Asking for a Quiet Study Room | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a library, one person asks whether a study room is available for quiet reading..

EN → KO / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Asking for a Quiet Study Room to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

스터디룸이 있나요?

suh-tuh-dee-ROOM-ee inn-NAH-yoh? Is a study room available?
B

지금 하나가 비어 있어요.

jee-GUHM HAH-nah-gah bee-UH ee-SSUH-yoh. One is open now.
A

그곳에서 책을 읽어도 되나요?

guh-GOH-seh-suh cheh-GUHL eel-GUH-doh dweh-NAH-yoh? Can I read in there?
B

그 방에서 책을 읽고 문을 닫으세요.

guh bahng-eh-suh cheh-GUHL eel-KKOH moo-NEUL dah-deu-SEH-yoh. You can use it for reading and close the door.
A

조용할까요?

joh-yohng-hahl-KKAH-yoh? Will it stay quiet?
B

벽이 소음을 대부분 막아 줍니다.

byuh-GEE soh-UHM-eul deh-boo-BOON mah-GAH joom-NEE-dah. The walls block most of the noise.
A

이 방이면 괜찮아요.

ee bahng-ee-MYUN gwen-chan-AH-yoh. This room works for me.
B

다른 사람들을 위해 깨끗하게 사용해 주세요.

dah-REUN sah-RAHM-deu-REUL wee-HEH kkeh-kkeut-HAH-geh sah-YOHNG-heh joo-SEH-yoh. Please leave it clean for other people.

Word by Word

스터디룸이 “스터디룸이” means “the study room” as the subject of the question about availability. The ending “이” marks the subject after this noun. New example: “자리가 있어요” means “There is a seat.”
있나요 In “스터디룸이 있나요?”, “있나요” asks whether something exists or is available. It is a polite question form used when asking about the presence or availability of something. New example: “화장실이 있나요?” means “Is there a restroom?”
지금 “지금” means “now” and specifies that the room is vacant at the present time. It commonly appears before the verb or state being described. New example: “지금 괜찮아요” means “Now is okay.”
하나가 “하나가” means “one,” referring here to one available study room. The ending “가” marks it as the subject of the phrase “지금 하나가 비어 있어요.” New example: “하나가 있어요” means “There is one.”
비어 In “비어 있어요,” “비어” describes the room as empty or vacant. Together with “있어요,” it expresses a continuing vacant state. New example: “자리가 비어 있어요” means “A seat is vacant.”
있어요 In “비어 있어요,” “있어요” helps express that the vacant state exists now. This polite form is used to describe a current state or condition. New example: “사람이 있어요” means “There is a person.”
그곳에서 “그곳에서” means “there” or “in that place,” referring to the study room as the place where reading happens. The ending “에서” marks the location of an action. New example: “카페에서 공부해요” means “I study at a café.”
책을 “책을” means “a book” or “books” as the object of reading in “책을 읽어도 되나요?”. The ending “을” marks what is being read. New example: “책을 읽어요” means “I read a book.”
읽어도 In “읽어도 되나요?”, “읽어도” means “even if I read” and is part of the expression asking whether reading is allowed. The pattern “V-아/어도 되나요?” asks for permission to do something. New example: “여기 앉아도 되나요?” means “May I sit here?”
되나요 In “읽어도 되나요?”, “되나요” completes the permission question, asking whether the action is acceptable or allowed. The meaning of permission comes from the whole construction “읽어도 되나요?”, not from this word alone. New example: “사진을 찍어도 되나요?” means “May I take a picture?”
그 “그” means “that” and points to the room already being discussed in “그 방에서”. It normally comes directly before a noun. New example: “그 책” means “that book.”
방에서 “방에서” means “in the room,” identifying the place where reading and closing the door take place. The ending “에서” marks the location of an action. New example: “방에서 쉬어요” means “I rest in the room.”
읽고 “읽고” means “read and” and connects reading with the next action in “읽고 문을 닫으세요.” This form links two actions in sequence or combination. New example: “읽고 쉬어요” means “I read and rest.”
문을 “문을” means “the door” as the object of closing in “문을 닫으세요.” The ending “을” marks what is acted on. New example: “문을 닫아요” means “I close the door.”
닫으세요 “닫으세요” means “please close,” giving a polite instruction to close the door. It is used when politely asking someone to perform an action. New example: “창문을 닫으세요” means “Please close the window.”
조용할까요 “조용할까요?” asks whether the room will be quiet or is expected to be quiet. The ending “-ㄹ까요” presents a question about an expectation or possibility here. New example: “내일 비가 올까요?” means “Will it rain tomorrow?”
벽이 “벽이” means “the walls” as the subject that blocks the noise in “벽이 소음을 대부분 막아 줍니다.” The ending “이” marks the subject after this noun. New example: “벽이 두꺼워요” means “The wall is thick.”
소음을 “소음을” means “noise” as the thing being blocked. The ending “을” marks noise as the object of “막아.” New example: “소음을 줄여요” means “I reduce the noise.”
대부분 “대부분” means “most” or “for the most part” and limits how much of the noise the walls block. It commonly appears before the verb or phrase describing the majority action. New example: “대부분 이해해요” means “I understand most of it.”
막아 In “막아 줍니다,” “막아” means “block” or “stop” and describes what the walls do to the noise. It connects the blocking action to “줍니다,” which adds the idea of doing it as a helpful action. New example: “바람을 막아요” means “I block the wind.”
줍니다 In “막아 줍니다,” “줍니다” shows that the blocking action is done for someone’s benefit or help, with a polite formal ending. The helpful meaning comes from the whole pattern “V-아/어 줍니다.” New example: “설명해 줍니다” means “I explain it for someone.”
이 “이” means “this” and points to the room close to the speaker in “이 방이면 괜찮아요.” It is placed directly before the noun it describes. New example: “이 책” means “this book.”
방이면 In “이 방이면 괜찮아요,” “방이면” sets “this room” as the condition: if it is this room, it is acceptable. The ending “-이면” is used to express a condition after a noun. New example: “이 자리면 괜찮아요” means “This seat is fine.”
괜찮아요 Here “괜찮아요” means “is fine” or “works for me,” showing that the speaker accepts this room. It is a common polite way to say that an option is acceptable. New example: “이 시간도 괜찮아요” means “This time is fine too.”
다른 “다른” means “other” or “different” and describes people besides the current user in “다른 사람들을 위해.” It appears before the noun it modifies. New example: “다른 사람” means “another person” or “other people.”
사람들을 “사람들을” means “people” in the phrase “다른 사람들을 위해,” referring to the people who will use the room later. The ending “을” marks the noun within this phrase before “위해.” New example: “사람들을 도와요” means “I help people.”
위해 In “다른 사람들을 위해,” “위해” means “for” or “for the sake of,” identifying the people whose benefit is considered. It commonly follows a noun to express a beneficiary or purpose. New example: “건강을 위해 운동해요” means “I exercise for my health.”
깨끗하게 “깨끗하게” means “cleanly” or “in a clean condition” in “깨끗하게 사용해 주세요.” It describes how the room should be used and implies keeping it clean for other people. New example: “방을 깨끗하게 사용해요” means “I use the room cleanly.”
사용해 In “사용해 주세요,” “사용해” means “use” and is part of the polite request to use the room while keeping it clean. The request meaning comes from the whole construction with “주세요.” New example: “이 방을 사용해요” means “I use this room.”
주세요 In “사용해 주세요,” “주세요” makes a polite request: “Please use it.” The pattern “V-아/어 주세요” is used when asking someone to do an action. New example: “기다려 주세요” means “Please wait.”

Grammar Points

읽어도

책을 읽어도

cheh-GUHL eel-GUH-doh

You may read a book.

읽다 combines with -어도 to express permission or allowance: “even if/although one reads” or “may read.”

닫으세요

문을 닫으세요.

moo-NEUL dah-deu-SEH-yoh

Please close the door.

닫다 combines with -(으)세요 to make a polite request or instruction.

Korean Vocabulary

그곳 pron
guh-GOHT there; that place
닫다 verb
daht-ttah to close 닫으세요
문 noun
moon door
방 noun
bahng room
비어 있다 phrase
bee-UH EET-ttah to be empty; to be available 비어 있어요
스터디룸 noun
suh-tuh-dee-ROOM study room
읽다 verb
eek-ttah to read 읽어도
있다 verb
EET-ttah to exist; to be available 있나요?
조용하다 adj
joh-YOHNG-hah-dah to be quiet 조용할까요?
지금 adv
jee-GUHM now
책 noun
CHEHG book
하나 num
HAH-nah one

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Is a study room available?

Show Answer스터디룸이 있나요?

One is open now.

Show Answer지금 하나가 비어 있어요.

Can I read in there?

Show Answer그곳에서 책을 읽어도 되나요?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

study room

Show Answer스터디룸

to be quiet

Show Answer조용할까요

to close

Show Answer닫으세요

to read

Show Answer읽어도