Chapter 1. What Is BE? — 존재의 언어

The Art of BE — 존재의 언어 배우기

 Chapter 1. What Is BE? — 존재의 언어

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What does “BE” really mean?

The word “be” may look simple —
just two letters.
But it’s one of the deepest words in the English language.

“Be” means to exist, to live, to happen, to remain.
It is the word of being, the essence of existence itself.

When you say I am,
you are not just speaking English.
You are declaring your existence. 

“I am.” — 나는 있다.
단 두 단어지만, 세상에서 가장 강한 선언입니다.
영어의 모든 문장은 결국 존재(being) 에 대한 이야기로 이어집니다.

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Be is the heart of English

Every English sentence needs a verb —
and be is the most basic, most essential one.

It connects a subject (주어) to a state (상태),
a person to an identity,
and an idea to a truth.

I am happy. — 나는 행복하다.
You are beautiful. — 너는 아름답다.
We are here. — 우리는 여기에 있다.

Each sentence is not about doing,
but about being.

Be동사는 행동(action)이 아니라 존재(state)를 말합니다.

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The Origin of “Be” — 존재의 뿌리

The English word “be” comes from Old English “beon” and “wesan.”
These ancient roots meant to exist, to stay, to become.

From these came today’s am, is, are, was, were, been, being.
So every time you say is or was,
you are using one of the oldest words in the English language —
a word that has survived for over a thousand years. 

영어의 “be동사”는 가장 오래된 언어의 씨앗 중 하나입니다.
시간이 흘러도 변하지 않는 이유는,
존재 자체를 표현하는 단어이기 때문입니다.

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Be in Life

When you whisper to yourself I am enough,
that small sentence becomes a shield —
a reminder that your being itself is precious. 

Likewise, “be” appears in daily life not just as grammar,
but as a philosophy.

Be yourself. — 너 자신이 되어라.
Be kind. — 친절해라.
Be patient. — 인내해라.

In each of these,
“be” is not commanding an action —
it’s inviting you to become something. 

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✨ Closing Reflection

When you start to understand “be,”
you start to understand English itself.

Because English, at its heart,
is not about doing,
but about being. 

영어의 핵심은 행동이 아니라 ‘존재’입니다.
Be동사는 그 모든 존재의 출발점이자,
우리가 스스로를 표현하는 가장 순수한 언어입니다. 🌿



© MisoEnglish / Michelle Kim.

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