Starting with a short sentence | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a language lesson, two adults talk about starting with a short sentence and saying it clearly..

EN → KO / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Starting with a short sentence to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

쉬운 단어가 저에게 더 쉬워요.

SHWEE-oon DAHN-uh-ga juh-eh-geh TUH SHWEE-wuh-yo Simple words are easier for me.
B

짧은 문장으로 시작할 수 있어요.

JJAHL-bun MOON-jang-oo-ro SHIH-jah-kal soo ISS-uh-yo We can start with a short sentence.
A

그러면 이해하는 데 도움이 돼요.

kuh-ruh-myun ee-HEH-ha-nun deh DOH-oo-mee dweh-yo That helps me understand.
B

제 말을 따라 이 문장을 읽어 보세요.

jeh MAH-reul TTAH-rah ee MOON-jang-eul EEL-guh boh-SEH-yo Read this line after me.
A

저는 해 볼 준비가 됐어요.

juh-nun heh bohl JOON-bee-ga dweh-ssuh-yo I am ready to try.
B

서두르지 말고 또박또박 말해 보세요.

suh-doo-reu-jee MAHL-goh TTOH-bahk-TTOH-bahk MAHL-heh boh-SEH-yo Take your time and say it clearly.

Word by Word

쉬운 “쉬운” means easy or simple here and describes “단어”. It is the form of 쉽다 used before a noun. Use this form before a noun when describing something as easy or simple.
단어가 “단어가” means words as the subject of the sentence. 이 marks “단어” as what is easier for the speaker. Use a noun with a subject marker when saying what has a quality or does something.
저에게 “저에게” means for me or to me here, identifying the person who experiences the words as easier. 에게 marks a person as the recipient or experiencer. Use it when describing something directed or relevant to a person.
더 “더” means more here and makes “쉬워요” comparative: the simple words are easier for the speaker. It comes before the word describing the greater degree. Use it before an adjective when comparing a greater amount or degree.
쉬워요 “쉬워요” means is easy or is easier here, in the polite sentence about words being easier for the speaker. It is the polite form used at the end of the statement. Use it to say that something is easy, including in a comparison with “더”.
짧은 “짧은” means short here and describes “문장”. It is the form of 짧다 used before a noun. Use it before a noun when describing its length as short.
문장으로 “문장으로” means with or using a sentence here: the speaker can start with a short sentence. 으로 marks the sentence as the means or starting material. Use this kind of marking when saying what you use as a way to begin or do something.
시작할 “시작할” refers to the action of starting in “시작할 수 있어요”, meaning can start. It is the form of 시작하다 used before “수” in this possibility construction. Use this form when connecting an action to the possibility expressed in the rest of the phrase.
수 “수” helps express ability or possibility in “시작할 수 있어요”, meaning can start. Its meaning here comes from the whole construction with the preceding action and “있어요”. Use it in a possibility expression after an action.
있어요 “있어요” means can or is possible in “시작할 수 있어요”; it does not mean that something is physically located somewhere. Together with the preceding words, it says that starting is possible. Use this polite ending in a statement about what someone can do.
그러면 “그러면” means then or in that case here, linking the suggestion about starting with a short sentence to its helpful result. It presents the next statement as a consequence. Use it at the beginning of a response when explaining what follows from a previous situation or suggestion.
이해하는 “이해하는” means understanding here and describes the activity in “이해하는 데 도움이 돼요”. It is the form of 이해하다 used before “데”. Use this form when referring to the activity of understanding as part of a larger expression.
데 “데” means in or for doing something here, as in “이해하는 데 도움이 돼요”: it identifies understanding as the purpose or activity that receives help. The meaning comes from the whole expression with “도움이 돼요”. Use it after an action when saying that something helps with that action.
도움이 “도움이” means help as the subject in “도움이 돼요”, which means is helpful or helps. 이 marks “도움” as what provides the benefit. Use “도움이” when describing something as helpful in an activity.
돼요 “돼요” means helps or is helpful in “도움이 돼요”. It is the polite form of 되다 in the expression that says something becomes help or serves as help. Use it after “도움이” to say that something is helpful.
제 “제” means my here, specifying whose words are being followed. It is the polite possessive form used before “말을”. Use it before a noun when identifying something as belonging to the speaker.
말을 “말을” means words or speech as the object in “제 말을 따라”. 를 marks the speech as what the listener follows. Use it when referring to someone’s words as the object of listening to, following, or repeating.
따라 “따라” means following here, not a time after someone: “제 말을 따라” means following my words. It tells the listener to use the speaker’s words as a model. Use it after a person’s words or example when asking someone to follow that model.
이 “이” means this here and points to the specific sentence being discussed or read. It comes directly before “문장을”. Use it before a nearby or clearly identified noun to point it out.
문장을 “문장을” means sentence as the object of reading in “이 문장을 읽어 보세요”. 을 marks the sentence as what should be read. Use it when naming the sentence that someone is asked to read.
읽어 “읽어” means read here and combines with “보세요” in “읽어 보세요” to ask someone to try reading. It is the connecting form of 읽다 before that expression. Use it before “보세요” when making a polite request to try reading something.
보세요 “보세요” means please try doing here, after “읽어”; it does not mean simply look. In “읽어 보세요”, it makes a polite suggestion to try reading. Use it after an action when inviting someone to try it.
저는 “저는” means as for me or I here, introducing the speaker’s own statement about being ready. 는 marks “저” as the topic. Use it at the beginning of a sentence when contrasting or highlighting the speaker’s situation.
해 “해” means do here and begins “해 볼”, which means try doing. It is the connecting form of 하다 before “볼”. Use it before “볼” when describing an action that someone will try.
볼 “볼” contributes the meaning of trying in “해 볼”, meaning try doing it. It is the form of 보다 used after another action in this construction, rather than a request to look. Use it after an action when saying that someone will try that action.
준비가 “준비가” means readiness as the subject in “준비가 됐어요”. 이 marks readiness as the state that has been reached. Use it when saying that someone or something is ready together with the expression about readiness being complete.
됐어요 “됐어요” means is ready here in “준비가 됐어요”, expressing that the necessary preparation has been completed. It is the polite form of 되다 in this readiness expression. Use “준비가 됐어요” to say that you are ready for an activity.
서두르지 “서두르지” means hurry as part of “서두르지 말고”, which tells the listener not to hurry. 지 connects the action to the following instruction. Use this form when joining an action to a negative alternative instruction.
말고 “말고” tells the listener not to do the preceding action and instead to do the next one. In “서두르지 말고”, it means without hurrying or rather than hurrying. Use it after a negative action when giving an alternative instruction.
또박또박 “또박또박” means clearly and distinctly here, describing how the listener should speak. It emphasizes saying each part clearly enough to hear and understand. Use it as a manner word when asking someone to speak or read clearly.
말해 “말해” means say or speak here and combines with “보세요” in “말해 보세요” to ask someone to try saying it. It is the connecting form of 말하다 before that expression. Use it before “보세요” when politely asking someone to try saying something.

Grammar Points

A-(으)ㄴ + 명사

쉬운 단어

SHWEE-oon DAHN-uh

easy words

Korean adjectives come before nouns and take a noun-modifying form such as 쉬운.

V-아/어 보다

해 볼

HEH bohl

try doing something

해 보다 expresses trying an action; 해 볼 is its form before a following expression.

Korean Vocabulary

그러면 adv
kuh-ruh-myun then, in that case

그러면 이해하는 데 도움이 돼요.

단어 noun
DAHN-uh word

쉬운 단어가 저에게 더 쉬워요.

더 adv
TUH more

쉬운 단어가 저에게 더 쉬워요.

도움 noun
DOH-oom help 도움이

그러면 이해하는 데 도움이 돼요.

말 noun
MAHL words, speech 말을

제 말을 따라 이 문장을 읽어 보세요.

문장 noun
MOON-jang sentence

짧은 문장으로 시작할 수 있어요.

쉬운 adj
SHWEE-oon simple, easy

쉬운 단어가 저에게 더 쉬워요.

시작하다 verb
SHIH-jah-ka-da to start 시작할

짧은 문장으로 시작할 수 있어요.

이해하다 verb
ee-HEH-ha-da to understand 이해하는

그러면 이해하는 데 도움이 돼요.

저에게 pron
juh-eh-geh for me, to me

쉬운 단어가 저에게 더 쉬워요.

제 det
JEH my

제 말을 따라 이 문장을 읽어 보세요.

짧은 adj
JJAHL-bun short

짧은 문장으로 시작할 수 있어요.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Simple words are easier for me.

Show Answer쉬운 단어가 저에게 더 쉬워요.

We can start with a short sentence.

Show Answer짧은 문장으로 시작할 수 있어요.

That helps me understand.

Show Answer그러면 이해하는 데 도움이 돼요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to understand

Show Answer이해하는

sentence

Show Answer문장

words, speech

Show Answer말을

help

Show Answer도움이