콩쥐와 팥쥐
Kongjwi and Patjwi
Traditional Korean folktale (Kongjwi Patjwi-jeon, anonymous, Joseon era)
The Story
Tap a word to translate it. Select text to highlight it or add it to your study plan.
옛날 어느 마을에 콩쥐라는 착한 소녀가 살았어요.콩쥐의 어머니는 일찍 돌아가셨고, 아버지는 새어머니와 결혼했어요.
새어머니에게는 팥쥐라는 딸이 있었는데, 새어머니는 팥쥐만 예뻐하고 콩쥐를 미워했어요.어느 날 마을에 큰 잔치가 열렸어요.
새어머니는 콩쥐에게 깨진 항아리에 물을 채우고, 곡식을 다 찧어 놓으라고 시켰어요.콩쥐가 아무리 물을 부어도 항아리는 금세 텅 비었어요.
그때 두꺼비 한 마리가 나타나 깨진 구멍을 몸으로 막아 주었어요.곧 참새들이 날아와 부리로 곡식을 순식간에 다 찧어 주었어요.
덕분에 콩쥐는 모든 일을 끝내고 잔치에 갈 수 있었어요.잔치에 가는 길에 냇물을 건너다가, 콩쥐는 그만 꽃신 한 짝을 잃어버렸어요.
마을 사또가 그 꽃신을 주워, 신발의 주인을 찾아 온 마을을 돌아다녔어요.마침내 사또는 꽃신의 주인이 콩쥐라는 것을 알게 되었고, 콩쥐는 사또의 아내가 되었어요.
Full translationTry the story first — open this only to check your understanding.
Long ago, in a small village, there lived a kind girl named Kongjwi. Kongjwi's mother died when she was young, and her father married a new wife.
The stepmother had a daughter named Patjwi, and she loved only Patjwi while treating Kongjwi cruelly. One day, a great feast was held in the village.
The stepmother ordered Kongjwi to fill a cracked jar with water and to hull all the grain before she could go. No matter how much water Kongjwi poured in, the jar emptied again at once.
Just then, a toad appeared and blocked the crack with its own body. Soon, sparrows flew down and hulled all the grain with their beaks in no time at all.
Thanks to them, Kongjwi finished every task and was able to go to the feast. On her way to the feast, while crossing a stream, Kongjwi lost one of her flower-embroidered shoes.
The village magistrate picked up the shoe and searched the whole village for its owner. At last, the magistrate learned that the shoe belonged to Kongjwi, and she became his wife.
Comprehension Check
1. What did the stepmother tell Kongjwi to do?
2. Who helped Kongjwi fill the jar and hull the grain?
3. How did Kongjwi become the magistrate's wife?
Vocabulary
noun
항아리
hangari
jar
항아리에 물을 채웠어요.
She filled the jar with water.
Your Summary
In 1–2 sentences, say what tasks the stepmother gave Kongjwi, and how she was able to complete them.
Source: Based on Kongjwi Patjwi-jeon (콩쥐팥쥐전), an anonymous traditional Korean folktale believed to date from the Joseon era and long in the public domain — often compared to Cinderella. This simplified retelling and its English translation are original text written for SeoJae Story; the story ends at Kongjwi's marriage, without the harsher revenge scenes found in some traditional versions.
Read this with your book club
Share this chapter with your book club and discuss it together.