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natseon soriga deullimyeon gangajiga sopa araee sumeoyo.

낯선 소리가 들리면 강아지가 소파 아래에 숨어요.natseon soriga deullimyeon gangajiga sopa araee sumeoyo.
If an unfamiliar sound is heard, the puppy hides under the sofa.
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Questions & Answers about natseon soriga deullimyeon gangajiga sopa araee sumeoyo.

What does 낯선 mean here, and why isn’t it 낯설다?

낯설다 is the dictionary form meaning to be unfamiliar/strange.
낯선 is the attributive (modifier) form used before a noun, so it means unfamiliar/strange (sound).

  • Dictionary: 낯설다 = unfamiliar
  • Before a noun: 낯선 + N = unfamiliar N
    • 낯선 소리 = an unfamiliar sound
Why is it 소리가 들리면 and not 소리를 들으면?

Because 들리다 means to be heard (sounds “come in” to you), while 듣다 means to listen / to hear intentionally.

  • 소리가 들리면 = if/when a sound is heard (passive/involuntary)
  • 소리를 들으면 = if/when (someone) hears a sound (more active; the person is doing the hearing)

Using 들리다 fits well for sudden noises you didn’t choose to listen to.

What exactly does -면 mean in 들리면?

-(으)면 is a common conditional meaning if/when.

  • 낯선 소리가 들리면 = if/when an unfamiliar sound is heard

In many everyday sentences like this (general behavior), it often feels like when(ever) in English.

Is this sentence talking about the future, the present, or a general habit?

It’s most naturally a general habit / typical behavior:

  • (Whenever) an unfamiliar sound is heard, the puppy hides under the sofa.

Korean often uses the present tense (숨어요) to describe repeated or usual actions.

Why are there two -가 markers: 소리가 and 강아지가?

They belong to different clauses:

1) Subordinate clause (condition): 낯선 소리가 들리면

  • 소리가 is the subject of 들리다 (the sound is what is heard)

2) Main clause: 강아지가 소파 아래에 숨어요

  • 강아지가 is the subject of 숨어요 (the puppy is hiding)

So it’s normal to see -가 in both parts.

Could it be 강아지는 instead of 강아지가?

Yes, depending on what you want to emphasize.

  • 강아지가 소파 아래에 숨어요: neutral, just stating what happens
  • 강아지는 소파 아래에 숨어요: makes the puppy the topic/contrast (e.g., “As for the puppy, it hides…”)

In an “if/when” sentence like this, 강아지가 is the straightforward choice.

Why is it 소파 아래에 and not 소파 아래에서?

Both can be used, with a slight nuance.

  • 아래에 focuses on the destination/resulting location (ends up under the sofa)
  • 아래에서 focuses on the location where the action happens

With 숨다 (to hide), -에 is very common because it often implies moving into a hiding spot and being there.

What does 아래에 literally mean, and how is it built?
  • 아래 = under / below
  • -에 = location/direction particle (in/at/to depending on the verb)

So 소파 아래에 = under the sofa (as the hiding place).

How do you conjugate 숨다 into 숨어요?

숨다 (to hide) → stem 숨- + -어요.

Because the vowel ㅜ combines with 어:

  • 숨 + 어요 → 숨어요 (ㅜ + 어 → ㅝ)

So 숨어요 is the polite present form: (it) hides / is hiding.

What’s the difference between 들리면 … 숨어요 and 들리면 … 숨을 거예요?
  • 들리면 … 숨어요: a regular/typical reaction (habitual)
  • 들리면 … 숨을 거예요: more like a prediction/expectation (“it will probably hide”)

So the original sentence sounds like it’s describing the puppy’s usual behavior.

Can the subject be omitted in Korean here?

Often yes, if it’s clear from context.

For example, after you’ve already mentioned the puppy, you might say:

  • 낯선 소리가 들리면 소파 아래에 숨어요.

Korean frequently drops obvious subjects, especially in conversation.