Take a short coffee break | Learn Korean in English

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Use Take a short coffee break to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

집중이 잘 안 돼요.

jeep-JJOONG-ee jal an DWEH-yo I am losing focus.

잠깐 자리에서 벗어나 커피를 마셔요.

jahm-KKAHN JAH-ree-eh-suh BUH-suh-nah KUH-pee-rul mah-SHYUH-yo Let's step away and get coffee.

짧게 쉬면 도움이 될 것 같아요.

JJAHL-kkeh SHWEE-myuhn doh-oo-MEE dwehl KKUHT KAH-tah-yo A short break sounds helpful.

다시 앉기 전에 스트레칭할 수 있어요.

DAH-shee AHN-jjee juh-neh suh-tuh-REH-ching-hal soo ee-SSUH-yo We can stretch before we sit down again.

커피를 마신 후에 보고서로 돌아갈까요?

KUH-pee-rul mah-SHEEN hoo-eh boh-goh-SUH-roh toh-rah-GAHL-kkah-yo Should we return to the report after coffee?

그때 다음 부분을 끝낼 수 있어요.

KUH-ttae DAH-um BOO-boon-eul KKUN-nehl soo ee-SSUH-yo We can finish the next part then.

우리가 나가기 전에 파일을 저장할게요.

oo-ree-GAH nah-gah-GEE juh-neh PAH-eel-uhl juh-JAHNG-hahl-GEH-yo I will save the file before we leave.

아무것도 잃지 않도록 지금 저장하세요.

ah-moo-GUHT-ttoh EEL-chee AHN-toh-rohk JEE-guhm juh-JAHNG-hah-SEH-yo Save it now, so we do not lose anything.

Word by Word

집중이 “집중이” means focus and marks it as the subject in this sentence. In “집중이 잘 안 돼요,” it is the focus that is not working well. Use it as the subject when talking about focus or concentration.

잘 “잘” means well here, but in “집중이 잘 안 돼요” it helps describe how successfully the action or state is happening. Together with “안 돼요,” the expression means that focusing is not going well. It can be placed before a predicate to describe something as happening well or poorly.

안 “안” is the short negator placed before “돼요.” In “잘 안 돼요,” it helps express that something does not work or does not happen well. Use it directly before a verb or predicate when making a simple negative statement.

돼요 “돼요” means works or is possible in this dialogue. Together with “잘 안,” it says that focusing is not going well. The form is useful in expressions about whether something works, happens, or is possible.

잠깐 “잠깐” means for a moment or briefly. Here it limits how long the speakers will step away before getting coffee. Use it with an action when you want to indicate a short amount of time.

자리에서 “자리에서” means from one’s seat or place. The particle “에서” marks the place from which the speakers move away in “자리에서 벗어나.” Use it after a place when describing movement away from that location.

벗어나 “벗어나” means move away or step away here. It connects leaving the seat with the next suggested action, “커피를 마셔요.” Use this form after a place marked by “에서” when describing moving away from it.

커피를 “커피를” means coffee marked as the object of “마셔요.” The particle “를” shows what the speakers will drink. Use it after a noun that is the direct object of an action.

마셔요 “마셔요” means drink in this dialogue and forms a polite suggestion with “커피를.” In “벗어나 커피를 마셔요,” it is the action proposed after stepping away. Use this polite form for an everyday statement or suggestion about drinking.

짧게 “짧게” means briefly or for a short time. It describes how the speakers will rest in “짧게 쉬면.” Use it before an action when you want to specify that the action lasts for a short time.

쉬면 “쉬면” means if or when we rest or take a break. In “짧게 쉬면 도움이 될 것 같아요,” it introduces the condition under which the break may help. Use an action followed by this form to state a condition or expected result.

도움이 “도움이” means help or benefit and marks it as the subject of “될 것 같아요.” In “도움이 될 것 같아요,” the whole expression means that something seems helpful. Use it as the subject when describing the benefit an action may provide.

될 “될” means will be or become in “도움이 될 것 같아요.” It links “도움이” to “것 같아요,” expressing the expectation that the break will be helpful. This form is used before “것” in an expression about what something seems likely to be.

것 “것” is the noun-like element in “도움이 될 것 같아요.” It turns the idea that something will be helpful into something that can be described as seeming so. Use an action or statement before “것 같아요” to express an impression or tentative opinion.

같아요 “같아요” means seems or sounds in this dialogue. At the end of “도움이 될 것 같아요,” it makes the statement a cautious assessment rather than a firm claim. Use it when giving a polite opinion or describing how something appears.

다시 “다시” means again. Here it shows that the speakers will sit down another time after stepping away. Place it before an action that is being repeated.

앉기 “앉기” means sitting down in “다시 앉기 전에.” It presents the action as a noun-like time reference before “전에.” Use this form before “전에” when referring to an action that will happen later.

전에 “전에” means before. In “다시 앉기 전에,” it marks stretching as happening earlier than sitting down again. Use it after an action expressed in a noun-like form to state what happens before that action.

스트레칭할 “스트레칭할” is the form of stretch used before “수 있어요.” In “스트레칭할 수 있어요,” it identifies stretching as the activity that is possible. Use an action in this position when expressing ability or possibility with “수 있어요.”

수 “수” expresses possibility or ability in “스트레칭할 수 있어요.” Together with the surrounding words, the construction means that the speakers can stretch. Use it after an action form and before “있어요” to express what someone can do.

있어요 “있어요” completes the ability construction “스트레칭할 수 있어요,” so it means can here rather than simply exists. The full construction says that stretching is possible. Use “수 있어요” after an action form to talk about ability or possibility.

마신 “마신” means having drunk or after drinking in “마신 후에.” It describes the coffee-drinking action that is completed before returning to the report. Use this form before “후에” when referring to what happens after an action.

후에 “후에” means after. In “마신 후에,” it places returning to the report after drinking coffee. Use it after a completed action to identify the later event.

보고서로 “보고서로” means to or back to the report. The particle “로” marks the report as the destination or direction of returning in “보고서로 돌아갈까요.” Use it with a movement verb when indicating the place or target someone moves toward.

돌아갈까요 “돌아갈까요” means shall we return? in this dialogue. It politely proposes returning to the report after coffee. Use this question form when suggesting a shared action and inviting the other person’s agreement.

그때 “그때” means then or at that time. Here it refers to the time after drinking coffee, when the speakers can finish the next part. Use it to point back to a time already mentioned in the conversation.

다음 “다음” means next. It describes “부분,” identifying the part that comes after the current one. Place it before a noun when referring to the following item in an order or sequence.

부분을 “부분을” means part marked as the object of “끝낼.” The particle “을” shows what the speakers can finish. Use it after a noun that receives the action of a verb.

끝낼 “끝낼” means finish in “끝낼 수 있어요.” It is the action identified as possible, so the sentence says that the speakers can finish the next part. Use this form before “수 있어요” to express the ability to complete the action.

우리가 “우리가” means we and marks the speakers as the subject. In “우리가 나가기 전에,” it identifies who will leave. Use this subject form when explicitly stating who performs the following action.

나가기 “나가기” means leaving or going out in “나가기 전에.” It presents leaving as a noun-like action used with “전에.” Use it before “전에” when describing what happens before leaving.

파일을 “파일을” means file marked as the object of “저장할게요.” The particle “을” shows what will be saved. Use it after a noun that receives the action of saving or another verb.

저장할게요 “저장할게요” means I will save it and expresses the speaker’s commitment to save the file. In this dialogue, the speaker says this will happen before leaving. Use this polite form when telling someone what you will do for the situation.

아무것도 “아무것도” means anything or anything at all, but with the negative expression “잃지 않도록” it refers to nothing at all. Here it is the thing the speakers want to avoid losing. It commonly appears with a negative predicate when saying that nothing is affected or lost.

잃지 “잃지” contributes the meaning of not losing in “잃지 않도록.” The following “않도록” makes the phrase express prevention or purpose. Use this negative sequence when describing an action that should be avoided.

않도록 “않도록” means so that something does not happen or in order not to. In “잃지 않도록,” it gives the purpose of saving the file: avoiding loss. Use it after a negative action when stating the purpose of another action.

지금 “지금” means now. Here it tells the listener to save the file immediately. Use it with a request or action that should happen at the present time.

저장하세요 “저장하세요” means please save it or save it, as a polite request. In this line, the speaker asks the other person to save the file now. Use this polite request form when instructing someone to carry out an action.

Grammar Points

V-(으)면

잠깐 쉬면 집중이 돼요.

jahm-KKAHN SHWEE-myuhn jeep-JJOONG-ee DWEH-yo

If you take a short break, you can concentrate.

Attach -면 to a verb to express a condition: “if” or “when” something happens.

V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다

다시 보고서를 끝낼 수 있어요.

DAH-shee BOH-goh-suh-rul KKUN-nehl soo ee-SSUH-yo

I can finish the report again.

Use -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 after a verb to express ability or possibility: “can” or “be able to.”

Korean Vocabulary

다시 adv

DAH-shee again

다시 앉기 전에 스트레칭할 수 있어요.

도움 noun

DOH-oom help 도움이

쉬면 도움이 될 것 같아요.

마시다 verb

mah-SHEE-dah to drink 마셔요

커피를 마셔요.

벗어나다 verb

BUH-suh-NAH-dah to step away; to get out of 벗어나

잠깐 자리에서 벗어나 커피를 마셔요.

쉬다 verb

SHWEE-dah to rest; to take a break 쉬면

짧게 쉬면 도움이 될 것 같아요.

안 되다 phrase

ahn-DWEH-dah not work; not be possible 안 돼요

집중이 잘 안 돼요.

앉다 verb

AHN-ttah to sit 앉기

다시 앉기 전에 스트레칭할 수 있어요.

자리 noun

JAH-ree seat; place 자리에서

잠깐 자리에서 벗어나 커피를 마셔요.

잠깐 adv

jahm-KKAHN for a moment; briefly

잠깐 자리에서 벗어나 커피를 마셔요.

집중 noun

JEEP-jjoong focus, concentration 집중이

집중이 잘 안 돼요.

짧다 adj

JJAHL-ttah to be short 짧게

짧게 쉬면 도움이 될 것 같아요.

커피 noun

KUH-pee coffee

커피를 마셔요.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I am losing focus.

Show Answer

집중이 잘 안 돼요.

Let's step away and get coffee.

Show Answer

잠깐 자리에서 벗어나 커피를 마셔요.

A short break sounds helpful.

Show Answer

짧게 쉬면 도움이 될 것 같아요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

seat; place

Show Answer

자리에서

coffee

Show Answer

커피

for a moment; briefly

Show Answer

잠깐

to rest; to take a break

Show Answer

쉬면