Handling noisy neighbors calmly | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: At home, two adults plan how to speak calmly with a neighbor about loud music and quiet hours..

EN → KO / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Handling noisy neighbors calmly to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

옆집 음악 때문에 요즘 며칠 밤이나 잠을 못 잤어요.

yuhp-jjip EUM-ahng ttae-MOO-neh YO-jeum myuh-chil BAHM-ee-nah JAH-meul mot JASS-uh-yo The music next door has kept me up several nights lately.
B

그럼 더 큰 갈등이 되기 전에 옆집 사람들과 이야기해야 해요.

guh-ruh m duh kuh n GAL-deung-ee dwe-gee JUN-eh yuhp-jjip sah-rahm-deul-gwah ee-yah-gee-hae-ya HAE-yo Then we should talk to them before it becomes a bigger conflict.
A

제가 너무 심각하게 말하는 것처럼 들리고 싶지는 않아요. 그 사람들이 시끄럽다는 걸 모를 수도 있으니까요.

jay-gah nuh-moo shim-GAH-kah-geh mal-ha-neun gut-chuh-reom deul-lee-go SHIP-jji-neun ah-nah-yo. geu sah-rahm-deul-ee shi-kkeu-reop-tta-neun geol mo-reul soo-do ee-sseu-nee-kka-yo I do not want to sound dramatic, because they may not realize it is loud.
B

먼저 벽이 얇고 제가 일찍 자야 한다고 말하세요.

MEON-juh byuh-gee YAL-kko jay-gah EEL-jjik jah-ya han-dah-go mal-ha-seh-yo Start by saying the walls are thin and you need to sleep early.
A

건물의 정숙 시간에 관한 규칙을 언급할까요?

gun-moo-ree jung-sook SHEE-gan-eh gwan-han GYOO-chig-eul un-geup-hal-kka-yo Should we mention the building rules about quiet hours?
B

그들이 협조하지 않겠다고 할 때만요. 처음에는 친절하게 다시 알려 주는 게 더 합리적이에요.

geu-deul-ee hyup-JJO-ha-ji an-ket-tta-go hal ttae-man-yo. cheo-um-eh-neun chin-JEOL-ha-geh DAH-shi al-lyuh joo-neun geh duh ham-nee-juh-GEE-eh-yo Only if they refuse to cooperate. A friendly reminder is more reasonable at first.
A

다음 날 우리가 일해야 할 때는 저녁 늦게 헤드폰을 써 달라고 제안할 수도 있어요.

DA-eum nal oo-ree-gah eel-hae-ya hal ttae-neun juh-nyuhk neuj-kkeh HEH-deu-pon-eul ssuh dal-la-go jeh-an-hal soo-do ee-suh-yo Maybe we can suggest that they use headphones later in the evening when we have work the next day.
B

그건 현실적인 타협안이 될 거고, 그 사람들을 직접 비난하는 것도 아니에요.

geu-gun hyun-shil-juh-gin ta-hyup-an-ee dwel guh-go, geu sah-rahm-deu-reul jik-JJUP bee-nan-ha-neun gut-do ah-nee-eh-yo That would be a practical compromise, and it does not accuse them directly.
A

오늘 저녁에 그 사람들과 이야기할 차분한 때를 고를 수 있어요.

OH-neul juh-nyuh-geh geu sah-rahm-deul-gwah ee-yah-gee-hal cha-BOON-han ttae-reul go-reul soo ee-suh-yo I can choose a calm moment this evening to talk to them.
B

차분한 타이밍은 보통 작은 문제가 개인적인 감정 문제로 번지는 것을 막아 줘요.

cha-BOON-han ta-ee-ming-eun bo-tong ja-geun moon-jeh-gah gae-in-juh-gin gam-jung moon-jeh-ro bun-jee-neun gut-eul ma-ga joo-yo Calm timing usually prevents a small problem from becoming personal.

Word by Word

옆집 옆집 means the next-door house or the neighbors living there, as in 옆집 음악. It is commonly used before a noun to identify something belonging to or located next door.
음악 음악 means music here. It is the subject of the phrase 옆집 음악 and can commonly be used with verbs such as 듣다 when talking about listening to music.
때문에 때문에 means because of and marks the cause of the problem in 음악 때문에. A noun followed by 때문에 gives the reason for a result or situation.
요즘 요즘 means lately or these days in this dialogue. It places the situation in the recent period and commonly comes before a verb or time expression.
며칠 며칠 means several days or how many days, and here it refers to several nights in 며칠 밤이나. It is used with a time noun when referring to an unspecified small number of days.
밤이나 밤이나 emphasizes the number of nights in 며칠 밤이나, suggesting that it has happened on as many as several nights. The pattern 며칠 밤이나 can be reused to emphasize an unexpectedly large number of nights.
잠을 잠을 means sleep as the object of 못 잤어요. The object-marked form 잠을 is commonly used with verbs such as 자다 or expressions describing whether someone slept.
못 못 means cannot or fail to, and in 잠을 못 잤어요 it shows that the speaker was unable to sleep. It is placed before the verb to express inability or an unsuccessful action.
잤어요 잤어요 means slept in this dialogue, referring to completed sleep in the past. It is the polite past form used after 잠을 못 to say that the speaker could not sleep.
그럼 그럼 means then or in that case, connecting the previous problem with the suggestion that follows. It is commonly used at the beginning of a response to introduce a consequence or next step.
더 더 means more in 더 큰 갈등, showing an increase in size or seriousness. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb when comparing the degree of something.
큰 큰 means bigger or larger in 더 큰 갈등. It is the form used before a noun to describe its size or degree.
갈등이 갈등이 means conflict as the subject of becoming a bigger conflict. The subject-marked form 갈등이 is used with verbs such as 되다 when describing what something becomes.
되기 되기 means becoming or turning into in 되기 전에. The form 되기 전에 expresses that one action should happen before something becomes another state.
전에 전에 means before in 더 큰 갈등이 되기 전에. It follows a noun or verb-based expression to mark the earlier time or event.
사람들과 사람들과 means with the people in 옆집 사람들과 이야기해야 해요. The form -들과 marks more than one person together with the meaning of with.
이야기해야 이야기해야 contributes the need-to-talk meaning in 이야기해야 해요. It is commonly used before 해요 in the pattern 이야기해야 해요, meaning that someone needs to talk.
해요 해요 completes 이야기해야 해요 and makes the statement that talking is necessary. In this construction, it is a polite everyday way to state an obligation or need.
제가 제가 means I as the subject in 제가 너무 심각하게 말하는 것처럼. It identifies the speaker as the person whose speech may sound too serious.
너무 너무 means too or very here, increasing the degree of 심각하게. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb to show an excessive or high degree.
심각하게 심각하게 means seriously or in an overly serious way in 심각하게 말하는 것처럼. It describes how someone speaks and can be used before 말하다 or another action verb.
말하는 말하는 means speaking or saying in 말하는 것처럼. It describes the action of speaking before the noun-like expression 것처럼 and can modify what someone is doing.
것처럼 것처럼 means as if or as though in 제가 너무 심각하게 말하는 것처럼 들리고 싶지는 않아요. It presents the appearance of speaking in a certain way, and it commonly follows a verb-based description before 들리다 or 보이다.
들리고 들리고 means sound or seem, with -고 linking it to the following expression in 들리고 싶지는 않아요. Here it describes how the speaker's words might be perceived, and the same form can link one description to another.
싶지는 싶지는 means do not want to in 들리고 싶지는 않아요, with 는 adding a contrastive nuance. The pattern -고 싶지는 않아요 is useful for politely saying that one does not particularly want to do or seem a certain way.
않아요 않아요 provides the polite negative ending in 싶지는 않아요. It completes the statement that the speaker does not want to sound overly serious.
그 그 means those or that in 그 사람들이, pointing to the people already understood from the situation. It is placed directly before a noun to identify a specific person or group.
사람들이 사람들이 means the people as the subject of not knowing in 그 사람들이 시끄럽다는 걸 모를 수도. The subject-marked form 사람들이 identifies who may lack the information.
시끄럽다는 시끄럽다는 means that it is noisy or loud in 시끄럽다는 걸 모를 수도. It turns the statement 시끄럽다 into reported content before 걸, and this form can introduce what someone knows or believes.
걸 걸 means the fact that or that, as a shortened object form in 시끄럽다는 걸 모를 수도. It packages the preceding statement as the thing that someone may not know.
모를 모를 means not know in the possibility expression 모를 수도 있으니까요. It is the form of 모르다 used before 수도 to express that not knowing is one possible situation.
수도 수도 contributes the may or might meaning in 모를 수도 있으니까요. The pattern -ㄹ 수도 있다 is used when an event or state is possible rather than certain.
있으니까요 있으니까요 means because it may be so here, completing 모를 수도 있으니까요. It gives the reason for the speaker's careful approach and commonly introduces a reason in a polite explanation.
먼저 먼저 means first in 먼저 벽이 얇고. It sets the order of what should be said or done and commonly introduces the first step in advice.
벽이 벽이 means the walls as the subject of being thin in 벽이 얇고. The subject-marked form 벽이 is used with 얇다 to describe the walls.
얇고 얇고 means are thin and, linking 벽이 얇다 with the next reason in the sentence. The -고 ending commonly connects two descriptions or facts.
일찍 일찍 means early in 일찍 자야 한다고. It modifies sleeping and is commonly used with verbs to describe doing something earlier than usual or earlier than needed.
자야 자야 contributes the need-to-sleep meaning in 일찍 자야 한다고. The pattern 자야 하다 expresses that someone must or needs to sleep.
한다고 한다고 marks the reported content in 일찍 자야 한다고 말하세요: the content to be said is that someone needs to sleep early. It commonly follows a statement before 말하다 when reporting what should be said.
말하세요 말하세요 means please say or tell in this advice. It is a polite request to state the preceding content, and it commonly follows quoted or reported information.
건물의 건물의 means the building's or of the building in 건물의 정숙 시간. The -의 form links 건물 to the noun that belongs or relates to it.
정숙 정숙 means quietness or silence in the formal expression 정숙 시간. It is commonly used in notices or rules about maintaining quiet.
시간에 시간에 means during or at the time in 정숙 시간에 관한 규칙. Here it is part of the phrase identifying the hours connected with quietness, and -에 can mark a time.
관한 관한 means concerning or about in 시간에 관한 규칙. It modifies a noun to show what subject or matter that noun relates to.
규칙을 규칙을 means the rules as the object of mentioning in 규칙을 언급할까요. The object-marked form 규칙을 identifies what may be mentioned.
언급할까요 언급할까요 means shall we mention in the suggestion about the building rules. It is a polite question used to propose or ask about doing an action together.
그들이 그들이 means they as the subject in 그들이 협조하지 않겠다고 할 때만요. It identifies the neighbors as the people whose response determines the next step.
협조하지 협조하지 contributes the not-cooperate part of 협조하지 않겠다고. The form 협조하지 is used before the following negative expression, and 협조하다 commonly describes cooperating with a person or request.
않겠다고 않겠다고 means that they will not or do not intend to in 협조하지 않겠다고 할 때만요. It reports a refusal or stated intention before 할 때, so it can be reused when describing what someone says they will not do.
할 할 means say or do in 할 때만요, where it describes the event of saying they will not cooperate. It modifies 때 and is commonly used in patterns such as 할 때, meaning when someone says or does something.
때만요 때만요 means only when in this reply. The -만 limits the action to the time or condition just described, and 요 keeps the response polite.
처음에는 처음에는 means at first in 처음에는 친절하게. It marks the initial stage and, with 는, sets it apart from what might happen later.
친절하게 친절하게 means in a friendly or kind way in 친절하게 다시 알려 주는 게. It describes how the reminder should be given and commonly modifies an action involving another person.
다시 다시 means again in 다시 알려 주는 게. It shows that the information is being given one more time and commonly comes before the action being repeated.
알려 알려 means let someone know or inform in 다시 알려 주는 게. It contributes the informing action in 알려 주다, a common pattern for giving information to someone.
주는 주는 contributes the doing-for-someone nuance in 알려 주는 게, meaning informing someone as a helpful action. It follows 알려 in 알려 주다 and can be used with other actions done for another person.
게 게 means the act or thing in 알려 주는 게 합리적이에요. It is the shortened form used to turn the preceding action into the subject of the judgment that follows.
합리적이에요 합리적이에요 means is reasonable in the judgment that a friendly reminder is the better first step. It is a polite form used to evaluate a choice, plan, or action as sensible.
다음 다음 means next in 다음 날. It identifies the day that follows the current or mentioned day and commonly comes before a time noun.
날 날 means day in 다음 날. It is a general everyday word for a day and can combine with 다음 to refer to the following day.
우리가 우리가 means we as the subject in 우리가 일해야 때는. It identifies the speakers as the people who need to work the next day.
일해야 일해야 contributes the need-to-work meaning in 우리가 일해야 할 때는. The pattern 일해야 하다 expresses that working is necessary.
때는 때는 means when or at the time in 우리가 일해야 할 때는. The -는 ending makes that time a topic or condition, commonly in a phrase meaning when we have to work.
저녁 저녁 means evening in 저녁 늦게. It names the part of the day when the suggested change should happen and commonly combines with time adverbs.
늦게 늦게 means late in 저녁 늦게. It modifies the time of using headphones and can commonly describe doing an action at a late time.
헤드폰을 헤드폰을 means headphones as the object of 써 달라고. The object-marked form identifies what the neighbors are being asked to use.
써 써 means use or wear in 헤드폰을 써 달라고, referring to using headphones. It is the form used before 달라고 to report a request for someone to do that action.
달라고 달라고 means asking someone to do something for the speaker in 헤드폰을 써 달라고 제안할 수도 있어요. It introduces a reported request, and it commonly follows the requested action before verbs such as 말하다 or 제안하다.
제안할 제안할 means suggest in 제안할 수도 있어요. It is the form used before 수도 to express that making the suggestion is possible.
있어요 있어요 completes 제안할 수도 있어요 and expresses that the speakers can or may make the suggestion. The pattern -ㄹ 수도 있어요 is a polite way to say that an action is possible.
그건 그건 means that as the topic of the evaluation in 그건 현실적인 타협안이 될 거고. It is the conversational shortened form of 그것은 and points back to the suggested use of headphones.
현실적인 현실적인 means practical or realistic in 현실적인 타협안. It modifies a noun to show that the proposed solution can work in the actual situation.
타협안이 타협안이 means a compromise plan or solution as the subject of becoming one in 타협안이 될 거고. The subject-marked form identifies what the suggestion would be.
될 될 means will become or will be in 타협안이 될 거고. It is used before 거고 to describe the expected result or evaluation of the suggestion.
거고 거고 means will be, and in 타협안이 될 거고, linking that expected result with the next point. It is a conversational form used to connect one explanation with another.
사람들을 사람들을 means the people as the object of accusing in 사람들을 직접 비난하는 것도 아니에요. The object-marked form identifies who would otherwise be accused.
직접 직접 means directly in 직접 비난하는. It shows that the accusation would be made openly toward the people involved and commonly modifies an action directed at someone.
비난하는 비난하는 means accusing or blaming in 사람들을 직접 비난하는 것. It describes the act of assigning fault to the people and modifies 것 to turn that act into the subject of the following statement.
것도 것도 means the act of that as part of 비난하는 것도 아니에요. It packages the preceding action as a thing and adds it to the negative statement, meaning that this suggestion is not an act of directly accusing them.
아니에요 아니에요 means is not in 비난하는 것도 아니에요. It politely denies that the suggested approach is direct blame or accusation.
오늘 오늘 means today in 오늘 저녁에. It identifies the current day and commonly comes before a more specific time expression.
저녁에 저녁에 means in the evening in 오늘 저녁에. The -에 marks the time when the speaker can talk to the neighbors.
이야기할 이야기할 means to talk in 이야기할 차분한 때. It modifies 때 and identifies the action that will happen at the chosen moment.
차분한 차분한 means calm in 차분한 때. It modifies the time and describes a moment suitable for a peaceful conversation.
때를 때를 means the time or moment as the object of 고를 in 때를 고를 수 있어요. The object-marked form identifies which moment the speaker can choose.
고를 고를 means choose in 때를 고를 수 있어요. It is used before 수 in the pattern 고를 수 있어요, expressing the ability or possibility of choosing.
수 수 contributes the ability or possibility meaning in 고를 수 있어요. The pattern -ㄹ 수 있어요 is commonly used to say that someone can do an action.
타이밍은 타이밍은 means timing as the topic in 타이밍은 보통. It sets calm timing as the subject being evaluated, and the topic marker 은 gives it that focus.
보통 보통 means usually in 보통 작은 문제가. It describes what generally happens and commonly comes before the verb or result being discussed.
작은 작은 means small in 작은 문제가. It is the form used before a noun to describe a problem as limited in size or seriousness.
문제가 문제가 means the problem as the subject of becoming personal in 문제가 개인적인 감정 문제로 번지는 것. The subject marker 가 identifies the problem as what may develop further.
개인적인 개인적인 means personal in 개인적인 감정 문제. It modifies the noun phrase and shows that the issue has moved from the situation itself to personal feelings.
감정 감정 means feelings or emotion in 감정 문제. It specifies the personal aspect of the problem and commonly combines with 문제 when an issue involves emotions.
문제로 문제로 means into a problem or as a problem in 개인적인 감정 문제로 번지는 것. The -로 marks the resulting state or form that something develops into.
번지는 번지는 means spreading or developing into in 문제가 개인적인 감정 문제로 번지는 것. It describes a problem expanding into another kind of issue and can modify 것 to refer to that development.
것을 것을 means the act or situation of something happening in 번지는 것을 막아 줘요. It turns the preceding development into the object of 막아 and refers to the situation being prevented.
막아 막아 means prevent or stop in 번지는 것을 막아 줘요. It describes stopping the problem from developing further and is followed by 줘요 to express doing this helpfully.
줘요 줘요 contributes the helpful-result meaning in 막아 줘요, saying that the calm timing helps prevent the problem from spreading. The pattern -아/어 줘요 is commonly used when an action benefits someone or produces a helpful result.

Grammar Points

동사-아/어야 해요

이야기해야 해요

ee-yah-gee-hae-ya HAE-yo

I have to talk.

This pattern expresses obligation or something that must be done.

동사-(으)ㄹ 수도 있어요

제안할 수도 있어요

jeh-an-hal soo-do ee-suh-yo

I might suggest it.

This pattern expresses a possibility: something may or might happen.

Korean Vocabulary

갈등 noun
GAL-deung conflict

더 큰 갈등이 되기 전에

말하다 verb
mal-HAH-dah to say; to speak 말하는

말하는 것처럼 들리고 싶지는 않아요.

먼저 adv
MEON-juh first; to begin with

먼저 벽이 얇고

시끄럽다 adj
shi-kkeu-REOP-tta to be loud; to be noisy 시끄럽다는

그 사람들이 시끄럽다는 걸

심각하게 adv
shim-GAH-kah-geh seriously; dramatically

제가 너무 심각하게 말하는 것처럼

얇다 adj
YAL-tta to be thin 얇고

벽이 얇고

옆집 noun
yuhp-jjip next door; neighboring house

옆집 음악 때문에

요즘 adv
YO-jeum lately; these days

요즘 며칠 밤이나

이야기하다 verb
ee-yah-gee-HAH-dah to talk; to have a conversation 이야기해야 해요

옆집 사람들과 이야기해야 해요.

일찍 adv
EEL-jjik early

일찍 자야 한다고

잠을 못 자다 phrase
JAH-meul mot JJAH-dah to be unable to sleep 잠을 못 잤어요

요즘 며칠 밤이나 잠을 못 잤어요.

정숙 시간 phrase
jung-sook SHEE-gan quiet hours

건물의 정숙 시간에 관한 규칙

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Should we mention the building rules about quiet hours?

Show Answer건물의 정숙 시간에 관한 규칙을 언급할까요?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to be loud; to be noisy

Show Answer시끄럽다는

seriously; dramatically

Show Answer심각하게

first; to begin with

Show Answer먼저

lately; these days

Show Answer요즘