Cleaning Up a Common Room | Learn Korean in English

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Use Cleaning Up a Common Room to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

우리는 공용실을 한동안 사용했어.

oo-ree-neun gong-yong-shee-reul han-dong-an sa-yong-hae-ssuh We used the common room for a while.

나가기 전에 정리하자.

na-GAH-gee juhn-eh jung-nee-HAH-jah Let's clean it up before we head out.

의자들을 원래 있던 곳에 다시 놓을게.

ee-ja-deu-reol wol-lae it-tteon go-se da-shi no-eul-kkeh I'll put the chairs back where they were.

탁자 위 쓰레기는 내가 치울게.

tak-jja wee ssuh-reh-gee-neun nae-ga chee-ool-kkeh I'll clear the trash from the tables.

불도 끌까?

bool-doh kkeul-kkah Should we turn off the lights too?

불을 꺼.

bool-eul kkuh Turn off the lights.

문을 잠그기 전에 창문을 닫아.

moon-eul jam-geu-gi juhn-eh chang-moon-eul da-dah Close the windows before we lock up.

방이 다음 사람들이 쓸 준비가 된 것 같아.

bang-ee da-eum sa-ram-deu-ree sseul joon-bee-ga doen geot kka-tah The room looks ready for the next group.

그럼 문을 잠그고 나가자.

guh-ruhm moon-eul jam-geu-go na-GAH-jah Then we can lock the door and leave.

Word by Word

우리 “우리” means “we” in “우리는 공용실을 한동안 사용했어,” referring to the two speakers together. It is used here as the topic of the sentence and can come before an action to say who did it.

는 “는” marks “우리” as the topic in “우리는,” meaning that the sentence is about what we did. It is attached to the noun or pronoun being discussed and sets up the following information.

공용실 “공용실” means “common room,” the shared room they used. In “공용실을 사용했어,” it is the place being used, so it is followed by the object marker “을.”

을 “을” marks “공용실” as the object of “사용했어,” the thing that was used. It follows a noun here to show what the action affects.

한동안 “한동안” means “for a while” in “공용실을 한동안 사용했어,” describing the length of time they used the room. It can be placed before an action to show that the action continued for some time.

사용했어 “사용했어” means “used” here, referring to the speakers’ past use of the common room. It is the casual past form related to “사용하다,” and it is used after the object of use.

나가기 “나가기” means “going out” or “leaving” in “나가기 전에,” referring to leaving the room. It turns the action of going out into the form used before “전에” to express what happens first.

전 “전” means “before” in the expression “나가기 전에,” so the room should be cleaned before leaving. It follows an action phrase and identifies the earlier point in the sequence.

에 “에” is the time-related marker in “전에,” helping form the expression “before.” Here it marks the point associated with the action that should happen first, rather than marking a physical location.

정리하자 “정리하자” means “let’s clean up” or “let’s tidy things,” proposing that the speakers organize the room together. It is used when suggesting a shared action to another person.

의자 “의자” means “chair” in “의자들을 원래 있던 곳에 다시 놓을게.” It identifies the items that will be put back, and the following “들” shows that there is more than one.

들 “들” marks “의자들” as plural, so the phrase refers to multiple chairs. It is attached to a noun when the speaker wants to make the plural meaning clear.

원래 “원래” means “originally” or “as before” in “원래 있던 곳,” referring to the chairs’ original place. It helps identify the location they should return to.

있던 “있던” describes the place where the chairs had been in “원래 있던 곳.” It refers to a previous state or location, connecting that earlier location to the noun “곳.”

곳 “곳” means “place” in “원래 있던 곳,” the place where the chairs originally were. It can follow a description of a location to name that place.

다시 “다시” means “again” or “back” in “다시 놓을게,” showing that the chairs will be returned to their earlier position. It is used with an action when something is repeated or restored.

놓을게 “놓을게” means “I’ll put it or them down” here, with the chairs understood as the thing being placed back. It expresses the speaker’s intention or offer and is used after an object and, when needed, its destination.

탁자 “탁자” means “table” in “탁자 위 쓰레기,” identifying the surface where the trash is located. It can be followed by a location word such as “위” to describe something on the table.

위 “위” means “on top of” or “above” in “탁자 위 쓰레기,” locating the trash on the table. It is used after a noun to describe a position above or on that noun.

쓰레기 “쓰레기” means “trash” in “탁자 위 쓰레기는 내가 치울게,” the thing that will be cleared away. It is followed by “는” in the full sentence to make the trash the topic of the speaker’s offer.

내 “내” identifies the speaker in “내가 치울게,” meaning that I will be the person who clears the trash. With the following subject marker, it highlights who is taking responsibility for the action.

가 “가” marks “내” as the subject in “내가 치울게,” showing who will clear the trash. It is attached to the person or thing that performs the following action.

치울게 “치울게” means “I’ll clear it away” here, referring to removing the trash from the tables. It is related to “치우다” and expresses the speaker’s intention or offer to handle the cleanup.

불 “불” means “light” in “불도 끌까?” and “불을 꺼,” referring to the lights in the room. It is the thing affected by the action of turning off.

도 “도” means “also” or “too” in “불도,” adding the lights to the other cleanup tasks. It attaches to a noun when that noun is included in something already mentioned or understood.

끌까 “끌까” means “shall we turn it off?” in “불도 끌까?”, asking whether the speakers should turn off the lights. It is used to make a suggestion or ask for agreement about an action.

꺼 “꺼” means “turn it off” in “불을 꺼,” directing the other person to switch off the light. It is a casual command used with the object of the action before it.

문 “문” means “door” in “문을 잠그기” and “문을 잠그고,” identifying what will be locked. It takes “을” when it is the object of “잠그다.”

잠그기 “잠그기” means “locking” in “문을 잠그기 전에,” referring to locking the door before leaving. It is the action form used in the pattern “before locking the door.”

창문 “창문” means “window” in “창문을 닫아,” the thing that should be closed before the room is locked. It is followed by “을” as the object of “닫아.”

닫아 “닫아” means “close it” in “창문을 닫아,” telling the other person to close the window. It is a casual command and comes after the object being closed.

방 “방” means “room” in “방이 다음 사람들이 쓸 준비가 된 것 같아,” referring to the common room after cleanup. It is the subject whose condition is being described.

이 “이” marks “방” as the subject in “방이,” showing that the room is the thing that seems ready. It follows the subject noun and introduces the description that follows.

다음 “다음” means “next” in “다음 사람들이 쓸 준비,” identifying the people who will use the room after the speakers leave. It comes before a noun to specify what comes later in sequence.

사람 “사람” means “person” or “people” in “다음 사람들이,” referring to the group that will use the room next. The full phrase uses “들” after it to make the group meaning explicit.

쓸 “쓸” means “will use” in “다음 사람들이 쓸 준비,” describing the future use of the room by the next group. It is related to “쓰다” and comes before a noun to describe an intended future action.

준비 “준비” means “readiness” or “preparation” in “쓸 준비가 된,” describing the room’s condition for the next users. In this sentence, it is part of the expression that says the room is ready for use.

된 “된” means “being in a ready state” in “준비가 된,” describing the result or condition of the room after it has been prepared. It is related to “되다” and connects “준비” with the later judgment “같아.”

것 “것” is part of “된 것 같아,” allowing the preceding description “준비가 된” to be treated as what seems true. The whole expression means that the room looks ready; “것” alone does not mean “ready.”

같아 “같아” expresses A’s impression in “준비가 된 것 같아,” meaning “it seems” or “it looks.” The pattern “것 같아” is useful when giving an observation without stating it as absolute certainty.

그럼 “그럼” means “then” or “in that case,” connecting the room’s readiness with the next action. It is used to move from an accepted situation or conclusion to a resulting suggestion or plan.

잠그고 “잠그고” means “lock and” in “문을 잠그고 나가자,” linking locking the door with leaving. It connects two actions performed in sequence, with the first action before the second.

나가자 “나가자” means “let’s leave” or “let’s go out” in “문을 잠그고 나가자,” proposing that the speakers leave together after locking the door. It is used to suggest a shared action.

Grammar Points

동사-(으)ㄹ게

의자들을 원래 있던 곳에 놓을게.

ee-ja-deu-reol wol-lae it-tteon go-se no-eul-kkeh

I’ll put the chairs where they originally were.

Used to express the speaker’s intention or promise to do something for the listener.

동사-자

공용실을 정리하자.

gong-yong-shee-reul jung-nee-ha-ja

Let’s tidy up the common room.

A casual way to suggest doing something together: “Let’s …”

Korean Vocabulary

공용실 noun

gong-yong-sheel common room 공용실을

나가다 verb

na-ga-da to go out, to leave 나가기

놓다 verb

no-ta to put, to place 놓을게

사용하다 verb

sa-yong-ha-da to use 사용했어

쓰레기 noun

ssuh-reh-gee trash, garbage 쓰레기는

우리 pron

oo-ree we, us 우리는

원래 있던 곳 phrase

wol-lae it-tteon got the place where it originally was 원래 있던 곳에

의자 noun

ee-ja chair 의자들을

정리하다 verb

jung-nee-ha-da to tidy up, to clean up 정리하자

치우다 verb

chee-oo-da to clear away, to put away 치울게

탁자 noun

tak-jja table

한동안 adv

han-dong-an for a while

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

We used the common room for a while.

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우리는 공용실을 한동안 사용했어.

Let's clean it up before we head out.

Show Answer

나가기 전에 정리하자.

I'll put the chairs back where they were.

Show Answer

의자들을 원래 있던 곳에 다시 놓을게.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to tidy up, to clean up

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정리하자

common room

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공용실을

to use

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사용했어

chair

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의자들을