Taking a focused break before productivity drops | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: At work, two adults pause spreadsheet work to take a short focused break and return with a clearer plan..

EN → KO / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Taking a focused break before productivity drops to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

이 스프레드시트를 거의 두 시간 동안 계속 보고 있었어요.

ee suh-puh-REH-deu-shee-teu-reul guh-EE doo shee-GAHN-dohng-AHN gyeh-SOHK boh-goh ee-SSEOT-suh-yoh I have been staring at this spreadsheet for almost two hours.
B

계속 억지로 해도 집중력이 아마 떨어지고 있을 거예요.

gyeh-SOHK uhk-JJEE-roh HEH-doh jeep-joong-NYUH-gee AH-mah ttuh-ruh-JEE-goh ee-SSEUL guh-YEH-yoh Your focus is probably fading, even if you keep pushing.
A

눈이 피곤하지만 점심 전에 끝내고 싶었어요.

noo-nee pee-GOHN-hah-jee-mahn juhm-SHEEM juhn-eh kkeun-NEH-goh shee-puh-SSEUH-yoh My eyes feel tired, but I wanted to finish before lunch.
B

잠깐 쉬면 그다음에 더 빨리 끝내는 데 도움이 될 수도 있어요.

jahm-KKAN shwee-myun guh-dah-uhm-eh duh PPAL-lee kkeun-neh-neun deh doh-oo-mee dwehl SOO-doh ee-SSEUH-yoh A short break might help you finish faster afterward.
A

휴대폰을 확인하는 대신 스트레칭을 하고 물을 마셔야겠어요.

hyoo-deh-POH-neul hwah-GEEN-hah-neun deh-SHEEN suh-tuh-REH-ching-eul hah-goh moo-reul mah-SHUH-yah-gehs-suh-yoh Maybe I should stretch and get water instead of checking my phone.
B

그러면 눈과 몸이 제대로 쉬는 데 도움이 될 거예요.

guh-ruh-myun noon-gwah moh-mee jeh-DEH-roh shwee-neun deh doh-oo-mee dwehl guh-YEH-yoh That would help your eyes and body rest properly.
A

잠깐 쉬고 더 분명한 계획을 세워서 돌아와요.

jahm-KKAN shwee-goh duh boon-MYUNG-hahn gyeh-HWEG-eul seh-WUH-suh doh-rah-WAH-yoh Let's take a short break and come back with a clearer plan.
B

돌아오면 문제가 있는 행만 검토할 수 있어요.

doh-rah-OH-myun moon-jeh-gah een-neun haeng-mahn guhM-TOH-hahl ssoo ee-SSEUH-yoh When we return, we can review only the problem rows.
A

모든 일을 억지로 계속하는 것보다 그게 더 집중하는 방법 같아요.

moh-deun ee-reul uhk-JJEE-roh gyeh-SOHK-hah-neun guht-PPoh-dah guh-geh duh jeep-joong-HAH-neun bahng-BUHP gah-TAH-yoh That sounds more focused than forcing myself through everything.
B

그럼 타이머를 맞추고 그 행부터 먼저 시작해요.

guh-ruhm tie-muh-reul maht-CHOO-goh guh haeng-boo-TEH muhn-JUH shee-JAH-keh-yoh Then let's set a timer and start with those rows first.

Word by Word

이 “이” means “this” and points to the nearby spreadsheet in “이 스프레드시트를.” It is used before a noun to identify something close or currently being discussed.
스프레드시트를 “스프레드시트를” means “the spreadsheet” as the object being looked at. The ending 를 marks it as the object of “보고 있었어요”; use the same object pattern with verbs such as “확인하다” for checking something.
거의 “거의” means “almost” here, showing that the time is just short of two hours. It commonly comes before a quantity or time expression, as in “거의 두 시간.”
시간 “시간” means “hour” in “두 시간.” With a number, it expresses a duration or amount of time, and it can also mean time more generally.
동안 “동안” means “for” in “두 시간 동안,” marking the period during which the looking continued. Put it after a duration when describing how long an action lasts.
계속 “계속” means “continuously” or “keep doing” in “계속 보고 있었어요.” It emphasizes that the action did not stop during the stated period, and it can be placed before another verb to show continuation.
보고 “보고” means “looking at” in the ongoing expression “보고 있었어요.” It is the 연결 form of 보다 here, linking the action of looking with “있었어요”; a common reuse pattern is “무엇을 보고 있다,” meaning to be looking at something.
있었어요 “있었어요” completes “보고 있었어요,” showing that the looking was continuing at a past time. In this construction, it follows an action form to describe an ongoing past activity; a common reuse pattern is “V-고 있었어요.”
억지로 “억지로” means “by forcing oneself” in “계속 억지로 해도.” It describes doing something unwillingly or beyond one’s comfortable condition, and it commonly comes before the action being forced.
해도 “해도” means “even if you keep doing it” in “억지로 해도.” It combines 하다 with 도 to present an action that does not change the result; the exact dialogue uses it before “집중력이 아마 떨어지고 있을 거예요.”
집중력이 “집중력이” means “focus” or “concentration” as the thing that may be declining. The ending 이 marks it as the subject of “떨어지고 있을 거예요”; this word is useful when discussing someone’s ability to stay focused.
아마 “아마” means “probably” and signals that the speaker is making a likely judgment rather than stating a confirmed fact. It commonly appears before the predicted or expected situation.
떨어지고 “떨어지고” means “declining” in “떨어지고 있을 거예요.” It links the idea of focus declining to the ongoing form “있을 거예요,” so the decline is presented as continuing; 떨어지다 can describe a level or ability going down.
있을 “있을” is part of “떨어지고 있을 거예요,” where it helps describe the decline as an ongoing situation that is probably happening. It appears before “거예요” in this expectation pattern rather than carrying the full meaning by itself.
거예요 “거예요” completes “떨어지고 있을 거예요,” expressing the speaker’s expectation that the situation is probably occurring. It is commonly used after a relevant form to give a prediction or confident guess in polite speech.
눈이 “눈이” means “the eyes” as the subject that feels tired in “눈이 피곤하지만.” The ending 이 marks the eyes as the subject; this pattern is useful for describing a body part’s condition.
피곤하지만 “피곤하지만” means “are tired, but” and connects the tired condition of the eyes with the contrasting wish to finish. It combines 피곤하다 with 하지만, a common way to say that one fact holds despite another.
점심 “점심” means “lunch” in “점심 전에.” It names the reference point for the deadline, and it can be followed by a time expression such as 전에 to mean before lunch.
전에 “전에” means “before” in “점심 전에,” placing the desired finishing time before lunch. It follows a time or event to mark what comes earlier.
끝내고 “끝내고” means “finish and” in “끝내고 싶었어요.” It links finishing the work with the speaker’s past desire, and it commonly connects one action to a following verb or expression.
싶었어요 “싶었어요” means “wanted to” in “끝내고 싶었어요.” After an action form, it expresses the speaker’s desire at that time; a common reuse pattern is “V-고 싶어요” for saying that one wants to do something.
잠깐 “잠깐” means “for a short while” in “잠깐 쉬면.” It limits the length of the break and is useful when suggesting a brief pause rather than a long rest.
쉬면 “쉬면” means “if you take a break” in “잠깐 쉬면.” It combines 쉬다 with 면 to present the break as the condition for the possible benefit that follows; a common reuse pattern is “V-면” for “if/when you do V.”
그다음에 “그다음에” means “after that” and points to the time after the short break. It commonly introduces the next action in a sequence, here “더 빨리 끝내는.”
더 “더” means “more” in “더 빨리,” increasing the degree of speed compared with the current situation. It commonly comes before an adverb or adjective when describing a greater degree.
빨리 “빨리” means “quickly” or “faster” in “더 빨리 끝내는.” With 더, it describes finishing at a greater speed; it is commonly used before an action to describe how quickly it happens.
끝내는 “끝내는” means “finishing” in “끝내는 데 도움이 될 수도 있어요.” It describes the finishing action before “데,” forming the purpose or activity for which the break may help.
데 “데” turns “끝내는” into the activity or purpose “in finishing” in “끝내는 데 도움이 될 수도 있어요.” The pattern “V-는 데 도움이 되다” is used to say that something helps with doing an action.
도움이 “도움이” means “help” in “도움이 될 수도 있어요.” The ending 이 marks help as the subject of 되다; the common pattern “도움이 되다” means to be helpful.
될 “될” is the form of 되다 used in “도움이 될 수도 있어요,” meaning “may be” or “may become helpful” within that construction. It comes before “수도 있어요” to express a possible result.
수도 “수도” contributes the meaning “may” or “could” in “될 수도 있어요,” making the helpful result possible rather than certain. The construction “V-(으)ㄹ 수도 있다” is used when something is one possible outcome.
있어요 “있어요” completes “될 수도 있어요,” expressing that the possibility exists. In the construction “V-(으)ㄹ 수도 있어요,” it helps say that something may happen or may be true.
휴대폰을 “휴대폰을” means “the phone” as the object being checked in “휴대폰을 확인하는 대신.” The ending 을 marks it as the object of 확인하다; use this object pattern when naming what is being checked.
확인하는 “확인하는” means “checking” in “확인하는 대신.” It describes the action placed before 대신, forming the alternative that the speaker will not choose; a common reuse pattern is “V-는 대신” for doing one thing instead of another.
대신 “대신” means “instead of” in “확인하는 대신 스트레칭을 하고 물을 마셔야겠어요.” It contrasts checking the phone with stretching and drinking water, and it commonly follows an action in the pattern “V-는 대신.”
스트레칭을 “스트레칭을” means “stretching” as the activity the speaker chooses instead of checking the phone. The ending 을 marks it as the object of 하고; it can be used when naming stretching as an activity to do.
하고 “하고” means “do and” in “스트레칭을 하고 물을 마셔야겠어요.” It links stretching with the next action, drinking water, and commonly connects actions in the order they are performed.
물을 “물을” means “water” as the object being drunk in “물을 마셔야겠어요.” The ending 을 marks water as the object of 마시다; this is the usual object pattern for naming what someone drinks.
마셔야겠어요 “마셔야겠어요” means “I should drink” or “I think I will drink” in this context, where the speaker decides to drink water during the break. The form expresses a decision or realization about what the speaker should do.
그러면 “그러면” means “then” or “in that case,” referring to the proposed stretching and drinking water. It introduces the result or response that follows from the previous suggestion.
눈과 “눈과” means “the eyes and,” linking the eyes with the body in “눈과 몸이.” The ending 과 joins this noun to the following noun, and the pair becomes the subject of the sentence.
몸이 “몸이” means “the body” as the second subject in “눈과 몸이 제대로 쉬는 데.” The ending 이 marks the body as part of what can rest properly; it is useful when describing the condition or needs of the body.
제대로 “제대로” means “properly” in “제대로 쉬는 데,” emphasizing that the eyes and body get an adequate rest. It commonly comes before the verb or action it describes.
쉬는 “쉬는” means “resting” in “제대로 쉬는 데 도움이 될 거예요.” It describes the resting activity before 데, forming the activity that the proposed break will help with.
쉬고 “쉬고” means “rest and” in “잠깐 쉬고 … 돌아와요.” It links taking a break with returning, showing the order of the two actions; this 연결 form commonly joins actions in sequence.
분명한 “분명한” means “clear” or “definite” in “더 분명한 계획.” In this dialogue, the plan is clearer after the break; it directly modifies 계획을.
계획을 “계획을” means “a plan” as the object being made in “계획을 세워서.” The ending 을 marks it as the object of 세우다, and “계획을 세우다” is a common expression meaning to make a plan.
세워서 “세워서” means “make and” in “계획을 세워서 돌아와요.” It connects making the plan with returning, presenting the plan as an action completed before returning.
돌아와요 “돌아와요” means “come back” or “return” in the suggestion to take a break and then return. In this context, the polite form is used as part of a joint suggestion with “쉬고.”
돌아오면 “돌아오면” means “when we return” in “돌아오면 … 검토할 수 있어요.” It combines 돌아오다 with 면 to set the return as the time or condition for the next action.
문제가 “문제가” means “problems” or “a problem” as the subject of “있는” in “문제가 있는 행.” The ending 가 marks the problem as something present in the rows; Korean does not require a separate plural form here.
있는 “있는” means “that have” or “containing” in “문제가 있는 행,” describing rows in which problems exist. It is the noun-modifying form of 있다 and commonly appears before the thing that has or contains something.
행만 “행만” means “only the rows,” with 만 restricting the review to the problem rows. In “문제가 있는 행만 검토할 수 있어요,” it marks the rows as the only items to review.
검토할 “검토할” means “to review” in “검토할 수 있어요.” It appears before 수 in the possibility construction, and 검토하다 is used for examining work or information carefully.
수 “수” means “possibility” or “ability” as part of “검토할 수 있어요,” meaning “can review.” The construction “V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다” expresses that an action is possible or feasible.
모든 “모든” means “all” or “every” in “모든 일을.” It comes directly before the noun it limits and shows that the speaker is referring to the whole set of work.
일을 “일을” means “the work” or “everything” as the object of continuing in “모든 일을 계속하는.” The ending 을 marks it as the object, and “모든 일을” gives the meaning “all the work.”
계속하는 “계속하는” means “continuing” in “모든 일을 계속하는 것보다.” It describes the action that is being compared with the more focused approach; it comes before 것 to turn the action into a thing being compared.
것보다 “것보다” means “rather than doing that” or “compared with doing that” in “계속하는 것보다.” It nominalizes the preceding action through 것 and uses 보다 to mark the comparison.
그게 “그게” means “that” and refers to the focused approach just proposed, such as reviewing only the problem rows. It is the shortened spoken form of 그것이 and functions as the subject of “집중하는 방법 같아요.”
집중하는 “집중하는” means “focusing” in “집중하는 방법,” describing a method that helps direct attention. It modifies 방법 and can be reused before a noun to describe an action or approach involving focus.
방법 “방법” means “way” or “method” in “집중하는 방법,” referring to the approach being discussed. It commonly follows an action or description to name a way of doing something.
같아요 “같아요” means “seems” or “sounds like” in “집중하는 방법 같아요.” It softens the speaker’s judgment, presenting the approach as an impression rather than an absolute statement.
그럼 “그럼” means “then” in “그럼 타이머를 맞추고.” It is a conversational shortened form used to move from agreement or a conclusion to the next action.
타이머를 “타이머를” means “the timer” as the object being set in “타이머를 맞추고.” The ending 를 marks it as the object of 맞추다; this phrase is used when setting a timer before starting an activity.
맞추고 “맞추고” means “set and” in “타이머를 맞추고 그 행부터 먼저 시작해요.” Here 맞추다 means setting or adjusting the timer, and 고 links that action to starting with the rows.
그 “그” means “those” in “그 행부터,” referring back to the problem rows already mentioned. It is placed directly before a noun to identify something known from the conversation.
행부터 “행부터” means “starting with the rows,” with 부터 marking the starting point. In “그 행부터 먼저 시작해요,” it identifies which rows should be handled first.
먼저 “먼저” means “first” and emphasizes the priority of the rows already selected. It commonly appears before the action that should happen before other actions.
시작해요 “시작해요” means “start” or “let’s start” in this context, where the speakers agree to begin with the selected rows. The polite form can be used as a suggestion when the context makes the shared action clear.

Grammar Points

A/V-지만

피곤하지만

pee-GOHN-hah-jee-mahn

although (I am) tired

Attach -지만 to an adjective or verb to connect contrasting ideas, meaning “although” or “but.”

V-(으)면

쉬면

shwee-myun

if (you) rest

Attach -(으)면 to a verb to express a condition: “if” or “when” the action happens.

Korean Vocabulary

거의 adv
guh-EE almost
계속 adv
gyeh-SOHK continuously; keep
그다음에 adv
guh-dah-uhm-EH afterward; then
동안 noun
dohng-AHN during; for a period of time
떨어지다 verb
ttuh-ruh-JEE-dah to fall; to decrease; to fade 떨어지고
쉬다 verb
shwee-DAH to rest; to take a break 쉬면
스프레드시트 noun
suh-puh-REH-deu-shee-teu spreadsheet
억지로 adv
uhk-JJEE-roh forcibly; by forcing oneself
잠깐 adv
jahm-KKAN briefly; for a moment
점심 noun
juhm-SHEEM lunch
집중력 noun
jeep-joong-NYUHk focus; concentration
피곤하다 adj
pee-GOHN-hah-dah to be tired 피곤하지만

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

My eyes feel tired, but I wanted to finish before lunch.

Show Answer눈이 피곤하지만 점심 전에 끝내고 싶었어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to be tired

Show Answer피곤하지만

to fall; to decrease; to fade

Show Answer떨어지고

spreadsheet

Show Answer스프레드시트

afterward; then

Show Answer그다음에