Borrowing Shared Tools | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a shared space, one person borrows scissors, tape, and a ruler and agrees where to return them..

EN → KO / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing Shared Tools to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

가위를 써도 돼요?

gah-WEE-rul ssuh-DOH dweh-YOH? Can I use the scissors?
B

이 가위를 가져가고 칼날은 아래로 향하게 하세요.

ee gah-WEE-rul gah-juh-GAH-goh kahl-LAH-run ah-REH-roh hyahng-HAH-geh hah-SEH-yoh. Take these and keep the blades pointed down.
A

테이프도 좀 필요해요.

TEH-ee-puh-doh johm pee-RYOH-heh-YOH. I also need some tape.
B

테이프는 서랍 안에 있어요.

TEH-ee-puh-nun suh-RAH-bah-neh ee-SSUH-yoh. The tape is in the drawer.
A

자도 있어요?

jah-doh ee-SSUH-yoh? Do you have a ruler too?
B

네, 제 책상 위에 있어요.

neh, jeh CHEK-ssahng WEE-eh ee-SSUH-yoh. Yes, it is on my desk.
B

거기서 가져가도 돼요.

guh-GEE-suh gah-juh-GAH-doh dweh-YOH. You can take it from there.
A

다 쓰면 전부 돌려놓을게요.

dah ssuh-MYUN juhn-BOO dohl-LYUH-noh-ULL-geh-YOH. I will return everything when I finish.
B

나중에 찾을 수 있게 자는 맨 위에 놓아 주세요.

nah-JOONG-eh cha-jul soo EET-keh jah-nun maen WEE-eh noh-ah joo-SEH-yoh. Leave the ruler on top so I can find it later.

Word by Word

가위를 “가위를” means “the scissors” as the object being used in “가위를 써도 돼요?”. It is “가위” with the object marker, so it can be used after an action that is performed on the scissors; this is useful when asking permission to use a tool.
써도 “써도” means “even if someone uses” in the permission question “써도 돼요?”. It comes from “쓰다” and combines with “돼요” to ask whether the action is allowed; this pattern is useful for polite permission requests.
돼요 “돼요” comes from “되다” and means “is it okay” or “is it allowed” here. Together with “써도”, it completes the permission question “써도 돼요?” used when asking someone for permission.
이 “이” means “this” before the noun in “이 가위를”. It identifies a nearby or currently indicated item and can be placed before a noun when handing over or pointing out something.
가져가고 “가져가고” means “take it along and” in “이 가위를 가져가고 칼날은 아래로 향하게 하세요.” It comes from “가져가다” and uses a connecting form to join taking the scissors with the following instruction; this is useful for linking two related actions.
칼날은 “칼날은” means “as for the blades” in the safety instruction “칼날은 아래로 향하게 하세요.” It is “칼날” with a topic marker, setting the blades as the part whose direction is being specified; this is useful when focusing on one part of an object.
아래로 “아래로” means “downward” in “칼날은 아래로 향하게 하세요.” It combines “아래”, meaning the lower direction, with a marker showing direction; this is useful when explaining how something should be oriented.
향하게 “향하게” means “so that it faces” in “칼날은 아래로 향하게 하세요.” It comes from “향하다” and describes the direction or resulting position arranged by the following instruction; this is useful when telling someone how to point or orient an object.
하세요 “하세요” comes from “하다” and gives a polite instruction in “향하게 하세요”. Here it asks the listener to arrange the blades so they face downward; this form is useful for polite directions or requests.
테이프도 “테이프도” means “tape also” in “테이프도 좀 필요해요.” The ending “도” adds tape to the other item already being discussed; this is useful when requesting one more item.
좀 “좀” means “some” or “a little” in “테이프도 좀 필요해요.” It indicates an unspecified small amount and makes the statement about needing tape sound less abrupt; this is useful when asking for a modest amount of something.
필요해요 “필요해요” comes from “필요하다” and means “is needed” or “need” in “테이프도 좀 필요해요.” The omitted subject is understood from the conversation, while the item that is needed is stated before it; this is useful for explaining that a supply or tool is required.
테이프는 “테이프는” means “as for the tape” in “테이프는 서랍 안에 있어요.” It is “테이프” with a topic marker, introducing the item whose location will be given; this is useful when moving the conversation to a particular object.
서랍 “서랍” means “drawer” in “서랍 안에”. It names the container where the tape is located; this is useful with words that describe an item’s position inside a place.
안에 “안에” means “inside” in “서랍 안에 있어요.” It combines “안”, meaning the inside, with a location marker and follows the container here; this is useful for locating something within a room, box, or drawer.
있어요 “있어요” comes from “있다” and means “is located” in “테이프는 서랍 안에 있어요.” It states where an item exists or is placed, and it can follow a location phrase when telling someone where to find something.
자도 “자도” means “a ruler too” in “자도 있어요?”. The ending “도” adds the ruler to the earlier request for scissors and tape; this is useful when checking whether another item is available.
네 “네” means “yes” and confirms the answer in “네, 제 책상 위에 있어요.” It is commonly used at the beginning of an affirmative reply before giving more information, such as an item’s location.
제 “제” means “my” before the noun in “제 책상 위에 있어요.” It is the possessive form related to “저의” and identifies the desk as belonging to the speaker; this is useful before a noun when referring politely to one’s own possession.
책상 “책상” means “desk” in “제 책상 위에”. It identifies the surface where the ruler is located; this is useful when giving a location together with a position word such as “위에”.
위에 “위에” means “on top of” or “above” in “제 책상 위에 있어요.” It combines “위”, meaning the upper part or surface, with a location marker; this is useful for saying that an item is on a desk or another surface.
거기서 “거기서” means “from there” in “거기서 가져가도 돼요.” It identifies the place from which the listener may take the ruler; this is useful when granting permission to take something from a location already mentioned.
가져가도 “가져가도” means “even if you take it” in “거기서 가져가도 돼요.” It comes from “가져가다” and combines with “돼요” to express permission; this is useful when allowing someone to take an item from a specified place.
다 “다” means “all” or “completely” in “다 쓰면”. Here it refers to finishing the use of the borrowed items; this is useful before an action verb when saying that something is done entirely.
쓰면 “쓰면” comes from “쓰다” and means “when someone finishes using” in “다 쓰면 전부 돌려놓을게요.” Its ending connects the condition or time of finishing use to the promise that follows; this is useful when describing what will happen after an action is completed.
전부 “전부” means “everything” or “all of them” as the items to be returned in “전부 돌려놓을게요.” It expresses the total group rather than just one item; this is useful before an action when promising to handle all relevant things.
돌려놓을게요 “돌려놓을게요” comes from “돌려놓다” and means “I will put everything back” in “전부 돌려놓을게요.” The ending expresses the speaker’s commitment to carry out that action; this is useful when reassuring someone that borrowed items will be returned to their place.
나중에 “나중에” means “later” in “나중에 찾을 수 있게”. It gives the time when the speaker will look for the ruler, and it can be placed before an action to refer to a later time.
찾을 “찾을” comes from “찾다” and means “find” in “찾을 수 있게”. It is the form used before “수” in the possibility construction, which is useful when explaining that someone will be able to locate an item.
수 “수” is the possibility element in “찾을 수 있게”, helping express that the speaker can find the ruler. It is not used alone with this meaning here; it is useful as part of a construction describing ability or possibility.
있게 “있게” comes from “있다” and means “so that it is possible” in “찾을 수 있게”. Together with “찾을 수”, it explains the purpose of placing the ruler where the speaker can find it later; this construction is useful for describing arrangements that make an action possible.
자는 “자는” means “as for the ruler” in “자는 맨 위에 놓아 주세요.” It is “자” with a topic marker, setting the ruler as the item whose position is being requested; this is useful when specifying what should be placed somewhere.
맨 “맨” means “the very” or “uppermost” in the expression “맨 위”. It emphasizes the extreme top position rather than just any place above; this is useful when identifying the highest or outermost position.
놓아 “놓아” comes from “놓다” and means “place” or “leave” in “맨 위에 놓아 주세요.” It connects the action of placing the ruler with the polite request “주세요”; this is useful when asking someone to leave an object in a particular place.
주세요 “주세요” comes from “주다” and politely asks the listener to carry out the preceding action in “놓아 주세요.” Together with “놓아”, it means “please place or leave it”; this form is useful for polite requests for an action.

Grammar Points

V-아/어도 돼요?

가위를 써도 돼요?

gah-WEE-rul ssuh-DOH dweh-YOH?

Is it okay if I use the scissors?

This pattern asks for permission. 돼요 means “is okay,” and 써도 combines 쓰다 with -아/어도.

V-(으)ㄹ게요

전부 돌려놓을게요.

juhn-BOO dohl-LYUH-noh-ULL-geh-YOH.

I’ll put everything back.

This ending expresses the speaker’s intention or promise to do something, often in response to the situation.

Korean Vocabulary

가위 noun
gah-WEE scissors 가위를

가위를 써도 돼요?

가져가다 verb
gah-juh-GAH-dah to take 가져가고

이 가위를 가져가고

되다 verb
dweh-DAH to be okay; to be allowed 돼요

가위를 써도 돼요?

서랍 noun
suh-RAHP drawer

테이프는 서랍 안에 있어요.

쓰다 verb
ssuh-DAH to use 써도

가위를 써도 돼요?

아래 noun
ah-REH down; below 아래로

칼날은 아래로 향하게 하세요.

이 det
ee these; this

이 가위를 가져가고

좀 adv
johm some; a little

테이프도 좀 필요해요.

칼날 noun
kahl-LAHL blade 칼날은

칼날은 아래로 향하게 하세요.

테이프 noun
TEH-ee-puh tape 테이프도

테이프도 좀 필요해요.

필요하다 adj
pee-RYOH-hah-dah to need; to be necessary 필요해요

테이프도 좀 필요해요.

향하다 verb
hyahng-HAH-dah to point toward; to face 향하게

칼날은 아래로 향하게 하세요.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I use the scissors?

Show Answer가위를 써도 돼요?

I also need some tape.

Show Answer테이프도 좀 필요해요.

The tape is in the drawer.

Show Answer테이프는 서랍 안에 있어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to take

Show Answer가져가고

tape

Show Answer테이프도

to need; to be necessary

Show Answer필요해요

to be okay; to be allowed

Show Answer돼요