Adjusting a Chair's Height | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a language classroom, two adults talk about a chair that is too low and how to change its height..

EN → KO / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Adjusting a Chair's Height to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

이 의자는 너무 낮아요.

ee ee-JAH-neun nuh-MOO nah-JAH-yo. This chair is too low.
B

높이를 바꿀 수 있어요.

NOH-pee-reul bah-KKOOL soo ee-SUH-yo. You can change the height.
A

어떻게 해요?

uh-TTUH-keh heh-YOH? How do I do that?
B

좌석 아래에 있는 버튼을 누르세요.

JWAH-suhk AH-RAE-eh IN-neun BUH-tun-eul NOO-reu-SEH-yo. Press the button under the seat.
A

더 나아요. 감사합니다.

tuh nah-AH-yo. gahm-SAHM-nee-dah. That is better. Thank you.
B

아직도 괜찮지 않으면 말해 주세요.

ah-JIK-tto gwen-CHAN-chee AH-neu-myuhn mahl-HEH joo-SEH-yo. Tell me if it is still not right.

Word by Word

이 “이” means “this” here and identifies the chair as the one being discussed. It is placed directly before “의자” in “이 의자”. Use “이” before a nearby or currently indicated noun, such as “이 책” for “this book” in a new example.
의자 “의자” means “chair” here. In “이 의자는 너무 낮아요”, it names the object whose height is being discussed. Use it with a topic or object marker when talking about a chair, such as “의자를” in a new example.
는 “는” marks “의자” as the topic in “이 의자는 너무 낮아요”. It shows that the sentence is about this chair, while “너무 낮아요” gives information about it. Use “는” after the noun you want to set as the topic, such as “이 책은” in a new example.
너무 “너무” means “too” in “너무 낮아요”, showing that the chair’s low height is excessive for the speaker. It comes before the description it modifies. Use “너무” before an adjective or description when something exceeds a suitable degree, such as “너무 커요” in a new example.
낮아요 “낮아요” means “is low” here, describing the chair’s height. It is the polite form used in “이 의자는 너무 낮아요”; its citation form is “낮다”. Use it after the topic or subject when politely saying that something is low, such as “천장이 낮아요” in a new example.
높이 “높이” means “height” here, specifically the height that can be changed. In “높이를 바꿀 수 있어요”, it is the thing being changed. Use “높이” with a noun or an object marker when discussing the height of something, such as “의자 높이” in a new example.
를 “를” marks “높이” as the object of “바꿀” in “높이를 바꿀 수 있어요”. It shows what can be changed. Use “를” after an object before the action connected to it, such as “문을 열어요” in a new example.
바꿀 “바꿀” means “change” as the action that is possible in “높이를 바꿀 수 있어요”. It is the form of “바꾸다” used before “수” in this possibility expression. Use it before “수 있어요” when saying that something can be changed, keeping the object slot as in “설정을 바꿀 수 있어요” in a new example.
수 “수” expresses possibility in “바꿀 수 있어요”, so the whole expression means that the height can be changed. It follows the action form “바꿀” and comes before “있어요”. Use the pattern “동작을 할 수 있어요” to say that an action is possible, such as “읽을 수 있어요” in a new example.
있어요 “있어요” completes the possibility expression “바꿀 수 있어요”, making it mean “can change” rather than simply naming an action. Here it contributes the idea that changing the height is possible. Use it after “수” in a pattern such as “볼 수 있어요” for “can see” in a new example.
어떻게 “어떻게” means “how” in “어떻게 해요?”, asking about the method for doing something. It appears before “해요” to ask how the action is done. Use “어떻게” before an action when asking for instructions, such as “어떻게 가요?” in a new example.
해요 “해요” means “do” in “어떻게 해요?”, referring to the way of changing the chair’s height. It is the polite form used to ask what action to take; its citation form is “하다”. Use it after “어떻게” when asking how to do something, as in “어떻게 사용해요?” in a new example.
좌석 “좌석” means “seat” here and identifies the part under which the button is located. In “좌석 아래에 있는 버튼”, it modifies the location phrase for “버튼”. Use “좌석” when referring to a seat in a classroom, vehicle, or other place, such as “좌석 번호” in a new example.
아래 “아래” means “under” or “below” in “좌석 아래에 있는 버튼”. It indicates the area beneath the seat. Use “명사 아래” to describe something located below a noun, such as “책상 아래” in a new example.
에 “에” marks the location in “좌석 아래에 있는”, indicating that the button is located under the seat. It follows “아래” and helps connect that location to “있는”. Use “에” after a place or location when saying where something is, such as “방에 있어요” in a new example.
있는 “있는” means “being” or “located” here and describes the button as located under the seat in “좌석 아래에 있는 버튼”. It comes before “버튼” to modify it. Use “있는” before a noun when identifying something that is in a particular place, such as “책상 위에 있는 책” in a new example.
버튼 “버튼” means “button” here, specifically the button under the seat that should be pressed. In “버튼을 누르세요”, it is the object of the action. Use it with “을” or “를” before an action when giving instructions about a button, such as “버튼을 눌러요” in a new example.
을 “을” marks “버튼” as the object of “누르세요” in “버튼을 누르세요”. It shows which thing should be pressed. Use “을” after an object before the action, such as “문을 닫으세요” in a new example.
누르세요 “누르세요” means “press” here and gives a polite instruction to press the button. It is used after “버튼을” in “버튼을 누르세요”. Use it when politely instructing someone to press a button or similar control, such as “여기를 누르세요” in a new example.
더 “더” means “more” in “더 나아요”, indicating an improvement compared with the chair’s earlier condition. It comes before “나아요” and strengthens the comparison. Use “더” before a description when saying that something is improved or greater, such as “더 좋아요” in a new example.
나아요 “나아요” means “is better” here, describing the chair after its height has been changed. In “더 나아요”, it expresses improvement from the previous condition; its citation form is “낫다”. Use it after a change or solution when politely saying that the result is better, such as “지금이 나아요” in a new example.
감사합니다 “감사합니다” means “thank you” here. A uses it to politely express gratitude after receiving help with the chair. Use it as a polite expression of thanks when someone helps you or gives you something.
아직 “아직” means “still” here, showing that the problem may continue after the adjustment. In “아직도 괜찮지 않으면”, it refers to the situation remaining unresolved. Use “아직” when something continues or has not happened by the relevant time, such as “아직 있어요” in a new example.
도 “도” adds the meaning “still” or “also” in “아직도 괜찮지 않으면”; together, “아직도” means “still”. It follows “아직” and emphasizes that the condition continues. Use “아직도” before a description or action when saying that something remains the same, such as “아직도 어려워요” in a new example.
괜찮지 “괜찮지” is the “okay” or “right” part of “괜찮지 않으면”, referring to whether the chair is satisfactory after the adjustment. It is followed by “않으면” to form the condition “if it is still not okay”. Use “괜찮지 않으면” when a situation may still not be acceptable, such as “이 방법이 괜찮지 않으면” in a new example.
않으면 “않으면” contributes “if not” in “괜찮지 않으면”, making the condition “if it is still not okay”. It follows the description “괜찮지” and introduces what to do in that situation. Use it after a negative condition before the result or instruction, such as “시간이 없으면” in a new example.
말해 “말해” means “tell” or “say” here as the action requested in “말해 주세요”. It tells the listener to inform the speaker if the chair is still not right. Use it with the person or information being communicated, such as “저에게 말해 주세요” in a new example.
주세요 “주세요” makes “말해 주세요” a polite request meaning “please tell me”. Here it softens the instruction to report that the chair is still not right. Use “동작해 주세요” after an action when politely asking someone to do it, such as “기다려 주세요” in a new example.

Grammar Points

동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있다

높이를 바꿀 수 있어요.

NOH-pee-reul bah-KKOOL soo ee-SUH-yo.

You can change the height.

Attach -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 to a verb to express ability or possibility.

동사-(으)세요

아래에 있는 버튼을 누르세요.

AH-RAE-eh IN-neun BUH-tun-eul NOO-reu-SEH-yo.

Please press the button below.

Use -(으)세요 to make a polite request or give a polite instruction.

Korean Vocabulary

낮다 adj
NAHT-ttah to be low 낮아요

이 의자는 너무 낮아요.

너무 adv
nuh-MOO too; very

이 의자는 너무 낮아요.

높이 noun
NOH-pee height 높이를

높이를 바꿀 수 있어요.

바꾸다 verb
bah-KKOO-dah to change 바꿀

높이를 바꿀 수 있어요.

버튼 noun
BUH-tun button 버튼을

좌석 아래에 있는 버튼을 누르세요.

수 있다 phrase
soo EET-ttah can; be able to 수 있어요

높이를 바꿀 수 있어요.

아래 noun
AH-RAE under; below 아래에

좌석 아래에 있는 버튼을 누르세요.

어떻게 adv
uh-TTUH-keh how

어떻게 해요?

의자 noun
ee-JAH chair 의자는

이 의자는 너무 낮아요.

이 det
ee this

이 의자는 너무 낮아요.

좌석 noun
JWAH-suhk seat

좌석 아래에 있는 버튼을 누르세요.

하다 verb
HAH-dah to do 해요

어떻게 해요?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

This chair is too low.

Show Answer이 의자는 너무 낮아요.

You can change the height.

Show Answer높이를 바꿀 수 있어요.

How do I do that?

Show Answer어떻게 해요?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

height

Show Answer높이를

seat

Show Answer좌석

to be low

Show Answer낮아요

under; below

Show Answer아래에