Keeping a Shared Kitchen Clean | Learn Korean in English

About This Lesson

Use Keeping a Shared Kitchen Clean to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

여기서 제 컵을 씻어도 돼요?

yuh-GEE-suh jeh KUH-bul SSEE-suh-doh DWEH-yoh Can I wash my cup here?

왼쪽 싱크대를 사용하세요.

wen-JJOK SHING-kuh-deh-rul sah-yong-ha-SEH-yoh Use the sink on the left.

저는 이 공간을 깨끗하게 유지하고 싶어요.

juh-nun ee gong-GAH-nul KKEH-kkuht-TAH-geh yoo-jee-ha-goh SHEE-puh-yoh I want to keep the space clean.

다 끝나면 테이블을 닦아 주세요.

dah KKEUN-nah-myuhn TEH-ee-buh-rul TTAH-kkah JOO-seh-yoh Please wipe the table after you finish.

쓰레기는 이 쓰레기통에 버리나요?

SSUH-reh-gee-nun ee SSUH-reh-gee-tong-eh buh-REE-nah-yoh Does trash go in this bin?

문 옆에 있는 쓰레기통에 버리세요.

moon YUH-peh IN-nun SSUH-reh-gee-tong-eh buh-REE-seh-yoh Put it in the bin by the door.

제가 지금 처리할게요.

jeh-gah jee-GUM chuh-REE-hal-kkeh-yoh I will take care of it now.

그러면 모두가 쓸 수 있게 주방을 준비해 둘 수 있어요.

kuh-ruh-myuhn MOH-doo-gah SSOOL SSOO EET-kkeh joo-bahng-ul joon-bee-heh dool soo ee-SSUH-yoh That keeps the kitchen ready for everyone.

Word by Word

여기서 “여기서” means “here,” referring to the place where the speaker wants to wash the cup. It is used after a place to show where an action happens, as in “여기서 제 컵을 씻어도 돼요?” A learner can use it when asking whether an action is allowed at the current place.

제 “제” means “my” in “제 컵을,” identifying the cup as belonging to the speaker. It is the possessive form used before a noun in this dialogue. Use it directly before an object or person being identified as the speaker’s.

컵을 “컵을” means “the cup” as the object being washed in “제 컵을 씻어도 돼요?” The ending “을” marks the cup as the object of the action. A reusable pattern is to place an object followed by “을” before the action that affects it.

씻어도 In “씻어도 돼요?”, “씻어도” contributes the action of washing within a permission question. The meaning “may wash” comes from the full expression “씻어도 돼요?”, not from “씻어도” alone. Use this form with “돼요?” when asking whether doing an action is allowed.

돼요 In “씻어도 돼요?”, “돼요” completes the expression asking whether something is okay or allowed. The permission meaning belongs to the whole expression, while “돼요” supplies the idea that it is acceptable. Use “행동 + 도 돼요?” as a reusable permission-question pattern; this pattern is a new example structure.

왼쪽 “왼쪽” means “the left side” in “왼쪽 싱크대를,” identifying which sink to use. It commonly appears before a noun when specifying a side or direction. Use it to distinguish a place or object on the left.

싱크대를 “싱크대를” means “the sink” as the object to use in “왼쪽 싱크대를 사용하세요.” The ending “를” marks the sink as the object of “사용하세요.” A reusable pattern is a place or object followed by “를” before an action.

사용하세요 “사용하세요” means “please use” in the instruction “왼쪽 싱크대를 사용하세요.” It is a polite way to tell someone to use a specified object or facility. Use it after the object being recommended or requested.

저는 “저는” means “as for me” or “I” as the topic of “저는 이 공간을 깨끗하게 유지하고 싶어요.” The ending “는” marks the speaker as the topic. Use it when introducing or continuing a statement about yourself.

이 “이” means “this” and points to the space being discussed in “이 공간을.” It comes directly before the noun it identifies. Use it before a nearby person, place, or thing when the context makes the reference clear.

공간을 “공간을” means “the space” as the object the speaker wants to keep clean. The ending “을” marks the space as the object of “유지하고 싶어요.” Use a noun with “을” when it is the thing affected by the following action.

깨끗하게 “깨끗하게” means “clean” or “in a clean state” as the condition in which the space is maintained. It describes how the space is kept in “깨끗하게 유지하고 싶어요.” Use it before an action such as “유지하다” when describing a clean condition.

유지하고 “유지하고” means “keep” or “maintain” in the connected expression “깨끗하게 유지하고 싶어요.” It links maintaining the space to the desire expressed by “싶어요.” Use it after a condition and before a following expression about wanting to maintain that condition.

싶어요 “싶어요” means “want to” in “유지하고 싶어요,” expressing the speaker’s desire to maintain the space clean. It follows an action form to show what the speaker wants to do. Use it after an action when politely stating a personal wish.

다 “다” means “completely” or “all” in “다 끝나면,” emphasizing that the task is fully finished. It strengthens the meaning of “끝나면” here rather than naming a separate object. Use it before an expression of completion when the whole task needs to be finished first.

끝나면 “끝나면” means “when it is finished” in “다 끝나면 테이블을 닦아 주세요.” It sets the condition or time for the requested action that follows. Use it before a later action when that action should happen after something finishes.

테이블을 “테이블을” means “the table” as the object to wipe in “테이블을 닦아 주세요.” The ending “을” marks the table as the object of “닦아 주세요.” Use an object followed by “을” before a request for an action.

닦아 In “닦아 주세요,” “닦아” contributes the action of wiping the table. The polite request meaning comes from the full expression “닦아 주세요,” not from “닦아” alone. Use this connected form before “주세요” to politely ask someone to wipe something.

주세요 In “닦아 주세요,” “주세요” makes the preceding action into a polite request: “please wipe it.” The request is expressed by the whole expression, while “주세요” adds the polite asking function. Use it after an action when asking someone to do that action.

쓰레기는 “쓰레기는” means “as for the trash” in the question “쓰레기는 이 쓰레기통에 버리나요?” The ending “는” marks trash as the topic being checked. Use it when asking where a particular type of item should be placed or disposed of.

쓰레기통에 “쓰레기통에” means “in the trash bin” in “이 쓰레기통에 버리나요?” The ending “에” marks the bin as the destination for putting the trash. Use a container or destination followed by “에” with an action of placing or disposing of something.

버리나요 “버리나요” asks politely whether the trash should be thrown away or put in the indicated bin. In “쓰레기는 이 쓰레기통에 버리나요?”, it checks the correct disposal location. Use it after a destination when asking whether something should be put or disposed of there.

문 “문” means “door” in “문 옆에 있는 쓰레기통,” identifying the reference point for the bin’s location. It is used as a noun before a location expression. Use it when describing something positioned near a door.

옆에 “옆에” means “beside” or “next to” the door in “문 옆에 있는 쓰레기통.” It identifies a location relative to another object. Use it after a reference object to describe something located next to it.

있는 “있는” means “located” or “that is” in “문 옆에 있는 쓰레기통,” describing the bin located beside the door. It connects the location description to the noun “쓰레기통.” Use it after a place description before the noun that is located there.

버리세요 “버리세요” means “please throw it away” or “please put it in the bin” in “쓰레기통에 버리세요.” It is a polite request to dispose of something in the stated place. Use it after the destination when politely telling someone where to dispose of an item.

제가 “제가” means “I” as the subject and identifies the speaker as the person who will handle the matter in “제가 지금 처리할게요.” The ending “가” marks the speaker as the doer. Use it when volunteering yourself as the person who will perform an action.

지금 “지금” means “now” in “제가 지금 처리할게요,” locating the action in the present moment. It commonly appears before the action or promise it modifies. Use it when saying that something is happening or will be handled immediately.

처리할게요 “처리할게요” means “I’ll take care of it” in this context, referring to handling the trash or the current cleanup task. It presents the speaker’s intention or offer to deal with something. Use it when volunteering to handle a task for the other person.

그러면 “그러면” means “then” or “if so” and connects the cleanup action to its result in “그러면 모두가 쓸 수 있게 주방을 준비해 둘 수 있어요.” It refers back to the condition or action just discussed. Use it at the start of a sentence when drawing a consequence from what was said.

모두가 “모두가” means “everyone” as the subject of the people who can use the kitchen. The ending “가” marks everyone as the subject in “모두가 쓸 수 있게.” Use it before an action to identify all people as the ones who can or will do it.

쓸 “쓸” means “use” in the expression “모두가 쓸 수 있게,” describing the use that everyone should be able to perform. It modifies the following possibility expression. Use it before “수 있다” when expressing that someone can use something.

수 In “쓸 수 있게,” “수” forms part of the expression for possibility or ability. The meaning “can use” comes from the whole expression “쓸 수 있게,” not from “수” alone. Use it after an action form and before the expression that completes the possibility or ability meaning.

있게 In “쓸 수 있게,” “있게” means “so that it is possible” or “so that someone can.” It connects the possibility of everyone using the kitchen to the preparation of the kitchen. Use it after an ability expression when describing the purpose or resulting condition.

주방을 “주방을” means “the kitchen” as the object being prepared in “주방을 준비해 둘 수 있어요.” The ending “을” marks the kitchen as the object of the preparation. Use it after the object marker before an action that prepares or maintains a place.

준비해 In “준비해 둘 수 있어요,” “준비해” contributes the action of preparing the kitchen. It connects the preparation to “둘,” which adds the idea of leaving the result in place. Use this connected form before “두다” when something is prepared in advance or kept ready.

둘 In “준비해 둘 수 있어요,” “둘” adds the meaning of leaving the prepared kitchen ready for later use. The complete meaning comes from “준비해 둘,” not from “둘” by itself. Use it after an action when the result of that action should remain in place.

있어요 In “준비해 둘 수 있어요,” “있어요” completes the expression that something is possible or can be done. The ability meaning belongs to the whole expression “할 수 있어요,” while “있어요” supplies its final part. Use an action form followed by “수 있어요” to say that someone can do something.

Grammar Points

동사 어간 + -(으)세요

쓰레기를 쓰레기통에 버리세요.

SSUH-reh-gee-rul SSUH-reh-gee-tong-eh buh-REE-seh-yoh

Throw the trash in the trash can.

A polite request or instruction; -세요 attaches to a verb stem.

동사 어간 + -(으)면

끝나면 닦아.

KKEUN-nah-myuhn TTAH-kkah

When it ends, wipe it.

-면 introduces a condition or time: “when/if something happens.”

Korean Vocabulary

공간 noun

gong-GAHN space 공간을

깨끗하다 adj

KKEH-kkuht-TAH-dah to be clean 깨끗하게

끝나다 verb

KKEUN-nah-dah to finish; to end 끝나면

닦다 verb

TAHK-ttah to wipe 닦아

사용하다 verb

sah-yong-HAH-dah to use 사용하세요

싱크대 noun

SHING-kuh-deh sink 싱크대를

씻다 verb

SSEET-ttah to wash 씻어

여기서 adv

yuh-GEE-suh here

왼쪽 noun

wen-JJOK left

유지하다 verb

yoo-jee-HAH-dah to keep; to maintain 유지하고

제 pron

jeh my

컵 noun

kuhp cup

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I wash my cup here?

Show Answer

여기서 제 컵을 씻어도 돼요?

Use the sink on the left.

Show Answer

왼쪽 싱크대를 사용하세요.

I want to keep the space clean.

Show Answer

저는 이 공간을 깨끗하게 유지하고 싶어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to use

Show Answer

사용하세요

sink

Show Answer

싱크대를

to be clean

Show Answer

깨끗하게

to keep; to maintain

Show Answer

유지하고