Choosing the Right Work Bag | Learn Korean in English

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Use Choosing the Right Work Bag to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

어느 가방을 골라야 할까요?

UH-nuh gah-bahng-uhl gohl-LAH-yah hahl-KKAH-yoh? Which bag should I choose?

이 가방은 가벼워요.

EE gah-bahng-uhn gah-byuh-WUH-yoh. This one is light.

다른 가방이 더 튼튼해 보여요.

DAH-ruhn gah-bahng-ee duh TOON-toon-heh BOH-yuh-yoh. The other bag looks stronger.

주머니도 두 개 있어요.

JOO-muh-nee-doh doo geh ee-SSUH-yoh. It also has two pockets.

일할 때 쓸 가방이 필요해요.

EEL-HAHL tteh sseul gah-bahng-ee pee-RYUH-heh-yoh. I need a bag for work.

그럼 더 튼튼한 가방이 좋겠어요.

guh-RUHM duh TOON-toon-hahn gah-bahng-ee joh-KEH-ssuh-yoh. Then the stronger one makes sense.

주머니에 제 서류를 넣을 수 있어요.

JOO-muh-nee-eh jeh suh-RYOO-reul NUH-eul soo ee-SSUH-yoh. I can put my papers in the pockets.

그 가방이면 잘 쓸 수 있을 거예요.

guh gah-bahng-ee-myuhn jahl sseul soo ee-SSUHL guh-YEH-yoh. That should work well for you.

Word by Word

어느 “어느” means “which” in “어느 가방을 골라야 할까요?”, asking the listener to identify one choice from the available bags. It is placed before a noun, as in “어느 가방”. Use “어느” before a noun when asking which one.

가방 “가방” means “bag” in this dialogue. In “어느 가방을 골라야 할까요?”, it is the thing being chosen, and in “이 가방은” it is the bag being discussed. It can be used before particles such as “을” or “은”.

을 “을” marks “가방” as the object of the action “골라야 할까요” in “어느 가방을 골라야 할까요?”. It shows which thing the speaker may choose. Use a noun followed by “을” before an action involving that noun as its object.

골라야 “골라야” means “have to choose” as part of “골라야 할까요?”. It comes from “고르다” and expresses the required action that the speaker is asking about. Use “골라야” before “하다” when asking or stating what must be chosen.

할까요 “할까요” makes “골라야 할까요?” a polite question about what to do, here meaning “Which one should I choose?”. Its contribution is the polite question, while “골라야” supplies the idea of needing to choose. Use this ending when politely asking about a possible action or decision.

이 “이” means “this” in “이 가방은”, identifying the bag close to or currently indicated by the speaker. It comes directly before the noun “가방”. Use “이” before a noun when referring to this particular item.

은 “은” marks “이 가방” as the topic in “이 가방은 가벼워요”. The sentence then gives information about this bag, namely that it is light. Use a topic noun followed by “은” when setting what you are talking about.

가벼워요 “가벼워요” means “is light” in “이 가방은 가벼워요”. It describes the weight of the bag in a polite statement. Use an adjective form ending in “어요” to give this kind of polite description.

다른 “다른” means “the other” or “different” in “다른 가방이 더 튼튼해 보여요”. It identifies the bag being compared with the first bag. It is placed before a noun, as in “다른 가방”.

더 “더” means “more” in “더 튼튼해 보여요”, showing that the other bag appears stronger in comparison. It comes before the quality being compared, here “튼튼해”. Use “더” before a descriptive expression when indicating a greater degree.

튼튼해 “튼튼해” contributes the meaning “strong” or “sturdy” in “튼튼해 보여요”. It is the form of “튼튼하다” used before “보여요”, so the whole expression means “looks sturdy”. Use a descriptive form before “보여요” to say that something appears to have that quality.

보여요 “보여요” means “looks” or “appears” in “다른 가방이 더 튼튼해 보여요”. Together with “튼튼해”, it says that the other bag seems sturdier, rather than directly stating only its actual strength. Use “보여요” after a descriptive form when giving an impression.

주머니 “주머니” means “pocket” in “주머니도 두 개 있어요”. The dialogue also uses it in “주머니에 제 서류를 넣을 수 있어요”, where it is the container receiving the papers. Use “주머니” for a pocket in a bag or another item.

도 “도” means “also” or “too” in “주머니도 두 개 있어요”. It adds the pockets as another feature of the bag. Place “도” after the noun or other element that is also included.

두 “두” means “two” in “두 개”, describing the number of pockets. It appears before the counter “개”. Use “두” before a counter when counting two items.

개 “개” is the item counter in “두 개”, so “주머니도 두 개 있어요” says there are two pockets. It follows the number and comes before the predicate. Use a number followed by “개” when counting items.

있어요 “있어요” expresses existence or possession in “주머니도 두 개 있어요”, meaning that the bag has two pockets. Here it is understood as “there are” or “it has” because the pockets are being described as part of the bag. Use “있어요” to say that something exists or is available.

일할 “일할” means “to work” in the expression “일할 때”, which means “when working”. It comes from “일하다” and modifies the following noun “때”. Use a verb form such as “일할” before “때” to describe the time when an action occurs.

때 “때” means “when” or “the time” in “일할 때”. The whole expression “일할 때” identifies the situation or time of working. Use an action description before “때” to say when that action happens.

쓸 “쓸” means “to use” in “일할 때 쓸 가방”, describing a bag intended for use while working. It comes from “쓰다” and modifies the following noun “가방”. Use a verb modifier before a noun to describe what the noun will be used for.

필요해요 “필요해요” means “need” in “가방이 필요해요”. It states that the bag is necessary for the speaker’s work. A noun followed by “이/가 필요해요” is a common pattern for saying that something is needed.

그럼 “그럼” means “then” or “in that case” in “그럼 더 튼튼한 가방이 좋겠어요”. It introduces the speaker’s conclusion after hearing that the bag is needed for work. Use “그럼” at the beginning of a response when drawing a conclusion from what was just said.

튼튼한 “튼튼한” means “strong” or “sturdy” in “더 튼튼한 가방”. It comes from “튼튼하다” and directly modifies “가방”. Use this adjective form before a noun when describing a sturdy item.

좋겠어요 “좋겠어요” means “would be good” in “더 튼튼한 가방이 좋겠어요”. Here it gives a polite recommendation that the sturdier bag would be a good choice. Use “명사이/가 좋겠어요” to make a polite suggestion or recommendation.

에 “에” marks the pocket as the place receiving the papers in “주머니에 제 서류를 넣을 수 있어요”. With “넣다”, it indicates where something is put. Use the pattern “장소에 넣다” when describing putting something into a place or container.

제 “제” means “my” in “제 서류”, referring politely to the speaker’s own documents. It comes before the noun it describes. Use “제” before a noun when referring to something belonging to the speaker.

서류 “서류” means “papers” or “documents” in “제 서류를 넣을 수 있어요”. The documents are the items the speaker can put into the pockets. It can be used as the object in the dialogue pattern “서류를 넣다”.

를 “를” marks “서류” as the object in “제 서류를 넣을 수 있어요”. It shows that the papers are the things being put into the pockets. Use a noun followed by “를” before a verb when that noun is the object of the action.

넣을 “넣을” means “to put” or “to place” in “넣을 수 있어요”. It comes from “넣다” and appears before “수” to form an ability expression. Use “넣을 수 있어요” to say that someone can put something somewhere.

수 “수” contributes the idea of possibility or ability in “넣을 수 있어요”. The full expression “넣을 수 있어요” means “can put”, so “수” should be understood together with the preceding verb form and “있어요”. Use “동사 형태 + 수 있어요” to express that an action is possible.

이면 “이면” means “if it is” or “with that as the choice” in “그 가방이면”. It makes “그 가방” the condition for the expected result that follows. Use a noun followed by “이면” when describing a condition or situation.

잘 “잘” means “well” in “잘 쓸 수 있을 거예요”. It describes how successfully the bag can be used. Place “잘” before a verb when saying that an action is done well.

있을 “있을” contributes the idea of being possible or being able to in “쓸 수 있을 거예요”. Together with “쓸 수”, it forms the ability expression “쓸 수 있을”, meaning “be able to use”. Use “수 있을” before a sentence ending when expressing expected ability or possibility.

거예요 “거예요” gives “있을 거예요” a polite expectation or prediction. In “그 가방이면 잘 쓸 수 있을 거예요”, the full sentence means that with that bag, the person should be able to use it well. Use “거예요” after a preceding form ending in “을” or “ㄹ” when stating what is expected to happen.

Grammar Points

동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있어요

일할 수 있어요.

EEL-HAHL soo ee-SSUH-yoh.

I can work.

‘-(으)ㄹ 수 있어요’ expresses ability or possibility. The verb comes before 수 있어요.

형용사-(으)ㄴ + 명사

튼튼한 가방

TOON-toon-hahn GAH-bahng

a sturdy bag

Korean adjectives describing a noun come before it and change form, such as 튼튼하다 → 튼튼한.

Korean Vocabulary

가방 noun

gah-BAHNG bag

가볍다 adj

gah-byuhp-TTAH to be light 가벼워요

고르다 verb

goh-ruh-DAH to choose 골라야

다르다 adj

DAH-ruh-DAH to be different; other 다른

두 num

doo two

보이다 verb

boh-ee-DAH to look; appear 보여요

쓰다 verb

sseuh-DAH to use 쓸

어느 det

UH-nuh which

일하다 verb

eel-HAH-dah to work 일할

있다 verb

eet-TTAH to have; to exist 있어요

주머니 noun

JOO-muh-nee pocket

튼튼하다 adj

TOON-toon-HAH-dah to be strong; sturdy 튼튼한

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Which bag should I choose?

Show Answer

어느 가방을 골라야 할까요?

This one is light.

Show Answer

이 가방은 가벼워요.

The other bag looks stronger.

Show Answer

다른 가방이 더 튼튼해 보여요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to be light

Show Answer

가벼워요

to choose

Show Answer

골라야

which

Show Answer

어느

to look; appear

Show Answer

보여요