Talking about taking photos | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: At home, two adults talk about taking photos of quiet streets and looking at one picture..

EN → KO / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Talking about taking photos to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

사진을 찍어요?

sah-JIN-eul JJI-guh-yo? Do you take photos?
B

저는 거의 매일 작은 카메라를 써요.

juh-NEUN guh-EE meh-EEL JAH-geun ka-MEH-rah-reul SSUH-yo. I use my small camera most days.
A

어떤 사진을 찍는 것을 좋아해요?

uh-TTUHN sah-JIN-eul JJING-neun guh-seul joh-AH-hae-yo? What do you like to photograph?
B

제가 가장 좋아하는 것은 조용한 거리예요.

jeh-GAH gah-JAHNG joh-AH-ha-neun guh-SEUN joh-YONG-han guh-REE-yeh-yo. Quiet streets are my favorite.
A

사진 하나 볼 수 있어요?

sah-JIN hah-NAH bohl soo iss-UH-yo? Can I see one?
B

여기 집 근처에서 찍은 사진 한 장이 있어요.

yuh-GEE jip guh-CHEH-eh-suh JJIG-eun sah-JIN han JAHNG-ee iss-UH-yo. Here is one I took near my home.
A

간단하고 선명해 보여요.

gahn-DAHN-ha-go SUHN-myuhng-hae bo-YUH-yo. It looks simple and clear.
B

시간이 있을 때마다 연습해요.

SHEE-gahn-ee iss-SSEUL TTEH-mah-dah yuhn-SUHP-hae-yo. I practice whenever I have time.

Word by Word

사진을 In this dialogue, "사진을" means photo or photos as the object being taken or viewed. The ending 을 marks it as the object in "사진을 찍어요?" and "사진을 ... 볼 수 있어요?" Use it when talking about taking or seeing a photo.
찍어요 Here, "찍어요" means take a photo. It is used with "사진을" in "사진을 찍어요?" to ask whether someone takes photos. Use "사진을 찍어요" when asking or talking about taking pictures.
저는 "저는" means I as the topic of the sentence. In "저는 거의 매일 작은 카메라를 써요", it introduces the speaker's regular habit. Use it to present your own activity or preference.
거의 "거의" means almost or nearly, and here it softens "매일" to mean on most days rather than every single day. It appears before the time expression "거의 매일". Use it when a routine happens very often but not necessarily every time.
매일 "매일" means every day. In "거의 매일", it describes how often the speaker uses the camera. Use it before an activity to describe a daily routine.
작은 "작은" means small and describes the camera in "작은 카메라". It comes directly before the noun it describes. Use this position when describing the size of an object.
카메라를 "카메라를" means camera as the object being used. The ending 를 marks the camera as the object of "써요" in "작은 카메라를 써요". Use it when saying that you use a camera or other equipment.
써요 "써요" means use in "작은 카메라를 써요". It describes the speaker's regular use of the camera, with "카메라를" showing what is used. Use "카메라를 써요" when talking about using a camera.
어떤 "어떤" means what kind of or which type of. In "어떤 사진을 찍는 것을 좋아해요?", it asks about the kind of photos the person likes taking. Use it directly before a noun when asking about its type or characteristics.
찍는 "찍는" means taking or photographing in the phrase "사진을 찍는 것을". It describes the activity of taking photos before "것을". Use the pattern "찍는 것을 좋아해요" to say that you like taking photos.
것을 "것을" turns the activity in "사진을 찍는 것" into the object of "좋아해요", so the sentence asks what kind of photo-taking the person likes. The ending 을 marks that activity as the object. Use it after a described activity when that activity is the object of a verb.
좋아해요 "좋아해요" means like in "어떤 사진을 찍는 것을 좋아해요?". Here it expresses a preference for a type of photo-taking. Use it after the thing or activity you like.
제가 "제가" means I as the subject of the preference statement. In "제가 가장 좋아하는 것은", it identifies whose favorite thing is being described. Use it when the speaker wants to identify themselves as the subject.
가장 "가장" means most. In "제가 가장 좋아하는 것은", it shows that the speaker likes the quiet streets more than the other choices being considered. Use it before a preference expression when identifying a favorite.
좋아하는 "좋아하는" means liked or preferred in "제가 가장 좋아하는 것은". It describes the thing that the speaker likes most. Use it before "것" when identifying a favorite thing or activity.
것은 "것은" means the thing or activity as the topic of the sentence. In "제가 가장 좋아하는 것은 조용한 거리예요", it introduces what the speaker likes most. Use it to make a described thing or activity the topic of a statement.
조용한 "조용한" means quiet and describes the streets in "조용한 거리". It comes before the noun it describes. Use it when describing a place with little noise.
거리예요 "거리예요" means is a street in the statement "조용한 거리예요". It identifies the speaker's favorite subject as a quiet street. Use it after a noun when identifying or describing what something is.
사진 "사진" means photo in "사진 하나 볼 수 있어요?". Together with "하나", it asks to see one photo. Use it when referring to a photo without adding a topic or object ending.
볼 "볼" means see or look at in the possibility expression "볼 수 있어요?". It combines with "수 있어요" to ask whether seeing the photo is possible. Use "볼 수 있어요?" as a polite way to ask whether you may see something.
수 "수" expresses possibility in "볼 수 있어요?". The whole expression asks whether the speaker can see one photo, rather than "수" alone meaning can. Use the pattern verb + "수 있어요" to ask whether an action is possible.
있어요 In "볼 수 있어요?", "있어요" completes the expression that says an action is possible. The whole phrase asks whether seeing the photo is possible. Use it after "수" in a polite possibility question.
여기 "여기" means here and directs attention to what the speaker is presenting. In "여기 ... 사진 한 장이 있어요", it introduces a photo that is being shown or offered. Use it when pointing out something located here.
집 "집" means home or house in "집 근처에서". It identifies the place whose nearby area is being described. Use it before a location expression such as "집 근처" when talking about an area near home.
근처에서 "근처에서" means near or around a place, and here it means near the speaker's home in "집 근처에서 찍은 사진". The ending 에서 marks the place where the photo was taken. Use it after a place name when describing where an activity happened.
찍은 "찍은" identifies the photo as one that was taken in "찍은 사진 한 장". It comes before "사진" and describes the photo by the action connected with it. Use the pattern "찍은 사진" when referring to a photo someone took.
장이 "장이" appears in "사진 한 장이 있어요" and marks one photo with the counter 장 as the subject of the statement. The whole phrase means that there is one photo. Use "사진 한 장" when counting one photo or another flat item.
간단하고 "간단하고" means simple and, connecting the description "간단하고 선명해". The ending 고 links this description with the following one. Use it to connect two descriptions of the same thing.
선명해 "선명해" means clear or sharp in "선명해 보여요". Here it describes the photo as having a clear appearance. Use it with "보여요" when something appears clear or sharp.
보여요 "보여요" means looks or appears in "간단하고 선명해 보여요". It presents the speaker's visual impression of the photo, while the preceding words describe how it looks. Use it after a description when giving an impression based on appearance.
시간이 "시간이" means time as the subject in "시간이 있을 때마다". It identifies the time that is available for the speaker's practice. Use it when talking about whether time is available for an activity.
있을 "있을" expresses having or there being available time in "시간이 있을 때마다". It links the condition of having time with the repeated situation introduced by "때마다". Use this phrase when describing an activity that happens whenever time is available.
때마다 "때마다" means whenever or every time. In "시간이 있을 때마다 연습해요", it says that the practice happens each time the condition is met. Use it after a condition to describe a repeated action.
연습해요 "연습해요" means practice, and in this dialogue it refers to practicing photography. It appears in "시간이 있을 때마다 연습해요" to describe a repeated hobby activity. Use it when saying that you practice a skill whenever you have time.

Grammar Points

작은 카메라

작은 카메라

JAH-geun ka-MEH-rah

a small camera

Descriptive adjectives change form before a noun: 작다 becomes 작은.

-을 때마다

사진을 찍을 때마다

sah-JIN-eul JJIG-eul TTEH-mah-dah

every time I take a photo

Attach -을 때마다 to a verb to mean “whenever” or “every time” something happens.

Korean Vocabulary

가장 adv
GAH-jahng most; the best

제가 가장 좋아하는 것은 조용한 거리예요.

거의 adv
guh-EE almost; nearly

저는 거의 매일 작은 카메라를 써요.

매일 adv
meh-EEL every day

저는 거의 매일 작은 카메라를 써요.

사진 noun
sah-JIN photo 사진을

사진을 찍어요?

쓰다 verb
SSUH-dah to use 써요

작은 카메라를 써요.

어떤 det
uh-TTUHN what kind of; which

어떤 사진을 찍는 것을 좋아해요?

작다 adj
JAHK-ttah to be small 작은

작은 카메라

저 pron
juh I; me 저는

저는 거의 매일 작은 카메라를 써요.

조용하다 adj
joh-YONG-ha-dah to be quiet 조용한

조용한 거리

좋아하다 verb
joh-AH-ha-dah to like 좋아해요

사진을 찍는 것을 좋아해요?

찍다 verb
JJIK-ttah to take a photo 찍어요

사진을 찍어요?

카메라 noun
ka-MEH-rah camera

작은 카메라를 써요.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Do you take photos?

Show Answer사진을 찍어요?

I use my small camera most days.

Show Answer저는 거의 매일 작은 카메라를 써요.

What do you like to photograph?

Show Answer어떤 사진을 찍는 것을 좋아해요?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to like

Show Answer좋아해요

to be small

Show Answer작은

what kind of; which

Show Answer어떤

to use

Show Answer써요