Sample Translations
Eunsun Heo Ttakji, Ttakji, My Ttakji E ng l i s h
Book Information
Ttakji, Ttakji, My Ttakji (딱지 딱지 내 딱지) Hyeonamsa Publishing corp. / 2011 / 6 p. / ISBN 9788932373096 77810 For further information, please visit: http://library.klti.or.kr/node/772
This sample translation was produced with support from LTI Korea. Please contact the LTI Korea Library for further information. library@klti.or.kr
Ttakji, Ttakji, My Ttakji Written by Heo Eunsun, Illustrated by Kim I-jo
“You’re back again? You know you can’t win.” Dongman said snobbishly, with his arms folded. I couldn’t blame him though. Dongman’s ttakji doesn’t flip no matter how hard you hit it. For that reason Woongcheol had lost all of his precious ttakji to Dongman. “Shut up, and let’s do this. Today I’m going to win back all of my ttakji!” “You can try.”
“Flip, flip! Flip it in a single hit. Superman, attack!” Woongcheol flung down his superman ttakji. Thwap! But even superman couldn’t flip Dongman’s ttakji. “Ttakji, ttakji. My ttakji is super-awesome. Yours is super-lame.” The superman ttakji flipped effortlessly. “You see?” Dongman sneered. It was Woongcheol’s turn again. “Flip, flip! Flip it with a bang! Robot Taekwon-V side-kick!” Thwack! Dongman’s ttakji was unfazed.
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“Not even close. My ttakji is invincible,” Dongman ridiculed. “Now, feel the power of my invincible ttakji,” Dongman said, swinging his arm around. “Ttakji, ttakji. My ttakji is invincible. Yours is weak.” The Robot Taekwon-V ttakji seemed like it would withstand the blow…then flip! “Hahaha look at that!”
That was two in a row. Woongcheol only had one left. It looked so plain. “You’re gonna win with that?” Woongcheol was embarrassed. He turned his pockets inside out, But this was all he had. Just then, a cat appeared. “Tsk, tsk. How can you win with that?” “What can I do? This is the only one left.” Woongcheol placed the ttakji on the ground and pressed it hard with both of his hands. “Will that make it stick to the ground?” the cat teased with a grin.
Dongman sang his annoying song again and flung down his ttakji. “Ttakji, ttakji. My ttakji is king. Yours is a slave.” Thwack! The hit was so loud it sounded as if the earth had crumbled away.
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Woongcheol’s heart sank. Just when his ttakji was about to flip, The cat stopped it with its paw!
“Huh?” Dongman’s eye opened wide in surprise. “So it’s my turn now, isn’t it? Watch closely. “Flip, flip! Flip it with just one wimpy hit!” But Dongman’s invincible ttakji didn’t turn over. Just then a puppy appeared. “Tsk, tsk. How are you going to win back all your ttakji?”
Dongman raised his hand high into the air. “Ttakji, ttakji. My ttakji is super strong. Yours is puny.” Thwaaack! Just when Woongcheol’s ttakji was about to flip over… The puppy went puffff! Woongcheol’s ttakji gently lay back down.
“You’re very lucky today. The wind caught it for you just in time,” Dongman said, fuming. “Do it right this time,” the puppy dog said, slapping Woongcheol on the back. “Flip, flip! Flip it as light as a feather!” Dongman’s ttakji twitched. But that was it. Just then, a pig appeared. “Tsk, tsk. How can you win with a ttakji like that?”
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Woongcheol placed his ttakji On the ground and pressed it hard.
Again Dongman sang. “Ttakji, ttakji. My ttakji is a bear. Yours is a little puppy.” THWACK! There was a sonic boom. Woongcheol’s ttakji was about to flip over, But the pig stepped lightly on the edge and said “stay still, you.”
“Huh? What just happened?” Dongman’s eyes almost popped out of his head. “You didn’t put a magnet in your ttakji, did you?” “A magnet?” Woongcheol looked back at the pig and smiled. The pig glanced down at her trotters and smiled. Just then a calf appeared.
“How, can you win with that? I’ll tell you a secret.” The calf whispered in Woongcheol’s ear. “Aha!”
“Like a hurricane. Like lightening! Ttakji sword strike!” With a thunder clap Woongcheol struck Dongman’s invincible ttakji. Smack!
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Fling! Dongman’s ttakji flew up in the air and flipped in a circle. The calf tipped it with its tail.
“No, no!” Dongman’s mouth fell open. “That’s nothing.” The calf said, laughing.
Woongcheol won back all the ttakji he had lost. Then he won all of Dongman’s ttakji too.
But that didn’t feel good. “Dongman!” Woongcheol called. Dongman didn’t answer. He just cried. “Hey, Dongman!”
Woongcheol handed him his favorite ttakji And sang Dongman’s ttakji song. “Ttakji, ttakji, My ttakji is a wimpy-lame ttakji. Yours is a super-invincible ttakji.” Dongman began to laugh again.
Woongcheol shared the ttakji with all the children. The street was filled with laughter and games. Thwack! Smack!
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The cat, the puppy, the pig, and the calf. Everyone played ttakji joyously. “Flip, flip! Flip everything at once.” “Ttakji, ttakji. My ttakji is king, yours is superman.” “Woongcheol’s ttakji is super-lame; Dongman’s ttakji is super invincible!”
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