을 정리한다. (geu sijeoreul tteoollimyeo sujineun cheoncheonhi saenggageul jeongnihanda.) "Calling those days to mind, Sujin slowly sorts out her thoughts." 53.25 지금까지 서울을 떠나는 것을 진지하게 생각해 본 적이 없다. (jigeumkkaji seoureul tteonaneun geoseul jinjihage saenggakae bon jeogi eopda.) "Until now she has never seriously thought about leaving Seoul." 53.26 다음 날 아침 수진은 마음을 정한다. 이제는 부산에서 새로 시작해도 좋다고 생각한다. (daeum nal achim sujineun maeumeul jeonghanda. ijeneun busaneseo saero sijakaedo jotago saenggakanda.) "The next morning Sujin makes up her mind. She now thinks it would be fine to start anew in Busan." 53.27 수진은 어머니에게 전화한다. 어머니는 벌써 오래전부터 그렇게 생각하고 있었다고 말한다. (sujineun eomoniege jeonhwahanda. eomonineun beolsseo oraejeonbuteo geureoke saenggakago isseotdago malhanda.) "Sujin phones her mother. Her mother says she has already been thinking so for a long time." 53.28 어머니는 "내 생각은 하지 말고 네 생각대로 해."라고 말한다. (eomonineun "nae saenggageun haji malgo ne saenggakdaero hae." rago malhanda.) "Her mother says, 'Don't think of me; do as you see fit.'" 53.29 수진은 전화를 끊고 한참 동안 창밖을 바라본다. 생각이 정리되자 마음이 가벼워진다. (sujineun jeonhwareul kkeunko hancham dongan changbakkeul barabonda. saenggagi jeongnidoeja maeumi gabyeowojinda.) "Sujin hangs up and gazes out of the window for a good while. As her thoughts settle, her heart grows light." 53.30 그날 밤 수진은 오랜만에 아무 생각 없이 깊이 잠든다. (geunal bam sujineun oraenmane amu saenggak eopsi gipi jamdeunda.) "That night, for the first time in a long while, Sujin falls deeply asleep without a thought in her head."
53.16 수진은 부산에서 온 편지를 읽고 오래 생각한다. 53.17 월급은 지금보다 많다. 그래도 서울을 떠난다고 생각하면 마음이 무겁다. 53.18 수진은 친구 민호에게 전화해 의견을 묻는다. 민호는 수진이 잘할 것이라고 생각한다고 말한다. 53.19 하지만 수진에게 중요한 것은 남의 생각이 아니라 자기 생각이다. 53.20 수진은 하룻밤 더 생각해 보기로 한다. 53.21 밤이 깊어도 잠이 오지 않는다. 머릿속에는 온갖 생각이 떠오른다. 53.22 그때 어머니와 함께 찍은 오래된 사진이 생각난다. 53.23 그 사진을 찍던 날 두 사람은 아무 생각 없이 웃고 있었다. 53.24 그 시절을 떠올리며 수진은 천천히 생각을 정리한다. 53.25 지금까지 서울을 떠나는 것을 진지하게 생각해 본 적이 없다. 53.26 다음 날 아침 수진은 마음을 정한다. 이제는 부산에서 새로 시작해도 좋다고 생각한다. 53.27 수진은 어머니에게 전화한다. 어머니는 벌써 오래전부터 그렇게 생각하고 있었다고 말한다. 53.28 어머니는 "내 생각은 하지 말고 네 생각대로 해."라고 말한다. 53.29 수진은 전화를 끊고 한참 동안 창밖을 바라본다. 생각이 정리되자 마음이 가벼워진다. 53.30 그날 밤 수진은 오랜만에 아무 생각 없이 깊이 잠든다.
Quoted thoughts in the plain style (53.17, 53.18, 53.26, 53.27). In the plain written style, the quoted clause ends in the plain form, and the quoting particle follows: 떠난다고 생각하면 (53.17, if she thinks "I am leaving"), 좋다고 생각한다 (53.26, she thinks "it is fine"), 것이라고 생각한다고 말한다 (53.18, he says that he thinks it is so). Two quotations can be stacked: the inner one is the thought, the outer one the saying. 53.27 does the same with 있었다고 말한다, "she says that it had been so."
-(으)면 and the thought (53.17). 서울을 떠난다고 생각하면 is "if (or when) she thinks of leaving Seoul." The condition is the thought itself, and the heavy heart is what it brings. It is a close cousin of the poem's -(으)니 in Section F: -(으)면 says "if," -(으)니 says "upon," and both lead from a thought to a feeling.
생각 as a noun (53.19, 53.21, 53.24). 남의 생각 (other people's thoughts), 자기 생각 (her own thoughts), 온갖 생각이 떠오른다 (all sorts of thoughts rise), 생각을 정리하다 (to sort out one's thoughts). The verbs paired with the noun are as useful as the verb 생각하다: 떠오르다 (to rise), 정리하다 (to arrange), 정리되다 (to be arranged, the passive of the same verb, 53.29), 바꾸다 (to change).
-기로 하다 (53.20), "to decide to." 생각해 보기로 한다 is "decides to think it over." The ending -기로 turns the verb into a noun with the particle (으)로, and 하다 closes the phrase: "makes it a rule to …." It is the plain way to report a decision, and past decisions use 하기로 했다.
-아/어 본 적이 없다 (53.25), "never have." 생각해 본 적이 없다 is "there is no occasion on which she has tried thinking," so "she has never thought about it." 적 is a bound noun for an occasion or experience, and -(으)ㄴ before it marks the past: 본 적이 있다 (have done), 본 적이 없다 (have never done).
생각나다 (53.22) and 아무 생각 없이 (53.23, 53.30). 사진이 생각난다 has the photograph as its subject: it comes to mind of itself. 아무 생각 없이 is "with no thought at all." 아무 ("any") followed by a negative or by 없다 means "none at all." Placed at the start and the end of the story, the phrase frames Sujin's night: the laughing pair in the photograph, and Sujin asleep.
-(으)며 (53.24) and -자 (53.29). 떠올리며 is "while calling to mind": -(으)며 joins two actions of one subject. 정리되자 is "as soon as it is arranged": -자 says that the second event follows at once on the first. Do as you see fit (53.28). 네 생각대로 해 is "do as you think." 대로 attaches to a noun to mean "as, according to": 생각대로, 마음대로 (as you wish), 계획대로 (as planned). 내 생각은 하지 말고 is "don't think of me": 생각(을) 하다 with the person as the object means to think of that person, and 말고 means "not that but …."
Plain-style endings. Verb stems take -ㄴ다 / -는다 (생각한다, 묻는다, 정한다); adjectives and the copula take -다 (많다, 무겁다, 생각이다); the past is -았/었다 (웃고 있었다). A final consonant is nasalised before the ㄴ of -는다: 묻는다 is pronounced [문는다], 않는다 [안는다].
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생각하다 (saenggakada) — IPA: /sɛŋ.ɡa.kʰa.da/ — Four syllables. ㅅ before ㅐ is a soft "s." The ㅇ at the end of 생 is "ng," as in "sing," and it runs on into the ㄱ, which is voiced between vowels: "seng-ga." The final ㄱ of 각 and the ㅎ of 하 fuse into one aspirated /kʰ/: said 생가카다. 생각해요 (saenggakaeyo) — IPA: /sɛŋ.ɡa.kʰɛ.jo/ — The same fusion: said [생가캐요]. 생각이 (saenggagi) — IPA: /sɛŋ.ɡa.ɡi/ — The final ㄱ moves across to the vowel that follows: [생가기]. In the same way 생각을 is [생가글] and 생각은 [생가근]. 생각나요 (saenggangnayo) — IPA: /sɛŋ.ɡaŋ.na.jo/ — ㄱ before ㄴ becomes ㅇ: [생강나요]. Likewise 생각났어요 is [생강나써요]. 생각보다 (saenggakboda) — IPA: /sɛŋ.ɡak̚.p͈o.da/ — ㅂ after a final ㄱ is tense: [생각뽀다]. 생각도 (saenggakdo) — IPA: /sɛŋ.ɡak̚.t͈o/ — ㄷ after a final ㄱ is tense: [생각또]. In the same way 생각대로 is [생각때로]. 생각 중이에요 (saenggak jungieyo) — IPA: /sɛŋ.ɡak̚.t͈ɕuŋ.i.e.jo/ — ㅈ after the ㄱ is tense: [생각쭝이에요]. 생각 없이 (saenggak eopsi) — IPA: /sɛŋ.ɡa.ɡʌp̚.ɕ͈i/ — The ㄱ of 생각 moves to 없 and the ㅅ is tense: said [생가겁씨]. 말했는지 (malhaenneunji) — IPA: /mal.hɛn.nɯn.dʑi/ — ㅆ before ㄴ is said as ㄴ: [말핸는지]. 좋다고 (jotago) — IPA: /tɕo.tʰa.ɡo/ — ㅎ and ㄷ fuse into aspirated /tʰ/: [조타고]. 시작해도 (sijakaedo) — IPA: /ɕi.dʑa.kʰɛ.do/ — The same fusion of ㄱ and ㅎ as in 생각하다: [시자캐도]. 깊어도 (gipeodo) — IPA: /ki.pʰʌ.do/ — The final ㅍ moves across as /pʰ/: [기퍼도]. 하룻밤 (harutbam) — IPA: /ha.ɾut̚.p͈am/ — The sai-siot ㅅ closes the syllable as /t̚/, and ㅂ after it is tense: [하룯빰]. 정리되자 (jeongnidoeja) — IPA: /tɕʌŋ.ni.dwe.dʑa/ — ㄹ after ㅇ is said as ㄴ: [정니되자]. 않는다 (anneunda) — IPA: /an.nɯn.da/ — The ㅎ of the cluster ㄶ falls silent: [안는다].
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