Using a Shared Laundry Schedule | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 오늘 공용 세탁실은 바빠요.

   The shared laundry room is busy today.

   오늘

   today

   공용

   shared; common-use

   세탁실

   laundry room

   바빠요

   is busy

   More detail

   오늘 means “today” and places the time reference at the start of the sentence. It can be reused with other statements, for example: 오늘 바빠요. — “I’m busy today.” The subject is understood from context in that example, so it is not necessarily the laundry room. 공용 means “shared” or “for common use.” It describes something intended for use by multiple people. Here it modifies 세탁실, forming the descriptive combination “shared laundry room.” Example: 공용 주방 — “shared kitchen.” 세탁실 means “laundry room.” It is a noun referring to a room or designated space for laundry. The following context also uses 세탁 for laundry or washing, and contextually for a load of laundry, but 세탁실 specifically names the room. 바빠요 means “is busy” here. Its base form is the descriptive verb 바쁘다 (“to be busy”). In the polite present style, 바쁘다 becomes 바빠요: the final ㅡ of the stem drops, and 아 is used because the preceding stem vowel is ㅏ, followed by the polite ending 요. This is the ㅡ-dropping pattern, not a ㅂ-irregular change. Example: 오늘은 사무실이 바빠요. — “The office is busy today.” 바빠요 describes the subject’s state; it does not by itself say what is causing the busyness. Together, 오늘 gives the time, 공용 세탁실 identifies the subject as the shared laundry room, and 바빠요 describes its state. The complete meaning is “The shared laundry room is busy today.” The polite ending -요 makes the statement suitable for ordinary courteous conversation.

2. 세탁을 시작하기 전에 일정표에 이름을 적으세요.

   Put your name on the schedule before starting a load.

   세탁

   laundry / a load

   시작하기 전에

   before starting

   일정표

   schedule

   이름

   name

   적으세요

   please write / enter

   More detail

   세탁 is a noun meaning laundry or a wash/load in this sentence. With the object marker 을, 세탁을 시작하다 means “to start the laundry” or “to start a load.” The noun 세탁 can also refer more generally to washing as an activity. 시작하기 전에 means “before starting.” 시작하다 is “to start”; its -기 form, 시작하기, turns the verb into the activity “starting,” and 전에 means “before.” This pattern is reusable: V-기 전에 = “before doing V.” Example: 자기 전에 이를 닦으세요. — “Brush your teeth before going to bed.” 일정표 means “schedule” or “timetable.” The following location particle 에 marks the place or surface where something is entered: 일정표에 means “on the schedule.” 이름 means “name.” Here, the translation identifies it as the addressee’s name, although Korean does not state the possessive separately. With 을, it is the object being written or entered. 적으세요 is a polite request or instruction meaning “please write” or “please enter.” Its base form is 적다, “to write down.” The ending -(으)세요 makes a polite instruction; because the stem 적- ends in a consonant, it appears here as 적으세요. Example: 여기에 주소를 적으세요. — “Please write the address here.” Together, 세탁을 시작하기 전에 sets the time condition: before starting the laundry. 일정표에 이름을 적으세요 tells the listener to enter their name on the schedule. The complete utterance is therefore: “Put your name on the schedule before starting a load.”

3. 오늘 오후 늦게 사용할 수 있는 세탁기가 하나 있어요.

   There's a washer open later this afternoon.

   오늘

   today

   오후

   afternoon

   늦게

   late

   사용할 수 있는

   available to use

   세탁기가

   washer

   하나

   one

   있어요

   there is

   More detail

   오늘 means “today.” It is a time noun/adverbial expression and can combine directly with another time expression: 오늘 아침 means “this morning,” while 내일 아침 means “tomorrow morning.” 오후 means “afternoon” and names the part of the day after noon. In 오늘 오후, it follows 오늘 to form “this afternoon.” 늦게 means “late” in an adverbial form. It comes from 늦다 (“to be late” or “to be late in time”); 늦게 modifies an action or event, whereas 늦은 is the form used before a noun, as in the example 늦은 오후 (“late afternoon”). Here, 늦게 places the possible use later in the afternoon. 사용할 수 있는 describes something that can be used. 사용하다 means “to use,” and -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 expresses ability or possibility: 사용할 수 있다 means “can use” or, with a thing as the subject, “can be used.” The form 있는 is the noun-modifying form of 있다, so the whole expression can come before a noun: 사용할 수 있는 방 means “a room that can be used.” 세탁기가 means “a washer” as the subject of the clause. 세탁기 is the noun “washer/washing machine,” and 가 is the subject particle. The particle marks the washer as the thing whose availability is being stated; it does not itself mean “one.” 하나 means “one.” In this sentence, 세탁기 하나 identifies one washer, matching the translation’s “a washer” in this context. Korean can also use 하나 as a standalone counting expression when the counted noun is understood; here the noun 세탁기 is explicitly present. 있어요 is the polite present form of 있다, meaning “there is” or “there are” when stating existence or availability. In this sentence it presents the washer as available, not merely as physically existing. A more formal polite form is 있습니다; the informal-polite form used here is 있어요. Together, 오늘 오후 늦게 gives the time, and 사용할 수 있는 세탁기 means “a washer that can be used.” The subject marker and 하나 identify one such washer, while 있어요 states its availability. The whole utterance therefore means: “There’s one washer available to use later this afternoon,” naturally rendered by the fixed translation as “There’s a washer open later this afternoon.”

4. 타이머를 맞춰 두세요.

   Set a timer.

   타이머를

   timer (object)

   맞춰 두세요

   please set it and leave it set

   More detail

   타이머를 refers to a timer as the object of the action. 타이머 is the borrowed noun “timer,” and 를 marks an object. The object marker does not itself mean “a” or indicate a particular number. 맞춰 두세요 combines 맞추다 (“to set or adjust something to the right point”) with 두다 (“to leave or keep something in a resulting state”) and the polite request ending -세요. The observed form 맞춰 is the connective form of 맞추다: 맞추어 contracts to 맞춰. Thus, 맞춰 두세요 asks someone to set the timer and leave it set. -세요 makes this a polite request, not a bare command. Reusable pattern: -어 두세요 can mean “please do something and leave the result that way,” when that combination is natural for the verb. For example, 불을 켜 두세요. means “Please leave the light on.” This example is new and illustrates the same pattern. Together, 타이머를 맞춰 두세요. means “Set a timer.” The Korean wording highlights setting it up so that the set state remains in place.

5. 그러면 다음 사람이 기다리지 않아도 돼요.

   So the next person is not stuck waiting.

   그러면

   then; so

   다음

   next

   사람

   person

   기다리지

   wait

   않아도 돼요

   does not have to

   More detail

   그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It links the utterance to a condition or situation already understood. Here it introduces the consequence: the next person will not need to wait. 다음 means “next.” It can modify a noun directly, as in 다음 사람 (“the next person”). Its opposite in a sequence is 이전 (“previous,” depending on the context). 사람 means “person” or “people” in a general sense. 다음 사람 is therefore “the next person”; the noun itself does not show a special grammatical gender distinction here. 기다리지 comes from 기다리다, “to wait.” The ending -지 here is part of the negative pattern -지 않다: 기다리지 않다 means “not wait.” In this sentence, 기다리지 is followed by 않아도 돼요, so it is not a complete negative statement by itself. 않아도 돼요 expresses that something is not required: literally, it has the pattern “even if [someone] does not do it, it is okay.” 않다 supplies the negation, and -아도 되다 means that an action is permitted or acceptable. Thus 기다리지 않아도 돼요 means “does not have to wait” or “doesn’t need to wait.” The polite ending -요 appears on 되다 as 돼요. Together, 다음 사람 is the person who would otherwise come next, and 기다리지 않아도 돼요 says that waiting is not necessary for that person. With 그러면, the whole utterance means: “Then the next person doesn’t have to wait.”

6. 세탁이 끝나자마자 제 옷을 옮길까요?

   Should I move my clothes as soon as the cycle ends?

   세탁

   laundry / wash

   끝나자마자

   as soon as it ends

   제

   my

   옷

   clothes

   옮길까요?

   shall I move?

   More detail

   세탁 means “laundry” or “washing” here and functions as the subject of the following verb. The subject marker 이 is attached in 세탁이; it is not part of the selected noun quote. 세탁 can refer to the washing process, as in 세탁이 끝났어요 (“The washing is finished”). 끝나자마자 means “as soon as it ends.” Its base verb is 끝나다, “to end,” and -자마자 means that the next event happens immediately after that event. The ending event is the washing process: 세탁이 끝나자마자 = “as soon as the cycle ends.” 제 means “my” in this sentence. It is the polite possessive form of 저 (“I”), from 저의; 저의 is commonly shortened to 제. This form marks the clothes as belonging to the speaker, without by itself specifying how many items there are. 옷 means “clothes” or “clothing.” It is a noun that can refer to clothing generally or to one or more garments, depending on context. In this sentence, the translation and surrounding context support clothing in the washing machine. For example, 옷을 입어요 means “I put on clothes” or “I get dressed.” The object marker 을 is attached in 옷을 and is not part of the selected noun quote. 옮길까요? comes from 옮기다, “to move” or “transfer.” The form 옮길까요? uses -(으)ㄹ까요? with a first-person subject to ask whether the speaker should perform the action, often as an offer or proposal: 지금 출발할까요? = “Shall we leave now?” Here, the speaker is asking whether they should move the clothes; the question form does not state that the move has already happened. Together, 세탁이 끝나자마자 sets the timing, 제 옷을 identifies the speaker’s clothes as the object, and 옮길까요? asks about the speaker’s action. The whole utterance means: “Should I move my clothes as soon as the cycle ends?” This is a polite way to offer or check a planned action.

7. 네, 그렇게 해 주세요. 세탁기에 젖은 옷을 두면 모두를 기다리게 해요.

   Please do; wet clothes left in a machine hold everyone up.

   네

   yes

   그렇게 해 주세요

   please do that

   세탁기

   washing machine

   젖은

   wet

   옷

   clothes

   두면

   if left

   모두

   everyone

   기다리게 해요

   make wait

   More detail

   네 means “yes” here. It is a common affirmative response and does not itself identify what is being agreed to; the following request makes the intended action clear. 그렇게 해 주세요 is a polite request meaning “please do that.” 그렇게 means “that way” or “so,” while 해 주세요 uses 하다 (“to do”) with -아/어 주세요, a reusable pattern for asking someone politely to do something. Example: 기다려 주세요 means “Please wait.” 세탁기 means “washing machine.” The form in the sentence is followed by the location particle -에, making 세탁기에 mean “in the washing machine” or “at the washing machine.” 세탁기 is a noun; the particle, rather than the noun itself, marks the location. 젖은 means “wet” before a noun. It is the attributive form of 젖다 (“to become wet” or “be wet”): 젖은 옷 means “wet clothes.” The form 젖은 modifies the noun that follows it. 옷 means “clothes” or “clothing.” It is a noun and can refer to clothing as a mass or to clothes as items, depending on context. In this sentence it is the thing being left in the washing machine. 두면 means “if [someone] leaves [it]” or, in this context, “when left.” It comes from 두다 (“to put” or “leave”) plus -면, which forms an if/when condition. Korean often leaves the person who performs the action unstated when the context supplies it. Example: 여기에 두면 돼요 means “You can leave it here.” 모두 means “everyone” in this sentence, as confirmed by the fixed translation. The following object particle -를 appears in 모두를, marking everyone as the object of the causative expression. 모두 can also mean “all” with nonhuman or plural things, but that is not the intended meaning here. 기다리게 해요 means “make [someone] wait” or “cause [someone] to wait.” It combines 기다리다 (“to wait”) with -게 하다, a construction meaning “make or let someone do something”; 해요 is the polite present form of 하다. Here, 모두를 identifies the people who are made to wait. Example: 그 소식이 사람들을 기다리게 해요 means “That news makes people wait.” Together, 세탁기에 젖은 옷을 두면 sets up the condition “if wet clothes are left in the washing machine,” and 모두를 기다리게 해요 says that this causes everyone to wait. With the opening agreement and request, the whole utterance means: “Yes, please do that. Wet clothes left in a machine hold everyone up.”

8. 세탁이 끝나기 전에 제 바구니를 가져올게요.

   I'll bring my basket down before it finishes.

   세탁

   laundry; washing

   끝나기 전에

   before it finishes

   제

   my

   바구니

   basket

   가져올게요

   I’ll bring it

   More detail

   세탁 means “laundry” or “washing” here. It is a noun referring to the washing process, as in 세탁이 끝나다 (“the washing finishes”). The particle 이 marks it as the subject of 끝나다. 끝나기 전에 means “before [it] finishes.” 끝나다 is the base form “to finish/end.” Korean commonly forms a nominalized verb with -기 before 전에: V-기 전에 = “before doing V” or “before V happens.” Here, 끝나기 refers to the washing finishing, and 전에 means “before.” The subject of the embedded event is understood from 세탁이, so the translation’s “it” refers to the washing. 제 means “my” in this sentence. It is the contracted possessive form of polite/humble 저의 (“my”), used by the speaker to refer respectfully to themself. It modifies 바구니, rather than expressing a separate action. 바구니 means “basket.” It is a noun; 제 바구니 is “my basket.” 가져올게요 comes from 가져오다, “to bring” or “to bring here/toward the relevant deictic center.” The form combines the verb stem with -(으)ㄹ게요, a polite ending used when the speaker presents a willingness, intention, or commitment to do something. Thus 가져올게요 means “I’ll bring it” here. The 오다 part contributes the directional idea of bringing something toward the relevant point, while the object is understood from 제 바구니. The pattern N이/가 끝나기 전에 V-ㄹ/을게요 can be reused for a speaker’s promised action before an event finishes. For example: 회의가 끝나기 전에 연락할게요. — “I’ll contact you before the meeting ends.” Putting the parts together, 세탁이 끝나기 전에 sets the time limit, 제 바구니를 identifies the object the speaker will bring, and 가져올게요 presents that action as the speaker’s intention or commitment: “I’ll bring my basket before the washing finishes.”

9. 그러면 일이 순조롭게 진행될 거예요.

   That should keep things running smoothly.

   그러면

   then; in that case

   일

   work; things

   순조롭게

   smoothly

   진행될 거예요

   will proceed; should run

   More detail

   그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It links this statement to a condition or situation already understood. A reusable pattern is 그러면 + statement: “Then, …” or “In that case, …” 일 is a noun meaning “work,” and in this sentence it is understood more broadly as “things” or “the work being handled.” It is not the subject of a separate action such as “do work” here; it is what will proceed smoothly. The same noun can refer to a task, matter, or situation depending on context. 순조롭게 means “smoothly” here. It is the adverbial form of the descriptive adjective 순조롭다, “to be smooth or proceed without trouble.” The ending -게 makes a descriptive word modify an action: 순조롭게 진행되다 means “to proceed smoothly.” 순조롭다 has the ㅂ irregular change in this form: 순조롭다 → 순조롭게. 진행될 거예요 expresses a predicted or expected future state: “will proceed” or, with the cautious tone of the translation, “should run.” 진행되다 means “to proceed” or “to be carried forward”; its base form is 진행되다, and 진행될 is its future-attributive form before 거예요. The pattern -(으)ㄹ 거예요 commonly expresses a prediction, expectation, or plan. Here 진행될 거예요 predicts that the work or situation will proceed; it does not by itself identify who causes it to proceed. Together, 그러면 sets the condition or consequence, 일 identifies what is being discussed, 순조롭게 describes how it proceeds, and 진행될 거예요 gives the prediction. The whole utterance means: “Then, things should keep running smoothly.”