Writing a clear repair message to the landlord | Learn Korean in English

About This Lesson

Use Writing a clear repair message to the landlord to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

어제 제가 조였는데도 욕실 수도꼭지가 또 새고 있어요.

uh-JEH jeh-GAH joh-YUHT-neh-doo-doh YOK-ssil soo-doh-KKOK-jjee-gah ttoh SEH-goh ee-SUH-yoh. The bathroom tap is leaking again, even after I tightened it yesterday.

계속 이런 일이 생기니까 아무래도 집주인에게 연락해야 할 것 같아요.

kye-SOHK ee-ruhn ee-lee saeng-GEE-nee-kkah ah-moo-REH-doh jip-JJOO-in-eh-geh yuhl-lah-KEH-yah hal guht gah-TAH-yoh. Since it keeps happening, we should probably contact the landlord.

사진을 보내고 임시 수리로는 해결되지 않았다고 설명할 수 있어요.

sah-JEEN-ool boh-NEH-goh IM-shee soo-REE-roh-neun hae-GYUL-dweh-jee ah-NAT-ttah-goh suhl-MYUHNG-hal soo ee-SUH-yoh. I can send a photo and explain that a temporary repair did not work.

물이 낭비되고 있고 욕실 카운터가 젖고 있다는 말도 덧붙이세요.

moo-REE nahng-BEE-dweh-goh eet-KKOH YOK-ssil KAH-oon-tuh-gah JUHT-KKOH eet-TTAH-neun mal-doh duht-BOO-chee-SEH-yoh. Mention that water is being wasted and the counter is getting wet.

저희가 직접 이 문제를 일으킨 게 아니라고 말할까요?

juh-HEE-gah jik-JJUP ee MOON-jeh-reul ee-ruh-KEEN geh ah-nee-RAH-goh mal-HAL-kkah-yoh? Should we say that we did not cause the problem ourselves?

그 내용도 분명히 넣되, 말투는 차분하게 유지하세요.

guh neh-YONG-doh boon-MYUHNG-hee nuh-DWEH, mal-TOO-neun chah-BOON-hah-geh yoo-JEE-hah-SEH-yoh. Include that clearly, but keep the tone calm.

메시지는 예의 바르면서도 구체적이어야 혼란이 없을 거예요.

MEH-shee-jeu-neun yeh-EE bah-reu-myuhn-suh-doh goo-CHEH-juh-gee-UH-yah hohl-LAH-nee uhps-seul kkuh-YEH-yoh. The message should be polite but specific, so there is no confusion.

배관공이 언제 방문할 수 있는지 물어보세요. 평일 아침에는 저희가 집에 있기 어려우니까요.

beh-GWAN-gong-ee UHN-jeh bang-MOON-hal soo een-NEUN-jee moo-ruh-boh-SEH-yoh. pyuhng-EEL ah-CHIM-eh-neun juh-HEE-gah JEE-beh eet-KKEE uh-RYUH-oo-nee-kkah-YOH. Ask when a plumber could visit, because weekday mornings are difficult for us.

누군가 집에 있을 수 있는 조정 가능한 시간대를 제안할 수 있어요.

noo-goon-GAH JEE-beh ee-SSUL soo een-NEUN joh-JUHNG gah-NEUNG-han shee-GAHN-deh-reul jeh-AHN-hal soo ee-SUH-yoh. We can suggest a flexible time window when someone can be home.

그러면 집주인이 수리 일정을 잡기 더 쉬울 거예요.

guh-ruh-MYUN jip-JJOO-ee-nee soo-REE eel-JJUNG-eul JAP-kkee duh SHEE-ool kkuh-YEH-yoh. That should make it easier for the landlord to arrange the repair.

Word by Word

어제 어제 means yesterday, referring here to the day when the speaker tightened the tap. It commonly appears with an action that happened on the previous day. The speaker uses it when explaining when the earlier repair was done.

제가 제가 means I as the subject, using the polite form 저 with the subject marker 가. It identifies the speaker as the person who tightened the tap in 어제 제가 조였는데도. Use it when distinguishing your own action from someone else’s.

조였는데도 조였는데도 means even though I tightened it in this dialogue. It comes from 조이다, to tighten, with -었는데도 expressing an unexpected result despite the earlier action. This form is useful when an action did not prevent a problem from continuing.

욕실 욕실 means bathroom and identifies the location of the tap. It is placed before a noun in 욕실 수도꼭지가. Use it to specify that a fixture or problem is in the bathroom.

수도꼭지가 수도꼭지가 means the tap or faucet is the subject of the sentence, with 가 marking the subject. In 욕실 수도꼭지가 또 새고 있어요, it identifies what is leaking. Use 수도꼭지 with a location or a condition when reporting a plumbing problem.

또 또 means again, showing that the tap is leaking one more time after the earlier attempt to tighten it. It commonly appears before the repeated action or condition. Use it when the same event has happened before.

새고 새고 means leaking and, connecting 새다, to leak, to the continuing form 새고 있어요. Here it introduces the condition that is still happening. Use 새고 with liquids or gases when describing an ongoing leak.

있어요 있어요 completes 새고 있어요 to express that the leaking is continuing now, in a polite style. The continuing meaning comes from the whole expression 새고 있어요, not from 있어요 alone. Use this pattern to report an action or condition that is still in progress.

계속 계속 means continuously or repeatedly, emphasizing that the problem keeps happening. In 계속 이런 일이 생기니까, it describes the repeated occurrence of this situation. Use it before an action or condition that does not stop or keeps returning.

이런 이런 means such or like this and points to the kind of situation already being discussed. It modifies 일이 in 이런 일이. Use it before a noun when referring to a situation or example that is clear from context.

일이 일이 means a thing or situation as the subject of 생기니까, with 이 marking the subject. In 이런 일이 생기니까, it refers to this kind of problem occurring. Use 일 to refer broadly to an event, matter, or situation.

생기니까 생기니까 means since this happens or because this keeps occurring in the dialogue. It comes from 생기다, to occur or arise, with -니까 giving a reason. Use it before a recommendation or conclusion that follows from the situation.

아무래도 아무래도 means all things considered or probably, showing the speaker’s conclusion that contacting the landlord is the sensible choice. It softens the conclusion rather than stating it as absolute certainty. Use it when circumstances point toward a likely decision or result.

집주인에게 집주인에게 means to the landlord, with 에게 marking the person who will receive the contact. In 집주인에게 연락해야 할 것 같아요, the landlord is the person they should contact. Use 에게 after a person when directing communication or an action toward them.

연락해야 연락해야 means must or need to contact in the phrase 집주인에게 연락해야 할 것 같아요. It comes from 연락하다 with -아야 expressing necessity, while the complete phrase softens the advice as a conclusion. Use 연락해야 before a following expression that states what needs to be done.

할 할 is the modifier form of 하다 used in 연락해야 할 것 같아요. Together with 연락해야, it helps form the idea of something that needs to be done, rather than meaning the full obligation by itself. This form commonly appears before 것 in expressions about an expected or necessary action.

것 것 means thing or matter and nominalizes the preceding idea in 연락해야 할 것 같아요. The whole expression presents the need to contact the landlord as the speaker’s judgment. Use 것 after a clause when referring to that action or situation as a matter.

같아요 같아요 means it seems or I think here, making the conclusion less forceful and more tentative. In 연락해야 할 것 같아요, it expresses the speaker’s considered opinion that contact is necessary. Use it after a statement when giving a polite personal judgment.

사진을 사진을 means a photo as the object of 보내고, with 을 marking what will be sent. In 사진을 보내고, it identifies the evidence the speaker can send to the landlord. Use 사진을 with verbs such as 보내다 when sending a photo.

보내고 보내고 means send and, connecting 보내다 to the next action 설명하다. It shows that sending a photo and explaining the repair are planned together. Use this -고 form to link related actions in sequence or combination.

임시 임시 means temporary and modifies 수리 in 임시 수리. It describes a repair intended as a short-term measure rather than the final solution. Use it before a noun when identifying something as temporary.

수리로는 수리로는 means with a repair as the method, with 로 marking the means and 는 adding a limiting or contrasting sense. In 임시 수리로는 해결되지 않았다고, it says that a temporary repair alone did not solve the problem. Use 로는 when evaluating whether a particular method was sufficient.

해결되지 해결되지 means be resolved, continuing into the negative expression 해결되지 않았다고. It comes from 해결되다, to be resolved, with 지 linking to the following negative form. Use it when describing a problem that has not been settled or fixed.

않았다고 않았다고 means saying that it did not or was not, following 해결되지 to report that the problem was not resolved. The form combines the past negative 않다 with -다고, which marks the content of an explanation. Use it after a statement when reporting what someone said or what you will explain.

설명할 설명할 is the modifier form of 설명하다, to explain, used before 수 in 설명할 수 있어요. With 수 있어요, it expresses the speaker’s ability to explain the failed repair. Use this form before 수 when talking about being able to perform an action.

수 수 means possibility or ability in 설명할 수 있어요. The complete pattern 설명할 수 있어요 means can explain; 수 itself does not mean can by itself. Use 수 after an action modifier such as 설명할 to form an ability expression.

물이 물이 means water as the subject, with 이 marking what is being wasted. In 물이 낭비되고 있고, it identifies the resource affected by the leak. Use 물이 when describing what water is doing or what is happening to it.

낭비되고 낭비되고 means being wasted and, connecting 낭비되다 to the continuing form 낭비되고 있어요. It describes water continuing to be wasted because of the leak. Use it when linking an ongoing waste condition to another situation.

있고 있고 connects 낭비되고 있다 to the next condition, 젖고 있다는. In 물이 낭비되고 있고 욕실 카운터가 젖고 있다는 말, it links two effects of the leak. Use -고 with 있다 to connect an ongoing condition to another statement.

카운터가 카운터가 means the counter is the subject of 젖고 있다는, with 가 marking the affected surface. Here it refers specifically to the bathroom counter getting wet. Use it with a condition or action that describes what is happening to the counter.

젖고 젖고 means getting wet and, connecting 젖다 to the following continuing expression. In 카운터가 젖고 있다는 말, it describes the counter becoming wet because of the leaking water. Use 젖고 when linking this condition to another reported fact.

있다는 있다는 marks the content that the condition is occurring in 카운터가 젖고 있다는 말. It comes from 있다 with -다는 and modifies 말, giving the point or statement to add. Use this pattern when turning a statement into content that can be mentioned or reported.

말도 말도 means the point or statement too, with 도 adding this information to the other details in the message. In 젖고 있다는 말도 덧붙이세요, it asks the listener to add the statement that the counter is getting wet. Use 말도 when adding another point to a message or explanation.

덧붙이세요 덧붙이세요 means please add or append, in a polite request. Here it asks the listener to add another point to the repair message. Use it after the content you want someone to add to a conversation or written message.

저희가 저희가 means we as the subject, using the humble form 저희 with 가. In 저희가 직접 이 문제를 일으킨 게 아니라고, it identifies the speakers as the people who did not cause the problem. Use it when referring politely to your group in relation to another person.

직접 직접 means directly or personally, emphasizing that the speakers themselves did not cause the problem. It modifies the action in 저희가 직접 이 문제를 일으킨 게 아니라고. Use it when stressing personal involvement or responsibility.

이 이 means this and points to the specific problem under discussion. It modifies 문제 in 이 문제를. Use it before a noun when referring to something close in the conversation or already being addressed.

문제를 문제를 means the problem as the object of 일으킨, with 를 marking what was caused. In 이 문제를 일으킨 게 아니라고, it identifies the problem the speakers say they did not cause. Use 문제를 with verbs that describe solving, causing, or discussing a problem.

일으킨 일으킨 means caused or brought about and modifies the following nominalized clause. It comes from 일으키다 with the modifier ending -ㄴ. In 이 문제를 일으킨 게 아니라고, it describes who caused the problem.

게 게 is the spoken contracted form of 것이 and nominalizes the preceding clause in 일으킨 게 아니라고. It turns the idea that they caused the problem into a fact that can be denied or reported. Use this form in conversational statements such as saying that something is or is not the case.

아니라고 아니라고 means saying that it is not or was not, reporting the denial that the speakers caused the problem. It comes from 아니다 with -라고 marking the quoted or reported content. Use it after a noun or nominalized clause when reporting a negative identification or claim.

말할까요 말할까요 means shall we say or should we say, making a suggestion about wording the message. It comes from 말하다 with the polite question ending -ㄹ까요. Use it when asking another person to decide together whether to say something.

그 그 means that or the mentioned and refers back to the content about not causing the problem. It modifies 내용 in 그 내용도. Use it before a noun when pointing to information already known from the conversation.

내용도 내용도 means that content too, with 도 adding it to the message along with the other repair details. In 그 내용도 분명히 넣되, it refers to including the explanation about responsibility as well. Use 내용도 when adding another piece of information to a message or explanation.

분명히 분명히 means clearly, describing how the content should be included. In 그 내용도 분명히 넣되, it asks for clear wording before giving the contrasting instruction about tone. Use it when emphasizing that information should be stated without ambiguity.

넣되 넣되 means include it, but or include it while keeping a condition. It comes from 넣다 with -되, connecting the instruction to the limitation that follows in 말투는 차분하게 유지하세요. Use this form when one action should be done together with an important condition.

말투는 말투는 means the tone or speaking style as the topic, with 는 setting it apart for specific attention. Here the message should include the facts, while its tone should remain calm. Use 말투는 when discussing how someone’s spoken or written wording sounds.

차분하게 차분하게 means calmly and is the adverbial form of 차분하다. It describes how the tone should be maintained in 말투는 차분하게 유지하세요. Use it when asking someone to communicate without agitation or excessive emotion.

유지하세요 유지하세요 means please keep or maintain, in a polite request. Here it asks the listener to keep the tone calm while writing the message. Use it after the condition or quality that should remain unchanged.

메시지는 메시지는 means the message as the topic, with 는 marking what is being evaluated. In 메시지는 예의 바르면서도 구체적이어야, it introduces the qualities required of the repair message. Use it when describing the content or style expected from a message.

예의 예의 means politeness or good manners in the expression 예의 바르다. Here it contributes to the idea that the message should be respectful to the landlord. Use 예의 바르다 when describing a person or message as polite.

바르면서도 바르면서도 means while being proper or polite, also retaining the additional quality that follows. It comes from 바르다 with -면서도 and connects 예의 바르다 to 구체적이어야. Use this form when two qualities should hold at the same time, even when they may seem to pull in different directions.

구체적이어야 구체적이어야 means must or should be specific. It comes from 구체적이다 with -어야 expressing a required condition. In 예의 바르면서도 구체적이어야, it states that politeness should not make the repair details vague.

혼란이 혼란이 means confusion as the subject of the statement that there will be none, with 이 marking the subject. In 혼란이 없을 거예요, it refers to misunderstanding about the repair request or visit. Use 혼란이 없다 when saying that communication is clear and causes no confusion.

없을 없을 is the modifier form of 없다 used before 거예요 in 혼란이 없을 거예요. It presents the absence of confusion as an expected future result. Use it before 거예요 when predicting that something will not exist or occur.

거예요 거예요 completes 혼란이 없을 거예요 and expresses an expectation or prediction that there will be no confusion. The future or expected meaning comes from the whole expression, not from 거예요 alone. Use it after a modifier such as 없을 when giving a polite prediction.

배관공이 배관공이 means the plumber as the subject of the possible visit, with 이 marking the subject. In 배관공이 언제 방문할 수 있는지, it identifies who may come to repair the tap. Use it when discussing a plumber’s visit or work.

언제 언제 means when and asks about the time of the plumber’s visit. In 배관공이 언제 방문할 수 있는지, it appears inside an indirect question. Use it before an action when asking at what time or on what occasion it can happen.

방문할 방문할 is the modifier form of 방문하다, to visit, used before 수 in 방문할 수 있는지. With 수 있다, it contributes to the meaning of being able to visit. Use it before 수 when describing whether a person can make a visit.

있는지 있는지 marks an indirect question in 언제 방문할 수 있는지. Together with 방문할 수, it asks when the plumber can visit rather than forming a direct question by itself. Use -는지 after an embedded question or uncertainty that someone will ask about.

물어보세요 물어보세요 means please ask, in a polite request. Here it asks the listener to ask the landlord or another relevant person about the plumber’s possible visit. Use it after a question or information you want someone to inquire about.

평일 평일 means weekday and contrasts with the availability issue described in the next phrase. It modifies 아침 in 평일 아침에는. Use it when specifying ordinary workdays rather than weekends or holidays.

아침에는 아침에는 means in the mornings or as for mornings, with 에 marking the time and 는 setting it as the relevant time period. In 평일 아침에는, it specifies when being at home is difficult. Use it after a time expression when describing what happens during that period.

집에 집에 means at home in 집에 있기, with 에 marking the location of being. It identifies the place where someone needs to be present for the plumber’s visit. Use 집에 있다 to say that someone is at home.

있기 있기 means being or staying, formed from 있다 with -기 to turn the action or state into a noun-like expression. In 집에 있기 어려우니까요, it makes being at home the subject of difficult. Use -기 before an adjective when describing how easy or difficult an action or state is.

어려우니까요 어려우니까요 means because it is difficult, explaining why weekday mornings do not work for the speakers. It comes from 어렵다 with -으니까 and the polite explanatory ending 요. Use it after a reason when giving a polite explanation for a request or limitation.

누군가 누군가 means someone and refers to an unspecified person who can be present at home. In 누군가 집에 있을 수 있는 시간대, it identifies the person whose availability matters. Use it when the person is not specified or is not important to identify.

있을 있을 is the modifier form of 있다 used in 누군가 집에 있을 수 있는. Together with 수, it contributes to the meaning that someone can be at home. Use it before 수 when describing the possibility of someone being in a place.

있는 있는 is the modifier form of 있다 and describes the time window in which someone can be at home. In 누군가 집에 있을 수 있는 조정 가능한 시간대, it links availability to the following noun. Use it before a noun to describe an existing or available state.

조정 조정 means adjustment or coordination and appears in 조정 가능한 시간대. It describes arranging the timing so that it works for the people involved. Use 조정 with a schedule, time, or arrangement that can be coordinated.

가능한 가능한 means possible or feasible and modifies 시간대 in 조정 가능한 시간대. Together with 조정, it describes a time window that can be arranged or adjusted. Use it before a noun to describe an option that can work.

시간대를 시간대를 means a time window or time slot as the object of 제안할, with 를 marking what can be suggested. In 조정 가능한 시간대를 제안할 수 있어요, it refers to a period when someone can be home. Use 시간대를 when offering a range or slot for an appointment.

제안할 제안할 is the modifier form of 제안하다, to suggest, used before 수 in 제안할 수 있어요. With 수 있어요, it expresses the ability to suggest a flexible time window. Use it before 수 when saying that an option can be proposed.

그러면 그러면 means then or in that case and introduces the expected result of offering a workable time window. In 그러면 집주인이 수리 일정을 잡기 더 쉬울 거예요, it connects the suggestion to easier scheduling. Use it when drawing a consequence from the previous statement.

집주인이 집주인이 means the landlord as the subject of arranging the repair schedule, with 이 marking the subject. In 집주인이 수리 일정을 잡기 더 쉬울 거예요, it identifies who benefits from the clear availability information. Use it when describing an action the landlord will take.

수리 수리 means repair and specifies what the schedule is for in 수리 일정을 잡기. It refers here to fixing the leaking tap. Use it before 일정 when discussing a repair appointment or schedule.

일정을 일정을 means the schedule or appointment as the object of 잡기, with 을 marking what is arranged. In 수리 일정을 잡기 더 쉬울 거예요, it refers to setting a time for the repair. Use 일정을 잡다 when arranging a schedule or appointment.

잡기 잡기 means arranging or setting, formed from 잡다 with -기 to nominalize the action. In 수리 일정을 잡기 더 쉬울 거예요, it describes the action of setting the repair schedule. Use -기 before 쉬워요 or 어려워요 when evaluating how easy or difficult an action is.

더 더 means more and makes 쉬울 comparative: arranging the repair schedule will be easier than without the suggested time window. It normally appears before the adjective or adverb being compared. Use it when describing an increased degree of ease, difficulty, or another quality.

쉬울 쉬울 is the modifier form of 쉽다, meaning will be easier in 더 쉬울 거예요. It describes the expected ease of arranging the repair schedule. Use it before 거예요 when making a polite prediction about something becoming easier.

Grammar Points

-는데도

조였는데도 계속 새고 있어요.

joh-YUHT-neh-doo-doh gye-SOHK SEH-goh ee-SUH-yoh.

Even though I tightened it, it keeps leaking.

-는데도 expresses an unexpected result despite the preceding action or situation.

-아/어야 할 것 같아요

집주인에게 연락해야 할 것 같아요.

jip-JJOO-in-eh-geh yuhl-lah-KEH-yah hal guht gah-TAH-yoh.

I think I should contact the landlord.

This pattern expresses a tentative opinion that something should or needs to be done.

Korean Vocabulary

계속 adv

kye-SOHK continuously; repeatedly

새다 verb

SEH-dah to leak 새고 있어요

생기다 verb

saeng-GEE-dah to happen; to occur 생기니까

설명하다 verb

suhl-MYUHNG-hah-dah to explain 설명할 수 있어요

수도꼭지 noun

soo-doh-KKOK-jjee tap; faucet 수도꼭지가

아무래도 adv

ah-moo-REH-doh probably; somehow; apparently

연락하다 verb

yuhl-LAHK-hah-dah to contact 연락해야 할 것 같아요

욕실 noun

YOK-ssil bathroom

임시 수리 phrase

IM-shee soo-REE temporary repair 임시 수리로는

조이다 verb

joh-EE-dah to tighten 조였는데도

집주인 noun

jip-JJOO-in landlord 집주인에게

해결되다 verb

hae-GYUL-dweh-dah to be resolved; to be fixed 해결되지 않았다고

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to happen; to occur

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생기니까

landlord

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집주인에게

to tighten

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조였는데도

tap; faucet

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수도꼭지가