Resolving a Small Disagreement at Work | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 서로 다른 가정을 해서 의견이 다른 것 같아요.

   I think we disagree because we made different assumptions.

   서로 다른

   different from each other

   가정

   assumption

   해서

   because of doing so

   의견

   opinion

   다른

   different

   것 같아요

   I think; it seems

   More detail

   서로 다른 means “different from each other.” 서로 marks a reciprocal relationship, so the difference is understood among the relevant assumptions rather than as a comparison with one unspecified outside thing. 다른 is the attributive form of 다르다 (“to be different”): 다르다 → 다른 before a noun. Example: 서로 다른 방법 means “different methods from one another.” 가정 means “assumption,” a belief or premise used when reasoning. Its plural meaning can be understood from context even though Korean does not require a separate plural ending here. 서로 다른 가정 is therefore “different assumptions from each other.” 해서 is the connective form of 하다 (“to do/make”), used here to connect the act of making assumptions with its result or reason. In 가정을 해서, it contributes “by making assumptions” or “because [we] made assumptions.” The subject is understood from the sentence and fixed translation as “we”; Korean commonly omits such recoverable subjects. Example: 서로 다르게 생각해서 문제가 생겼어요. means “A problem arose because we thought differently.” 의견 means “opinion” or “view.” With the subject marker 이, 의견이 marks the opinions as the element being described. In this sentence, the relevant meaning is that the opinions differ, not that someone merely has an opinion. 다른 again comes from 다르다 and means “different.” Here it follows 의견이 and says that the opinions are different. The earlier 서로 다른 modifies 가정, while this occurrence describes the relationship among the opinions. Example: 두 사람의 의견이 달라요. means “The two people’s opinions are different.” 것 같아요 is a common pattern meaning “it seems” or, with a speaker’s judgment, “I think.” 것 nominalizes the preceding description, and 같아요 is the polite form of 같다 (“to be similar/seem”). Here it softens the statement as the speaker’s assessment: “I think [that] …” It does not itself identify a new participant. Together, 서로 다른 가정을 해서 gives the reason or process, “because we made different assumptions,” and 의견이 다른 것 같아요 gives the speaker’s assessment, “I think our opinions differ.” The full utterance means: “I think we disagree because we made different assumptions.”

2. 고객이 먼저 간단한 버전을 원한다고 생각했어요.

   I thought the client wanted a simple version first.

   고객이

   the client

   먼저

   first

   간단한

   simple

   버전을

   version

   원한다고

   wanted

   생각했어요

   thought

   More detail

   고객이 means “the client” here. 고객 is a noun meaning “client” or “customer,” and 이 marks it as the subject of the embedded thought. The translation identifies this subject as the client. 먼저 means “first” or “before anything else.” It sets the order in which the client wanted the version; it does not itself indicate how many versions there are. 간단한 means “simple” here and modifies the noun that follows. It is the attributive form of 간단하다 (“to be simple”): 간단하다 → 간단한 before a noun. For example, 간단한 설명 means “a simple explanation.” 버전을 means “version” as the object of the embedded wanting clause. 버전 is a noun, and 을 marks it as the object; because 버전 ends in a consonant sound, 을 is used rather than 를. The adjective phrase 간단한 버전 is therefore “a simple version.” 원한다고 reports the content of wanting: 원하다 means “to want,” and 원한다고 combines its present-form stem with -다고, a quoting form used before a reporting verb. In this sentence, the reported content is that the client wants a simple version. The reported clause is not a direct quotation. 생각했어요 means “thought.” It is the polite past form of 생각하다 (“to think”): 생각하다 → 생각했어요. Together with the preceding -다고, it reports the speaker’s past thought. The structure is [고객이 먼저 간단한 버전을 원한다고] 생각했어요: “I thought [that the client wanted a simple version first].” The client is the subject of 원하다, while the speaker is the implicit subject of 생각했어요; the whole utterance presents this as what the speaker thought in the past.

3. 저는 고객이 모든 기능이 들어간 완성된 버전을 기대한다고 생각했어요.

   I thought they expected a complete version with every feature.

   저는

   as for me; I

   고객이

   the customer

   모든

   every; all

   기능이

   feature; function

   들어간

   included; contained

   완성된

   completed; finished

   버전을

   version

   기대한다고

   expect that

   생각했어요

   thought

   More detail

   저는 combines the first-person pronoun 저 (“I,” a humble/polite form) with the topic marker 는. It sets the person who had the thought as the topic. The past form later in the sentence shows that this thought occurred in the past. 고객이 means “the customer/client” as the subject of the embedded content. 이 is the subject marker used after a consonant. Here, the customer is the one doing the expecting, not the one doing the thinking. Korean nouns do not themselves mark gender, and 고객 can be singular or plural unless context specifies otherwise; the supplied context supports the client reading. 모든 is a determiner meaning “all” or “every,” placed before the noun it specifies. In 모든 기능, it applies to the complete set of features. A useful pattern is 모든 + noun, as in 모든 문 (“all the doors”). 기능이 means “feature” or “function” with the subject marker 이. It is the subject inside the following modifying clause: the features are what are included. 기능 is a noun; its meaning here is a product feature, not a person’s ability. 들어간 comes from 들어가다, “to go in” or, in a product description, “to be included/contained.” The form 들어간 is its noun-modifying form for a completed or resulting situation. Thus, [모든 기능이 들어간] 버전 means “a version in which all the features are included.” Example: 설명이 들어간 문서 means “a document that contains an explanation.” 완성된 comes from 완성되다, “to be completed” or “to become complete.” Its noun-modifying form describes the version as complete. Because this is the 되다 form, it does not say who completed it. Compare 완성한, which comes from 완성하다 and describes someone who completed something: 제가 완성한 문서 means “the document I completed.” 버전을 is 버전 (“version”) with the object marker 을. The version is the thing being expected in the embedded content. The noun-modifying clauses 모든 기능이 들어간 and 완성된 both come before 버전, as is normal for these Korean modifiers. 기대한다고 uses 기대하다, “to expect,” with the reported-content ending -ㄴ다고 for a present-tense declarative statement. It presents the customer’s expectation as the content of the thought: “that the customer expects ...” The form does not by itself mean that the expected event is happening now; it reports the customer’s expectation at the relevant time. 생각했어요 comes from 생각하다, “to think,” with the past marker -었- and the polite ending -어요. It means “thought” here. 생각해요 would normally mean “think” or “am thinking” in a present-time context, whereas 생각했어요 places the thinking in the past. The structure is [저는] [고객이 [모든 기능이 들어간 완성된 버전]을 기대한다고] 생각했어요: the outer topic is the person who thought; the inner subject is the customer; and -다고 turns the customer’s expectation into the content of 생각했어요. The relative clauses describe the version as complete and containing every feature. Together, the utterance means that I thought the customer expected a complete version with every feature.

4. 기억에 의존해서 논쟁하는 대신 메모를 확인해 봐요.

   Let's check the notes instead of arguing from memory.

   기억

   memory

   의존해서

   relying on

   논쟁하는

   arguing

   대신

   instead of

   메모

   notes

   확인해 봐요

   let’s check

   More detail

   기억 means “memory” here. It is a noun and can be used in the reusable pattern 기억에 의존하다, “to rely on memory.” The particle 에 marks what someone depends on in this expression. Example: 기억에 의존하지 마세요. — “Please don’t rely on memory.” 의존해서 comes from the verb 의존하다, “to depend on” or “to rely on,” plus -아서/어서, which connects this phrase to what follows. Here it gives the basis or manner for the following action: relying on memory while arguing. The ending is not a past tense form; it is a connective form. Example: 자료에 의존해서 결정하지 마세요. — “Please don’t make the decision by relying only on the data.” 논쟁하는 comes from 논쟁하다, “to argue” or “to debate.” The -는 form makes the verb describe an action in the following construction: 논쟁하는 대신, “instead of arguing.” This form is used for an action that is being contrasted with another action. Example: 서로 비난하는 대신 해결책을 찾아요. — “Instead of blaming each other, let’s look for a solution.” 대신 means “instead” and is especially reusable after a verb in the pattern V-는 대신(에), “instead of doing V.” In this sentence, 논쟁하는 대신 contrasts arguing with checking the notes. 대신 can also be used in other replacement expressions, but this verb pattern is the relevant use here. 메모 means “notes” or “a memo.” In 메모를, the particle 를 marks it as the object of 확인하다: it is what gets checked. Example: 메모를 읽었어요. — “I read the notes.” 확인해 봐요 combines 확인하다, “to check” or “to verify,” with -아/어 보다, an auxiliary pattern meaning “try doing” or “check by doing.” 확인하다 becomes 확인해, and the polite 해요 style gives 봐요 for 보다 in this construction. In this sentence, 확인해 봐요 is a polite suggestion, naturally “let’s check” or “let’s try checking”; 봐요 does not mean literally “see” here. Example: 이 방법을 써 봐요. — “Let’s try using this method.” The sentence first sets up the alternative with 기억에 의존해서 논쟁하는 대신, “instead of arguing by relying on memory.” It then gives the preferred action, 메모를 확인해 봐요, “let’s check the notes.” Together, the utterance means: “Let’s check the notes instead of arguing from memory.”

5. 메모에는 속도가 가장 중요하지만 고급 기능 하나는 여전히 필요하다고 적혀 있어요.

   The notes say speed matters most, but one advanced feature is still required.

   메모

   notes; memo

   속도

   speed

   가장

   most

   중요하지만

   important, but

   고급

   advanced; high-end

   기능

   feature; function

   하나

   one

   여전히

   still

   필요하다고

   that it is needed

   적혀 있어요

   is written; says

   More detail

   메모 means a memo or set of notes. It is a noun; the plural meaning “notes” comes from context, not from a special plural ending in this word. Example: 메모를 확인해요. — “I check the notes.” 속도 means speed. In this sentence, 속도가 makes speed the subject of the statement about what is important. Example: 속도가 빨라요. — “The speed is fast.” 가장 means “most” and comes before the descriptive word it intensifies. With 중요하다, 가장 중요하다 means “be the most important.” It is stronger than 더 중요하다, “be more important.” 중요하지만 is the form of 중요하다 (“be important”) combined with -지만 (“but/although”). The ending marks a contrast: “is important, but …” Example: 가격이 중요하지만 품질도 중요해요. — “Price is important, but quality is important too.” 고급 describes something advanced or high-end. It is placed before a noun, as in 고급 기능, “an advanced feature.” Example: 고급 장비 — “advanced equipment.” 기능 means a feature or function of a product or system. In 고급 기능, it refers to one capability rather than to the whole product. Example: 이 기능은 편리해요. — “This feature is convenient.” 하나 is the native Korean number “one,” used here for one item or feature. Korean often uses a counter with numbers, but 하나 can also stand by itself when the item is clear; here 기능 하나 means “one feature.” It does not by itself mean “a” as an article. 여전히 means “still,” showing that the need remains true at the relevant time. Example: 그 기능은 여전히 필요해요. — “That feature is still needed.” 필요하다고 contains 필요하다, “be needed,” followed by -다고, the form used to report the content of a statement with a descriptive word. Thus 필요하다고 means “that it is needed.” It is not the same as 필요해서, “because it is needed.” 적혀 있어요 means “is written” or, in this context, “says.” 적히다 means that something is written or recorded, and -어 있다 presents the resulting written state; 있어요 is the polite present form. Together with 필요하다고, it reports the content recorded in the notes: “it is written that it is needed.” In the full sentence, 메모에는 frames the notes as the place or source of the information. 속도가 가장 중요하지만 says that speed is the most important consideration. The contrasting clause 고급 기능 하나는 여전히 필요하다고 적혀 있어요 says that the notes nevertheless record that one advanced feature is still needed. Together: “The notes say speed matters most, but one advanced feature is still required.”

6. 그 기능이 들어간 더 간단한 버전이 적절한 타협안 같아요.

   A simpler version that includes that feature sounds like the right compromise.

   그

   that

   기능

   feature

   들어간

   included

   더 간단한

   simpler

   버전

   version

   적절한

   appropriate

   타협안

   compromise

   같아요

   seems

   More detail

   그 is a demonstrative meaning “that.” Here it identifies a feature already understood from the context, matching the translation’s “that feature.” Its exact real-world referent is not named by the sentence itself. 기능 means “feature” or “function.” It is a noun; in this sentence it is the subject of the modifier 들어간, not the main subject of the whole sentence. A useful related contrast is 기능이 있다 (“to have a feature”) versus 기능을 추가하다 (“to add a feature”). 들어간 comes from 들어가다, “to go in” or, in this kind of product description, “to be included.” The form 들어간 is the attributive past form, so 그 기능이 들어간 버전 means “a version in which that feature is included” or “a version containing that feature.” The feature is grammatically marked as the subject of this modifier with 이. 더 간단한 means “simpler.” 간단하다 is the base adjective, and 더 adds comparison: 간단하다 “be simple” → 더 간단하다 “be simpler.” The adjective’s attributive form before a noun is 간단한, so 더 간단한 버전 means “a simpler version.” 더 modifies 간단한, not 버전. 버전 means “version.” It is the noun modified by 그 기능이 들어간 더 간단한; the sentence is evaluating this version. For example, 새 버전을 선택했어요. means “I chose the new version.” 적절한 comes from 적절하다, “to be appropriate” or “suitable.” 적절한 is its attributive form before a noun, so 적절한 타협안 means “an appropriate compromise.” It expresses suitability for the situation, not merely that something is possible. 타협안 means “compromise” or “compromise proposal.” It combines 타협 (“compromise”) with 안 (“plan/proposal”), so it specifically presents a compromise as a possible solution. For example, 이것이 좋은 타협안이에요. means “This is a good compromise.” 같아요 comes from 같다, “to be like” or “to seem.” In this sentence, the polite form 같아요 makes an assessment sound like “seems” or “sounds like,” rather than stating the judgment as an absolute fact. The pattern 명사인 것 같아요 is another common way to say “It seems to be a noun,” while here the noun phrase directly precedes 같아요: 타협안 같아요. Putting the parts together: 그 기능이 들어간 identifies a version that contains the feature; 더 간단한 버전 selects the simpler version; and 적절한 타협안 같아요 presents it as seeming like a suitable compromise. The complete meaning is: “A simpler version that includes that feature sounds like the right compromise.”

7. 그 타협의 장단점을 분명하게 설명한다면 받아들일 수 있어요.

   I can accept that if we explain the trade-off clearly.

   설명한다면

   if we explain

   More detail

   설명한다면 means “if we explain” in this sentence. It combines the verb 설명하다 (“to explain”) with the conditional ending -다면 (“if ...”). Korean does not mark the subject as “we” in this verb form itself; the fixed translation supplies that intended subject here. The whole sentence means: “I can accept that if we explain the trade-off clearly.”

8. 고객의 우선순위를 중심으로 설명할 수 있어요.

   We can frame it around the client's priorities.

   고객의

   the client's

   우선순위

   priority

   중심으로

   around; centered on

   설명할

   explain

   수 있어요

   can; be able to

   More detail

   고객의 means “the client’s.” 의 marks possession or association, so 고객의 우선순위 is “the client’s priorities.” In speech, 의 may sound closer to “에,” but it is still written 의 here. 우선순위 means “priority” or “priorities”: 우선 means “first” or “prior,” and 순위 means “rank/order.” The combined noun refers to what is ranked as most important. Example: 우선순위를 정해요. — “We set priorities.” 중심으로 means “around” or “centered on.” It is built from 중심 (“center”) plus 으로, which marks the basis, direction, or focus of an action. Here, it makes the client’s priorities the organizing focus. Example: 문제를 사실을 중심으로 설명해요. — “I explain the issue around the facts.” 설명할 is the form of 설명하다 (“to explain”) used before 수 있다, the pattern for possibility or ability. 설명하다 changes to 설명할 before 수; the -ㄹ ending is part of this connective form, not a separate word meaning “will.” Example: 이 내용을 설명할 수 있어요. — “I can explain this content.” 수 있어요 completes the ability pattern -ㄹ/을 수 있다, literally expressing that there is a way or possibility to do something. In this sentence, 설명할 수 있어요 means “can explain,” not simply “explain.” The polite negative counterpart is -ㄹ/을 수 없어요, “cannot.” Together, 고객의 우선순위를 중심으로 sets the client’s priorities as the focus, and 설명할 수 있어요 says that the speaker is able to explain in that way. The whole utterance means, “We can frame it around the client’s priorities.”

9. 결정한 내용에 맞게 작업 설명을 수정할게요.

   I'll update the task description to match the decision.

   결정한

   decided

   내용

   content

   맞게

   to match

   작업

   task

   설명

   description

   수정할게요

   I’ll revise it

   More detail

   결정한 comes from 결정하다, “to decide.” The ending -ㄴ turns the verb into a form that modifies a following noun, so 결정한 내용 means “the content that was decided” or, here, “the decision.” The form describes completed deciding; it is not the noun 결정 itself. 내용 means “content” or “the substance of something.” In this sentence, the fixed translation identifies that content as the decision being followed. A useful related contrast is 내용 “content” versus 의견 “opinion”; they are not interchangeable in every context. 맞게 is the adverbial form of 맞다, “to be right” or “to fit.” The pattern A에 맞게 B하다 means “do B so that it fits A” or “do B in accordance with A.” Thus 결정한 내용에 맞게 specifies the standard that the revision will follow. 작업 means “task” or “work.” It commonly combines with another noun to identify work-related items, as in 작업 일정 (“task schedule”). Here it forms 작업 설명, “task description.” 설명 means “description” or “explanation.” In this sentence it refers to the description of the task, rather than to the act of explaining in general. Korean can use this noun in compounds such as 사용 설명 (“usage instructions/description”). 수정할게요 comes from 수정하다, “to revise, correct, or update.” The ending -ㄹ게요 presents the speaker’s commitment or intention to do something, often with the listener’s situation in mind. It is polite and conversational; it does not by itself assert that the action has already happened. The object is understood from the preceding noun phrase: the speaker will revise the task description. Together, 결정한 내용에 맞게 means “to match the decision,” 작업 설명 means “the task description,” and 수정할게요 means “I’ll revise/update it.” The whole utterance is therefore: “I’ll update the task description to match the decision.”

10. 그러면 그 의견 차이 때문에 프로젝트 진행이 늦어지지는 않을 거예요.

    Then the disagreement should not slow the project down.

    그러면

    then; in that case

    그

    that

    의견 차이

    difference of opinion

    때문에

    because of

    프로젝트

    project

    진행

    progress; advancement

    늦어지지는 않을 거예요

    will not become delayed

    More detail

    그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It connects the current statement to a situation just mentioned. A useful contrast is 그러면 “then, in that case” versus 지금 “now.” 그 is the demonstrative determiner “that,” placed before the noun phrase 의견 차이. Here it identifies the disagreement referred to in the fixed meaning. Korean also has 이 “this” and 저 “that over there”; the choice depends on how the speaker presents the referent, not simply on the noun’s grammatical role. 의견 차이 is a noun phrase meaning “difference of opinion” or “disagreement.” 의견 means “opinion,” and 차이 means “difference.” Together, they describe a difference between opinions. Example: 의견 차이가 있어요. — “There is a difference of opinion.” 때문에 marks the cause of the following situation: “because of” or “due to.” It follows a noun or noun phrase, so 그 의견 차이 때문에 means “because of that disagreement.” Example: 비 때문에 — “because of the rain.” 프로젝트 is the loanword “project.” It is a noun and can combine directly with particles, as in 프로젝트가 시작됐어요. — “The project started.” 진행 is a noun meaning “progress” or “advancement.” In this sentence, 프로젝트 진행 means “the project’s progress” or “the progress of the project.” The subject marker 이 is attached to 진행, so the full phrase is 프로젝트 진행이; 진행, not 프로젝트, carries this marker. Example: 진행이 빨라요. — “The progress is fast.” 늦어지지는 않을 거예요 combines 늦어지다, -지는 않다, and -을 거예요. 늦어지다 means “to become delayed” or “to get later”; its base form is 늦어지다, while 늦어져요 is a polite present-style form. This differs from 늦다, “to be late,” which describes being late rather than becoming delayed. Example: 일정이 늦어졌어요. — “The schedule became delayed.” In 늦어지지는 않다, -지는 adds contrastive or limiting emphasis before the negation 않다: “does not become delayed” or “at least will not become delayed.” The form 않을 is the attributive form of 않다 used before 거예요. -을 거예요 expresses a future expectation or prediction in this context; it does not by itself guarantee the outcome. The polite ending -예요 gives the sentence a polite conversational style. Putting the parts together, 그러면 sets up “then,” 그 의견 차이 때문에 identifies the cause as “because of that disagreement,” and 프로젝트 진행이 늦어지지는 않을 거예요 predicts that “the project’s progress will not become delayed.” Thus the complete utterance means: “Then the disagreement should not slow the project down.”