Choosing a Restaurant for Lunch | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: During a lunch break, two adults compare nearby places and choose the closer restaurant to have more time to eat..

EN → KO / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a Restaurant for Lunch to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

점심으로 어느 곳을 고를까요?

JUM-shi-muh-roh UH-nuh GOH-sul GOH-lul-KKAH-yoh Which place should we choose for lunch?
B

가깝고 편리한 곳을 고릅시다.

gah-KKAP-koh pyul-LEE-hahn GOH-sul GOH-rup-SHEE-dah Let's pick somewhere close and convenient.
A

이 거리의 식당에는 간단한 점심 메뉴가 있어요.

ee GUH-ree-eh shik-TTAHNG-eh-nun gahn-DAHN-hahn JUM-shim MEH-nyoo-gah ee-SUH-yoh The place on this street has a simple lunch menu.
B

공원 근처 카페가 더 조용할지도 몰라요.

GOHNG-wuhn guh-CHUH kah-PEH-gah duh joh-YOHNG-hal-JJEE-doh mohl-LAH-yoh The cafe near the park might be quieter.
B

하지만 더 멀어요.

hah-JEE-mahn duh muh-RUH-yoh But it is farther away.
A

가까운 식당은 예약이 필요할까요?

gah-KKAH-oon shik-TTAHNG-un yeh-YAH-gee pee-RYOH-hal-KKAH-yoh Do we need a reservation for the nearby place?
B

아마 필요 없을 거예요. 이 시간쯤에는 보통 자리를 찾을 수 있어요.

ah-MAH pee-RYOH uhp-SUL guh-YEH-yoh. ee SHEE-gahn-jjum-eh-nun boh-TOONG JAH-ree-rul CHAH-jul soo ee-SUH-yoh Probably not. Around this time, we can usually find a table.
A

그럼 이 거리의 식당을 고릅시다.

guh-RUM ee GUH-ree-eh shik-TTAHNG-ul GOH-rup-SHEE-dah Then let's choose the place on this street.
B

그러면 먹을 시간이 더 많아져요.

guh-ruh-myun muh-gul SHEE-gah-nee duh mahn-ah-JUH-yoh That leaves us more time to eat.

Word by Word

점심으로 In this dialogue, 점심으로 means “for lunch,” identifying the meal the speakers are choosing a place for. The pattern [meal]으로 can show what something is for, as in the new example 아침으로 먹어요, “I eat it for breakfast.” You could use 점심으로 when discussing a lunch plan with another person.
어느 어느 means “which” when choosing one item from several possibilities, as in 어느 곳, “which place.” It comes directly before the noun it describes. Use 어느 when asking someone to select one option, such as 어느 식당이에요? in a new example.
곳을 곳을 means “place” as the object being chosen in 점심으로 어느 곳을 고를까요? The 을 marks 곳 as the object of 고르다, “to choose.” The same object pattern appears in a new example, 원하는 곳을 골라요, “Choose the place you want.”
고를까요? 고를까요? asks politely, “Shall we choose?” or “Which should we choose?” Here it makes a suggestion for deciding together, and the question is completed by 점심으로 어느 곳을 고를까요? Use this form when proposing a shared choice, such as 지금 시작할까요? in a new example.
가깝고 가깝고 means “close and” in 가깝고 편리한 곳, linking the quality “close” to the next quality “convenient.” The ending 고 connects descriptions in a series. Use it before another description when listing qualities, as in 가볍고 편해요, “It is light and comfortable,” in a new example.
편리한 편리한 means “convenient” and describes the place the speakers want to choose. It appears before 곳 as 편리한 곳, “a convenient place.” Use 편리한 before a noun when describing something that is easy or practical to use, such as 편리한 방법, “a convenient method,” in a new example.
고릅시다. 고릅시다. means “Let’s choose,” making a polite proposal to decide together. In this dialogue it follows the qualities of the preferred place in 가깝고 편리한 곳을 고릅시다. Use this form when suggesting a shared action, keeping the action before it, as in 이 메뉴를 고릅시다, “Let’s choose this menu,” in a new example.
이 이 means “this” and points to something close to the speaker or already identified, as in 이 거리, “this street.” It comes directly before the noun it specifies. Use 이 to identify a nearby or currently discussed item, such as 이 식당, “this restaurant,” in a new example.
거리의 거리의 means “of the street” or “on the street” and links 거리, “street,” to the 식당 that follows in 이 거리의 식당. The 의 marks a relationship between the street and the restaurant. Use [place]의 [noun] to identify something associated with a place, such as 공원의 카페, “the park’s café,” in a new example.
식당에는 식당에는 means “at the restaurant” or “as for the restaurant” in 이 거리의 식당에는 간단한 점심 메뉴가 있어요. The ending 에는 sets the restaurant as the place or topic where something exists. Use it before information about what is available at a place, such as 가게에는 물이 있어요, “There is water at the shop,” in a new example.
간단한 간단한 means “simple” and describes the lunch menu in 간단한 점심 메뉴. It is placed before the noun it describes. Use 간단한 with a noun when something is uncomplicated or not elaborate, such as 간단한 식사, “a simple meal,” in a new example.
점심 점심 means “lunch” in 점심 메뉴, “lunch menu.” It identifies the midday meal being discussed. Use 점심 before a related noun, as in 점심시간, “lunchtime,” in a new example, or when talking about the meal itself.
메뉴가 메뉴가 means “the menu” as the subject of the existence expression 간단한 점심 메뉴가 있어요. The 가 marks 메뉴 as what exists or is available. Use [item]가 있어요 to say that an item is available, such as 커피가 있어요, “There is coffee,” in a new example.
있어요. 있어요. means “there is” or “there are” in 간단한 점심 메뉴가 있어요, stating that the restaurant has an available menu. It is used after the thing that exists, marked here by 가. Use it to tell someone that an item or option is available, such as 자리가 있어요, “There is a seat,” in a new example.
공원 공원 means “park” in 공원 근처, “near the park.” It identifies the landmark used to locate the café. Use 공원 with a location expression when giving directions or describing where something is, such as 공원 앞, “in front of the park,” in a new example.
근처 근처 means “nearby area” or “vicinity” in 공원 근처, “near the park.” It usually follows a place name or other reference point to describe the surrounding area. Use [place] 근처 to locate something nearby, such as 역 근처, “near the station,” in a new example.
카페가 카페가 means “the café” as the subject being compared in 공원 근처 카페가 더 조용할지도 몰라요. The 가 marks the café as the thing that may be quieter. Use [place or thing]가 when presenting the subject of an observation or comparison, such as 이 방이 더 커요, “This room is bigger,” in a new example.
더 더 means “more” or “-er” and marks a comparison in 더 조용할지도 몰라요, “might be quieter.” It comes before the description being compared. Use 더 before an adjective when comparing options, such as 더 가까워요, “It is closer,” in a new example.
조용할지도 조용할지도 contributes “may be quiet” to the uncertainty expression 조용할지도 몰라요; with 더, the full phrase means “might be quieter.” The 지도 part presents a possibility, while 몰라요 completes the expression of uncertainty. Use [description]ㄹ지도 몰라요 when you are unsure about a possibility, such as 비가 올지도 몰라요, “It might rain,” in a new example.
몰라요. 몰라요. literally means “I don’t know,” but in 조용할지도 몰라요 it completes the expression “might be quieter.” Together with 지도, it shows that the speaker is not certain about the prediction. Use this expression when giving a cautious guess, such as 아마 늦을지도 몰라요, “I might be late,” in a new example.
하지만 하지만 means “but” and introduces a point that contrasts with the café possibly being quieter. Here it signals the disadvantage that the café is farther away. Use 하지만 at the start of a contrasting sentence when adding an opposing consideration, such as 하지만 시간이 없어요, “But there is no time,” in a new example.
멀어요. 멀어요. means “is far” in 하지만 더 멀어요, describing the café as farther away. The comparison is supplied by 더, so 멀어요 itself gives the idea of being far. Use it to describe distance from the current place or reference point, such as 학교가 멀어요, “The school is far,” in a new example.
가까운 가까운 means “nearby” and describes the restaurant in 가까운 식당, “the nearby restaurant.” It appears before the noun it describes. Use 가까운 before a place or object when identifying one that is not far away, such as 가까운 역, “the nearby station,” in a new example.
식당은 식당은 means “as for the restaurant” in 가까운 식당은 예약이 필요할까요? The 은 marks the restaurant as the topic of the question. Use [noun]은 to set a person, place, or thing as the topic before giving information about it, such as 이 식당은 조용해요, “This restaurant is quiet,” in a new example.
예약이 예약이 means “a reservation” as the subject of the question 예약이 필요할까요? The 가 marks 예약 as the thing whose necessity is being discussed. Use [thing]이 필요해요 to say that something is needed, such as 시간이 필요해요, “Time is needed,” in a new example.
필요할까요? 필요할까요? asks politely whether something is needed, here meaning “Do we need a reservation?” It is used after the thing being considered, as in 예약이 필요할까요? Use it when checking a requirement before taking action, such as 표가 필요할까요? in a new example, “Do we need a ticket?”
아마 아마 means “probably” and introduces the speaker’s cautious estimate in 아마 필요 없을 거예요. It commonly appears with an uncertain or expected statement rather than a fully certain claim. Use 아마 when giving a likely answer, such as 아마 괜찮을 거예요, “It will probably be okay,” in a new example.
필요 필요 means “need” or “necessity” in 필요 없을 거예요, where the full expression means that a reservation will probably not be needed. It combines with 있어요 or 없어요 to describe whether something is necessary. Use 필요 없다 with the thing that is not required, as in 예약이 필요 없어요, “A reservation is not needed,” in a new example.
없을 없을 contributes the idea that the need will be absent in 필요 없을 거예요, “it probably will not be needed.” It is followed by 거예요 to express an expected situation. Use the pattern [thing]이 없을 거예요 for something expected not to exist or be available, such as 자리가 없을 거예요, “There probably won’t be a seat,” in a new example.
거예요. 거예요. helps express an expected situation in 필요 없을 거예요, meaning “will probably not be needed.” In this dialogue it follows 없을 and presents the speaker’s prediction rather than a definite statement. Use [verb or adjective]ㄹ 거예요 when making an expectation, such as 곧 도착할 거예요, “I will arrive soon,” in a new example.
시간쯤에는 시간쯤에는 means “around this time” in 이 시간쯤에는 보통 자리를 찾을 수 있어요. The 쯤 indicates an approximate time, and 는 sets that time as the context. Use a time followed by 쯤에는 when describing what usually happens around an approximate time, such as 세 시쯤에는 바빠요, “I am busy around three,” in a new example.
보통 보통 means “usually” in 이 시간쯤에는 보통 자리를 찾을 수 있어요, describing what generally happens. It commonly appears before the verb or expression it modifies. Use 보통 to describe a regular pattern, such as 보통 여기서 먹어요, “I usually eat here,” in a new example.
자리를 자리를 means “a seat” or “a table” as the object being found in 자리를 찾을 수 있어요. The 을 marks 자리 as the object of 찾다, “to find.” Use 자리를 찾다 when looking for an available place to sit, such as 자리를 찾았어요, “I found a seat,” in a new example.
찾을 찾을 means “find” within the possibility expression 자리를 찾을 수 있어요, “we can usually find a table.” It appears before 수 to form the pattern for being able to do an action. Use the same structure with an object slot, as in 메뉴를 찾을 수 있어요, “I can find the menu,” in a new example.
수 수 is the possibility or ability element in 찾을 수 있어요, making the phrase mean “can find.” It follows an action form and is followed by 있어요 in this dialogue. Use [action]ㄹ 수 있어요 to say that an action is possible, such as 앉을 수 있어요, “We can sit,” in a new example.
그럼 그럼 means “then” and connects the conclusion to the preceding discussion about the nearby restaurant. Here it introduces the decision 이 거리의 식당을 고릅시다. Use 그럼 when responding to information and stating the next decision or action, such as 그럼 지금 가요, “Then let’s go now,” in a new example.
식당을 식당을 means “the restaurant” as the object being chosen in 이 거리의 식당을 고릅시다. The 을 marks 식당 as the object of 고르다. Use [place]을 고르다 when selecting a place, such as 이 카페를 골라요, “I choose this café,” in a new example.
그러면 그러면 means “then” or “in that case” and introduces the result of choosing the restaurant on this street. It connects the decision to the benefit 먹을 시간이 더 많아져요. Use 그러면 when drawing a consequence from the previous statement, such as 그러면 늦지 않아요, “Then we will not be late,” in a new example.
먹을 먹을 means “to eat” in 먹을 시간, “time to eat.” It comes before 시간 to describe what the time is for. Use the pattern [action]을 시간 to identify time for an activity, such as 쉴 시간, “time to rest,” in a new example.
시간이 시간이 means “time” as the subject of 먹을 시간이 더 많아져요, “we have more time to eat.” The 가 marks 시간이 as what becomes greater. Use 시간이 많아요 or 시간이 없어요 to describe having plenty of or no time, such as 시간이 없어요, “There is no time,” in a new example.
많아져요. 많아져요. means “becomes more” or “increases” in 먹을 시간이 더 많아져요, explaining that the available eating time increases. It describes a change into a greater amount, with 더 emphasizing the comparison. Use it with a noun whose amount increases, such as 사람이 많아져요, “There are more people,” in a new example.

Grammar Points

V-(으)ㄹ까요?

어느 곳을 고를까요?

UH-nuh GOH-sul GOH-lul-KKAH-yoh

Which place shall we choose?

This ending asks for the listener’s opinion or makes a suggestion, similar to “shall we…?” in English.

형용사 + -(으)ㄴ + 명사

가까운 식당

gah-KKAH-oon shik-TTAHNG

a nearby restaurant

Korean descriptive adjectives change form before nouns: 가깝다 becomes 가까운.

Korean Vocabulary

가깝다 adj
gah-KKAP-tah close; nearby 가깝고, 가까운

가깝고 편리한 곳을 고릅시다. / 가까운 식당은 예약이 필요할까요?

간단하다 adj
gahn-DAHN-hah-dah simple 간단한

간단한 점심 메뉴가 있어요.

거리 noun
GUH-ree street

이 거리의 식당에는 간단한 점심 메뉴가 있어요.

고르다 verb
GOH-ruh-dah choose 고를까요, 고릅시다

어느 곳을 고를까요? / 식당을 고릅시다.

곳 noun
GOHT place

점심으로 어느 곳을 고를까요?

메뉴 noun
MEH-nyoo menu

간단한 점심 메뉴가 있어요.

식당 noun
shik-TTAHNG restaurant

이 거리의 식당에는 간단한 점심 메뉴가 있어요.

어느 det
UH-nuh which

점심으로 어느 곳을 고를까요?

이 det
ee this

이 거리의 식당에는 간단한 점심 메뉴가 있어요.

점심 noun
JUM-shim lunch

점심으로 어느 곳을 고를까요?

카페 noun
kah-PEH cafe

공원 근처 카페가 더 조용할지도 몰라요.

편리하다 adj
pyul-LEE-hah-dah convenient 편리한

가깝고 편리한 곳을 고릅시다.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Which place should we choose for lunch?

Show Answer점심으로 어느 곳을 고를까요?

Let's pick somewhere close and convenient.

Show Answer가깝고 편리한 곳을 고릅시다.

The cafe near the park might be quieter.

Show Answer공원 근처 카페가 더 조용할지도 몰라요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

which

Show Answer어느

simple

Show Answer간단한

convenient

Show Answer편리한

cafe

Show Answer카페