Borrowing a Bicycle Pump | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a shared space, one adult borrows a bicycle pump and learns how to check and fill a flat tire..

EN → KO / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing a Bicycle Pump to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

뒷바퀴 바람이 거의 다 빠졌어요.

dwee-PPAH-gwee pah-rah-mee guh-EE dah ppa-jyuh-SSUHL-yoh. My back tire is almost flat.
B

빌려 쓸 수 있는 펌프가 있어요.

BIL-lyuh ssool ssoo IN-neun PUHMP-puh-gah ISS-uh-yoh. I have a pump you can borrow.
A

먼저 바람이 새는 곳을 확인해야 하나요?

MUHN-juh pah-rah-mee SAY-neun goh-seul HWAH-gin-hae-yah hah-nah-yoh? Should I check for a leak first?
B

바람을 넣기 전에 타이어 옆면을 살펴보세요.

pah-rah-meul nuh-kee juh-neh tah-ee-uh yuhm-myuhn-eul sal-pyuh-boh-seh-yoh. Look along the sidewall before adding air.
A

이걸 밸브에 어떻게 연결하는지 보여 줄 수 있어요?

ee-guhl BAEL-beu-eh uh-dduh-keh yeon-GYUL-ha-neun-jee boh-yuh jool ssoo ISS-uh-yoh? Can you show me how to attach it?
B

이 부분을 밸브에 눌러 끼우고 천천히 공기를 넣으세요.

ee boo-boon-eul BAEL-beu-eh nool-luh KKEE-oo-goh chuhn-chuhn-hee gong-gee-reul nuh-uh-seh-yoh. Press this part onto the valve and pump slowly.
A

타이어가 이제 충분히 단단한 것 같아요.

tah-ee-uh-gah ee-jeh CHOONG-boon-hee dan-dan-han guht KKAH-tah-yoh. The tire feels firm enough now.
B

끝나면 펌프를 돌려주세요.

KKEUN-nah-myun PUHMP-puh-reul dol-lyuh-joo-seh-yoh. Bring the pump back when you finish.

Word by Word

뒷바퀴 뒷바퀴 means the back tire or rear wheel in this dialogue. It identifies which part of the bicycle has lost air. Use 뒷바퀴 before a description of its condition when talking about the rear part of a bicycle.
바람이 바람이 means the air in the tire, presented as what has gone out. 이 marks 바람이 as the subject of the condition. In this context, 바람이 is used with a tire condition such as being lost or leaking.
거의 거의 means almost, showing that the tire is close to being completely deflated. It comes before the amount or degree being described. A useful pattern is 거의 + description of a condition or amount.
다 다 adds the meaning of completely or all to the air that has gone out. Together with 거의, 거의 다 means almost completely, rather than 다 alone meaning that the tire is flat. Use 다 after an amount or set when emphasizing completion.
빠졌어요 빠졌어요 means that the air has gone out, so the tire is deflated in this dialogue. It describes the resulting condition after the air leaves the tire. Use it with something that has gone out or decreased when reporting a current condition.
빌려 빌려 means borrow in the expression 빌려 쓸 수 있는 펌프. It connects the act of borrowing with the following idea of using the pump. Use 빌려 before another verb when describing borrowing something for a use.
쓸 쓸 means use in 빌려 쓸 수 있는, describing a pump that someone can use after borrowing it. The form 쓸 links 쓰다 with the ability expression that follows. A useful pattern is something을 빌려 쓰다 for borrowing and using something.
수 수 expresses ability or possibility in 쓸 수 있는, so the phrase says that the pump can be used. It works with the preceding verb form and is followed here by 있는. Use 수 in a pattern meaning that someone or something can do an action.
있는 있는 makes 쓸 수 있는 펌프 mean a pump that is available or possible to use. It presents the ability described by 쓸 수 as a quality of 펌프. Use a verb plus 수 있는 before a noun when describing something that can be done with it.
펌프가 펌프가 means the pump as the subject of 펌프가 있어요. 가 marks 펌프가 as what exists or is available. Use a thing followed by 이 or 가 with 있어요 when saying that the thing is available or that you have it.
있어요 있어요 means there is or I have in this dialogue, because 펌프가 있어요 presents a pump as available to the speaker. It states the existence or possession of something politely. A common pattern is a noun plus 이/가 있어요 for saying that something exists or is available.
먼저 먼저 means first, asking about checking before the next repair step. It sets the order of actions in the question. Use 먼저 before the action that should happen earlier.
새는 새는 means leaking in 바람이 새는 곳, identifying a spot where air is escaping. It describes the spot before 곳. Use a verb form like 새는 before a noun when identifying the place or thing performing that action.
곳을 곳을 means the place or spot as the object of checking, specifically the place where air is leaking. 을 marks 곳을 as what should be checked. Use a place noun plus 을 when that place is the object of an action.
확인해야 확인해야 means need to check in 확인해야 하나요. It presents checking the leaking spot as an action that may be necessary. Use 확인해야 before a question or statement about whether an action is required.
하나요 하나요 makes the sentence a polite question about whether the action should be done. In 확인해야 하나요, it asks whether checking first is necessary. Use it after an action expression when asking about the need or appropriateness of doing that action.
바람을 바람을 means the air as the object being put into the tire. 을 marks 바람을 as what is added. Use a thing followed by 을 when that thing is being put in or otherwise acted on.
넣기 넣기 means putting in or adding, referring to putting air into the tire. It turns the action into the noun-like phrase 바람을 넣기 before 전에. Use an action in this form before a time expression when saying before doing that action.
전에 전에 means before, linking the earlier inspection with the later action of adding air. Here it follows 바람을 넣기 and means before putting in air. Use an action or event plus 전에 to set a prior time.
타이어 타이어 means tire, the bicycle part whose sidewall should be inspected. It is followed by 옆면을 to identify a specific part of the tire. Use 타이어 with a body or structural part when specifying where to look.
옆면을 옆면을 means the sidewall as the object to inspect. 을 marks 옆면을 as what the listener should look over. Use a part noun plus 을 when directing someone to inspect that part.
살펴보세요 살펴보세요 means please look over or inspect, with attention to the tire sidewall. It is a polite instruction to check something carefully. Use an object followed by 살펴보세요 when asking someone to inspect that object.
이걸 이걸 means this as the object, referring here to the pump part being attached. It points to the item the speaker is holding or indicating. Use 이걸 when asking about or describing an action performed on a nearby item.
밸브에 밸브에 means onto or at the valve, showing where the pump part should be connected. 에 marks the valve as the destination or contact point of the connection. Use a place or attachment point plus 에 after a verb describing connection or placement.
어떻게 어떻게 means how, asking about the method of connecting the pump part. It comes before the action being explained in 어떻게 연결하는지. Use 어떻게 before a verb when asking for instructions or a method.
연결하는지 연결하는지 means how to connect it or whether it is connected, and here it introduces the method the speaker wants shown. It links 연결하다 to the indirect question inside 보여 줄 수 있어요. Use 어떻게 plus a verb ending in 는지 when asking someone to explain or show how an action is done.
보여 보여 means show in 보여 줄 수 있어요, referring to showing how to connect the part. It is used with 줄 to express doing this helpful action for the other person. Use 보여 with a person or method when asking someone to demonstrate something.
줄 줄 contributes the idea of doing the showing for the speaker in 보여 줄 수 있어요. It is part of the helpful-action expression rather than meaning a physical line here. Use a verb plus 줄 in an expression that asks or offers to do an action for someone.
이 이 means this in 이 부분을, identifying the part that should be pressed onto the valve. Here it is a demonstrative before 부분을, not the subject marker. Use 이 before a nearby or previously indicated noun.
부분을 부분을 means the part as the object of pressing and fitting. 을 marks 부분을 as what the listener should handle. Use a noun plus 을 when giving an instruction about acting on a particular part.
눌러 눌러 means by pressing or press and, describing the pressure used to fit the part onto the valve. It connects the pressing action with the following fitting action. Use 눌러 before another action when one action is performed by pressing or happens first.
끼우고 끼우고 means fit or insert, and then, describing how the part is attached before air is pumped. 고 connects this action with the next instruction. Use an action form ending in 고 to link two actions in sequence.
천천히 천천히 means slowly and describes the speed of pumping air. It comes before the action 넣으세요 to make the instruction gentler and more controlled. Use 천천히 before an action when telling someone to do it at a slow pace.
공기를 공기를 means air as the object being put into the tire. 을 marks 공기를 as what is added with the pump. Use a substance followed by 을 when instructing someone to put that substance into something.
넣으세요 넣으세요 means please put in or add, referring here to putting air into the tire. It is a polite instruction after the part has been fitted to the valve. Use it after the object when politely telling someone to place or add something.
타이어가 타이어가 means the tire as the subject of the speaker's impression about its firmness. 가 marks 타이어가 as what now feels firm enough. Use a thing followed by 이 or 가 when describing its current condition or impression.
이제 이제 means now, marking the tire's condition after air has been added. It contrasts the current state with the earlier flat condition. Use 이제 when reporting a changed situation at the present point.
충분히 충분히 means sufficiently or enough, describing the degree of firmness reached by the tire. It comes before 단단한 to show that the condition has reached an adequate level. Use 충분히 before a quality or action when saying that something is sufficient.
단단한 단단한 means firm, describing the tire's current feel before 것 같아요. It modifies the state being assessed rather than making a simple command. Use 단단한 before a noun or noun-like expression when describing something firm.
것 것 refers to the state or fact described by 단단한 in 단단한 것 같아요. It helps package the description as the thing the speaker is judging. Use an adjective plus 것 같아요 when expressing an impression about a condition.
같아요 같아요 means seems or feels like, showing that the speaker is giving an impression rather than a definite measurement. In 단단한 것 같아요, it softens the statement that the tire is firm enough. Use a description plus 것 같아요 when reporting what something appears or feels to be.
끝나면 끝나면 means when it is finished, setting the condition for returning the pump. The subject of the finishing action is understood from the activity being discussed. Use an action or event plus 면 when saying what should happen when it finishes.
펌프를 펌프를 means the pump as the object to be returned. 을 marks 펌프를 as what the listener should bring back. Use a thing followed by 을 when instructing someone to return or move that thing.
돌려주세요 돌려주세요 means please return or give back, referring here to returning the borrowed pump. In this context, it asks the listener to bring the pump back after use. Use an object plus 돌려주세요 when politely asking someone to return it.

Grammar Points

-(으)ㄹ 수 있다

펌프를 빌려 쓸 수 있어요.

PUHMP-puh-reul BIL-lyuh ssool ssoo ISS-uh-yoh.

You can borrow and use a pump.

Attach -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 to a verb to express ability or possibility. After a vowel, use -ㄹ 수 있다.

-아/어야 하다

먼저 새는 곳을 확인해야 하나요?

MUHN-juh SAY-neun goh-seul HWAH-gin-hae-yah hah-nah-yoh?

Do I have to check the leaking spot first?

Attach -아/어야 하다 to express necessity or obligation. 확인하다 becomes 확인해야 하다.

Korean Vocabulary

거의 adv
guh-EE almost
곳 noun
goht place; spot
뒷바퀴 noun
dwee-PPAH-gwee back wheel
먼저 adv
MUHN-juh first
바람 noun
pah-RAHM air
빌리다 verb
BIL-lee-dah to borrow 빌려
빠지다 verb
PPAH-jee-dah to come out; to lose air 빠졌어요
새다 verb
SAY-dah to leak 새는
수 있다 phrase
soo IT-ttah can; to be able to 수 있는
쓰다 verb
SSUHL-dah to use 쓸
펌프 noun
PUHMP-puh pump
확인하다 verb
HWAH-gin-hah-dah to check 확인해야

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

My back tire is almost flat.

Show Answer뒷바퀴 바람이 거의 다 빠졌어요.

I have a pump you can borrow.

Show Answer빌려 쓸 수 있는 펌프가 있어요.

Should I check for a leak first?

Show Answer먼저 바람이 새는 곳을 확인해야 하나요?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to come out; to lose air

Show Answer빠졌어요

to check

Show Answer확인해야

first

Show Answer먼저

air

Show Answer바람