내 친구 고양이

나의 가장 친한 친구 머루는 고양이입니다

• 나의 (my): Possessive form of “I.”
• 가장 (most): Superlative form, meaning “most” or “best.”
• 친한 (close): Adjective meaning “close” or “intimate.”
• 친구 (friend): Noun meaning “friend.”
• 머루는 (Meru is): “머루” is the name of the friend, followed by the topic particle “는,” which indicates that 머루 is the topic of the sentence.
• 고양이입니다 (is a cat): “고양이” means “cat,” and “입니다” is the formal form of “to be.”

My best friend Meru is a cat.

머루와 나는 아기 때부터 친구였어요

• 머루와 (with Meru): “와” is a particle meaning “with,” indicating that Meru and the speaker are together in this context.
• 나는 (I am): “나” is the informal form of “I,” and “는” is the topic particle.
• 아기 (baby): Noun meaning “baby.”
• 때부터 (since the time): “때” means “time,” and “부터” means “from” or “since,” indicating the starting point.
• 친구였어요 (were friends): “친구” means “friend,” and “였어요” is the past tense of “to be,” indicating a past state of being friends.

Meru and I have been friends since we were babies.

나는 머루의 밥과 물 당번이에요

• 나는 (I am): “나” means “I,” and “는” is the topic particle.
• 머루의 (Meru’s): “머루” is the name (Meru), and “의” is the possessive particle, meaning “Meru’s.”
• 밥과 물 (food and water): “밥” means “food” (often referring to rice or a meal), “과” is a particle meaning “and,” and “물” means “water.”
• 당번이에요 (in charge of): “당번” means “person in charge” or “duty,” and “이에요” is the informal polite form of “to be.”

I am in charge of Meru’s food and water.

그릇에 사료와 깨끗한 물을 담아 주면 머루는 맛있게 먹어요

• 그릇에 (in the bowl): “그릇” means “bowl,” and “에” is a location particle meaning “in” or “at.”
• 사료와 (pet food and): “사료” means “pet food” (specifically, food for animals like cat food or dog food), and “와” is a particle meaning “and.”
• 깨끗한 (clean): An adjective meaning “clean.”
• 물을 (water): “물” means “water,” and “을” is an object particle indicating that water is the object of the verb.
• 담아 주면 (if you put in): “담다” means “to put in” or “to fill,” and “주면” is the conditional form, meaning “if you give” or “if you put in.”
• 머루는 (Meru): “머루” is the name of the cat, followed by the topic particle “는.”
• 맛있게 (deliciously): An adverb meaning “deliciously” or “enjoyably,” indicating the manner in which Meru eats.
• 먹어요 (eats): The present tense polite form of “먹다,” meaning “to eat.”

If you put pet food and clean water in the bowl, Meru eats it deliciously.

머루와 털을 빗어주거나 화장실을 청소하는 일은 엄마랑 아빠가 해요

• 머루와 (Meru and): “머루” is the name (Meru), and “와” is a particle meaning “and.”
• 털을 (fur): “털” means “fur,” and “을” is an object particle indicating that fur is the object of the verb.
• 빗어주거나 (brushing or): “빗다” means “to brush,” and “주다” means “to give” (used in this context to indicate doing something for someone/something). “거나” is a connective meaning “or,” so “빗어주거나” means “brushing or.”
• 화장실을 (the litter box): “화장실” typically means “bathroom,” but in the context of pets, it often refers to the litter box. “을” is an object particle.
• 청소하는 (cleaning): “청소하다” means “to clean,” and “청소하는” is the present continuous form.
• 일은 (task): “일” means “task” or “job,” and “은” is a topic particle, emphasizing that this is the task being discussed.
• 엄마랑 아빠가 (Mom and Dad): “엄마” means “Mom,” “랑” means “and,” “아빠” means “Dad,” and “가” is a subject particle indicating they are the subject of the verb.
• 해요 (do): The present tense polite form of “하다,” meaning “to do.”

The tasks of brushing Meru’s fur or cleaning the litter box are done by Mom and Dad.”

머루는 학교에 안 가지만 내가 숙제를 할 때면 옆에 와서 구경해요

• 머루는 (Meru): “머루” is the name (Meru), and “는” is a topic particle indicating that Meru is the subject of the sentence.
• 학교에 (to school): “학교” means “school,” and “에” is a location particle that means “to” or “at.”
• 안 (not): A negation adverb meaning “not.”
• 가지만 (doesn’t go, but): “가다” means “to go,” and “지만” is a connective that means “but.” “안 가지만” translates to “doesn’t go, but…”
• 내가 (I): “나” means “I,” and “가” is a subject particle.
• 숙제를 (homework): “숙제” means “homework,” and “를” is an object particle.
• 할 때면 (when I do): “하다” means “to do,” “때” means “time,” and “면” is a conditional particle meaning “if” or “when.” Together, “할 때면” means “when I do.”
• 옆에 (next to): “옆” means “side” or “next to,” and “에” is a location particle.
• 와서 (comes and): “오다” means “to come,” and “아서” is a connective that means “and” when combined with a verb.
• 구경해요 (watches): “구경하다” means “to watch” or “to observe,” and “해요” is the polite present tense form of “하다” (to do).

Meru doesn’t go to school, but when I do my homework, she comes next to me and watches.”

가끔은 내 책 위에 엎드려 잠을 자요

• 가끔은 (sometimes): “가끔” means “sometimes,” and “은” is a topic particle adding emphasis, meaning “as for sometimes.”
• 내 (my): Informal possessive form of “I.”
• 책 위에 (on top of my book): “책” means “book,” “위” means “on top,” and “에” is a location particle indicating where something is.
• 엎드려 (lies down): “엎드리다” means “to lie down (face down),” and “엎드려” is the verb’s connective form.
• 잠을 (sleep): “잠” means “sleep,” and “을” is an object particle.
• 자요 (sleeps): The present tense polite form of “자다,” meaning “to sleep.”

Sometimes, (Meru) lies down and sleeps on top of my book.

그러면 머루가 일어날 때까지 기다리지요

• 그러면 (then): A conjunction meaning “then” or “in that case.”
• 머루가 (Meru): “머루” is the name (Meru), and “가” is a subject particle.
• 일어날 (gets up): “일어나다” means “to get up” or “to wake up,” and “일어날” is the future or potential form.
• 때까지 (until): “때” means “time,” and “까지” means “until,” forming the phrase “until the time.”
• 기다리지요 (wait): “기다리다” means “to wait,” and “지요” (often shortened to “죠”) is an ending that can suggest shared understanding, gentle suggestion, or intention. Here, it implies “I wait” or “one waits.”

Then, I wait until Meru gets up.”

머루는 말을 하지 않기 때문에 기분을 알고 싶을 때는 잘 지켜봐야 해요

• 머루는 (Meru): “머루” is the name (Meru), and “는” is a topic particle indicating that Meru is the subject of the sentence.
• 말을 (words): “말” means “words” or “speech,” and “을” is an object particle.
• 하지 않기 때문에 (because [she] doesn’t speak): “하지 않다” means “to not do,” and “기 때문에” means “because,” forming the phrase “because [she] doesn’t speak.”
• 기분을 (mood): “기분” means “mood” or “feelings,” and “을” is an object particle.
• 알고 싶을 때는 (when I want to know): “알다” means “to know,” “고 싶다” means “to want to,” and “때” means “time.” “때는” is used to indicate “when,” forming “when I want to know.”
• 잘 (well): An adverb meaning “well” or “carefully.”
• 지켜봐야 해요 (have to observe): “지켜보다” means “to observe” or “to watch carefully,” and “야 해요” is a form meaning “have to” or “must.”

Because Meru doesn’t speak, when you want to know her mood, you have to observe her carefully.

머루를 부드럽게 쓰다듬으면 ‘그르릉 그르릉’ 보통 기분 좋을 때 이런 소리를 내요

• 머루를 (Meru): “머루” is the name (Meru), and “를” is an object particle indicating that Meru is the object of the verb.
• 부드럽게 (gently): An adverb meaning “gently” or “softly.”
• 쓰다듬으면 (if you pet): “쓰다듬다” means “to pet” or “to stroke,” and “으면” is a conditional ending meaning “if.” Together, “쓰다듬으면” means “if you pet.”
• ‘그르릉 그르릉’ (‘grr grr’): Onomatopoeia for a cat’s purring sound.
• 보통 (usually): An adverb meaning “usually” or “normally.”
• 기분 좋을 때 (when [she is] in a good mood): “기분” means “mood,” “좋다” means “to be good,” and “때” means “when” or “time.” Together, it means “when (she is) in a good mood.”
• 이런 소리를 (this kind of sound): “이런” means “this kind of,” “소리” means “sound,” and “를” is an object particle.
• 내요 (makes): “내다” means “to make” (a sound), and “요” is the informal polite ending.

If you pet Meru gently, she goes ‘grr grr.’ She usually makes this sound when she’s in a good mood.

깜짝 놀라거나 무서울 때면 몸을 움츠리고 ‘하악’ 소리를 내고요

• 깜짝 (suddenly): An adverb used to express surprise or being startled.
• 놀라거나 (get surprised or): “놀라다” means “to be surprised,” and “거나” is a connective meaning “or.”
• 무서울 때면 (when [she is] scared): “무섭다” means “to be scared,” “때” means “time” or “when,” and “면” is a conditional particle meaning “if” or “when.” Together, “무서울 때면” means “when (she is) scared.”
• 몸을 (body): “몸” means “body,” and “을” is an object particle.
• 움츠리고 (curls up): “움츠리다” means “to curl up” or “to shrink,” and “고” is a connective ending meaning “and.”
• ‘하악’ (hiss): Onomatopoeia representing a cat’s hissing sound when frightened.
• 소리를 (sound): “소리” means “sound,” and “를” is an object particle.
• 내고요 (makes): “내다” means “to make” (a sound), and “고요” is a connective ending that softens the sentence, often used to add additional information.

When she is startled or scared, she curls up her body and makes a ‘hiss’ sound.

밥그릇이 비어 있거나 문이 닫혀 있으면 “야옹” 하면서 나를 부른답니다

• 밥그릇이 (food bowl): “밥그릇” means “food bowl,” and “이” is a subject particle indicating that the food bowl is the subject.
• 비어 있거나 (is empty or): “비다” means “to be empty,” and “있다” means “to be (in a state).” Combined, “비어 있다” means “to be empty,” and “거나” is a connective meaning “or.”
• 문이 (door): “문” means “door,” and “이” is a subject particle.
• 닫혀 있으면 (is closed): “닫히다” is the passive form of “닫다” (to close), meaning “to be closed.” “있으면” combines “있다” (to be in a state) and “면” (if/when), forming “if/when it is closed.”
• “야옹” (meow): Onomatopoeia for a cat’s meow sound.
• 하면서 (while doing): “하다” means “to do,” and “면서” is a connective ending meaning “while.”
• 나를 (me): “나” means “I” or “me,” and “를” is an object particle.
• 부른답니다 (calls): “부르다” means “to call,” and “답니다” is an informal polite ending that conveys hearsay or that the speaker is explaining something known from experience.

If the food bowl is empty or the door is closed, she calls me with a ‘meow.’

머루의 머리를 긁어 털을 부드럽게 쓰다듬어 준다면 누구든지 머루랑 친구가 될 수 있을 거예요

• 머루의 (Meru’s): “머루” is the name (Meru), and “의” is a possessive particle meaning “of” or “’s.”
• 머리를 (head): “머리” means “head,” and “를” is an object particle indicating that “head” is the object of the verb.
• 긁어 (scratch): “긁다” means “to scratch,” and “어” is a connective form meaning “and.”
• 털을 (fur): “털” means “fur,” and “을” is an object particle.
• 부드럽게 (gently): An adverb meaning “gently” or “softly.”
• 쓰다듬어 준다면 (if you stroke): “쓰다듬다” means “to stroke” or “to pet,” “주다” means “to give” or “to do something for someone,” and “다면” is a conditional ending meaning “if.” Together, “쓰다듬어 준다면” means “if you stroke (gently for someone).”
• 누구든지 (anyone): Means “anyone” or “whoever.”
• 머루랑 (with Meru): “머루” is the name (Meru), and “랑” is a colloquial form of “와” or “과,” meaning “with.”
• 친구가 (friend): “친구” means “friend,” and “가” is a subject particle.
• 될 수 있을 거예요 (will be able to become): “되다” means “to become,” “수 있다” means “can” or “be able to,” and “을 거예요” is a future tense ending indicating a high probability.

If you scratch Meru’s head and gently stroke her fur, anyone can become friends with her.