Ask a librarian for a book recommendation | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a library, one person asks a librarian to recommend a simple book for language learners and checks how to borrow it..

EN → KO / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Ask a librarian for a book recommendation to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

언어 학습자에게 좋은 책을 추천해 주실 수 있나요?

uh-NUH HAK-ssŭp-jja-eh-GEH JOH-eun CHAE-geul choo-CHUN-hae joo-SHEEL soo IN-na-yo? Could you recommend a book for language learners?
B

쉬운 이야기나 짧은 글을 찾고 있나요?

SHWEE-un ee-YA-gee-na JJAL-bun GEU-reul CHAT-kko IN-na-yo? Are you looking for easy stories or short articles?
A

쉬운 단어로 된 짧은 이야기를 원해요.

SHWEE-un DAN-uh-roh dwaen JJAL-bun ee-YA-gee-reul WON-hae-yo. I want short stories with simple words.
B

이 책에는 이해하기 쉬운 이야기와 도움이 되는 그림이 있어요.

ee CHAE-ge-neun ee-hae-ha-gee SHWEE-un ee-YA-gee-wa doh-oo-mee dwae-neun guh-REE-mee ee-SSUH-yo. This book has easy-to-understand stories and helpful pictures.
A

오늘 이 책을 집에 가져가도 되나요?

oh-NEUL ee CHAE-geul JEE-beh ga-jyuh-ga-do dwae-na-yo? Can I take it home today?
B

안내 데스크에서 도서관 카드를 보여 주세요.

ahn-NAE DEH-seu-keu-eh-suh doh-suh-gwan KA-deu-reul bo-YUH joo-SEH-yo. Please show your library card at the desk.
A

지금 대출할게요.

jee-GUHM dae-CHUL-hal-KKEH-yo. I will check it out now.
B

다 읽은 후에 다른 책을 추천받으러 다시 오세요.

dah IL-geun hoo-eh DAH-reun CHAE-geul choo-CHUN-ba-deu-reo dah-SHEE oh-SEH-yo. Come back for another recommendation after you finish it.

Word by Word

언어 언어 means “language” here, as in “언어 학습자에게,” meaning language learners. It is commonly used before a person or activity to specify which language is involved.
학습자 학습자 means “learner,” referring here to a person who is learning a language. It is a noun that can be followed by 에게 when the learner is the intended recipient.
에게 에게 marks the person who is the target or intended recipient, here in “언어 학습자에게,” meaning for language learners. It is commonly used after a person when giving, recommending, or doing something for that person.
좋은 좋은 means “good” or “suitable” here and describes the book as suitable for language learners. It is the form of 좋다 used directly before a noun, as in “좋은 책.”
책 책 means “book” here. In “책을,” it is the thing being recommended, and 책 can commonly be followed by 을 when it is the object of an action.
을 을 marks 책 as the object of the recommendation in “책을 추천해 주실 수 있나요?” It is used after a noun ending in a consonant to show what someone recommends or does.
추천해 추천해 contributes the action “recommend” in “추천해 주실 수 있나요?” The whole expression politely asks whether the listener can recommend a book; 추천해 connects the recommending action to the following part.
주실 주실 contributes the idea of doing something as a favor in “추천해 주실 수 있나요?” Together with 추천해, it makes the request more polite; it does not mean that the listener is literally giving an object here.
수 수 expresses possibility or ability in “추천해 주실 수 있나요?” The construction asks whether the listener is able to do the action, and 수 commonly appears between an action expression and 있다.
있나요 있나요 completes the polite question in “추천해 주실 수 있나요?” Here it asks whether the requested action is possible, rather than simply asking whether an object exists.
쉬운 쉬운 means “easy” or “simple” here and describes the stories in “쉬운 이야기.” It is the form of 쉽다 used before a noun, so it directly describes the type of story.
이야기 이야기 means “story” here, as in “쉬운 이야기,” easy stories. It can be used with descriptive words before it to identify the kind of story being sought.
나 나 means “or” here and presents an alternative in “쉬운 이야기나 짧은 글,” easy stories or short articles. It is used between alternatives when asking which kind of thing someone wants.
짧은 짧은 means “short” here and describes 글 in “짧은 글,” short written texts or articles. It is the form of 짧다 used before a noun.
글 글 means written text or an article here. In “짧은 글,” it refers to a short piece of writing that the learner might read.
찾고 찾고 contributes the action “look for” in “찾고 있나요?” The whole expression asks what the person is currently looking for, and 찾고 connects the action to 있나요.
단어 단어 means “word” here, specifically in “쉬운 단어,” simple words. It commonly combines with descriptions such as 쉬운 to specify the vocabulary used in a text.
로 로 indicates what something is made or formed with in “단어로 된,” made with words. It marks 단어 as the material or means connected to the formation of the stories.
된 된 means “made” or “formed” here in “단어로 된 짧은 이야기,” short stories made with simple words. It comes from 되다 and links the description of what the stories are formed with to the noun 이야기.
를 를 marks 짧은 이야기를 as the object of 원해요 in “짧은 이야기를 원해요.” It is used after a noun ending in a vowel to show what someone wants.
원해요 원해요 means “want” here, expressing the speaker’s desire for short stories. It commonly follows the object marked by 를, as in “이야기를 원해요.”
이 이 means “this” here in “이 책,” identifying the book near the speaker or in the current context. In this sentence it describes 책, rather than functioning as a subject marker.
에 에 marks 책 as the place or container in “이 책에는,” meaning in this book. With existence expressions such as 있어요, it commonly identifies where something is found.
는 는 marks the topic in “이 책에는,” making this book the topic of the statement. Together with 에, it gives the sense “in this book, there are...”
이해하기 이해하기 means “understanding” in “이해하기 쉬운 이야기,” forming the expression “easy to understand.” It comes from 이해하다 and is used here before 쉬운 to describe how easy the stories are for the reader to understand.
와 와 means “and” here, linking 이야기와 도움이 되는 그림. It joins two noun phrases that the book contains or provides.
도움 도움 means “help” in “도움이 되는 그림.” The whole expression describes pictures that are helpful, while 도움 identifies the idea of assistance provided by the pictures.
되는 되는 contributes “being” or “serving as” in “도움이 되는 그림,” meaning pictures that are helpful. It comes from 되다 and connects 도움이 to the noun 그림.
그림 그림 means “picture” here, specifically pictures that help the learner understand the stories. It is linked with 도움이 되는 to describe their usefulness.
있어요 있어요 means “there is” or “there are” here in “이 책에는 ... 있어요,” stating that the book contains stories and pictures. It is commonly used after a place or container to say what exists there.
오늘 오늘 means “today” here and specifies when the speaker wants to take the book home. It commonly appears with an action to identify the day on which it happens.
집 집 means “home” or “house” here in “집에 가져가도 되나요?” It identifies the destination to which the book would be taken.
가져가 가져가 contributes the action of taking something away, here taking the book home in “집에 가져가도 되나요?” It comes from 가져가다 and connects to the permission expression that follows.
도 도 is part of the permission construction in “가져가도 되나요?” Here it helps frame the action as something whose acceptability is being asked about, rather than meaning “also.”
되나요 되나요 means “is it okay” or “is it allowed” here in “가져가도 되나요?” Together with the preceding action, it politely asks for permission to take the book home.
안내 안내 means “information” or “guidance” here in “안내 데스크,” the information or help desk. It commonly appears before a place or service related to giving directions or assistance.
데스크 데스크 means “desk” or “counter” here, referring to the library service point. In “안내 데스크,” it identifies the counter where the library card should be shown.
에서 에서 marks 안내 데스크 as the place where the action happens in “안내 데스크에서 ... 보여 주세요.” It is commonly used after a location when someone performs an action there.
도서관 도서관 means “library” here, as in “도서관 카드,” a library card. It commonly comes before a noun to specify that the item belongs to or is used by the library.
카드 카드 means “card” here, specifically the library card in “도서관 카드.” It is the item that the listener asks the speaker to show.
보여 보여 contributes the action “show” in “보여 주세요.” The whole expression is a polite request to display the library card, and 보여 connects the action to 주세요.
주세요 주세요 makes “보여 주세요” a polite request meaning “please show it.” It follows an action expression when asking the listener to do something courteously.
지금 지금 means “now” here and indicates that the speaker will borrow the book immediately. It commonly appears before an action to specify that the action is happening at the present time.
대출할게요 대출할게요 means “I will borrow it” or “I will check it out” here, referring to borrowing the book from the library. It expresses the speaker’s intention to carry out the borrowing now and is useful when stating what you will do next in a service situation.
다 다 means “all” or “completely” here in “다 읽은 후에,” meaning after reading it completely. It emphasizes that the reading is finished before the next action happens.
읽은 읽은 means “read” with the reading presented as completed in “다 읽은 후에.” It comes from 읽다 and describes the completed reading before 후에, so the phrase means after finishing the book.
후 후 means “after” here in “다 읽은 후에,” after finishing reading it. It commonly follows an action described as completed and introduces what happens afterward.
다른 다른 means “another” or “different” here in “다른 책,” another book. It is placed directly before a noun to distinguish the next book from the one already borrowed.
추천받으러 추천받으러 means “to receive a recommendation” here in “다른 책을 추천받으러 다시 오세요.” The whole phrase gives the purpose of coming back, and it comes from 추천받다 with the purpose ending 러.
다시 다시 means “again” or “back” here, telling the learner to return to the library another time. It commonly appears before an action that is repeated, such as coming back.
오세요 오세요 means “please come” here and politely invites the learner to return. It comes from 오다 and is used when telling or inviting someone to come to a place.

Grammar Points

형용사/동사-(으)ㄴ + 명사

이해하기 쉬운 글

ee-hae-ha-gee SHWEE-un GUHL

an easy-to-understand article

Korean puts descriptive forms before the noun. 쉬운 and 쉬운 to understand describe 글 directly.

동사-아/어 주세요

도서관 카드를 보여 주세요.

doh-suh-gwan KA-deu-reul bo-YUH joo-SEH-yo.

Please show me your library card.

This polite ending is used to make a request. 주세요 follows the verb stem.

Korean Vocabulary

글 noun
GUHL article or writing
단어 noun
DAN-uh word
쉬운 adj
SHWEE-un easy
언어 noun
uh-NUH language
원하다 verb
WON-ha-da to want 원해요
이야기 noun
ee-YA-gee story
좋다 adj
JOH-TAH to be good 좋은
짧은 adj
JJAL-bun short
찾다 verb
CHAT-tta to look for 찾고
책 noun
CHAEK book
추천하다 verb
choo-CHUN-ha-da to recommend 추천해
학습자 noun
HAK-ssŭp-jja learner

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Are you looking for easy stories or short articles?

Show Answer쉬운 이야기나 짧은 글을 찾고 있나요?

I want short stories with simple words.

Show Answer쉬운 단어로 된 짧은 이야기를 원해요.

Can I take it home today?

Show Answer오늘 이 책을 집에 가져가도 되나요?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to be good

Show Answer좋은

learner

Show Answer학습자

word

Show Answer단어

easy

Show Answer쉬운