Children are naturally curious about nature, and finding a bird’s nest can be exciting. This guide provides Korean phrases for parents to gently explain to a child why a bird’s nest found outdoors cannot be brought inside, focusing on respecting nature and the bird’s home.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 새 둥지는 밖에 두어야 해.
Pronunciation: sae dung-ji-neun bak-ke du-eo-ya hae.
Meaning: The bird’s nest must stay outside.
Explaining the Reason
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Expression: 이건 아기 새들의 집이야.
Pronunciation: i-geon a-gi sae-deul-ui jib-i-ya.
Meaning: This is the baby birds’ home. -
Expression: 엄마 새랑 아빠 새가 찾고 있을 거야.
Pronunciation: eom-ma sae-rang a-ppa sae-ga chat-go it-sseul geo-ya.
Meaning: The mommy bird and daddy bird will be looking for it. -
Expression: 우리가 가져가면 아기 새들이 집에 못 돌아와.
Pronunciation: u-ri-ga ga-jyeo-ga-myeon a-gi sae-deul-i jib-e mot dol-a-wa.
Meaning: If we take it, the baby birds can’t return home. -
Expression: 새 둥지는 집 안에 가져오면 안 돼.
Pronunciation: sae dung-ji-neun jip an-e ga-jyeo-o-myeon an dwae.
Meaning: You shouldn’t bring a bird’s nest inside the house. -
Expression: 새들은 밖에서 사는 동물이야.
Pronunciation: sae-deul-eun bak-ke-seo sa-neun dong-mul-i-ya.
Meaning: Birds are animals that live outside. -
Expression: 둥지 안에는 아주 작은 벌레가 있을 수도 있어.
Pronunciation: dung-ji an-e-neun a-ju jak-eun beol-le-ga it-sseul su-do i-sseo.
Meaning: There might be very small bugs inside the nest. -
Expression: 자연은 그대로 두는 것이 가장 좋아.
Pronunciation: ja-yeon-eun geu-dae-ro du-neun geo-si ga-jang jo-a.
Meaning: It’s best to leave nature as it is. -
Expression: 새 가족이 이 둥지가 필요해.
Pronunciation: sae ga-jok-i i dung-ji-ga pil-yo-hae.
Meaning: The bird family needs this nest. -
Expression: 우리가 만지면 엄마 새가 싫어할 수도 있어.
Pronunciation: u-ri-ga man-ji-myeon eom-ma sae-ga sil-eo-hal su-do i-sseo.
Meaning: If we touch it, the mother bird might not like it. -
Expression: 둥지는 새에게 안전한 곳이야.
Pronunciation: dung-ji-neun sae-e-ge an-jeon-han got-i-ya.
Meaning: The nest is a safe place for the bird.
Comforting the Child
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Expression: 둥지를 발견한 건 정말 멋지다!
Pronunciation: dung-ji-reul bal-gyeon-han geon jeong-mal meot-ji-da!
Meaning: It’s really cool that you found the nest! -
Expression: 가져가고 싶은 마음은 이해해.
Pronunciation: ga-jyeo-ga-go sip-eun ma-eum-eun i-hae-hae.
Meaning: I understand that you want to take it. -
Expression: 하지만 새들을 도와주는 거야.
Pronunciation: ha-ji-man sae-deul-eul do-wa-ju-neun geo-ya.
Meaning: But this is helping the birds. -
Expression: 네가 착해서 새들을 생각해주는구나.
Pronunciation: ne-ga chak-hae-seo sae-deul-eul saeng-gak-hae-ju-neun-gu-na.
Meaning: You’re kind to think about the birds. -
Expression: 실망했구나. 미안해.
Pronunciation: sil-mang-haet-gu-na. mi-an-hae.
Meaning: You must be disappointed. I’m sorry. -
Expression: 새들이 고마워할 거야.
Pronunciation: sae-deul-i go-ma-wo-hal geo-ya.
Meaning: The birds will be thankful. -
Expression: 우리가 새들의 집을 지켜주는 거야.
Pronunciation: u-ri-ga sae-deul-ui jib-eul ji-kyeo-ju-neun geo-ya.
Meaning: We are protecting the birds’ home. -
Expression: 대신 다른 재미있는 걸 해볼까?
Pronunciation: dae-sin da-reun jae-mi-it-neun geol hae-bol-kka?
Meaning: Shall we try doing something else fun instead? -
Expression: 네 마음이 예쁘다.
Pronunciation: ne ma-eum-i ye-ppeu-da.
Meaning: You have a beautiful heart. -
Expression: 괜찮아, 속상해하지 마.
Pronunciation: gwaen-chan-a, sok-sang-hae-ha-ji ma.
Meaning: It’s okay, don’t be upset.
Suggesting Alternatives
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Expression: 대신 둥지 사진을 찍을까?
Pronunciation: dae-sin dung-ji sa-jin-eul jjik-eul-kka?
Meaning: Shall we take a picture of the nest instead? -
Expression: 둥지를 그림으로 그려보자.
Pronunciation: dung-ji-reul geu-rim-eu-ro geu-ryeo-bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s draw a picture of the nest. -
Expression: 여기서 조용히 새들이 오는지 지켜볼까?
Pronunciation: yeo-gi-seo jo-yong-hi sae-deul-i o-neun-ji ji-kyeo-bol-kka?
Meaning: Shall we quietly watch here to see if the birds come? -
Expression: 새 모이를 근처에 놓아줄까?
Pronunciation: sae mo-i-reul geun-cheo-e no-a-jul-kka?
Meaning: Shall we put some bird feed nearby? -
Expression: 집에 가서 새에 대한 책을 읽어볼까?
Pronunciation: jib-e ga-seo sae-e dae-han chaek-eul il-geo-bol-kka?
Meaning: Shall we go home and read a book about birds? -
Expression: 나뭇가지랑 풀로 우리만의 둥지를 만들어볼까?
Pronunciation: na-mut-ga-ji-rang pul-lo u-ri-man-ui dung-ji-reul man-deur-eo-bol-kka?
Meaning: Shall we try making our own nest with twigs and grass? -
Expression: 새 관찰 일기를 써보는 건 어때?
Pronunciation: sae gwan-chal il-gi-reul sseo-bo-neun geon eo-ttae?
Meaning: How about keeping a bird watching journal? -
Expression: 멀리서 망원경으로 둥지를 보자.
Pronunciation: meol-li-seo mang-won-gyeong-eu-ro dung-ji-reul bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s look at the nest from afar with binoculars. -
Expression: 새 소리를 녹음해볼까?
Pronunciation: sae so-ri-reul nok-eum-hae-bol-kka?
Meaning: Shall we try recording the bird sounds? -
Expression: 자연 다큐멘터리를 같이 보자.
Pronunciation: ja-yeon da-kyu-men-teo-ri-reul gat-i bo-ja.
Meaning: Let’s watch a nature documentary together.
Korean Culture Notes
Respect for nature (자연 존중 – ja-yeon jon-jung) is an important value in Korean culture. Explaining the need to leave wild things undisturbed aligns with this value.
Korean parenting often involves teaching children empathy (공감 – gong-gam) and consideration for others, including animals. Framing the decision around the birds’ needs helps foster this.
Directly saying “no” (안 돼 – an dwae) is common in parenting, but it’s often followed by a clear explanation, especially when dealing with a child’s desires or curiosity.
Offering alternatives is a common way to redirect a child’s focus and manage disappointment gently, showing care for the child’s feelings while upholding the rule.
There’s a general understanding that bringing outdoor elements like soil, insects, or nests inside is unhygienic, which might be an underlying, unspoken reason for the parent’s refusal.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A parent (A) and child (B) are walking in a park and the child finds a bird’s nest on the ground.
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Expression: B: 엄마! 이것 봐! 새 둥지야! 우리 집에 가져가자!
Pronunciation: eom-ma! i-geot bwa! sae dung-ji-ya! u-ri jib-e ga-jyeo-ga-ja!
Meaning: Mom! Look at this! It’s a bird’s nest! Let’s take it home! -
Expression: A: 와, 정말 새 둥지네. 멋지다! 하지만 이건 집에 가져가면 안 돼.
Pronunciation: wa, jeong-mal sae dung-ji-ne. meot-ji-da! ha-ji-man i-geon jib-e ga-jyeo-ga-myeon an dwae.
Meaning: Wow, it really is a bird’s nest. That’s cool! But we can’t take this home. -
Expression: B: 왜요? 예쁜데… 내 방에 놓고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: wae-yo? ye-ppeun-de… nae bang-e no-ko sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: Why? It’s pretty… I want to put it in my room. -
Expression: A: 이건 아기 새들의 집이잖아. 엄마 새가 이걸 찾고 있을 거야. 우리가 가져가면 새들이 슬퍼하겠지?
Pronunciation: i-geon a-gi sae-deul-ui jib-i-jan-a. eom-ma sae-ga i-geol chat-go it-sseul geo-ya. u-ri-ga ga-jyeo-ga-myeon sae-deul-i seul-peo-ha-get-ji?
Meaning: This is the baby birds’ home. The mother bird is probably looking for it. If we take it, won’t the birds be sad? -
Expression: B: 음… 그렇겠다. 그럼 어떻게 해요?
Pronunciation: eum… geu-reo-ket-tta. geu-reom eo-tteo-ke hae-yo?
Meaning: Hmm… I guess so. Then what should we do? -
Expression: A: 새 둥지는 여기 그대로 두는 게 좋아. 대신 우리 사진 찍어서 간직할까? 아니면 집에 가서 둥지 그림을 그려볼까?
Pronunciation: sae dung-ji-neun yeo-gi geu-dae-ro du-neun ge jo-a. dae-sin u-ri sa-jin jjik-eo-seo gan-jik-hal-kka? a-ni-myeon jib-e ga-seo dung-ji geu-rim-eul geu-ryeo-bol-kka?
Meaning: It’s best to leave the bird’s nest right here. Instead, shall we take a picture to keep? Or maybe go home and draw a picture of the nest? -
Expression: B: 사진 찍어요! 그리고 그림도 그릴래요!
Pronunciation: sa-jin jjik-eo-yo! geu-ri-go geu-rim-do geu-ril-lae-yo!
Meaning: Let’s take a picture! And I want to draw a picture too! -
Expression: A: 그래, 좋아! 네가 새들을 생각해 주다니 정말 착하다.
Pronunciation: geu-rae, jo-a! ne-ga sae-deul-eul saeng-gak-hae ju-da-ni jeong-mal chak-ha-da.
Meaning: Okay, great! You’re so kind for thinking about the birds.
Practice Tips
Practice saying these phrases aloud, focusing on a gentle but firm tone~. Imagine you are talking to a curious child!
Try role-playing the conversation with a friend or family member. One person can be the child, and the other can be the parent explaining.
Watch nature documentaries in Korean (if available) and listen for how animals and nature are discussed. Pay attention to the vocabulary used!
Remember, the goal is not just to say “no,” but to teach respect for nature while acknowledging the child’s feelings. Good luck with your practice! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/You can do it!)
