3/14 Scarecrows

Dialog>> That’s a scarecrow.

A: What is that out there?
B: In the rice field?
= rice paddy

A: Yeah, it looks like a person.. but not quite.
B: Wait a minute! That’s a scarecrow.
A: Oh! I’ve never seen one in Korea.
B: Yeah, they scare away the sparrows. They eat the rice crops.


RESPONSE>> Talk about typical scarecrows you can see in Korea.

Scarecrows play an important role in farming.
* scarecrow: 허수아비
ex> He played an important role in this recent project.

Because rice is a staple dish in Korea, they are all the more important here.
* staple dish: 주식
* all the more: 더욱 더, 오히려
ex> Rice is the staple dish in many Asian countries.
ex> Bundling up in the winter wear is all the more important in Korea.

When the rice crops start ripening, farmers will set up scarecrows.
* ripen: 익다
* set up: 세우다
ex> The peaches were ripening to become pink.
ex> He set up scarecrows to chase away the birds.

These scarecrows help to scare away the birds that would otherwise eat up the crops.
* scare away: 쫓아 버리다
ex> My dog scares away strangers.
ex> The spooky events scared away people from the village.
* eat up: 먹어 치우다

Scarecrows basically trick the birds into thinking they are humans.
* trick someone into: ~가 **을 믿도록 속이다
ex>  I tricked him into thinking I was at work.

Make a cross out of two sticks and drive it into the ground.
* drive: 박다
cf> drive hole in the wall. 돌려서 박다.

Put some clothes on it, covering the sticks.

Add a circular bundle at the top for a head and put a hat on it.
* circular bundle: 둥근 꾸러미 보따리
cf> bundle up: 겹겹이 입다.


@ I’m fed up. 지긋지긋해
With dealing with all the work drama! 직장에서 이것저것 일이 너무 많이 터져.

1. She played an important role in her husband’s success.
2. Corn is the staple dish of the region.
3. He scared away the children.
4. I tricked him into thinking I was busy.