이기적은 공주/ 自私的公主 /The Selfish Princess by Me

This is a story that I wrote myself and translated into both korean and chinese.  (All rights go to me!) I am in no way a good writer, but I just wanted to test my abilities in writing in korean and chinese instead of just translating from the original texts. Those who have read my story laughed because of it's silly and nonsensical-ness, so I hope you can enjoy it despite the fact that it is not the greatest story ever written!

This story is about a young princess who is very selfish and vain, always comparing herself to her older sister. After a witch witnesses her rude behavior, she decides to teach the princess a lesson and puts a curse on her. After suffering hardships the princess finally shows compassion for someone else and the curse is lifted, and she lives happily ever after. 

이기적은 공주

自私的公主

The Selfish Princess

옛날에어느 왕국에서 선미와 지민라는 두 공주가 부무님과같이 살고 있었어요.  선미의 언니 지민은 너무 예쁘고 마음씨가 착했어요. 동생인 선미도 예뻤지만 욕심이 많았어요.

很久以前一起主在一个遥远地方有个工主叫羡冞跟她的姐姐和家人。 她的姐姐叫知旼。 知旼又很漂亮又很可亲. 羡冞也很美可是她不客气。

There once was a princess named SeonMi who lived with her sister and parents in a far away land. The older sister JiMin was beautiful and kind to everyone, while the younger sister SeoMin was beautiful like her sister, but not nice to anyone.

어려서부터 선미는 항상 지민에게 자신을 비교했어요. 어느날 선미와 지민함께 공궐에 있는 정원에서 꽃을 뽑았어요.지민이은 많은 데이지 꽃을 뽑아서 왕관을 만들었어요. “선미아- 이거봐! 예쁘지?”선미는 언니를 바라보면서 생각했어요, “나도 그렇게 만들수 있어! 네 꺼도 여쁘게 만들거야!”선미는 열심히 왕관을 만들어봤지만, 예쁘지 않았어요.  “나는 왜 언니 처럼 못 할까!” 지민이는 말했어요, “괜찮아! 네 것을 줄께. 좀 연습 하면 됄꺼야!”

从小的时候，羡冞将自己和她姐姐比较。 有一天，他们出去玩在 王宫花园摘花。 知玟摘了很多雏菊, 织成一顶雏菊的王冠.他说“羡冞你看！这个雏菊的王冠很漂亮。”羡冞她抬头看着姐姐 想到，“呀我也会做! 而且，会比她的漂亮…”她努力织但她失败了。羡冞想了， “我为什么不能！” 知玟看她了，说， “没关系啦， 我可以给你我的。你只需要练习一下！”

Ever since they were children, SeonMi was always comparing herself to her sister. One day, SeoMin and JiMin were outside picking flowers in the palace garden. JiMin had picked a bunch of daisies and woven them into a crown. “SeonMi look! Doesn’t it look pretty?” SeonMi looked up at her sister and thought to herself, ‘Hey, I can do that too! I’ll make mine prettier…” SeonMi tried hard to make a crown like her sister, but failed. ‘Why can’t I do it!’ JiMin said, “It’s okay. I’ll give you mine. It just takes practice!”

그렇게 해가 지나갔어요. 지민이는 항상 선미보다 모든것을 했어요. 둘은 자라서 어른이 되었고, 결혼 할 나이가 됐어요. 이웃 나라의 왕자가 재미들을 만나로 왔어요.

多年来他们长大了, 姐总比妹强。最终，他们达到结婚。个邻国的王子来看望他们.

They grew up over the years like this, with JiMin always overshadowing SeonMi. Eventually they were old enough to get married, and the prince from a neighboring country came to visit them.

선미는 너무 떨렸어요. 선미는 왕자가 지민 대신에 자신을 선택 해 주기를 바랐어요. 자매를 만난후에 왕자는 선미를 선택 하기로 했어요. 그때, 집사가 선미의 드레스 위에 실수로 물을 흘렸어요. 왕자는 선미가 집사한테 소리치는 것을  보고 선미에게 실망했어요.

羡冞很 兴奋，希望会王子选择她。她要大家知道她比知玟好。 他们介绍之后，王子似乎更喜欢羡冞。可是他看了羡冞大声指斥管家因为管家水到的时候洒了在她的衣服上。

SeonMi was excited, and hoped that the prince would pick her instead of her sister so she could finally show everyone that she was the better one. After they were introduced to each other, the prince seemed to like SeonMi more. But that changed after he overheard her yelling at the butler for spilling water on her dress.

그래서 선미대신 지민와 결혼했어요. 선미는 마음이 쓰라리고 화가났어요. 선미는 생각 했어요, ‘내가 언니보다 더 예쁜데 왜다들 항상 언니를 선택해지? ’

知玟 与王子结婚、而羡冞被单独留在宫里、感觉更苦。羡冞很生气地想到了，‘我跟姐姐一样的，不 我比她好！为什么他们都选择她？’

JiMin and the prince got married, while SeonMi was left alone and feeling even more bitter. ‘Im just as good as my sister, I’m even better then her! Why does everyone always pick her over me” SeonMi thought angrily.

어느날, 선미는 어느마을에 가다가, 땅에 넘어진 할머니를 만났어요. 할머니가 말했어요, “아가씨, 저를 좀 도와줄 수 있어요?” 선미는 할머니의 누더기 옷과 더러운 손을 보면서 할머니에게 눈살을 찌푸렸어요. “저리가. 더러운 거지!” 선미가 지나간후에때 할머니가 예쁜 마녀로 변형되었어요. “저 아이를 너무 이기적이고, 어리석고, 배은망덕하군. 교훈을 가르쳐야 겠다.”

羡冞进城，并通过一个老妇曾在沿途的街道跌倒了。那个女人说， “小姐，你能帮我吗？” 羡冞看了他很破烂的衣服和沾满的手，她说，“怎么可能！滚开你肮脏的老巫婆!” 羡冞跑去的时候，那个老妇原来是个年轻漂亮的巫婆变的。“那个女孩就是一个负心和做大的孩子。 她一定要叫一个教训。”

One day SeonMi went into town and passed an old woman who had fallen in the street along the way. “Miss, would you help me?” SeonMi looked at the old woman’s ragged clothing and dirty hand, frowning. “No way, you dirty old woman go away!” When SeonMi passed by the old woman turned into a pretty young witch. “That girl is ungrateful and vain. She needs to be taught a lesson.”

마녀가 선미에게 저주를해서 공주는 모든 돈을 잊어버렸어요. 그래서 선미는 보통 사람 처럼 살아야 했어요. 많은 사람들이 열심히 선미를 도와 주었어요. 마을의 아줌마들이 선미에게 바느질하기와 요리하기를 가르쳤지만 딱 거절했어요. 선미는 공주가 더이상 아니었지만  모든 사람들이에게 너무 무례했어요. 시간이 지날수록 많은 괴로운 생각을 했어요. 너무 무례해서 모두다 선미를 도와 주기 않았어요.

巫婆对她上了诅咒了，结果与故羡冞失去了所有的钱。这样她迫bi过生平民生活。村里的女人想教她做针线活和做饭，但她拒绝了，因为“她比村里的女人更好”。她仍然不显示礼貌，即使她已经不再是公主。她承受了太多的吃苦耐劳。现在没有人想帮她因为她没有礼貌。

The witch put a curse on her, and the princess lost all her money. SeonMi was there on forced to live as a commoner. People tried to help her adjust to her new life. The local village women tried to teach her how to sew and cook, but she refused their help because she was “better then them”.  She continued to be rude to everyone despite the fact that she was now no longer a princess. SeonMi suffered a lot as the days went on. No one wanted to help her any longer after she had been rude to them.

하루는 우물 앞의 있는둘 위에 앉아 선미는 많이 울었어요. 외로움을 느꼈어요. “모든지 너무 어려워요! 그리고 모든사람들이 저같이 얘기를 안 하고싶어 해요!” 눈물을 닦은후에 물통을 들고 집으로 걸어갔어요. 그때 나무밑에 있는 남자를 봤어요. 남자는 기절한 것 같았어요. 날이 저물어서 사람들이 없었어요.

有一天她坐在岩石旁一个井哭了。她感到非常孤独。“生存是如此艰难，还有. 没有人要跟我说话！” 她擦干了眼泪的之后，她往城走了回来抱着她的水桶。这一秒在一个树的下面她看到了一个晕倒的男人。周围没有人可能帮助他, 天色已又经暗了。

One day SeonMi sat down on a rock next to the town well and cried. She felt very alone. “Doing everything is so hard, and no one will talk to me anymore!” After she had wiped the tears away, she walked back towards town holding her water bucket. At that moment, she saw a man lying under a tree who looked like he had fainted. No one was around to help him and it was getting dark.

“아저씨, 괜찮으세요?”그 남자를 깨웠지만, 그 사람은 눈을 못 떴어요. 선미이는 느남자에게 물을 좀 주었어요. 그러자, 그 남자는 몇 분 지나서 일어 났어요. “정말 고마워요! 집으로 가는길에 길을 잊어버렸어요. 그런데, 날씨가 더운데, 물을 안 가지고 왔어요.” “천만에요! 아프신 것 같아서 그냥 도와주고 싶었어…”

선미는 그에 게집으로 초대 했지만 그는 중요한 상황을 있어서 집에 돌아야해요. 선미에게 감사 인사를 하고, 선미는 혼자서 집에 돌아왔어요.

“先生，你没事吧?” 她摇了他，但他没有睁开眼睛。 她给了他水以后他醒来的。“谢谢你小姐，我会家的时候 我迷路了。今天很热我又没带了水。” 羡冞笑了，说， “没事！我只要帮你因为你有困难。” 她请让他来她的家可是先生说他一定要回家因为他有紧迫的事情。他感谢她然后她独自回家。

“Sir are you alright?” SeonMi shook him but he didn't open his eyes.  She gave him some water and he awoke a couple minutes later. “Thank you so much! I was on my way back home when I got lost. It was really hot out and I didn't bring any water with me.” She smiled at him and said “No problem, I just wanted to help you since you looked like you were in trouble.” She offered to let him stay at her house but he said the matter was urgent and he needed to get back home. He thanked her and she returned home alone.

선미가 집으로 걷고 있을때 마녀가 나무 뒤에서 나타났어요. “교훈을 배운 것 같군”. 저주를 풀었어요. 그리고 선미는 궁전으로 돌아왔어요. 며칠 후에 선미가 구한 남자가 궁전에 찾아왔어요. 남자는 이웃 나라의 왕자 이었고 선미때문에 너무 감동 해서 결혼하고 싶어했어요. 제안을 받고 선미는 왕자와 결혼하여 행복하게 잘 살았어요.

她走的时候，巫婆躲在树后面看着他们. 她说，“看来她已经受到了教训！” 巫婆把生活方式恢复了，所以羡冞回去主在皇宫。几天后她救了的人来到王宫。那个男人就是一个邻国的王子、因为他很感动王子要跟羡冞结婚。羡冞高兴地答应，从此她对每个人都很好.他们结婚了，然后从此他们就快快乐乐地生活下去。

As SeonMi walked away, the witch who had been hiding behind a tree in the forest watching them appeared. “It seems she has learned her lesson!” The witch turned things back to the way they were and SeonMi lived in the palace once again. Days later, the man SeonMi had saved turned up at the palace doors. He was a prince from another far away land and wanted to marry her because he was moved by her kindness. SeonMi happily said yes and from then on was kind to everyone. They got married and lived happily ever after.

 *I just wanted to include these (속담/成語) because they helped inspire me to write this story. Usually short stories and fairy tales have a motto or lesson learned at the end. For this story that I wrote, I wanted it to teach others the importance of treating others the way that you want to be treated and appreciating what you have through SeonMi's story. I felt that all of these proverbs were ones that everyone could relate to, since we have similar ones in english. 

滴水之恩當 以湧泉相報

Literally: A drop of water shall be returned with a burst of spring.

Meaning: If you were helped  even just a little from others, you should return the favor when they are in need.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Chinese_proverbs

남의 떡이 커 보인다

Literally: Others' ddeok (rice cake) looks big.

Meaning: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

http://ezcorean.com/korean_vocabulary/korean_proverbs/ezc_pager.php?cfile=mod_pager&from_lang=korean&browse_all=1&switch=pr&level=1&quiz_offset=&to_lang=english&browse_user_name=curious&user=&browse_todo=0&browse_old=0&browse_word=0&entrant=1

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다

Literally: if you speak beautiful words, then people will speak beautifully to you.

Meaning: You reap what you sow / treat others the way you would like to be treated. 

http://ezcorean.com/korean_vocabulary/korean_proverbs/ezc_pager.php?cfile=mod_pager&from_lang=korean&browse_all=1&switch=pr&level=1&quiz_offset=&to_lang=english&browse_user_name=curious&user=&browse_todo=0&browse_old=0&browse_word=0&entrant=3

콩쥐 팥쥐 Kongjui and Patjui

 This story is called 흥부와 놀부 Heungbu and Nolbu, and I got the original Korean text from the Parrot Fairy Tale Series by SaeSaem publishing company (지혜와 슬기 주머니 10 새샘 명작 동화) all rights reserved to them!

This story is like a korean version of cinderella, in that a girl named Kongjui is forced to grow up with her evil stepmother and sister after her parents die. She is forced to do all the chores but gets help along the way and ends up marrying the Govenor's son in the end despite her stepmothers attempts to interfere. 

콩쥐 팥쥐

Kongjui and Patjui

—————————————————————————

아주 먼 옛날 콩쥐라는 아이가 아버지와 함께 살고 있었어요. 어머니 콩쥐가 어린 때 돌아가셨어요. 그래서 콩쥐는 어머지 대신 집안일을 해야했어요. 아버지는 그런 콩쥐가 늘 안쓰러웠어요.

Along time ago, Kongjui lived with her father. Kongjui’s mother died when she was young, so Kongjui did the household chores instead. Kongjui’s father felt sorry for her.  

하루는 아버지가 새 어머지를 데려와 말씀하셨어요. “얘, 콩쥐야! 너의 새 어머니와 동생 콩쥐야, 인사하렴.””안녕하세요?콩쥐라고 함니다. 그리고 동생이 생겨서 반가워.” “뭐? 콩쥐? 이름도 되게 웃긴다. 나보고 언니라고 해!”

One day, Kongjui’s father brought home a new mother and said, “Hey, Kongjui! These are your new mother and sister, say hello to them.” “Hello? My name is Kongjui, and I’m happy to have a sibling now.” “What? Kongjui? That name is funny! When you see me, call me older sister!”

처음부터 새어머지와 팥쥐는 콩쥐를 못마땅하게 여겼어요. 함께 살면서도 새 어머니는 맛있는 것은 팥쥐에게만 주고 콩쥐에게는 힘든 일만 시켰어요. 그렇게 지내다 갑자기 아버지가 돌아가셨어요. “아버지! 흑흑흑…….” “콩쥐야! 넌제까지 그렇게 울고만 있을거냐?” 이젠 아버지가 하던 일까지 네가 해야지.”

From the beginning, the new mother and Patjui were never pleased by Kongjui. While they were living together, the stepmother only gave delicious food to Patjui, and only ordered Kongjui to do hard work. Like this time passed by until oneday Kongjui’s father passed away. “Father!” “Kongjui! Until how long are you going to keep crying like this? From now on you need to do your father’s work too!”

그 후로 콩쥐는 힘든 일을 더 많이 해야 했어요. 하루는 새 어머니가 콩쥐에게 나무 호미를 주며 말씀하셨어요. “얘 콩쥐야! 어른 가서 뒷산에 있는 밭의 풀을 뽑고 오너라.” “네, 어머니.” 그 밭은 둘과 풀이 아주 많았어요. 그래서 나무 호미는 그새 부러졌 버렸어요.

After that, Kongjui had to do even more hard work. One day, the stepmother gave Kongjui a wooden rake and said, “Hey Kongjui! Quickly go up to the mountain fields, pluck out the grass and come back.” “Yes, Mother.” In that field there were lots of rocks and grass, so pretty soon the rake was broken.

할 수 잆이 콩쥐는 손으로 풀을 뽑았어요. 콩쥐는 손이 너무 아팠어요.  그 때 어디선가 황소가 나타났어요. “콩쥐 아가씨! 제가 이 풀을 다 뽑아 드릴게요.” 황소는 순식간에 풀을 다 뽑아 주었어요. “어머! 어떻게 이런 일이? 황소야 고마워.”

Without any other method, Kongjui resorted to pulling the grass out by hand.  Kongjui’s hand hurt a lot. At that time, a bull appeared from somewhere. “Miss Kongjui! I will pull out the grass for you.” The bull quickly pulled out all the grass for her. “Wow! How did this happen? Bull, thank you.”

콩쥐는 기쁜 마음으로 집으로 갔어요. “어머니 풀을 다 뽑고 왔어요.” “뭐냐? 다 뽑았다고? 어디 가 보자.” 밭으로 간 새 어머니는 깜짝 놀랐어요. ‘아니, 저것이 나무 호미로 돌밭에 있는 그 많은 풀을 어떻게 다 뽑았지?’ 놀란 새어머니는 혼젓말로 중얼거리며 돌아갔어요.

Kongjui went back home happily. “Mother, I have pulled out all the grass and come back.” “Whay? It was all pulled out? Lets go see it.” The stepmother who saw the field was shocked. ‘No, how can you pull out all of the grass in the field which has rocks with that rake?’ the shocked stepmother said to herself while returning back to the house.

다음 날 새 어머지는 팥쥐를 데리고 나들이를 가며 말했어요.  “콩쥐야! 너는 이 독에다 물을 가득 채워 놓아라!” “네, 어머니.” “헤헤헤, 콩쥐야 약오로지? 메롱!”

The next day, the stepmother took Patjui out, and while they were leaving for the outing, she said, “Kongjui! Fill this jar full of water!” “Okay mother.” “He he he, Kongjui’s a sucker!” said Patjui while sticking out her tongue.

콩쥐는 물을 열심히 길어다 부었어요. 그런데 참 이상했어요. 독 안에 물이 고이지 않는 거예요. “참 이상하네…….” 독 안을 자세히 들여다 보니 밑바닥이 깨어져 있었어요. “이 일을 어떻게 하면 좋아…….”

Kongjui worked hard for a long time to fill up the jar. But, something was alittle strange. The jar wasn’t filling up. “That's strange....” When she looked at the jar’s inside in detail, she saw that the bottom was broken. “How can I do this chore well now....”

순간 그 광경을 지켜보고 있던 두꺼비가 말했어요. “콩쥐 아가씨! 제가 깨어진 곳을 막아 줄 테니 물을 길어 오세요.” “두꺼비야, 고마워.” 두꺼비가 깨어진 곳을 막아 주고 콩쥐가 물을 길어다 붓자 독 안에 물이 가득 찼어요.

At this moment, a toad, who had been watching spoke to her. “Miss Kongjui! I will block the broken places of the jar for you so you can pour the water in.” “Thank you toad.” The toad blocked the broken place in the jar and Kongjui added in the water to the jar until it was filled.

나들이에서 돌아온 새 어머니는 콩쥐를 혼낼 생각으로 물었어요. “독 안에 물은 다 채웠냐?” “네, 어머니.” “뭐? 다 채웠다구?” 독 안을 들여다 본 새 어머니는 깜짝 놀랐어요. ‘아니, 어떻게 깨어진 독에 물이 찼지???…….’

When they returned from the outing, the stepmother who was thinking of scolding Kongjui, asked her, “Did you fill the jar completely?” “Yes mother.” “What? You filled it all?” The stepmother, who looked in the jar, was really surprised. ‘No, the jar was broken how did she???....”

그렇게 세월은 흘러 콩쥐와 팥쥐도 자라서 시집 갈 나이가 되었어요. 하루는 새 어머니가 말씀하셨어요. “팥쥐야. 내일 잔치에 갈 준비를 해야겠다. 잔치에 온 처녀 중에 원님의 며느릿감을 뽑는다는구나.” “엄마, 그게 정말이세요?” “그렇다는구나. 너는 특별히 예쁘게 보여야 한다.”

The years passed like this, and eventually Kongjui and Patjui became the age to marry. One day, the stepmother said, “Patjui, you need to get ready for the party tomorrow. From amoung the young ladies who come to the party, the govenor will pick a daughter in law. ” “Mother, is that true?” “Yes, therefore you should be especially pretty for tomorrow.”

잔칫날이 되어 새 어머니가 콩쥐에게 말했어요. “콩쥐야! 너는 마당에 널어 놓은 벼를 다 찧어 놓고 방에 짜다만 옷감을 다 짜고 오너라!” “어머니, 그걸 언제 다…….” “아니, 요것이 못하겠다는 말이냐?” 그 때 팥쥐가 말했어요. “헤헤헤, 콩쥐야 약오르지?”

The day of the party came and the stepmother told Kongjui, “ Kongjui! Peel all the rice from the plants drying in the yard and make the clothing!” “Mother, when all of these....” “No, are you saying that you can’t do even this much?” At that time, Patjui said, “He he he, Kongjui is a sucker.”

새 어머니와 팥쥐는 잔치에 가고 콩쥐는 마당에 널어 놓은 벼를 찧을 준비를 하였어요. 그 때 참새들이 날아들었어요. “워어이! 참새들아 안돼!” “짹 짹 짹, 콩쥐 아가씨 걱정마세요. 저희들이 벼의 껍질을 다 까 드리겠어요.” 벼는 순식간에 하얀 쌀이 되었어요.

The stepmother and Patjui went to the party, and Kongjui went to the yard to prepare the seeds for pounding. At that time, a bunch of sparrows appeared. “Wah! Sparrows don’t!” “Chirp chirp chirp, Miss Kongjui, don't worry. We will peel the shells off the rice for you. ” The rice instantly became white.

콩쥐는 쌀을 담아 놓고 옷감을 짜기 시작 했어요. 콩쥐도 빨리 해 놓고 잔치에 가고 싶었거든요. 그런데, 짜야 할 실은 너무 많았어요. 순간, 콩쥐는 돌아가신 부모님이 생각났어요. “어머지! 아버지! 흑흑흑…….”

Kongjui put in the rice and then began to weave the clothing. Kongjui wanted to quickly finish the work because she wanted to go to the party. But, the strings she needed to weave were numerous. Soon, thoughts of her deceaced parents arose. “Mother! Father!”

     그때 선녀가 나타나 말했어요. “콩쥐 아가씨! 얼른 잔치에 갈 준비를 하세요.” “어머! 당신은?…….” “아가씨를도와 드리겠어요.” 선녀는 콩쥐에게 예쁜 한복 한 벌과 꽃신 한 켤레를 주고 짜다만 옷감도 다 짜 주었어요.

Then, a fairy appeared. “Miss Kongjui! Please quickly come get ready to go to the party.” “Oh dear! Who are you?... .” “I will help you Miss Kongjui.” The fairy then gave Kongjui a pretty dress, a pair of fancy shoes, and finished all of the weaving for her.

콩쥐는 예쁜 한복을 입고 꽃신을 신은 채 잔치가 열리는 곳으로 갔어요. 많은 사람들이 콩쥐의 예쁜 모습을 보고 한 마디씩 하였어요. “어머! 참 예쁘다.” “하늘에서 내려온 선녀같네요.”

Kongjui went to the place where the party was held wearing her pretty dress and fancy shoes. Many people saw Kongjui’s pretty attire and started to praise her. “Wow! Look how pretty she is. She’s like a angel that came down from the sky.”

그 때 원님의 아이들이 콩쥐에게 다가왔어요. “참 아름다우시군요. 어디에 사시는 누구신지?” “저어…….” 콩쥐는 아무말도 하지 못하고 얼굴만 빨개졌어요. 더욱 많은 사람들이 콩쥐가 있는 곳으로 모여들었어요.

At that time, the Govenor’s son went closer to Kongjui. “What a beautiful lady. Who are you and where do you live?” “Me....” Kongjui couldn’t say even a word and her face had become red. Many other people had flocked to where Kongjui was.

그 때 새 어머니와 팥쥐의 목소리가 들렸어요. “도대체 누가 그렇게 예쁘다는 거야?” 순간, 콩쥐는 새 어머니와 마주칠까 겁이 났어요. “죄송합니다만 저는 이만…….” 허겁지겁 달려 나오는 콩쥐를 원님의 아들이 따라오며 외쳤어요. “이름만이라도 알려 주시오.”

Then, she heard her stepmother and Patjui’s voices. “Who the heck could be that pretty?” Instantly, Kongjui became afraid of meeting with her stepmother. “I’m  very sorry but I....” Kongjui hastily ran off, but the Govenor’s son followed her and called out, “Just let me know you’re name at least.”

하지만 콩쥐는 뒤를 돌아보지도 못한 채 달려가다 그만 꽃신 한 짝이 벗겨져 버렸어요. “어머! 이 일을 어떻게 하지?” 콩쥐는 꽃신 한 짝을 남긴 채 가 버리고 원님의 아들은 꽃신 한 짝을 주워서 원님께로 들고 갔어요.

But Kongjui ran away without even looking back, and while running lost one of her fancy shoes. “Oh no! What should I do?” Kongjui abandoned her shoe, and the son of the Govenor picked up the shoe and carried it back to his father.

“아버님! 이 꽃신의 임자와 결혼하겠습니다.” 원님은 신하들을 시켜 온 고을을 뒤져서 꽃신의 임자를 찾아오게 하였어요. 신하들은 고을 전체를 돌다가 콩쥐의 짐에도 왔어요.

“Father! I want to marry the owner of this shoe!”  The Govenor order his servents to go to the town and find the owner of the fancy shoe. The men searched through the whole town for the owner, and they also went to Kongjui’s house.

신하들이 수줍은 듯 보고 있던 콩쥐에게 말했어요. “아가씨도 한번 신어 봐요.” 그러자 새 어머니가 말했어요. “쟤는 신어 볼 필요도 없어요.” “하지만 원님께서는 모든 아가씨들에게 다 신겨 보라고 하셨소. 자 신어 보시오.”

The servants talked to Kongjui, who was watching silently, saying, “Miss you must also try these shoes on.” Then the stepmother said, “Theres no need for her to try them on.” “But we have ben ordered by the magistrate that all of the young ladies must do it. Now, please try them on.”

콩쥐가 꽃신을신가 신하들이 소리쳤어요. “허어. 꼭 맞는군. 이제야 임자를 찾았어.” 그제서야 콩쥐는 방에 잘 두었던 예쁜 한복을 입고 나머지 꽃신 한 짝을 신고 나왔어요. “저-저것이 언게…….” 그렇게 하여 콩쥐는 원님의 아들과 결혼하여 행복하게 잘 살았습니다.

When Kongjui tried on the shoe, all of the servants screamed. “Aha. This is exactly right. We have found the owner.” Kongjui left the room, and came back wearing her pretty dress and fancy shoes. “I-well when...” Thus the govenor’s son and Kongjui were married and they lived happily ever after. 


*This story has lots of similarities to Cinderella, but the difference is that to me this story seems more believable. Instead of Kongjui getting married to a prince, she gets married in the end to the Govenor's son. It would seem more farfetched if all of the sudden a prince decided to come to some random village's party and pick a bride there, so I think that this story was nicely balanced. Much like cinderella this story tells us to be good and strive to live ones life no matter what gets you down, because in the end if you are good you will win in the end (and get to marry the prince!). The hard part about this story was translating the sound effects (ex 흑흑흑= crying) and some of the titles (ex 원님= govenor)  because in english we do not sound effect words and the title words are not always 100% equivalent. Choosing the right title gives the story a completely different feel, so I tried to stay as authentic to the original as possible. 

背影 The Image of His Back by 朱自清 Zhu Ziqing

This story is called 背影 (Beiying) , and was written by famous poet and essayist 朱自清 Zhu Ziqing (1898-1948). He studied at the famous Peking University and was one of the writers to arise in popularity during the 1920s out of the May Fourth Movement. His story tells the interactions between the thoughts of a young student and his father after the death of his grandmother. 

I got this story originally from the website:

http://www.eduzhai.net/wenxue/xdwx/zhuziqing/beiying.htm

(all rights reserved)

Enjoy~!

背影 by 朱自清

The Image of His Back

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我与父亲不相见已二年余了，我最不能忘记的是他的背影。 I haven’t seen my father for more then two years already.  The thing that I can never forget though is  the image of his back. 那年冬天，祖母死了，父亲的差使也交卸了，正是祸不单行的日子， 我从北京到徐州，打算跟着父亲奔丧回家。  That year’s winter, my grandmother died and my father relinquished his post.  Lots of bad things happened during this time.  I had planned on going back home from Beijing to Xuzhou,  in order to help my father prepare the funeral.   到徐州见着父亲，看见满院狼藉的东西，又想起祖母，不禁簌簌地流下眼泪。 I arrived in Xuzhou and seeing my father,  I caught sight of the yard in disarray and couldn't help the tears from slipping out as I thought of  my grandmother again.   父亲说，“事已如此，不必难过，好在天无绝人之路！”回家变卖典质， 父亲还了亏空；又借钱办了丧事。 My father said, “Since stuff like this has already happened  there’s no need to be sad, the road to Heaven is open!”  When we returned home, my father sold our mortgage  to clear our debt, but also borrowed money  to use for the funeral.   这些日子，家中光景很是惨淡，一半为了丧事，一半为了父亲赋闲。 These days our family’s circumstances are very bleak,  half because of the funeral arrangements while the  other half was because of my idle father.   丧事完毕，父亲要到南京谋事，我也要回北京念书，我们便同行。 After the funeral is over, my father wanted to  go to Nanjing for work, and I needed to go back to study  in Beijing, so we traveled together.   到南京时，有朋友约去游逛，勾留了一日；第二日上午便须渡江到浦口，下午上车北去。 When we arrived in Nanjing,  we had friends who we went out sightseeing with for one day,  and the afternoon of the second day  I needed to cross the river to get to Pukou and  catch the train north.   父亲因为事忙，本已说定不送我，叫旅馆里一个熟识的茶房陪我同去。 Because my father was already busy,  we agreed on him not bothering to see me off.  Instead he asked a hotel waiter that he knew to accompany me.   他再三嘱咐茶房，甚是仔细。 My father told the waiter over and over again  to be very careful.   但他终于不放心，怕茶房不妥帖；颇踌躇了一会。 He was still not relieved, afraid that  the waiter would not do things right, and hesitated for a minute.   其实我那年已二十岁，北 京已来往过两三次，是没有甚么要紧的了。 I was in fact already 20 at the time,  and had been to Beijing two or three times  without any problems arising.   他踌躇了一会，终于决定还是自己送我去。 He hesitated for another second,  and finally decided to send me off himself.   我两三回劝他不必去；他只说,“不要紧，他们去不好！” 我们过了江，进了车站。 I tried two or three times to persuade him not to go,  but he said “Never mind, if he goes with you  it will be bad!” We crossed the river  and entered the station.   我买票，他忙着照看行李。 I bought my ticket and he looked after my luggage.   行李太多了，得向脚夫行些小费,才可过去。 Because I had too much luggage,  I had to pay a small fee to the porter,  and only then could we go in.    他便又忙着和他们讲价钱。 He was busy arguing the price with the porter.   我那时真是聪明过分，总觉他说话不大漂亮，非自己插嘴不可。 At that time, I thought I was so smart,  I thought that he didn't speak eloquently,  and I couldn’t help but interrupt his talking.   但他终于讲定了价钱；就送我上车。 But he at last got the price he wanted,  and sent me to board the train.   他给我拣定了靠车门的一张椅子；我将他给我做的紫毛大衣铺好坐位。 He picked me out a chair that was by the door,  I took the purple coat he made me and laid  it out over the seat.   他嘱我路上小心，夜里警醒些，不要受凉。 He urged me to be careful on the road,  be alert at night, and to not catch a cold.   又嘱托茶房好好照应我。 He also asked the attendants to take good care of me.   我心里暗笑他的迂；他们只认得钱，托他们直是白托！而且我这样大年纪的人， 难道还不能料理自己么？ Inside my heart I laughed at his over-protectiveness,  These people only know money, asking them to  do something like this... it’s useless. Furthermore,  I’m already an adult, why wouldn’t I be able to take care of myself?   唉，我现在想想，那时真是太聪明了！ Well, thinking about it now,  I really thought I was too clever.   我说道，“爸爸，你走吧。” I said, “Dad, you should leave.”   他望车外看了看，说，“我买几个橘子去。你就在此地，不要走动。” He looked outside the train, saying,  “I brought a few tangerines.  Since your already here, don't move.”   我看那边月台的栅栏外有几个卖东西的等着顾客。 I looked across the platform and saw  some customers waiting to buy things outside the fence.   走到那边月台，须穿过铁道，须跳下去又爬上去。 To reach the platform, you had to cross  the train tracks, jump down and then crawl back up.   父亲是一个胖子，走过去自然要费事些。 My father was a fat person, so to do that would not be easy.   我本来要去的，他不肯，只好让他去。 I originally wanted to go, he wouldn’t agree,  so I couldn’t help but let him do it.   我看见他戴着黑布小帽，穿着黑布大马褂，深青布棉袍， 蹒跚地走到铁道边，慢慢探身下去，尚不大难。 I saw him wearing a small black hat,  a black coat, dark green quilted gown,  stumbling towards the railway edge,  lowering his body to go down, still without any problems.   可是他穿过铁道，要爬上那边月台，就不容易了。 However, him crossing the tracks to climb up  over the other platform was not easy.   他用两手攀着上面，两脚再向上缩；他肥胖的身子向左微倾，显出努力的样子。 He used two hands to lift himself up,  pulled his two legs upward, his fat body collapsed  to the left, and his expression showed one of great effort.   这时我看见他的背影，我的泪很快地流下来了。 At this moment, I saw his back,  My tears quickly started flowing.   我赶紧拭干了泪，怕他看见，也怕别人看见。 I hurriedly wiped them, afraid that he or others had seen.   我再向外看时，他已抱了朱红的橘子望回走了。 I looked outwards again; he was already  holding the vermillion colored tangerines and coming back.   过铁道时，他先将橘子散放在地上，自己慢慢爬下，再抱起橘子走。 Crossing the railway track, he first  put the tangerines down, then slowly lowered himself,  then picked up the tangerines again and walked.   到这边时，我赶紧去搀他。 At this time, I quickly went to assist him.   他和我走到车上，将橘子一股脑儿放在我的皮大衣上。 He and I walked to the train, and  I put the tangerines on top of my coat.   于是扑扑衣上的泥土，心里很轻松似的，过一会说，“我走了； 到那边来信！”我望着他走出去。 Then he brushed the dirt from his clothes,  seeming very at ease, and then said after a moment,  “I’m going now, when you get there send me a letter!”  I watched him leave.   他走了几步，回过头看见我，说，“进去吧，里边没人。” He walked a few steps, turned back, and said,  “Go in now, there’s no one inside.”   等他的背影混入来来往往的人里，再找不着了， 我便进来坐下，我的眼泪又来了。 When his back mixed in with the people coming  and going, and I couldn't find him again, my tears came back.   近几年来，父亲和我都是东奔西走，家中光景是一日不如一日。 In recent years, My father and I are both  rushing about; our family situation getting worse and worse.   他少年出外谋生，独力支持，做了许多大事。 He left to seek work while he was young;  he did a lot of things alone to support himself.   那知老境却如此颓唐！ How would he have known that  the situation would be this bad when he got older!   他触目伤怀，自然情不能自已。 He has so many hardships,  but he cannot feel them himself.   情郁于中，自然要发之于外；家庭琐屑便往往触他之怒。 In the feeling of melancholy,  I naturally wanted to send out my feelings,  family matters tended to make him angry.   他待我渐渐不同往日。 He treated me differently from before.   但最近两年的不见，他终于忘却我的不好，只是惦记着我，惦记着我的儿子。 But in these two years we haven’t met,  he eventually forgot the bad parts of me,  merely concerned for my son.    我北来后，他写了一信给我，信中说道，“我身体平安， 惟膀子疼痛利害，举箸提笔，诸多不便，大约大去之期不远矣。” After going north, he wrote a letter to me,  the letter said “My body is healthy,  only my upper arm hurts, its painful to hold up  chopsticks and inconvenient to write. My time is nearing.”   我读到此处，在晶莹的泪光中，又看见那肥胖的，青布棉袍，黑布马褂的背影。 When I read this line, my tears were glistening;  I saw his large body, and his black jacket.   唉！我不知何时再能与他相见！ Oh dear! I don't know when I will be able to meet with him again!   １９２５年１０月在北京。 （原载１９２５年１１月２２日《文学周报》第２００期） *To me this story seemed to tell the importance of appreciating  one's parents, despite their imperfections. Chinese culture,  and asian culture in general stresses the importance of filial piety. Your parents, grandparents, and older people in general need to be  treated with the utmost respect. In korean, you even need to conjugate  your verbs differently based on who you are speaking to. The narrator  of the story looks back on his treatment of his father with regret  (if you look at the part with the porter), especially at the end.  We can see that the narrator is "playing it cool" by not showing  his appreciate or love for his father to his father's face,  and only crying when he turns his back. This is something that  I think everyone can relate to, because even I did this in  order to look "cooler" in front of my friends. But the author  tells us that we should show our love and appreciation  for others while they are still around because  we never know when they will not be here anymore.