About This Lesson
Use Clarifying Vague Feedback to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
피드백에는 제안서를 더 강화해야 한다고 되어 있는데, 너무 모호하게 느껴져요.
PEE-duh-baek-eh-neun jeh-AHN-suh-reul duh gahng-HWA-hae-ya han-da-go dweh-in-neun-deh, nuh-MOO mo-HO-ha-geh neu-kkyuh-juh-yo. The feedback says the proposal should be stronger, but that feels vague.
B
어느 부분을 수정해야 하는지 물어보세요. 근거인지, 어조인지, 아니면 구성인지요.
UH-neu boo-BOON-eul soo-JUNG-hae-ya ha-neun-ji moo-ruh-boh-SEH-yo. GEUN-guh-in-ji, uh-JO-in-ji, ah-nee-MYUN goo-SUNG-in-ji-yo. Ask which part needs revision: the evidence, tone, or structure.
A
서론이 문제를 충분히 명확하게 설명하지 못하는 것 같아요.
suh-RO-nee moon-JEH-reul choong-BOON-hee myung-HWA-ka-ge sul-myung-ha-ji mo-TA-neun gut-KKA-ta-yo. I think the introduction may not explain the problem clearly enough.
B
그렇다면 상대가 무엇을 바꾸기를 원하는지 구체적인 예를 물어보세요.
GEU-reo-ta-myun sang-DAE-ga moo-UH-seul ba-KKU-gi-reul WON-ha-neun-ji goo-CHEH-juh-gin YEH-reul moo-ruh-boh-SEH-yo. Then ask for a specific example of what they want changed.
A
그러면 방어적으로 들릴까요?
GEU-reo-myun bang-UH-juh-guh-ro deul-LIL-KKA-yo? Would that sound defensive?
B
상대의 기대에 맞추고 싶다고 말하면 방어적으로 들리지 않을 거예요.
sang-DAE-e gi-DAE-e mat-CHU-go SHIP-tta-go mal-ha-myun bang-UH-juh-guh-ro deul-LI-ji a-NEUL guh-YEH-yo. Not if you say you want to match their expectations.
A
더 많은 데이터를 원하는지, 아니면 더 자신감 있는 어조를 원하는지 물어볼 수 있어요.
duh MA-neun day-EE-tuh-reul WON-ha-neun-ji, ah-nee-MYUN duh ja-shin-GAHM in-neun uh-JO-reul WON-ha-neun-ji moo-ruh-BOL soo i-SUH-yo. I can ask whether they want more data or a more confident tone.
B
그러면 상대가 선택할 수 있는 두 가지 명확한 방향을 제시하는 셈이에요.
GEU-reo-myun sang-DAE-ga seon-TAEK-hal soo in-neun doo GA-ji myung-HWA-kan bang-HYANG-eul jeh-SHI-ha-neun SEM-ee-eh-yo. That gives them two clear directions to choose from.
A
방향을 알게 되면 제안서를 빠르게 수정할 수 있어요.
bang-HYANG-eul AL-kkeh dweh-MYUN jeh-AHN-suh-reul PPA-reu-geh soo-JUNG-hal soo i-SUH-yo. Once I know the direction, I can revise it quickly.
B
명확한 지침이 있으면 불필요하게 다시 쓰는 일을 줄일 수 있어요.
myung-HWA-kan ji-CHIM-ee i-SSEU-myun bool-PEE-ryo-ha-geh da-SHI SSEU-neun ee-reul JOO-ril ssu i-SUH-yo. Clear guidance can save unnecessary rewriting.Word by Word
피드백에는
피드백에는 frames the feedback as the source in which something is stated, with a topic or contrastive focus. In this sentence, it introduces what the feedback says. A reusable pattern is 문서에는 ... 되어 있다 for information stated in a document.
제안서를
제안서를 means the proposal as the object of the action. The 를 marks the proposal as what is to be strengthened. It can be reused in patterns such as 제안서를 수정하다 when discussing work on a proposal.
더
더 adds the meaning of more or further to 강화해야, so the proposal is expected to be strengthened beyond its current state. It commonly comes before a verb or adjective when a greater degree is intended. Here it is useful when discussing additional improvement to a draft.
강화해야
강화해야 expresses that something needs to be strengthened, and in this sentence it refers to the proposal. The 해야 part marks a required or expected action. A reusable pattern is 제안서를 강화해야 하다 when stating that a proposal needs strengthening.
한다고
한다고 carries the reported content that the proposal needs to be strengthened in 강화해야 한다고 되어 있는데. It links that proposition to the following statement that it is written or stated that way. This kind of reported content can be used before expressions such as 말하다 or 되어 있다.
되어
되어 contributes the meaning of being stated or written in the expression 되어 있는데. Together with the following 있다, it describes the feedback as containing a particular statement. A reusable pattern is 문서에 ... 되어 있다 for something written in a document.
있는데
있는데 links the stated background to the speaker’s contrasting reaction, roughly giving a but or although connection here. In 되어 있는데, it indicates that the feedback says one thing, while the speaker finds it vague. It is useful when presenting a situation before adding a contrast or explanation.
너무
너무 intensifies 모호하게 and means too or very in this context, making the feedback feel excessively vague. It is placed before the word or expression whose degree it increases. It is useful when describing a quality as stronger than is acceptable or expected.
모호하게
모호하게 means vaguely and describes how the feedback feels. It is the adverbial form related to 모호하다 and modifies 느껴져요 here. A reusable pattern is 모호하게 말하다 or 모호하게 느껴지다 when something is expressed without enough detail.
느껴져요
느껴져요 means feels or seems, presenting the speaker’s impression that the feedback is vague. It describes how something is experienced rather than asserting it as an objective fact. A common pattern is ...처럼 느껴져요 when saying that something feels a certain way.
어느
어느 means which among identifiable choices and modifies 부분 in 어느 부분을. It asks the listener to select one part from the proposal. It can be reused before a noun when asking which specific item is meant.
부분을
부분을 means the part as the object of the action being asked about. The 를 marks the part that needs revision. The phrase 어느 부분을 ... asks which part should receive the action.
수정해야
수정해야 expresses that something needs to be revised, here referring to a part of the proposal. The 해야 form marks necessity or an expected action. A reusable pattern is 어느 부분을 수정해야 하다 when discussing which section requires revision.
하는지
하는지 turns the preceding action into an embedded question in 수정해야 하는지, meaning which action or requirement is at issue. It allows the question to function inside 물어보세요 rather than standing alone. A useful pattern is 무엇을 해야 하는지 물어보다 when asking what needs to be done.
물어보세요
물어보세요 is a polite suggestion or instruction meaning ask. It is appropriate when advising someone to request information from another person. A reusable pattern is X인지 물어보세요 when telling someone to ask whether something is the case.
근거인지
근거인지 asks whether the relevant part is the evidence or supporting basis. The 인지 ending makes 근거 into one option in an embedded question. It can be used in parallel choices such as A인지 B인지 when clarifying which category applies.
어조인지
어조인지 asks whether the issue is the tone of the writing. Like 근거인지, it presents 어조 as one possible answer inside an embedded question. This form is useful when separating content-related issues from tone-related issues.
아니면
아니면 introduces an alternative, meaning or else or or instead. Here it connects 어조인지 with the final possible choice 구성인지요. It is commonly used between two or more alternatives when asking someone to choose or clarify.
구성인지요
구성인지요 asks politely whether the issue is the structure or organization. The ending 인지요 makes 구성 part of a soft question rather than a blunt assertion. It is useful at the end of a list of possible explanations when inviting confirmation.
서론이
서론이 means the introduction as the subject of the statement. The 이 marks the introduction as the part being evaluated for its explanatory ability. A reusable pattern is a noun followed by 이 or 가 before a description of what it does.
문제를
문제를 means the problem as the object of 설명하지 못하는. The 를 marks what the introduction fails to explain clearly. The phrase 문제를 설명하다 is useful when discussing whether a text presents a problem clearly.
충분히
충분히 means sufficiently or enough and modifies the explanation of the problem. It shows that the level of clarity may not reach the needed standard. It can be placed before an action when evaluating whether something has been done to an adequate degree.
명확하게
명확하게 means clearly and describes the manner of explaining the problem. It is the adverbial form related to 명확하다. A reusable pattern is 명확하게 설명하다 when asking for a clear explanation in work or study.
설명하지
설명하지 is the form of explaining that appears before 못하는 in the negative ability or failure construction. It contributes the action of explaining, while 못하는 supplies the meaning of being unable to or failing to do it. The phrase 명확하게 설명하지 못하다 is useful when an explanation does not reach the required clarity.
못하는
못하는 means being unable to or failing to do the preceding action, here failing to explain the problem clearly enough. Its form modifies 것 in 설명하지 못하는 것, turning the failure into something that can be discussed. A reusable pattern is V-지 못하는 + noun when describing an action someone cannot complete.
것
것 makes the preceding clause 설명하지 못하는 into a noun-like fact or situation. In 것 같아요, it lets the speaker say that this situation seems to be the case. A common pattern is a descriptive clause followed by 것 같다 for a cautious impression.
같아요
같아요 means seems or I think here and softens the statement into the speaker’s impression. It follows the noun-like clause 설명하지 못하는 것. A reusable pattern is V-는 것 같아요 when giving an opinion without presenting it as absolute certainty.
그렇다면
그렇다면 means then or if so and responds to the previous assessment before introducing advice. It treats the preceding situation as the condition for the next suggestion. It is useful when moving from an accepted point to a practical next step.
상대가
상대가 means the other person as the subject, here the person who gave the feedback. The 가 marks that person as the one who wants something changed. A reusable pattern is 상대가 원하는 것 when referring to what the other party wants.
무엇을
무엇을 means what as the object of 바꾸기를, asking which thing should be changed. The 를 marks the item affected by the action. It can be reused before a verb when asking what someone wants to do to something.
바꾸기를
바꾸기를 turns the action of changing something into the object of 원하는지. It expresses the action that the other person wants to have carried out, while 원하는지 asks about that desire. A common pattern is an action followed by 기를 원하다 when describing what someone wants to happen.
원하는지
원하는지 means whether they want, with the desired action specified before it. In this sentence, it asks what the other person wants changed. A reusable pattern is X를 원하는지 물어보다 when checking whether someone wants a particular thing.
구체적인
구체적인 means specific and modifies 예, asking for an example with enough concrete detail. It is the form used before a noun when describing something as specific. A reusable phrase is 구체적인 예 when requesting a clear example.
예를
예를 means an example as the object of the request. The 를 marks the example that should be asked for. The phrase 구체적인 예를 물어보세요 is useful when asking someone to clarify a vague comment.
그러면
그러면 means then or in that case and introduces a consequence or response to the suggested wording. Here it leads into the question of how that wording would sound. It is useful when connecting a proposed action with its likely result.
방어적으로
방어적으로 means defensively and describes the way the question might be perceived. It is the adverbial form related to 방어적이다 and modifies 들릴까요. A reusable pattern is 방어적으로 들리다 when discussing whether someone’s words may come across as defensive.
들릴까요
들릴까요 asks whether something would sound or come across in a particular way. Here the speaker is asking about the listener’s possible impression of the question. It is useful when checking how wording may be perceived in a conversation.
상대의
상대의 means the other person’s or their and modifies 기대. The 의 marks the relationship between the other person and the expectations. A reusable phrase is 상대의 기대 when discussing expectations held by another party.
기대에
기대에 means to or toward the expectations in 기대에 맞추고 싶다고. The 에 marks the target that 맞추다 is directed toward. The phrase 기대에 맞추다 is useful when talking about adjusting work to meet someone’s expectations.
맞추고
맞추고 means match or adjust to and is followed by 싶다고 to express the wish to do so. In 기대에 맞추고, the object being matched is the other person’s expectations. A reusable pattern is 기대에 맞추고 싶다 when expressing a desire to meet expectations.
싶다고
싶다고 reports the desire expressed by 싶다, meaning that someone wants to do the preceding action. In 맞추고 싶다고 말하면, it introduces the content of what is said. A reusable pattern is V고 싶다고 말하다 when reporting someone’s wish.
말하면
말하면 means if you say and sets the condition for the result that follows. The 면 ending connects the act of speaking with the predicted impression. It is useful when explaining what will happen if someone uses particular wording.
들리지
들리지 is the form of 들리다 used before 않다 in the negative expression 들리지 않을 거예요. It contributes the meaning of sounding or being perceived, while 않다 creates the negation. A reusable pattern is 방어적으로 들리지 않다 when saying that wording will not sound defensive.
않을
않을 supplies the negative meaning in 들리지 않을 거예요, indicating that the wording is not expected to sound defensive. It appears before 거예요 to describe a predicted negative result. A reusable pattern is V-지 않을 거예요 for saying that something is not expected to happen.
거예요
거예요 presents the result as an expected or predicted situation in 들리지 않을 거예요. Together with the preceding form, it means it will not sound that way. It is commonly used after an action or descriptive form when making a prediction in polite conversation.
많은
많은 means much or a large amount and modifies 데이터. The meaning of more in 더 많은 comes from 더, while 많은 describes the amount itself. A reusable pattern is 더 많은 + noun when requesting or comparing a larger amount.
데이터를
데이터를 means data as the object of 원하는지. The 를 marks the data that the other person may want included. It can be reused when discussing whether a document should contain or use more data.
자신감
자신감 means confidence and forms the phrase 자신감 있는 어조, a tone that has confidence. It names the quality associated with the tone rather than describing the amount of data. A reusable pattern is 자신감 있는 + noun when describing a confident style or quality.
있는
있는 means having or possessing in 자신감 있는 어조, so the tone is described as having confidence. It modifies 어조 rather than functioning as the main predicate. A common pattern is a noun followed by 있는 + another noun to describe something that has that quality.
어조를
어조를 means tone as the object of 원하는지. The 를 marks the tone that the other person may want. The phrase 자신감 있는 어조를 원하는지 is useful when clarifying the preferred style of writing.
물어볼
물어볼 means ask as a possible or planned action in 물어볼 수 있어요. It appears before 수 to form the expression can ask. A reusable pattern is 무엇을 물어볼 수 있어요 when discussing what question someone can ask.
수
수 marks possibility or ability in 물어볼 수 있어요. It does not mean can by itself; the full construction with the preceding action and 있어요 expresses can ask. A reusable pattern is an action followed by 수 있다 or 수 있어요.
있어요
있어요 completes 물어볼 수 있어요 and makes it mean can or it is possible to ask. Here it expresses the possibility of asking about two alternatives. It is commonly used after 수 when stating that an action is possible.
선택할
선택할 means to choose in 선택할 수 있는, describing the choice that can be made. It appears before 수 to form a possibility expression. A reusable pattern is 선택할 수 있다 when saying that someone has a choice.
두
두 means two and specifies the number of options in 두 가지. It appears directly before 가지 in this counting expression. It is useful when clearly limiting a choice to two alternatives.
가지
가지 counts or labels kinds or options in 두 가지. Together with 두, it identifies two available directions rather than two physical objects. It can be reused after a number when presenting a small number of choices or categories.
명확한
명확한 means clear and modifies 방향, describing the two directions as easy to distinguish. It is the form used before a noun for this quality. A reusable pattern is 명확한 + noun when presenting a clear option, instruction, or direction.
방향을
방향을 means direction as the object of 제시하는. Here it refers to the possible direction for revising the proposal. The phrase 방향을 제시하다 is useful when offering someone a clear course of action.
제시하는
제시하는 means presenting or offering and modifies 셈이에요 in 제시하는 셈이에요. It describes what the suggested question effectively does for the other person. A reusable pattern is 방향을 제시하다 when giving someone a clear route or option.
셈이에요
셈이에요 means it amounts to or it effectively means, interpreting the preceding action as its practical result. Here asking the question is treated as presenting two clear directions. A reusable pattern is an action followed by 셈이다 when explaining what that action effectively accomplishes.
알게
알게 means come to know in 알게 되면. Together with 되다, it describes reaching a state of knowing rather than simply possessing information at the start. This construction is useful when talking about learning or discovering something and then taking an action.
되면
되면 means when or once it becomes and forms the condition in 알게 되면, meaning once I know the direction. The 면 ending connects reaching that state with the next result. A reusable pattern is V게 되면 when an action follows after coming to a new state.
빠르게
빠르게 means quickly and modifies 수정할, describing the speed of the revision. It is the adverbial form related to 빠르다. A reusable pattern is 빠르게 + verb when describing an action completed at high speed.
수정할
수정할 means to revise in 수정할 수 있어요. It appears before 수 to express that revising is possible. A reusable pattern is a document or proposal followed by 수정할 수 있다 when saying that it can be revised.
지침이
지침이 means guidance or instructions as the subject of 있으면. The 이 marks the guidance whose presence creates the helpful condition. A reusable pattern is 명확한 지침이 있다 when describing clear instructions that are available.
있으면
있으면 means if there is or when there is and introduces the condition that clear guidance exists. Here it links the presence of guidance to reducing unnecessary rewriting. It is useful after a noun when explaining what happens when something is available.
불필요하게
불필요하게 means unnecessarily and modifies the act of writing again. It shows that the repeated work does not serve a needed purpose. A reusable pattern is 불필요하게 + verb when describing avoidable effort.
다시
다시 means again and shows that the writing is being done another time. Together with 쓰는, it describes rewriting. It is commonly placed before an action when the same action is repeated.
쓰는
쓰는 means writing in 다시 쓰는 일 and modifies 일, turning the action into the work of writing again. With 다시, it means rewriting in this context. A reusable pattern is an action in 는 form followed by 일 when referring to that activity as a task.
일을
일을 means the work or task as the object of 줄일. Here it refers specifically to the unnecessary work of rewriting. The 를 marks the work that can be reduced, as in 일을 줄이다.
줄일
줄일 means reduce in 줄일 수 있어요, describing the possibility of reducing unnecessary rewriting. It appears before 수 to form a possibility expression. A reusable pattern is 불필요한 일을 줄일 수 있다 when saying that avoidable work can be reduced.
Grammar Points
동사 어간 + -아/어야 하다
제안서를 수정해야 해요.
jeh-AHN-suh-reul soo-JUNG-hae-ya hae-yo.You need to revise the proposal.
-아/어야 하다 expresses necessity or obligation. The form changes according to the verb stem.
형용사 어간 + -게
명확하게 설명하다
myung-HWA-ka-ge sul-myung-ha-dato explain clearly
-게 changes an adjective into an adverb, describing how an action is performed.
Korean Vocabulary
강화하다
verb
gahng-HWA-ha-da
to strengthen
강화해야
구성
noun
goo-SUNG
structure
근거
noun
GEUN-guh
evidence
모호하다
adj
mo-HO-ha-da
to be vague
모호하게
문제
noun
moon-JEH
problem
부분
noun
boo-BOON
part
서론
noun
suh-RON
introduction
수정하다
verb
soo-JUNG-ha-da
to revise
수정해야
어조
noun
uh-JO
tone
제안서
noun
jeh-AHN-suh
proposal
제안서를
충분히
adv
choong-BOON-hee
sufficiently
피드백
noun
PEE-duh-baek
feedback
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Would that sound defensive?
Show Answer
그러면 방어적으로 들릴까요?Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to be vague
Show Answer
모호하게to revise
Show Answer
수정해야to strengthen
Show Answer
강화해야proposal