About This Lesson
Use Asking someone to hold your place in line to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
잠깐 부탁 하나 해도 될까요?
JAHM-kkan boo-TAHK hah-NAH heh-doh dwel-KKAH-yoh? Could you do me a quick favor?
B
뭐가 필요하세요?
M WOH-gah pee-LYOH-hah-SEH-yoh? What do you need?
A
제가 화장실에 다녀오는 동안 제 자리 좀 지켜 주실 수 있어요?
jeh-GAH HWAH-jahng-sheel-eh dah-NYUH-oh-neun DOHNG-ahn jeh JAH-ree jom JEE-kyuh joo-SHEEL soo ee-SUH-yoh? Can you keep my place while I use the restroom?
B
네, 그렇게 할게요. 하지만 줄이 움직이기 시작하면 빨리 돌아와 주세요.
neh, guh-ruh-keh HAL-geh-yoh. hah-JEE-mahn JOO-ree oom-JEE-kee-gee shee-jah-KAH-myuhn PPAL-lee doh-rah-WAH JOO-seh-yoh. I can, but please come back quickly if the line starts moving.
A
금방 돌아올게요.
GOOM-bahng doh-rah-OHL-GEH-yoh. I'll be right back.
B
줄이 움직이면 제가 앞으로 가서 자리를 지켜 드릴게요.
JOO-ree oom-JEE-kee-myuhn jeh-GAH AH-puh-roh GAH-suh JAH-ree-reul JEE-kyuh duh-REEL-GEH-yoh. If the line moves, I'll move forward and keep your place.
A
고마워요. 서둘러서 곧바로 돌아올게요.
goh-MAH-wuh-yoh. suh-DOOL-luh-suh goht-PPah-roh doh-rah-OHL-GEH-yoh. Thanks. I'll hurry and come straight back.Word by Word
잠깐
In "잠깐 부탁 하나 해도 될까요?", "잠깐" means briefly or for a moment. It limits the request to something short and helps make the request sound light. Use it before a short request or action when you want to say it will take little time.
부탁
In "부탁 하나 해도 될까요?", "부탁" means a favor or request that the other person may do for you. Together with "하나", it presents one favor before asking permission to make the request. Use "부탁" when asking someone to help with something.
하나
In "부탁 하나", "하나" means one and counts the favor as a single request. It makes the request specific: one favor. Use it after a noun when referring to one item, question, or request.
해도
In "해도 될까요?", "해도" presents the action of making the request as something whose permission is being asked about. The full expression politely asks whether it is okay to do something. Use this form when asking permission before an action.
될까요
In "해도 될까요?", "될까요" completes a polite, tentative question meaning whether something would be okay. It makes the request less direct and gives the other person a choice. Use it at the end of a permission question.
뭐가
In "뭐가 필요하세요?", "뭐가" means what and identifies the thing that is needed. The question asks the other person to say what they need. Use it with a need or requirement when asking which thing is needed.
필요하세요
In "뭐가 필요하세요?", "필요하세요" politely asks what the other person needs. The polite form fits a question addressed to another adult. Use it when asking someone what they need in a helpful conversation.
제가
In "제가 화장실에 다녀오는 동안", "제가" means I and marks the speaker as the person going to the restroom and returning. It clearly identifies who will perform the action. Use "제가" when saying that you, rather than someone else, will do something.
화장실에
In "화장실에 다녀오는 동안", "화장실에" means to the restroom, with "에" marking the destination. It specifies where the speaker is going during the temporary absence. Use a place followed by "에" when describing movement to that place.
다녀오는
In "화장실에 다녀오는 동안", "다녀오는" describes going to the restroom and coming back. It modifies "동안" to refer to the time occupied by that trip. Use it with a place when talking about going there and returning.
동안
In "화장실에 다녀오는 동안", "동안" means during the time that an action or event takes place. Here it sets the period during which the other person should keep the speaker’s place. Use it after an action or time expression to say while or during.
제
In "제 자리", "제" means my and shows that the place belongs to the speaker. It is the possessive form used before the noun "자리". Use "제" before a noun when referring politely to something that belongs to you.
자리
In "제 자리", "자리" means a place or spot, specifically the speaker’s spot in the line. The surrounding context makes it a position that must be kept. Use "자리" for a person’s place or spot in a line or other setting.
좀
In "제 자리 좀 지켜 주실 수 있어요?", "좀" softens the request rather than meaning a measurable amount. It helps the request sound more gentle and less demanding. Use it inside a polite request when you want to make the tone softer.
지켜
In "제 자리 좀 지켜 주실 수 있어요?", "지켜" means keep or watch the speaker’s place. It describes the action being requested, while the rest of the expression makes the request polite and asks whether it is possible. Use it when asking someone to watch or protect a place, rule, or person.
주실
In "지켜 주실 수 있어요?", "주실" shows that the other person would do the action for the speaker, in a polite request. Its contribution is the helping-for-someone meaning, not the meaning of ability. Use it after an action when politely asking someone to do that action for you.
수
In "주실 수 있어요?", "수" contributes the idea of possibility or ability. Together with "있어요", it helps ask whether the other person can do the requested action. Use it in a polite question about whether an action is possible.
있어요
In "주실 수 있어요?", "있어요" completes the expression asking whether the action is possible. Here it does not mean simply that something exists; with "수", it contributes the meaning can or be possible. Use the exact expression "수 있어요" when asking about someone’s ability or possibility.
네
In "네, 그렇게 할게요.", "네" means yes and acknowledges agreement with the request. It signals that the speaker accepts what was asked. Use it at the beginning of a reply when agreeing to help.
그렇게
In "그렇게 할게요", "그렇게" means that way or like that and refers to the action just requested. It lets the speaker agree without repeating the whole action. Use it when accepting a proposed way of doing something.
할게요
In "그렇게 할게요", "할게요" expresses the speaker’s commitment to do it. In this dialogue, it reassures the other person that the requested help will be provided. Use it when agreeing to do something for the listener.
하지만
In "하지만 줄이 움직이기 시작하면", "하지만" means but or however. It introduces a condition or limitation after the speaker agrees to help. Use it to connect an agreement with an important contrasting point.
줄이
In "줄이 움직이기 시작하면", "줄이" means the line and marks it as the thing that may start moving. The line is the subject of the following action. Use "줄이" when talking about the line in a waiting or queueing situation.
움직이기
In "줄이 움직이기 시작하면", "움직이기" means moving and appears before "시작하면" to express the start of the line’s movement. It turns the movement into the action that begins. Use an action in this position when saying that something starts doing it.
시작하면
In "움직이기 시작하면", "시작하면" means if or when it starts. Here it introduces the condition that the line begins moving. Use it after an action when giving instructions for the time that action starts.
빨리
In "빨리 돌아와 주세요", "빨리" means quickly and tells the listener to return without taking much time. It makes the requested timing clear. Use it before an action when asking someone to do it quickly.
돌아와
In "빨리 돌아와 주세요", "돌아와" means come back or return to the current place. It is the action being requested from the person who temporarily left the line. Use it when asking someone to return to where the speaker is.
주세요
In "돌아와 주세요", "주세요" makes the preceding action a polite request meaning please do it. It turns "돌아와" into a courteous instruction. Use it after an action when asking another person politely to do that action.
금방
In "금방 돌아올게요", "금방" means soon or in a short time. It reassures the other person that the speaker will not be away long. Use it before an action involving a quick return or short wait.
돌아올게요
In "금방 돌아올게요", "돌아올게요" means I will come back and expresses the speaker’s assurance to return. It is useful when leaving temporarily and promising to return. Use it to reassure someone who is waiting for you.
움직이면
In "줄이 움직이면", "움직이면" means if or when it moves. It sets the condition under which the speaker will move forward and keep the other person’s place. Use it after an action when describing what should happen if that action occurs.
앞으로
In "앞으로 가서", "앞으로" means forward and gives the direction of movement in the line. It shows that the speaker will move toward the front rather than leave the line. Use it with movement when describing going forward.
가서
In "앞으로 가서 자리를 지켜 드릴게요", "가서" means go and then, linking the movement forward with the following action. It shows that keeping the place will happen after moving forward. Use it to connect two actions performed in sequence.
자리를
In "자리를 지켜 드릴게요", "자리를" means the place or spot as the object being kept. The object marker shows that the speaker will watch this particular place. Use a place followed by "를" when it is the object of an action.
드릴게요
In "자리를 지켜 드릴게요", "드릴게요" expresses a polite commitment to do the action for the other person. Here it adds the meaning that the speaker will keep the place on the listener’s behalf. Use it when promising politely to provide help or perform an action for someone.
고마워요
In "고마워요", "고마워요" means thank you. The speaker uses it to acknowledge the other person’s willingness to help. Use it after someone agrees to help or does something considerate.
서둘러서
In "서둘러서 곧바로 돌아올게요", "서둘러서" means hurry and links hurrying with the promised return. It explains how the speaker intends to return quickly. Use it to connect hurrying with the action that follows.
곧바로
In "곧바로 돌아올게요", "곧바로" means straight away or directly. It emphasizes that the speaker will return without delay or detour. Use it before an action when stressing an immediate or direct result.
Grammar Points
V-는 동안
화장실 다녀오는 동안 자리 지켜 주실 수 있어요?
HWAH-jahng-sheel dah-NYUH-oh-neun DOHNG-ahn JAH-ree JEE-kyuh joo-SHEEL soo ee-SUH-yoh?Can you keep my place while I go to the restroom?
Attach -는 동안 to a verb to express that one action continues while another action takes place.
V-(으)실 수 있어요?
자리 지켜 주실 수 있어요?
JAH-ree JEE-kyuh joo-SHEEL soo ee-SUH-yoh?Can you keep my place?
This polite pattern asks whether someone can do something; -시- respectfully refers to the listener.
Korean Vocabulary
다녀오는 동안
phrase
dah-NYUH-oh-neun DOHNG-ahn
while going and coming back
돌아올게요
verb
doh-rah-OHL-GEH-yoh
I will come back
뭐
pron
MWOH
what
부탁
noun
boo-TAHK
favor; request
빨리
adv
PPAL-lee
quickly
움직이기 시작하면
phrase
oom-JEE-kee-gee shee-jah-KAH-myuhn
if it starts moving
자리
noun
JAH-ree
place; spot
잠깐
adv
JAHM-kkan
for a moment
줄
noun
JOOL
line; queue
지켜 주실 수 있어요
phrase
JEE-kyuh joo-SHEEL soo ee-SUH-yoh
can keep; can hold
필요하세요
adj
pee-LYOH-hah-SEH-yoh
need
화장실
noun
HWAH-jahng-sheel
restroom; bathroom
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Could you do me a quick favor?
Show Answer
잠깐 부탁 하나 해도 될까요?What do you need?
Show Answer
뭐가 필요하세요?I'll be right back.
Show Answer
금방 돌아올게요.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
need
Show Answer
필요하세요I will come back
Show Answer
돌아올게요favor; request
Show Answer
부탁quickly