Planning a Group Dinner | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: Before a group dinner, two friends compare food preferences and plan to send a quick poll before booking a restaurant..

EN → KO / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Planning a Group Dinner to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

토요일에 우리 모임이 갈 식당을 정해야 해.

toh-yo-EEL-eh oo-REE moh-EEM-ee gal SHICK-ttahng-eul juhng-HAE-ya hae We need to choose a restaurant for our group on Saturday.
B

그럼 예약하기 전에 모두의 음식 취향을 확인해야 해.

guh-REOM yeh-YAHK-ha-gee juhn-eh moh-DOO-eh UHM-shick-eul hwah-GEEN-hae-ya hae Then we should check everyone's food preferences before making a reservation.
A

초밥을 먹고 싶은 사람도 있지만, 따뜻한 식사를 더 좋아하는 사람도 있어.

CHOH-bah-beul muhk-KOH SHEE-peun sah-RAHM-doh EET-jjee-man, TTAH-tteut-han SHICK-ssah-reul DUH joh-ah-HAH-neun sah-RAHM-doh ISS-uh Some people want sushi, but others prefer a hot meal.
B

메뉴가 다양한 식당이면 선택의 폭이 더 넓어질 거야.

MEH-nyoo-gah dah-YAHNG-han SHICK-ttahng-ee-myuhn sun-TAE-gui POH-gee DUH nuhl-uh-jil guh-yah A place with a varied menu would be more flexible.
A

채식 메뉴와 큰 테이블이 있는 편안한 식당을 찾았어.

CHAE-shick MEH-nyoo-wah KHEUN TEH-buhl-ee EET-neun pyuh-NAHN-han SHICK-ttahng-eul chah-JAHS-suh I found a casual restaurant with vegetarian options and big tables.
B

그런 식당이면 취향이 다양한 모임에 더 무난한 선택 같아.

GUH-reon SHICK-ttahng-ee-myuhn chwee-HYAHNG-ee dah-YAHNG-han moh-EEM-eh DUH moo-NAHN-han sun-TAEK gah-tah That sounds like a safer choice for a mixed group.
A

예약하기 전에 모임 사람들에게 물어볼까, 아니면 지금 이 식당으로 정할까?

yeh-YAHK-ha-gee juhn-eh moh-EEM sah-rahm-deul-eh-geh moo-ruh-BOHL-kkah, ah-nee-myuhn jee-geum ee SHICK-ttahng-oo-ro juhng-HAL-kkah Should I ask the group before booking, or choose it now?
B

두 가지 선택지를 알려 주고 빨리 답해 달라고 해.

doo GAH-jee sun-TAEK-jjee-reul ahl-lyuh joo-goh PPAL-lee dah-phae dal-lah-goh hae Give them two options and ask for a quick response.
A

오늘 밤에 결정할 수 있도록 짧은 설문을 보낼게.

oh-NEUL pahm-eh kyuhl-JUHNG-hal soo EET-torohk JJAHL-buhn SUHL-moon-eul boh-NAEL-kkay I will send a short poll so we can decide tonight.
B

그러면 너무 많은 사람에게 의견을 묻지 않고도 계획을 계속 진행할 수 있을 거야.

GUH-ruh-myuhn nuh-moo MAH-neun sah-rahm-eh-geh EUI-gyuhn-eul moot-jjee AHN-koh-doh gye-HWEK-eul gyeh-SOHK jin-HAENG-hal soo EET-sseul guh-yah That should keep the plan moving without asking too many people for opinions.

Word by Word

토요일에 “토요일에” means “on Saturday,” specifying when the group will go to the restaurant. The ending 에 marks a time, so a useful pattern is day or date + 에. Use it when arranging a meeting or event for a particular day.
우리 “우리” means “our” here and refers to the group shared by the speakers. It comes directly before the noun in “우리 모임.” Use 우리 + noun when referring to something shared by the speaker and the listener or their group.
모임이 “모임이” means “the group” as the subject of the phrase describing where the group will go. 이 marks 모임 as the subject. A useful pattern is noun + 이/가 when identifying who or what performs an action or has a feature.
갈 “갈” means “that will go” or “going” and describes the restaurant in “갈 식당,” the restaurant the group will go to. It comes from 가다 in a form used before a noun. A useful pattern is place에 갈 + noun, such as a place someone will go to.
식당을 “식당을” means “the restaurant” as the object being chosen. 을 marks 식당 as the object of 정하다. A useful pattern in planning is 식당을 정하다, “to choose a restaurant.”
정해야 “정해야” means “must decide” or “need to choose” in “정해야 해.” It comes from 정하다 with the ending 해야, which expresses something that needs to be done. Use the pattern object을/를 정해야 해 when saying that a choice must be made.
해 “해” completes the obligation expression “정해야 해,” meaning that someone needs to decide. Here it is the informal form of 하다 used after 해야. A common reusable pattern is 해야 해, “must do” or “need to do,” in casual conversation.
그럼 “그럼” means “then” or “in that case” and connects the previous need to check with the next suggestion. It introduces a response based on what was just said. Use it before a proposal or conclusion that follows from the conversation.
예약하기 “예약하기” means “making a reservation” as an action in “예약하기 전에.” It is the action form of 예약하다 used before 전에. A useful pattern is verb + 기 전에, meaning “before doing something.”
전에 “전에” means “before” and places the action of checking before making the reservation. In “예약하기 전에,” it follows an action noun. Use it after a noun or verb + 기 to express what happens earlier.
모두의 “모두의” means “everyone’s,” showing possession or connection through 의. It describes whose food preferences are being checked in “모두의 음식 취향.” A useful pattern is 모두의 + noun when referring to something belonging to or shared by everyone.
음식 “음식” means “food” and forms the compound “음식 취향,” meaning food preferences. It comes before 취향 to specify the type of preferences. Use 음식 + noun for expressions related to food.
취향을 “취향을” means “preferences” as the object being checked. 을 marks 취향 as the object of 확인하다. A useful pattern is 취향을 확인하다, “to check someone’s preferences,” especially when planning something for several people.
확인해야 “확인해야” means “must check” or “need to check” in “확인해야 해.” It uses 확인하다 with the same 해야 pattern for necessity. Use noun을/를 확인해야 해 when saying that information needs to be checked.
초밥을 “초밥을” means “sushi” as the food someone wants to eat. 을 marks 초밥 as the object of 먹다. A useful pattern is 초밥을 먹다, “to eat sushi,” or more generally food을 먹다.
먹고 “먹고” means “eat” within the expression “먹고 싶은,” not simply “eat and” in this sentence. It is the form of 먹다 that combines with 싶다 to express wanting to eat. Use the pattern 먹고 싶다 when expressing a desire to eat something.
싶은 “싶은” contributes the meaning of wanting to and modifies 사람 in “먹고 싶은 사람,” meaning people who want to eat. Together with 먹고, it forms the desire expression 먹고 싶다. A useful pattern is verb + 고 싶은 + noun, such as something a person wants to do.
사람도 “사람도” means “people too” or “there are also people,” adding this group to the contrast. 도 marks people as an additional subject. A useful pattern is noun도 있다 when saying that there are also people or things of that kind.
있지만 “있지만” means “there are, but” and introduces the contrasting group that prefers a hot meal. It combines 있다 with 지만, which connects two contrasting ideas. Use verb or adjective + 지만 when saying “although” or “but.”
따뜻한 “따뜻한” means “warm” or “hot” and describes the meal in “따뜻한 식사.” It is the form of 따뜻하다 used before a noun. Use 따뜻한 + noun when describing warm food, drinks, or other things.
식사를 “식사를” means “the meal” as the object of the preference in this sentence. 을 marks 식사 as the object. A useful pattern is 식사를 하다 for “to have a meal,” while 식사를 좋아하다 means “to like meals” or a type of meal.
더 “더” means “more” and shows that some people like a hot meal more than the alternative. It increases the degree of the following preference expression 좋아하는. Use 더 before a verb or adjective when comparing the degree of a preference or quality.
좋아하는 “좋아하는” means “liking” or “preferring” and modifies 사람 in “식사를 더 좋아하는 사람.” It is the noun-modifying form of 좋아하다. A useful pattern is object을/를 좋아하는 사람, “a person who likes or prefers something.”
있어 “있어” means “there are” at the end of the sentence, stating that such people exist. It is an informal conversational form of 있다. Use noun이/가 있어 when casually saying that someone or something is present.
메뉴가 “메뉴가” means “the menu” as the subject of the description “다양한.” 가 marks 메뉴 as the subject. A useful pattern is noun이/가 + adjective when describing a feature of a person or thing.
다양한 “다양한” means “varied” or “diverse” and describes the menu in “메뉴가 다양한 식당.” It is the form of 다양하다 used before a noun. Use 다양한 + noun when emphasizing that there are several different types or choices.
식당이면 “식당이면” means “if it is a restaurant” or “if the place is a restaurant,” introducing a condition. It combines 식당 with 이면, the conditional form of 이다. Use noun이면 when presenting a condition such as “if it is” or “if it counts as” something.
선택의 “선택의” means “of choice” and links 선택 to 폭 in the expression “선택의 폭,” the range of choices. 의 connects two nouns in a relationship such as “the range of choice.” Use noun의 + noun to form a linked noun phrase.
폭이 “폭이” means “the range” or “scope” as the subject of becoming wider in “선택의 폭이 넓어질 거야.” 이 marks 폭 as the subject. The reusable expression 선택의 폭이 넓다 means that the range of choices is broad.
넓어질 “넓어질” means “become wider” or “become broader” and describes the expected result for the range of choices. It comes from 넓어지다 in a form used before 거야. Use 선택의 폭이 넓어지다 when more choices become available.
거야 “거야” expresses an informal expectation or prediction, so “넓어질 거야” means “it will become wider.” It follows the future-looking form 넓어질. A useful pattern is verb or adjective + ㄹ/을 거야 for an expected future result in casual speech.
채식 “채식” refers to vegetarian food or a vegetarian option in “채식 메뉴.” It comes before 메뉴 to specify what kind of menu it is. Use 채식 + noun when talking about vegetarian food or vegetarian choices.
메뉴와 “메뉴와” means “menu and,” joining the vegetarian menu with the big tables in the restaurant description. 와 connects 메뉴 to the next noun phrase. Use noun와 noun when listing two things after a noun ending in a vowel.
큰 “큰” means “big” or “large” and describes 테이블 in “큰 테이블.” It is the form of 크다 used before a noun. Use 큰 + noun when describing something as large.
테이블이 “테이블이” means “tables” as the subject of the phrase “있는,” describing what the restaurant has. 이 marks 테이블 as the subject of existence. A useful pattern is noun이 있는 + noun, meaning “a noun that has or contains something.”
있는 “있는” means “having” or “that has” and modifies 식당 in “테이블이 있는 식당.” It comes from 있다 in a form used before a noun. Use noun이 있는 + noun to describe a place or thing that has a particular feature.
편안한 “편안한” means “comfortable” or “casual” and describes the restaurant. It is the form of 편안하다 used before a noun. Use 편안한 + noun when describing a relaxed place or atmosphere.
찾았어 “찾았어” means “found” and tells the friend that the speaker has found a suitable restaurant. It is an informal past form of 찾다. A useful pattern is object을/를 찾았어 when casually announcing that you found something.
그런 “그런” means “such” or “that kind of” and points back to the restaurant just described. It comes before 식당이면 to refer to a place with those features. Use 그런 + noun when referring to something of the kind just mentioned.
취향이 “취향이” means “preferences” as the subject of the description “다양한.” 이 marks 취향 as the subject in “취향이 다양한 모임.” A useful pattern is 취향이 다양하다 when saying that people’s tastes differ.
모임에 “모임에” means “for the group” in “모임에 더 무난한 선택,” identifying the group for which the choice is suitable. 에 marks the group as the relevant target or context. Use noun에 + descriptive phrase when evaluating suitability for a person or group.
무난한 “무난한” means “generally suitable” or “a safe choice” in this context. It describes 선택 as an option unlikely to cause difficulty for a group with different preferences. Use 무난한 선택 when recommending an option that should work reasonably well for everyone.
선택 “선택” means “choice” and is the noun described as 무난한 in “무난한 선택.” It names the restaurant option being evaluated. A useful pattern is adjective + 선택 when describing whether a decision is suitable or practical.
같아 “같아” means “seems like” or “looks like” and presents the speaker’s assessment rather than a firm statement. Here it evaluates the restaurant as a suitable choice. Use noun + 같아 in casual conversation when something seems to be a particular kind of thing.
모임 “모임” means “group” or “gathering” and is part of “모임 사람들,” the people in the group. It can refer to people gathered for a shared occasion. Use 모임 + 사람들 when referring to members of a gathering.
사람들에게 “사람들에게” means “to the people,” referring to the members of the group who may be asked. 들 marks people as plural and 에게 marks them as the recipients of the question. A useful pattern is 사람들에게 물어보다, “to ask the people.”
물어볼까 “물어볼까” means “shall I ask?” and presents asking the group as one possible action. It comes from 물어보다 with the ending ㄹ까, which is used for a suggestion or a question about what to do. Use someone에게 물어볼까 when considering whether to ask someone.
아니면 “아니면” means “or” and introduces the alternative of choosing the restaurant immediately. It separates two possible actions in the question. Use A 아니면 B when asking someone to choose between two alternatives.
지금 “지금” means “now,” specifying that the restaurant could be chosen immediately instead of asking the group first. It commonly appears before the action it modifies. Use it when contrasting the present moment with a later time.
이 “이” means “this” and points to the restaurant currently being discussed. It comes directly before 식당 in “이 식당.” Use 이 + noun when referring to something close in the conversation or situation.
식당으로 “식당으로” means “as the restaurant” in “이 식당으로 정하다,” choosing this place as the final restaurant. 로 marks the option selected as the result of the decision. A useful pattern is noun으로 정하다, “to decide on noun.”
정할까 “정할까” means “shall I decide?” or “shall I choose?” and presents immediate selection as the second option. It comes from 정하다 with ㄹ까, used for considering an action. Use noun으로 정할까 when asking whether to choose something as the final option.
두 “두” means “two” and comes before 가지 in “두 가지 선택지,” specifying the number of options. It is the form used before a counting noun. Use 두 + counting noun when identifying two items or choices.
가지 “가지” means “kinds” or “options” in “두 가지,” referring to two possible choices. Together with a number, it counts types or alternatives. Use 여러 가지 when referring to several different kinds or options.
선택지를 “선택지를” means “the options” as the object being given to the group. 를 marks 선택지 as the object. A useful pattern is 선택지를 알려 주다, “to tell someone the options,” when presenting possible choices.
알려 “알려” means “tell” or “let someone know” in “알려 주고.” It combines with 주다 to express giving someone information. A useful pattern is someone에게 something을 알려 주다, “to let someone know something.”
주고 “주고” means “give and” in “알려 주고,” where 주다 adds the idea of doing the informing for the other people and 고 connects it to the next action. The whole expression 알려 주다 means “to let someone know.” Use verb + 아/어 주고 when connecting an action done for someone to another action.
빨리 “빨리” means “quickly,” describing how soon the group should answer. It is placed before 답해 to modify the action. Use 빨리 + verb when asking someone to do something without delay.
답해 “답해” means “answer” in the requested action “빨리 답해.” It is the informal form of 답하다 used inside the request expression. A useful pattern is a question에 답해, “answer a question,” or simply 빨리 답해 in a casual request.
달라고 “달라고” contributes the meaning of asking someone to do something in “답해 달라고 해.” With 답해, the full expression asks the group to answer. A useful pattern is verb + 아/어 달라고 하다, “to ask someone to do something.”
오늘 “오늘” means “today” and identifies the day on which the decision will be made. It comes before 밤에 in “오늘 밤에.” Use it with a time expression when specifying that something happens today.
밤에 “밤에” means “at night” or “tonight” in “오늘 밤에.” 에 marks the time when the decision will happen. Use 오늘 밤에 when referring to an action planned for tonight.
결정할 “결정할” means “decide” in the possibility expression “결정할 수 있도록,” meaning “so that we can decide.” It comes from 결정하다 in a form used before 수. A useful pattern is 결정할 수 있다, “to be able to decide” or “to be able to make a decision.”
수 “수” means “possibility” or “ability” in the expression “결정할 수,” which describes being able to decide. It is used after the form 결정할 to build a possibility expression. Use verb + ㄹ/을 수 있다 to say that someone can do something.
있도록 “있도록” means “so that it can be possible” or “so that someone can,” linking the poll to the purpose of deciding tonight. In “결정할 수 있도록,” it follows the possibility expression. Use verb + ㄹ/을 수 있도록 when arranging something so that an action can happen.
짧은 “짧은” means “short” or “brief” and describes the poll in “짧은 설문.” It is the form of 짧다 used before a noun. Use 짧은 + noun when emphasizing that something does not take much time or contain much information.
설문을 “설문을” means “the poll” or “survey” as the object being sent. 을 marks 설문 as the object of 보내다. A useful pattern is 설문을 보내다, “to send a poll or survey,” when collecting people’s choices.
보낼게 “보낼게” means “I’ll send it” and expresses the speaker’s immediate intention or promise to send the poll. It comes from 보내다 with 게, a conversational ending used for a speaker’s commitment. Use object을/를 보낼게 when promising to send something.
그러면 “그러면” means “then” or “in that case,” introducing the expected result of sending the short poll. It refers back to the proposed action and draws a conclusion from it. Use it before a result or next step that follows from the previous statement.
너무 “너무” means “too” or “excessively” and signals that the number of people would be unnecessarily large in “너무 많은 사람.” It modifies the quantity expression 많은 사람. Use 너무 before an adjective or quantity when describing something as excessive.
많은 “많은” means “many” and, with 너무, means “too many” in “너무 많은 사람.” It is the form of 많다 used before a noun. Use 많은 + noun to describe a large quantity of people or things.
사람에게 “사람에게” means “to people” as the recipients of the request for opinions. 에게 marks the people being asked. A useful pattern is 사람에게 의견을 묻다, “to ask a person for an opinion,” and the same form can refer to people collectively in context.
의견을 “의견을” means “opinions” as the object being asked for. 을 marks 의견 as the object of 묻다. A useful pattern is 의견을 묻다, “to ask for someone’s opinion,” when making a decision together.
묻지 “묻지” means “ask” within the negative expression “묻지 않고도,” not as a complete negative statement by itself. It is the form of 묻다 used before 않고도. A useful pattern is 의견을 묻지 않고도, “even without asking for opinions.”
않고도 “않고도” means “without doing” or “even without doing,” and here it says the plan can continue without asking too many people. It follows 묻지 to form 묻지 않고도. Use verb + 지 않고도 when saying that something is possible even without performing the action.
계획을 “계획을” means “the plan” as the object being continued or moved forward. 을 marks 계획 as the object. A useful pattern is 계획을 진행하다, “to carry out or move forward with a plan.”
계속 “계속” means “continuously” or “keep” and shows that the plan will move forward without stopping. It comes before 진행할 to modify the ongoing action. Use 계속 + verb when saying that an action continues.
진행할 “진행할” means “proceed” or “move forward” in “진행할 수 있을 거야.” It comes from 진행하다 in a form used before 수. A useful pattern is 계획을 진행하다, meaning “to move forward with a plan.”
있을 “있을” contributes the possibility of being able to continue in “진행할 수 있을 거야.” It is the future-looking form of 있다 before 거야, so the whole expression means “will be able to proceed.” A useful pattern is verb + ㄹ/을 수 있을 거야 when predicting that someone will be able to do something.

Grammar Points

동사 현재 관형사형 -(는) + 명사

좋아하는 음식

joh-ah-HAH-neun UHM-shick

food someone likes

A verb changes to -(는) before a noun to describe an ongoing or habitual action.

형용사 관형사형 -(으)ㄴ + 명사

다양한 메뉴

dah-YAHNG-han MEH-nyoo

a varied menu

An adjective changes to -(으)ㄴ before a noun; this differs from the verb modifier -(는).

Korean Vocabulary

가다 verb
gah-DAH to go 갈
따뜻하다 adj
TTAH-tteut-HAH-dah to be warm 따뜻한
먹고 싶다 phrase
MUHK-koh SHEEP-ttah to want to eat 먹고 싶은
모임 noun
moh-EEM group; gathering
식당 noun
SHICK-ttahng restaurant
예약하다 verb
yeh-YAHK-ha-dah to make a reservation; to book 예약하기
음식 noun
UHM-shick food
정하다 verb
juhng-HAH-dah to choose; to decide 정해야
초밥 noun
CHOH-bahp sushi
취향 noun
chwee-HYAHNG preference; taste
토요일 noun
toh-yo-EEL Saturday
확인하다 verb
hwah-GEEN-ha-dah to check; to confirm 확인해야

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to check; to confirm

Show Answer확인해야

to make a reservation; to book

Show Answer예약하기

preference; taste

Show Answer취향

to be warm

Show Answer따뜻한