-노라 is a stylish old-fashioned verb ending used to declare one’s actions solemnly or to express a profound emotion such as exultation. It can be added directly to the verb stem in the present tense, or to the conjugated form of verbs in the past or future tenses. It is an almost archaic but highly artistic expression mainly used in poems, song lyrics, or historical dramas (사극):
나 이제 가노라 I am going now [ 가다 to go => 가 verb stem -노라 = 가노라 (I declare now, I go!) ]
저 거친 광야에 Into that wild wilderness
서러움 모두 버리고 Leaving all my sorrows behind,
나 이제 가노라 I am going now
from 김민기, “아침 이슬 Morning Dew” (1971) [ a protest song widely known in Korea ]
먼 훗날 당신이 찾으시면
그때에 내 말이 ‘잊었노라‘ [ 잊다 to forget => 잊었다 forgot (past tense conjugation -었) => 잊었-노라 (I’m declaring to you,) I forgot (you) ]
당신이 속으로 나무라면
‘무척 그리다가 잊었노라‘
그래도 당신이 나무라면
‘믿기지 않아서 잊었노라‘
오늘도 어제도 아니 잊고
먼 훗날 그때에 ‘잊었노라‘
김소월 (1902 – 1934), “먼 후일 Someday in the Distant Future; Un giorno in un lontano futuro” (1920)
The only exception to the above stylish usage is when you indirectly quote the subject’s declared intention. This usage is not archaic or artistic and can be used in everyday speech:
- 어떤 경우에도 약속은 지키겠노라 하고 말하더군 He said that he would keep his promise no matter what [ 지키다 to keep; 지키겠-다 will keep (future tense conjugation) => 지키겠-노라 (he seriously swear, he will keep … ) + 하고/라고 말하더군 He said that … (quote) ]
Level B1: Julius Caesar wrote the following sentences in a letter to the Roman Senate around 47 BC, after achieving a quick victory in his short war against Pharnaces II of Pontus at the Battle of Zela:
- “Veni, vidi, vici” (I came; I saw; I conquered)
How would you translate it into Korean? Please use the declarative -노라 as explained above.
Hint: 오다 to come; 보다 to see; 이기다 to win (to conquer)
Level C1: King Jan Sobieski of Poland, after leading a decisive cavalry charge against the Ottoman army at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, used the following sentences to acknowledge the victory, but also to attribute it to God’s divine intervention:
- “Venimus, vidimus, Deus vicit” (We came, we saw, God conquered)
How would you translate it into Korean? Please use the declarative -노라 as explained above.
Hint: Please do not omit subjects, and don’t forget to use the honorific (시) in verb conjugations for God’s actions.
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