Clarifying Vague Feedback | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 피드백에는 제안서를 더 강화해야 한다고 되어 있는데, 너무 모호하게 느껴져요.

   The feedback says the proposal should be stronger, but that feels vague.

   피드백

   feedback

   제안서를

   proposal

   더

   more

   강화해야

   should strengthen

   한다고 되어 있는데

   is stated that …, but …

   너무

   too

   모호하게

   vaguely

   느껴져요

   feels

   More detail

   피드백 is a noun meaning “feedback.” It is a loanword used for comments or evaluation given about something. Example: 피드백을 주세요. — “Please give me feedback.” 제안서를 means “the proposal” as the object of the following action. The base noun is 제안서 (“proposal”), and 를 marks it as the object. The object marker is attached here because the proposal is what someone is expected to strengthen. 더 means “more” and increases the degree of 강화하다 (“to strengthen”). Example: 설명을 더 명확하게 해 주세요. — “Please make the explanation clearer.” 강화해야 comes from 강화하다 (“to strengthen”). The form -해야 is part of -아/어야 하다, a construction expressing necessity or an expected action: 강화해야 하다 means “to have to/should strengthen.” In this sentence, it is the strengthening of the proposal that is presented as necessary. This is not the passive form; Korean presents the action as someone strengthening the proposal, while the translation conveys the resulting expectation that the proposal should be stronger. 한다고 되어 있는데 reports what is written or stated and then sets up a contrast. Here, 한다고 quotes the preceding necessity clause (강화해야 한다), 되어 있다 literally has the information “set/recorded,” and -는데 connects it to the speaker’s contrasting reaction. The combined pattern …다고 되어 있는데, … is reusable for “it says/states that …, but ….” Example: 안내문에 여기서 기다려야 한다고 되어 있는데, 자리가 없어요. — “The notice says we have to wait here, but there are no seats.” 너무 indicates an excessive degree: “too” or, in some contexts, emphatically “very.” Here it modifies 모호하게, so the intended meaning is “too vaguely” or “too unclearly,” not an independent statement about quantity. 모호하게 is the adverbial form of 모호하다, “to be vague/ambiguous.” The ending -게 makes a descriptive word modify an action or state: 모호하다 describes something as vague, while 모호하게 describes something as being perceived or expressed vaguely. Example: 설명이 모호해요. — “The explanation is vague.” 느껴져요 means “feels” or “seems” here. Its base form is 느껴지다, used when something is perceived as having a certain quality; -어요 gives a polite present-style ending. This differs from 느끼다, “to feel,” which more directly presents a person as experiencing a feeling. Example: 이 설명은 어렵게 느껴져요. — “This explanation feels difficult.” Together, 피드백에는 (in the feedback), 제안서를 더 강화해야 한다고 되어 있는데 (it says that the proposal should be strengthened), and 너무 모호하게 느껴져요 (it feels too vague) produce: “The feedback says the proposal should be stronger, but that feels vague.” The sentence reports the feedback’s recommendation without specifying what aspect of the proposal needs strengthening; the following context gives examples of such aspects as evidence, tone, or structure.

2. 어느 부분을 수정해야 하는지 물어보세요. 근거인지, 어조인지, 아니면 구성인지요.

   Ask which part needs revision: the evidence, tone, or structure.

   어느 부분

   which part

   수정해야 하는지

   needs to be revised

   물어보세요

   please ask

   근거인지

   whether it is evidence

   어조인지

   whether it is tone

   아니면

   or

   구성인지요

   is it structure?

   More detail

   어느 부분 means “which part.” 어느 selects an item from alternatives, and 부분 means “part.” The reusable pattern 어느 + noun means “which + noun”; for example, 어느 책을 읽을까요? means “Which book shall I read?” 수정해야 하는지 means “needs to be revised” in this sentence. 수정하다 means “to revise” or “to correct.” In 수정해야 하다, -아/어야 하다 expresses necessity, so it conveys “need to revise” or “must revise.” The ending -는지 makes the clause an indirect question. Together with the preceding 어느 부분을, 어느 부분을 수정해야 하는지 means “which part needs to be revised.” 물어보세요 is a polite request or instruction based on 물어보다, “to ask” or “to inquire.” The ending -세요 gives the request a courteous form. Thus 물어보세요 means “please ask.” 근거인지 means “whether it is evidence.” 근거 means “evidence” or “basis.” After a noun, 이다 (“to be”) combines with -ㄴ지 as 인지, marking an indirect question: 근거인지 is structurally “whether [it] is evidence.” 어조인지 uses the same noun-plus-인지 pattern. 어조 means “tone,” so this phrase means “whether it is tone.” The repeated form makes this alternative parallel with 근거인지. 아니면 means “or” and introduces an alternative. For example, 오늘 아니면 내일 means “today or tomorrow.” 구성인지요 means “is it structure?” 구성 means “structure” or “composition.” Here 인지요 combines the noun-copula form 인지 with polite 요, giving a polite question-like ending. It closes the alternatives rather than continuing the earlier embedded question. Together, 어느 부분을 수정해야 하는지 물어보세요 means “Please ask which part needs revision.” The following alternatives identify the possible aspects: 근거인지, 어조인지, 아니면 구성인지요 means “whether it is the evidence, the tone, or the structure.” The complete utterance asks someone to identify which of those aspects requires revision.

3. 서론이 문제를 충분히 명확하게 설명하지 못하는 것 같아요.

   I think the introduction may not explain the problem clearly enough.

   서론

   introduction

   문제

   problem

   충분히

   enough; sufficiently

   명확하게

   clearly

   설명하지 못하는

   not able to explain

   것 같아요

   seems; I think

   More detail

   서론 means “introduction” here, specifically the introductory section being evaluated. It is a noun; a useful contrast is 결론 (“conclusion”). Example: 서론이 짧아요. — “The introduction is short.” 문제 means “problem” here. It is a noun and can also refer to a question or exercise when the context supports that meaning. Example: 문제를 설명해 주세요. — “Please explain the problem.” 충분히 means “sufficiently” or “enough.” It modifies what follows, so here it says that the explanation does not reach a sufficient degree of clarity. The related adjective is 충분하다, “to be sufficient,” but the observed form is the adverb 충분히. 명확하게 means “clearly.” It is the adverbial form of 명확하다 (“to be clear”): 명확하다 → 명확하게. It describes the manner or quality of explaining. Example: 조건을 명확하게 설명했어요. — “I explained the conditions clearly.” 설명하지 못하는 combines 설명하다 (“to explain”) with -지 못하다, which expresses inability or failure to carry out the action. The ending -는 makes the resulting clause modify the following noun 것; thus, the clause describes something that is not able to explain. The observed form is not simply a general negation: 설명하지 않다 would mean “not explain,” while 설명하지 못하다 presents the result as inability or failure. Example: 이 자료는 내용을 설명하지 못해요. — “This material cannot explain the content.” 것 같아요 is a polite expression meaning “seems” or, with a speaker’s judgment, “I think.” Here the preceding clause is treated as something that seems to be the case, which softens the assessment rather than stating it as an absolute fact. 같아요 is the polite form used in this expression; the literal noun 것 is part of the construction, not a concrete object in this sentence. Example: 오늘은 비가 올 것 같아요. — “I think it will rain today.” Together, 서론이 marks “the introduction” as the subject, and 문제를 marks “the problem” as what is explained. 충분히 명확하게 means “clearly enough,” while 설명하지 못하는 says that the introduction fails to explain it adequately. The final 것 같아요 frames the whole assessment as the speaker’s impression: “I think the introduction may not explain the problem clearly enough.”

4. 그렇다면 상대가 무엇을 바꾸기를 원하는지 구체적인 예를 물어보세요.

   Then ask for a specific example of what they want changed.

   그렇다면

   then; in that case

   상대가

   the other person; the counterpart

   무엇을

   what (as the object)

   바꾸기를

   changing; to change (as an object)

   원하는지

   whether someone wants to

   구체적인

   specific; concrete

   예를

   an example (as the object)

   물어보세요

   please ask

   More detail

   그렇다면 means “then” or “in that case.” 그렇다 means “to be so/be that way,” and -다면 presents a condition or assumption: 그렇다면 = “if that is so.” Here it links the request to the situation just described. 상대가 marks 상대 (“the other person” or “the other party”) as the subject with 가. The translation identifies this subject as “they,” but it does not specify a particular person. 상대 is useful when referring to the person on the other side of an interaction. 무엇을 means “what” as the object of an action. 무엇 is the question word “what,” and 을 marks it as the object. For example, 무엇을 찾으세요? means “What are you looking for?” 바꾸기를 expresses “changing” or “to change” as the object of 원하다 (“to want”). It is formed from 바꾸다 (“to change”) + -기 (which turns the verb into an activity or proposition) + 를 (object marking). The form 바꾸다 is the dictionary form; 바꿔요 is a common polite present form. In this sentence, the thing to be changed is left open and is supplied by 무엇을. 원하는지 comes from 원하다 (“to want”) plus -는지, which marks an embedded question or uncertainty. The pattern V-기를 원하다 means “want to V,” while 무엇을 V-기를 원하는지 means “what someone wants to V.” Here, 상대가 무엇을 바꾸기를 원하는지 is the embedded question “what they want to change.” 구체적인 means “specific” or “concrete.” Its base form is 구체적이다; before a noun, the descriptive form is 구체적인, as in 구체적인 계획 (“a specific plan”). It modifies 예, rather than expressing the act of asking itself. 예를 means “an example” as the object of the following verb. The noun is 예, and 를 marks it as the object. 예를 들어 주세요 means “Please give an example,” a useful related pattern in which 예 is again the object. 물어보세요 means “please ask.” The dictionary form is 물어보다, a verb meaning “to ask” or “to inquire”; the polite request ending -세요 gives 물어보세요. In this sentence, the request is to ask for an example, not to give one. Together, 상대가 무엇을 바꾸기를 원하는지 means “what the other person wants to change,” and 구체적인 예를 물어보세요 means “ask for a specific example.” With 그렇다면 connecting this advice to the preceding situation, the whole utterance means: “Then ask for a specific example of what they want changed.”

5. 그러면 방어적으로 들릴까요?

   Would that sound defensive?

   그러면

   then / in that case

   방어적으로

   defensively

   들릴까요?

   would it sound?

   More detail

   그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It connects the question to a condition or suggestion just mentioned. A reusable pattern is 그러면 + sentence: “Then/in that case, …” 방어적으로 means “defensively” here. It is the adverbial form of 방어적이다, “to be defensive.” The ending -적으로 commonly turns a descriptive word into an adverb describing how something is done or perceived. Example: 그는 방어적으로 대답했어요. — “He answered defensively.” 들릴까요? comes from 들리다, which can mean “to be heard” and, as in this sentence, “to sound” or “come across.” Here it asks about the impression the wording may give, not whether someone physically hears it. 들리다 becomes 들릴까요?: the stem 들리- combines with -ㄹ까요?, a polite question about a possible or expected result. Example: 이 표현이 자연스럽게 들릴까요? — “Would this expression sound natural?” Together, 방어적으로 들릴까요? asks whether something will come across as defensive. With 그러면, the complete utterance means: “Then/in that case, would that sound defensive?” The question leaves the thing being evaluated understood from the surrounding discussion rather than naming it again. -ㄹ까요? makes this a polite request for an assessment of a possible impression.

6. 상대의 기대에 맞추고 싶다고 말하면 방어적으로 들리지 않을 거예요.

   Not if you say you want to match their expectations.

   상대

   other person; other party

   기대

   expectations

   맞추고 싶다

   want to match

   말하면

   if you say

   방어적으로

   defensively

   들리지 않을 거예요

   will not sound

   More detail

   상대 means the other person or party involved in the situation. Its possessive form 상대의 in the sentence means “the other party’s”; 의 marks possession or association. The exact referent is not specified further here. 기대 means “expectation(s).” In 상대의 기대, it is the noun possessed by the other party. A useful pattern is N의 N, meaning “N’s N” or “the N of N.” 맞추고 싶다 means “want to match” or “want to adjust to.” The verb is 맞추다, “to match, fit, or adjust,” and -고 싶다 expresses the subject’s desire to do the preceding action. Here, 맞추고 싶다 is followed by -고 in 맞추고 싶다고, which packages the desire as the content of what is said: “that [someone] wants to match.” 말하면 comes from 말하다, “to say,” with -(으)면, a conditional ending. In this sentence, the understood subject is “you,” so 말하면 means “if you say.” The combination 맞추고 싶다고 말하면 means “if you say that you want to match [them/their expectations].” 방어적으로 means “defensively.” It is the adverbial form of 방어적이다, “to be defensive,” and describes how something is perceived. The ending -적으로 commonly turns an adjective-like form into an adverb, as in “in a defensive manner.” 들리지 않을 거예요 means “will not sound” in this context. 들리다 can mean “be heard,” but here it means “sound or come across” to a listener. -지 않다 negates the verb, and -(으)ㄹ 거예요 presents a likely or intended future result in polite speech: 들릴 거예요 would mean “will sound,” while 들리지 않을 거예요 means “will not sound.” Together, 상대의 기대에 맞추고 싶다고 말하면 means “if you say that you want to match the other party’s expectations.” The particle 에 marks what the action is directed toward in 기대에 맞추다, a reusable pattern meaning “match or adjust to expectations.” The rest, 방어적으로 들리지 않을 거예요, says that this will not sound defensive. Thus the whole utterance means: “Not if you say you want to match their expectations.”

7. 더 많은 데이터를 원하는지, 아니면 더 자신감 있는 어조를 원하는지 물어볼 수 있어요.

   I can ask whether they want more data or a more confident tone.

   더 많은

   more

   데이터

   data

   원하는지

   whether someone wants

   아니면

   or else

   더 자신감 있는

   more confident

   어조

   tone

   물어볼 수 있어요

   can ask

   More detail

   더 많은 combines 더 (“more”) with 많다 (“to be many/much”). 많은 is the form of 많다 used before a noun, so 더 많은 데이터 means “more data.” Here 더 marks a greater amount; it does not itself specify an exact quantity. 데이터 is the noun “data.” It is a loanword used as a regular Korean noun. In this sentence it is the thing that may be wanted. 원하는지 comes from 원하다 (“to want”) plus -는지, which embeds an open yes-or-no question: 원하는지 = “whether [someone] wants.” The subject is not stated in this form; the fixed translation identifies that person as “they.” Compare 원하는지 물어보다 (“ask whether [someone] wants it”) with 원하는 것을 말하다 (“say what [someone] wants”), where -는지 marks the embedded question rather than a noun-like object. 아니면 introduces the alternative in a choice: “or.” It links the two possibilities inside the embedded question. Thus 더 많은 데이터를 원하는지, 아니면 더 자신감 있는 어조를 원하는지 asks whether the preference is the first option or the second option. 더 자신감 있는 means “more confident.” 자신감 있는 is the attributive form of the expression 자신감 있다, literally “have confidence,” and 더 makes it comparative. 있는 modifies the following noun 어조; it is not the form of 어조. A useful pattern is 더 + adjective-like expression + noun, as in 더 자연스러운 표현 (“a more natural expression”). 어조 means “tone,” especially the tone or manner conveyed by wording or speech. Here it is the second thing that may be wanted: a more confident tone. 물어볼 수 있어요 expresses ability or possibility: “can ask.” The verb 물어보다 is commonly used for “to ask,” and in the construction -ㄹ 수 있다 it appears as 물어볼 수 있다; the polite present ending gives 물어볼 수 있어요. The pattern 동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있어요 means “can do” or “it is possible to do,” for example, 다시 물어볼 수 있어요 = “I can ask again.” As a whole, 더 많은 데이터를 원하는지, 아니면 더 자신감 있는 어조를 원하는지 presents two alternative preferences as the content of the question. The omitted subject of 물어볼 수 있어요 is understood from the fixed translation as “I,” so the complete meaning is “I can ask whether they want more data or a more confident tone.”

8. 그러면 상대가 선택할 수 있는 두 가지 명확한 방향을 제시하는 셈이에요.

   That gives them two clear directions to choose from.

   그러면

   then; in that case

   상대

   the other party

   선택할

   to choose

   수 있는

   being able to

   두 가지

   two options

   명확한

   clear

   방향

   direction

   제시하는

   presenting; offering

   셈이에요

   it amounts to

   More detail

   그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It links this statement to what was just mentioned. Example: 그러면 시작해요 — “Then, let’s start.” 상대 means “the other party” or “counterpart” in an interaction. Here, the translation identifies it as the party who will choose. It is a noun, not a pronoun, so it does not itself specify a person’s gender or number. 선택할 comes from 선택하다, “to choose.” The ending -ㄹ is the attributive form used in 선택할 수 있다, the pattern for expressing ability or possibility. In this sentence, 상대가 is the subject of 선택하다: the other party is the one who can choose. 수 있는 belongs with the preceding 선택할 in the pattern V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다, “can V” or “be able to V.” 있는 is the attributive form of 있다; it does not agree with 방향 or change to match that noun. Together, 선택할 수 있는 modifies 두 가지 ... 방향 and means “that the other party can choose from.” 두 가지 means “two options” here. 두 is the native Korean numeral “two,” and 가지 is a classifier/noun used for kinds or options. The explicit 두 gives this phrase a count of two; 가지 alone would not. 명확한 is the attributive form of the adjective 명확하다, “to be clear.” It modifies 방향, so 명확한 방향 means “a clear direction.” 방향 means “direction.” In this sentence it refers to an available course or option, as shown by the surrounding phrase. Example: 새로운 방향을 찾다 — “to find a new direction.” 제시하는 comes from 제시하다, “to present” or “to offer.” Its -는 attributive form modifies 셈 in the construction 제시하는 셈이에요; it describes the action that the situation effectively amounts to. 제시하다 emphasizes putting an option or proposal forward. 셈이에요 is the polite form used in the construction V-는 셈이다. This construction says that something effectively amounts to, or counts as, the preceding action. Thus 제시하는 셈이에요 means “it amounts to presenting [them]”; 셈 is not being used here to describe a literal calculation. Together, 상대가 선택할 수 있는 두 가지 명확한 방향 means “two clear directions that the other party can choose from.” 제시하는 셈이에요 presents the action as effectively offering those directions. With 그러면, the whole utterance means: “Then, that amounts to presenting them with two clear directions to choose from.”

9. 방향을 알게 되면 제안서를 빠르게 수정할 수 있어요.

   Once I know the direction, I can revise it quickly.

   방향

   direction

   알게 되면

   once [I] know

   제안서

   proposal

   빠르게

   quickly

   수정할

   revise

   수 있어요

   can

   More detail

   방향 means “direction” here, and it is a noun. It can refer to a course, approach, or intended direction depending on context. In the preceding context, the related phrase 두 가지 ... 방향 shows the same noun used for alternative directions. 알게 되면 means “once I know.” The base verb is 알다 (“to know”). -게 되다 presents coming to know or ending up knowing, while -면 makes the condition “if/when.” Together, 알게 되면 means “once I know” in this sentence. The understood subject is “I,” as specified by the translation. Example: 답을 알게 되면 알려 주세요. — “Once you find out the answer, please let me know.” 제안서 means “proposal,” specifically a proposal document. In 제안서를, the particle -를 marks it as the object of the later action. The fixed translation identifies this proposal as what will be revised; the Korean sentence leaves the pronoun unstated rather than using a separate word for “it.” 빠르게 means “quickly.” It is the adverbial form of 빠르다 (“to be fast”) and describes the speed of the revision. The related contrast is 느리게, “slowly.” Example: 문서를 빠르게 확인했어요. — “I checked the document quickly.” 수정할 comes from the verb 수정하다, “to revise” or “to edit.” The ending -할 is the attributive form used before 수 in the construction 수정할 수 있어요; it does not mean that the revision is merely planned. Here, 수정하다 takes 제안서를 as its object. 수 있어요 is the ability or possibility construction V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다, meaning “can” or “be able to.” After the preceding 수정할, it gives 수정할 수 있어요, “can revise.” 있어요 is the polite present form of 있다 in this construction. Example: 오늘 고칠 수 있어요. — “I can fix it today.” The sentence builds as 방향을 알게 되면 (“once I know the direction”) + 제안서를 빠르게 수정할 수 있어요 (“I can revise the proposal quickly”). Thus the whole utterance means: “Once I know the direction, I can revise it quickly.”

10. 명확한 지침이 있으면 불필요하게 다시 쓰는 일을 줄일 수 있어요.

    Clear guidance can save unnecessary rewriting.

    명확한

    clear

    지침

    guidance; instructions

    있으면

    if there is; when present

    불필요하게

    unnecessarily

    다시 쓰는

    rewriting; writing again

    일

    task; act

    줄일 수 있어요

    can reduce

    More detail

    명확한 comes from 명확하다, meaning “to be clear.” The ending -ㄴ makes this descriptive word modify a following noun: 명확한 지침 = “clear guidance.” This form is used here because the word describes 지침, not because 지침 itself carries the adjective’s form. 지침 is a noun meaning “guidance” or “instructions.” In this sentence, it is the thing whose presence is presented as a condition. Example: 명확한 지침이 필요해요. = “Clear guidance is necessary.” 있으면 is 있다 (“to exist; to be present”) plus the conditional ending -으면, giving “if there is” or “when there is.” With 지침이, it means “if clear guidance is available/present.” The -으면/-면 pattern forms a condition; the choice of ending depends on the preceding form. 불필요하게 is the adverb formed from 불필요하다 (“to be unnecessary”) with -게. It describes the manner or status of the rewriting: “unnecessarily.” The adverb modifies the following rewriting expression, rather than the guidance. 다시 쓰는 is based on 다시 쓰다, “to write again” or “to rewrite.” 다시 means “again,” and 쓰다 is the lexical verb “to write” in this context. The -는 form makes the verb phrase modify a noun: 다시 쓰는 일 means “the act of rewriting.” Example: 문서를 다시 써요. = “I rewrite the document.” 일 is a noun meaning “thing,” “task,” or “act.” Here it nominalizes the activity described by 다시 쓰는, so 다시 쓰는 일 is literally the “act/task of writing again,” naturally “rewriting.” It does not by itself specify who performs the action. 줄일 수 있어요 is based on 줄이다, “to reduce,” followed by -(으)ㄹ 수 있다, “can; be able to,” and the polite ending -어요. Thus it expresses that reducing something is possible: “can reduce.” Example: 시간을 줄일 수 있어요. = “We can reduce the time.” The subject and the exact agent are not stated in this sentence. Together, 명확한 지침이 있으면 sets the condition “if there is clear guidance,” while 불필요하게 다시 쓰는 일을 identifies “the task of rewriting unnecessarily” as what can be reduced. 줄일 수 있어요 says that this reduction is possible. The whole utterance therefore means: “Clear guidance can reduce unnecessary rewriting,” matching the fixed translation. This is a polite, reusable way to express a condition followed by a possible result.