무너진 블록에 대성통곡하는 아이, 할머니가 떠올린 것
1Introduction
2Vocabulary
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 쌓다 | ssata | to stack, to build up | 아이가 블록을 높이 쌓고 있어요.The child is stacking blocks high. |
| 무너지다 | muneojida | to collapse, to fall down | 탑이 갑자기 무너져서 놀랐어요.I was surprised when the tower suddenly collapsed. |
| 달인 | darin | master, expert | 그는 요리의 달인이에요.He is a master of cooking. |
| 비명 | bimyeong | scream, shriek | 기쁨의 비명을 질렀어요.She let out a scream of joy. |
| 달래다 | dallaeda | to comfort, to soothe | 우는 아이를 달래주세요.Please comfort the crying child. |
| 안절부절 | anjeolbujeol | restless, anxious | 시험 결과를 기다리며 안절부절했어요.I was restless waiting for the test results. |
| 성취 | seongchwi | achievement, accomplishment | 큰 성취감을 느꼈어요.I felt a great sense of achievement. |
| 서두르다 | seodureuda | to hurry, to rush | 답을 서두르지 마세요.Don’t rush to give an answer. |
| 견디다 | gyeondida | to endure, to bear | 추위를 견디기 어려워요.It’s hard to endure the cold. |
| 부수다 | busuda | to break, to destroy | 실수로 컵을 부수었어요.I accidentally broke the cup. |
| 지혜 | jihye | wisdom | 할머니의 지혜를 배워요.I learn from grandmother’s wisdom. |
| 반복 | banbok | repetition | 반복 연습이 중요해요.Repetitive practice is important. |
3Reading Text
요즘 네 살 손자는 블록 쌓기의 달인이 되었습니다.
These days, my four-year-old grandson has become a master of block building.
크고 작은 블록들을 조심스럽게 높이높이 쌓아 올리며 즐거운 비명을 지릅니다.
He carefully stacks large and small blocks high up and lets out joyful screams.
하지만 탑이 무너질 때마다 아이는 큰 소리로 울기 시작합니다.
However, every time the tower collapses, the child starts crying loudly.
“다시 쌓으면 되잖아!”라고 말해도 아이의 눈물은 쉽게 멈추지 않았습니다.
Even when I said “You can just build it again!”, the child’s tears didn’t stop easily.
어떻게 달래야 할지 몰라 안절부절하던 순간, 한 권의 그림책이 떠올랐습니다.
While I was feeling restless, not knowing how to comfort him, a picture book came to mind.
그 책에서 배운 것은 아이들이 쌓기를 계속하는 이유는 단순한 성취를 위해서가 아니라는 것이었습니다.
What I learned from that book was that children don’t continue building simply for achievement.
아이들에게는 쌓는 과정 자체가 기쁨이고, 무너짐도 놀이의 한 부분인 것 같습니다.
For children, the process of building itself seems to be joy, and even collapsing appears to be part of the play.
오늘은 무너짐이 견디기 어려워도, 내일은 스스로 부수고 웃을 수도 있을 것입니다.
Even if collapsing is hard to bear today, tomorrow he might break it himself and laugh.
4Comprehension Questions
What activity has the four-year-old grandson become skilled at?
How does the child react when his block tower falls down?
What advice did the grandmother initially give to comfort the crying child?
According to the text, what is the real reason children continue building with blocks?
What does the grandmother suggest might happen differently on another day?
5Cultural Notes
In Korean culture, the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is particularly cherished, with grandparents often serving as primary caregivers and wisdom providers. The concept of finding meaning in the process rather than just the outcome reflects traditional Korean values of patience and mindfulness. Korean parenting philosophy often emphasizes allowing children to experience and learn from both success and failure naturally, rather than immediately intervening to prevent disappointment.
Original Article