Checking the Platform Before Boarding | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: At a train station, two adults check the platform sign, manage bags, and watch for changes before boarding..

EN → KO / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Checking the Platform Before Boarding to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

어느 승강장으로 가야 해요?

UH-nuh seung-gahng-jahng-uh-roh gah-yah heh-YOH Which platform should we go to?
B

표지판이 2번 승강장을 가리켜요.

ee-bun seung-gahng-jahng-uhl gah-ree-KYUH-yoh The sign points to platform two.
A

여기서는 작은 글씨를 읽을 수 없어요.

yuh-GEE-suh-nun JAH-geun guhl-SSHEE-rul EEL-geul soo uhp-SSUH-yoh I can't read the small letters from here.
B

기차가 10분 후에 출발한다고 쓰여 있어요.

gee-CHAH-gah shim-BOON hoo-eh chool-BAHL-hahn-dah-goh SSUH-yuh ee-SSUH-yoh It says the train leaves in ten minutes.
A

기차를 타기 전에 화장실에 갈게요.

gee-CHAH-reul TAH-gee juhn-eh hwah-jahng-SHEEL-eh GAHL-kkeh-yoh I'm going to use the restroom before we board.
B

가방은 제가 가지고 있을게요.

gah-BAHNG-eun JEH-gah gah-JEE-goh ee-SSUL-kkeh-yoh I'll keep the bags with me.
A

이 표지판 근처에 있어 주세요.

ee PYOH-jee-pahn guhN-chuh-eh ee-SSUH joo-SEH-yoh Please stay near this sign.
B

승강장이 바뀔 수도 있으니 전광판을 볼게요.

seung-gahng-jahng-ee bah-KKWEEL soo-doh ee-SSUH-nee juhn-GWAHNG-pahn-eul BOHL-kkeh-yoh I'll watch the board in case the platform changes.

Word by Word

어느 어느 means “which” in the question “어느 승강장으로 가야 해요?” It comes before a noun when asking the listener to choose or identify one, such as a platform at a station.
승강장으로 승강장으로 means “to the platform” here, showing the direction or destination of going. In “어느 승강장으로 가야 해요?”, it is useful when asking which place someone should go to.
가야 가야 contributes the idea of needing or being supposed to go in “가야 해요.” Together with “해요,” it expresses the action that should be done, as when asking which platform the speakers need to go to.
해요 해요 completes “가야 해요” as a polite conversational expression of necessity. It makes the question suitable for speaking politely with a travel companion or another person.
표지판이 표지판이 means “the sign” as the subject of the sentence “표지판이 2번 승강장을 가리켜요.” The form identifies the sign as the thing giving the platform information, useful when explaining what a sign indicates.
승강장을 승강장을 means “platform two” as the object being indicated in “2번 승강장을 가리켜요.” The object-marked form is useful when saying what a sign, arrow, or person points to.
가리켜요 가리켜요 means “points to” or “indicates” in “표지판이 2번 승강장을 가리켜요.” It is used politely when describing what a sign or other visible indicator directs someone toward.
여기서는 여기서는 means “from here” or “in this location,” setting this place as the context in “여기서는 작은 글씨를 읽을 수 없어요.” It is useful when explaining that a person’s ability to see or do something is affected by the current location.
작은 작은 means “small” and describes “글씨” in “작은 글씨를 읽을 수 없어요.” It is used before a noun to describe writing or another object that has a small size.
글씨를 글씨를 means “the letters” or “the writing” as the thing the speaker cannot read in “작은 글씨를 읽을 수 없어요.” It is useful when talking about written text as the object of reading.
읽을 읽을 is the form used before “수” in “읽을 수 없어요,” expressing the ability to read. This construction is useful when saying that reading particular writing is or is not possible.
수 수 is the ability or possibility element in “읽을 수 없어요.” Together with the surrounding words, it helps express that the speaker cannot read the small letters; the same construction is useful for describing whether an action is possible.
없어요 없어요 completes “읽을 수 없어요” to say that the ability to read is not available, meaning “cannot read.” It is useful in polite statements about something being unavailable or an action not being possible.
기차가 기차가 means “the train” as the subject in “기차가 10분 후에 출발한다고 쓰여 있어요.” It identifies the train as the thing whose departure information is written on the sign.
후에 후에 means “after” or “later” in “10분 후에,” so the train departs ten minutes later. A time period followed by 후에 is useful when locating an event after a stated interval.
출발한다고 출발한다고 introduces the information that the train departs in “기차가 10분 후에 출발한다고 쓰여 있어요.” It is useful when reporting the content of a sign or other written information.
쓰여 쓰여 connects with 있어요 in “출발한다고 쓰여 있어요” to describe information as written or displayed. This form is useful when telling someone what text appears on a sign, notice, or board.
있어요 있어요 completes “쓰여 있어요,” describing the written information as present on the sign. It gives the expression a polite conversational form, useful when pointing out information that is currently displayed.
기차를 기차를 means “the train” as the object of riding or boarding in “기차를 타기 전에.” It is useful when naming the vehicle someone will board or ride.
타기 타기 means “boarding” or “riding” in “기차를 타기 전에.” It turns the action into something that can be placed before 전에, making it useful for saying what happens before boarding.
전에 전에 means “before” in “기차를 타기 전에,” identifying boarding as the event that has not happened yet. An action followed by 전에 is useful for saying that another action happens earlier.
화장실에 화장실에 means “to the restroom” in “화장실에 갈게요,” marking the destination of going. It is useful when telling someone where you are going, especially before boarding or leaving.
갈게요 갈게요 means “I’ll go” here and communicates the speaker’s polite intention or commitment to go to the restroom. It is useful when announcing an action you are about to take in coordination with another person.
가방은 가방은 means “as for the bags” in “가방은 제가 가지고 있을게요.” The form sets the bags as the topic while the speaker explains who will take responsibility for them.
제가 제가 means “I” as the person responsible for keeping the bags in “가방은 제가 가지고 있을게요.” It is useful when clearly identifying who will perform an action or take responsibility.
가지고 가지고 contributes the idea of holding or keeping something in “가지고 있을게요.” Together with 있을게요, it expresses that the speaker will keep the bags with them, a useful expression when managing someone’s belongings.
있을게요 있을게요 completes “가지고 있을게요” to express the speaker’s commitment to keep or have the bags with them. It is useful when offering to maintain a state or take care of something for another person.
이 이 means “this” in “이 표지판,” identifying a nearby or clearly indicated sign. It is used directly before a noun when referring to one particular thing.
표지판 표지판 means “sign” in “이 표지판 근처에 있어 주세요.” It is useful when referring to a sign that serves as a visible meeting point or provides directions.
근처에 근처에 means “near” in “이 표지판 근처에 있어 주세요,” marking the area close to the sign. It is useful for telling someone where to wait or remain.
있어 있어 supplies the idea of being or staying in “있어 주세요.” Together with 주세요, it politely asks the listener to remain near the sign, which is useful when arranging a meeting place.
주세요 주세요 turns “있어” into a polite request in “있어 주세요,” meaning “please stay.” The pattern is useful when asking another person politely to do an action.
승강장이 승강장이 means “the platform” as the subject of possible change in “승강장이 바뀔 수도 있으니.” It identifies the platform as the thing that may be different later.
바뀔 바뀔 is used in “바뀔 수도 있으니” to express that the platform may change. It is useful when discussing a possible change that leads to a precaution or another action.
수도 수도 contributes the possibility meaning in “바뀔 수도 있으니,” indicating that a platform change may occur. This construction is useful when giving a reason based on something that is possible but not certain.
있으니 있으니 links the possibility in “바뀔 수도 있으니” to the reason for watching the board. It is useful when explaining why someone will take the next action.
전광판을 전광판을 means “the display board” as the object of watching in “전광판을 볼게요.” It is useful when referring to the station board that shows travel information or changes.
볼게요 볼게요 means “I’ll watch” or “I’ll check” here and expresses the speaker’s polite commitment to monitor the display board. It is useful when volunteering to keep an eye on information for another person.

Grammar Points

-(으)ㄹ 수도 있다

전광판이 바뀔 수도 있어요.

juhn-GWAHNG-pahn-ee bah-KKWEEL soo-doh ee-SSUH-yoh

The electronic display board may change.

This pattern expresses possibility: something may or might happen.

-다고 쓰여 있다

기차가 출발한다고 쓰여 있어요.

gee-CHAH-gah chool-BAHL-hahn-dah-goh SSUH-yuh ee-SSUH-yoh

It says that the train is departing.

Use -다고 with a verb to report what is written or stated.

Korean Vocabulary

가리키다 verb
gah-ree-kee-dah to point to 가리켜요

표지판이 2번 승강장을 가리켜요.

글씨 noun
guhl-SSHEE letters; writing

여기서는 작은 글씨를 읽을 수 없어요.

기차 noun
gee-CHAH train

기차가 10분 후에 출발한다고 쓰여 있어요.

승강장 noun
seung-gahng-jahng platform

어느 승강장으로 가야 해요?

쓰이다 verb
SSUH-ee-dah to be written; to say 쓰여 있어요

기차가 10분 후에 출발한다고 쓰여 있어요.

어느 det
UH-nuh which

어느 승강장으로 가야 해요?

여기서 adv
yuh-GEE-suh from here

여기서는 작은 글씨를 읽을 수 없어요.

읽다 verb
EEL-ttah to read 읽을

여기서는 작은 글씨를 읽을 수 없어요.

작다 adj
JAHK-ttah to be small 작은

여기서는 작은 글씨를 읽을 수 없어요.

출발하다 verb
chool-BAHL-hah-dah to leave; to depart 출발한다고

기차가 10분 후에 출발한다고 쓰여 있어요.

표지판 noun
PYOH-jee-pahn sign

표지판이 2번 승강장을 가리켜요.

화장실 noun
hwah-jahng-SHEEL restroom

기차를 타기 전에 화장실에 갈게요.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Which platform should we go to?

Show Answer어느 승강장으로 가야 해요?

The sign points to platform two.

Show Answer표지판이 2번 승강장을 가리켜요.

I can't read the small letters from here.

Show Answer여기서는 작은 글씨를 읽을 수 없어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to point to

Show Answer가리켜요

to leave; to depart

Show Answer출발한다고

platform

Show Answer승강장

from here

Show Answer여기서