Use a Walk to Reset Your Thinking | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 어떤 디자인 버전이 더 잘 맞는지 결정할 수가 없어요.

   I can't decide which version of the design works better.

   어떤

   which; what kind of

   디자인

   design

   버전

   version

   더 잘 맞는지

   fits better; whether it fits better

   결정할

   decide

   수가 없어요

   cannot; be unable to

   More detail

   어떤 asks “which” or “what kind of” when selecting one item from possible options. Here it modifies 버전, so 어떤 버전 means “which version.” It does not itself state how many options there are. 디자인 is the Korean loanword for “design.” In this sentence it specifies what kind of version is being discussed: a version of the design. 버전 means “version,” such as one form or edition of something. 어떤 디자인 버전 therefore refers to which design version is being considered. 더 잘 맞는지 means “whether it fits or works better.” The base verb is 맞다; in this context it means to fit or work well for the relevant purpose, not simply “to be correct.” 잘 means “well,” and 더 marks a comparison, so 더 잘 맞다 means “to fit or work better.” The ending -는지 turns the clause into an embedded question. With 어떤 earlier in the sentence, 어떤 디자인 버전이 더 잘 맞는지 asks which design version fits or works better. Example: 이 색이 더 잘 맞는지 모르겠어요. — “I don’t know whether this color suits [it] better.” This example illustrates the same 더 잘 맞는지 pattern; its omitted reference is not supplied by the fixed sentence. 결정할 comes from the verb 결정하다, “to decide.” The ending -ㄹ makes the prospective form 결정할, which combines with 수 in the ability/possibility construction -ㄹ 수 있다/없다. Here it does not mean that the deciding action is happening at a future time by itself; it forms the construction meaning “can/cannot decide.” 수가 없어요 completes 결정할 수가 없어요, meaning “cannot decide” or “am unable to decide.” 수 is a dependent noun meaning a way or possibility in this construction, and 가 marks it; 없어요 is the polite present form of 없다, “not exist/not be available.” The expanded pattern is 동사-(으)ㄹ 수가 없어요: “cannot [do the verb].” The shorter variant 동사-(으)ㄹ 수 없어요 has the same basic meaning. Together, 어떤 디자인 버전이 더 잘 맞는지 is the embedded question “which version of the design works better,” with 이 marking 버전 as the subject of the embedded clause. 결정할 수가 없어요 says that the speaker is unable to decide it. The complete utterance means: “I can’t decide which version of the design works better.”

2. 몇 분만 밖에 나가서 그 문제를 차근차근 이야기해 봐요.

   Let's step out for a few minutes and talk it through.

   몇 분만

   just a few minutes

   밖에 나가서

   go outside and then

   문제

   problem

   차근차근

   step by step

   이야기해 봐요

   let’s try talking it through

   More detail

   몇 분만 means “just a few minutes.” 몇 indicates an unspecified number; in this sentence, the translation and 만 together present that amount as a small, limited one. 분 is the Korean counter used for minutes, and 만 means “only/just,” limiting the amount. This does not give an exact number. 밖에 나가서 combines 밖에 (“outside”) with 나가다 (“to go out”) and the connective ending -아서. The ending links this action to the next one: “go outside and then …” The observed form 나가서 comes from 나가다; it is not a separate verb. Korean -아서/-어서 can connect actions in sequence or show a close connection between them. 문제 means “problem” or “issue.” In this sentence, 그 문제 means “that problem,” with 그 pointing to an already identifiable issue. The supplied translation supports “it” in the final English sentence, but it does not specify the issue more precisely. 차근차근 means “step by step” or “carefully and steadily.” It is an adverb, so it describes how the discussion is carried out rather than describing the problem itself. Example: 차근차근 설명해 주세요. — “Please explain it step by step.” 이야기해 봐요 is built from 이야기하다 (“to talk/discuss”) and -아/어 보다, which adds the idea of trying or seeing what it is like to do something. 이야기해 is the form of 이야기하다 before 보다, and 봐요 is the polite form of 보다 in this construction. Here, the construction is used as a gentle suggestion: “let’s try talking about it” or, naturally, “let’s talk it through.” It is not a literal request to look at something. Together, 몇 분만 sets a short time limit, 밖에 나가서 gives the first action, 그 문제를 marks the issue being discussed, and 차근차근 이야기해 봐요 suggests discussing it carefully. The whole utterance is therefore: “Let’s step out for a few minutes and talk it through.”

3. 신선한 공기가 도움이 될 수도 있지만, 너무 많은 시간을 쓰고 싶지는 않아요.

   Fresh air might help, but I don't want to lose too much time.

   신선한

   fresh

   공기

   air

   도움이 … 될

   be helpful

   수도 있지만

   might, but

   너무

   too

   많은

   much; many

   시간

   time

   쓰고

   spend; use

   싶지는 않아요

   do not want to

   More detail

   신선한 describes 공기 as fresh. It is the attributive form of 신선하다 (“to be fresh”): 신선한 공기 means “fresh air.” 공기 means “air.” In this sentence, the form 공기가 marks air as the subject of the following statement. 도움이 될 belongs to the useful pattern 도움이 되다, naturally “be helpful.” 도움 is the noun “help,” and 될 is a form of 되다 used before the possibility expression that follows. Example: 이 조언이 도움이 돼요. — “This advice is helpful.” 수도 있지만 expresses a possible situation followed by a contrast. The pattern -을/ㄹ 수도 있다 means “might” or “may,” and -지만 means “but/although.” Here, 도움이 될 수도 있지만 means “might be helpful, but.” 너무 means “too” here: it marks an excessive degree in 너무 많은 시간, “too much time.” 많은 is the attributive form of 많다, “to be many/much.” Its English rendering depends on the noun: 많은 사람 is “many people,” while 많은 시간 is “much time.” Here it modifies 시간. 시간 means “time.” 많은 시간 describes a large amount of time, and 너무 많은 시간 describes an amount considered excessive. 쓰고 is from 쓰다, which with 시간을 means “spend/use time.” Here its -고 ending is part of the pattern -고 싶다, not merely a general list connector: 시간을 쓰고 싶다 means “want to spend time.” Example: 책을 읽고 싶어요. — “I want to read a book.” 싶지는 않아요 expresses a negatively stated or contrastively marked desire. After a verb stem, -고 싶다 means “want to do”; -고 싶지는 않다 means “do not want to do” with contrastive marking. The polite ending appears in 않아요. Example: 오래 머물고 싶지는 않아요. — “I don’t want to stay for a long time.” Putting the parts together, 신선한 공기가 도움이 될 수도 있지만 says “Fresh air might help, but,” and 너무 많은 시간을 쓰고 싶지는 않아요 says “I don’t want to spend too much time.” The complete utterance is: “Fresh air might help, but I don’t want to lose too much time.”

4. 그냥 이 블록을 한 바퀴 돌면서 핵심 결정에 집중하면 돼요.

   We can just circle the block and focus on the main decision.

   그냥

   just; simply

   이

   this

   블록

   block

   한 바퀴

   one lap; once around

   돌면서

   while circling

   핵심

   main; core

   결정

   decision

   집중하면 돼요

   focusing is enough

   More detail

   그냥 is an adverb meaning “just” or “simply.” Here it makes the proposed plan sound uncomplicated: “just do X.” Example: 그냥 기다려요. — “Just wait.” 이 is the demonstrative determiner “this.” It comes before the noun it specifies, as in 이 책 (“this book”). In the fixed sentence, it identifies the block as the relevant “this block.” 블록 is a noun meaning “block,” especially a city block. Korean loanwords such as this one function as ordinary nouns. Example: 블록을 한 바퀴 돌아요. — “I go around the block once.” 한 바퀴 means “one circuit” or “once around.” 한 is the native numeral form used before 바퀴, a counter for turns or circuits. Together with a movement verb, 한 바퀴 돌다 means “to go around once,” rather than merely “to turn once.” 돌면서 comes from 돌다 (“to go around; circle”) plus -면서 (“while doing”). It describes an action happening at the same time as the following action: 걸으면서 이야기해요. — “I talk while walking.” In this sentence, the implied subject carries out both going around and concentrating. 핵심 is a noun meaning “core” or “key point.” Before another noun, it can identify what is central or most important: 핵심 내용 means “key content.” 결정 is a noun meaning “decision.” The noun phrase 핵심 결정 therefore means “the main/key decision”: 핵심 specifies what kind of decision is meant. Example: 중요한 결정을 내려야 해요. — “I have to make an important decision.” 집중하면 돼요 contains 집중하다 (“to concentrate; focus”) and the pattern -면 되다. -면 presents a condition, and 하면 돼요 means “it is enough if [someone] does it” or “all [someone] needs to do is do it.” 돼요 is the polite present form of 되다 in this pattern. Because Korean often omits an understood subject, this does not by itself require a particular person; the fixed translation presents the plan as something the speakers can do. Example: 여기에 이름을 쓰면 돼요. — “You just need to write your name here.” Together, 이 블록을 한 바퀴 돌면서 means “while going once around this block,” and 핵심 결정에 집중하면 돼요 means “we can focus on the main decision” or, more literally, “it is enough to focus on the main decision.” 그냥 frames the whole plan as simple: “We can just circle the block and focus on the main decision.”

5. 그러면 문제를 완전히 내려놓지 않으면서 잠깐 쉴 수 있겠어요.

   That would give me a break without dropping the problem completely.

   그러면

   then; in that case

   문제

   problem

   완전히

   completely

   내려놓지 않으면서

   without letting go

   잠깐

   briefly; for a moment

   쉴

   rest

   수 있겠어요

   would be able to

   More detail

   그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It links the proposed action to a possible result: “If that is so, then …” It is not itself a pronoun naming a particular person or thing. 문제 means “problem” here. The following particle 를 marks it as the object of the action, so the sentence treats the problem as something one might metaphorically put down or let go of. A useful related expression is 문제를 해결하다, “to solve a problem,” but 문제 itself is the noun “problem.” 완전히 means “completely” and modifies the action that follows. It makes the intended meaning “not let go of the problem completely,” rather than merely “not let go of it.” 내려놓지 않으면서 is based on 내려놓다, “to put down” or, in this context, “to let go of.” The form 내려놓지 않다 negates the verb: “not let go.” The ending -으면서 connects this with another action carried out at the same time; here it gives the pattern “while not doing …” or, naturally in English, “without doing ….” Thus 내려놓지 않으면서 means “without letting go.” Example: 일을 내려놓지 않으면서 잠시 쉴 수 있어요. — “I can take a short rest without putting the work aside.” This is a new example of the same pattern, not a claim about the supplied conversation. 잠깐 means “for a moment” or “briefly.” It limits the duration of the rest, so it does not imply a long break. 쉴 is the form of 쉬다, “to rest.” In 쉴 수 있다, the verb takes the form 쉬- + -ㄹ before 수; this is the verb-modifying form used in the ability construction -(으)ㄹ 수 있다, “can be ….” The extra ㄹ belongs to the form of 쉬다, not to 수. 수 있겠어요 contains the construction -(으)ㄹ 수 있다, “can be able to,” with 겠어요 giving a tentative or projected reading. In this sentence, 쉴 수 있겠어요 is naturally “would be able to rest” or “could take a break,” rather than a firm statement that the rest is already happening. 수 here is the dependent noun in the fixed expression for possibility or ability; it is not the lexical verb “rest.” Putting the parts together: 그러면 presents a consequence, 문제를 완전히 내려놓지 않으면서 says that the problem will not be abandoned completely, and 잠깐 쉴 수 있겠어요 says that a brief rest would be possible. The whole utterance therefore means: “That would give me a break without dropping the problem completely.”

6. 가끔은 몸을 움직이면 결정을 내리기가 더 쉬워지는 것 같아요.

   Sometimes moving around makes the decision feel easier.

   가끔은

   sometimes

   몸

   body

   움직이면

   if one moves

   결정

   decision

   내리기가

   making (it)

   더

   more

   쉬워지는

   becoming easier

   것 같아요

   seems like

   More detail

   가끔은 means “sometimes,” with 은 marking 가끔 as the topic and giving the sentence a light contrastive frame. The base adverb is 가끔 (“sometimes”); it does not itself specify how often beyond occasional occurrence. 몸 means “body.” In 몸을 움직이다, it refers to moving one’s body, naturally “to move around” or “to get physically moving.” 을 marks 몸 as the object of 움직이다. 움직이면 comes from 움직이다 (“to move”) plus -면, a conditional form meaning “if” or, in a suitable context, “when.” Thus 몸을 움직이면 is a reusable pattern: “if/when someone moves their body.” The sentence does not identify a separate person; the understood subject is general from the fixed meaning. 결정 means “decision.” A common Korean combination is 결정을 내리다, literally “to bring down a decision,” but used as “to make a decision.” The noun 결정 is not the verb; 내리다 supplies the action. 내리기가 contains 내리다 (“to make [a decision]” in 결정을 내리다) plus -기, which turns the verb into the noun-like expression “making [a decision],” and 가, which marks that activity as the subject of the following description. Here 결정을 내리기가 means “making the decision.” The -기 nominalizer is reusable: for example, 한국어를 배우기가 재미있어요 means “Learning Korean is fun.” 더 means “more.” It increases the degree of the following description, so 더 쉬워지다 means “become easier” rather than simply “be easy.” 쉬워지는 comes from 쉽다 (“to be easy”) with the change-of-state pattern -어지다: 쉬워지다 means “to become easier.” 쉽다 changes to 쉬워- before -어지다 because of the adjective’s irregular ㅂ pattern. The ending -는 makes this form modify 것, giving 쉬워지는 것, “the fact/state of becoming easier.” 것 같아요 is the polite form of 것 같다, a pattern meaning “seem,” “appear,” or “feel as though.” It presents the statement as an impression rather than an absolute claim. In this sentence, 쉬워지는 것 같아요 means “it seems to become easier” or, naturally, “it feels easier.” Putting the parts together, 가끔은 sets the occasional situation: “sometimes.” 몸을 움직이면 gives the condition, “when one moves around,” and 결정을 내리기가 더 쉬워지는 것 같아요 says that making the decision seems to become easier. The whole utterance therefore means: “Sometimes moving around makes the decision feel easier.”

7. 목업을 확인해야 할 수도 있으니 제 휴대전화를 가져갈게요.

   I'll bring my phone in case we need to check the mockup.

   목업

   mockup

   확인해야

   need to check

   할 수도 있으니

   since it may be necessary

   제

   my

   휴대전화

   phone

   가져갈게요

   I’ll bring it

   More detail

   목업 means “mockup” here. It is a noun; with the object marker, 목업을 means “the mockup” as what is checked. The form 을 is selected after a noun ending in a consonant sound. Example: 문서를 확인해요. — “I check the document.” 확인해야 comes from 확인하다, “to check” or “to confirm.” The ending -아/어야 expresses that something is required: 확인해야 해요 means “I have to check it.” In this sentence, 확인해야 is followed by 할 수도 있으니, so the possible necessity is expressed more cautiously rather than as a definite requirement. 할 수도 있으니 combines 하다 (“to do”), -(으)ㄹ 수도 있다 (“may/could do”), and -(으)니 (“since/because”). Here 할 refers to the checking action just mentioned, so the chunk means “since it may be necessary to do so.” The pattern V-(으)ㄹ 수도 있으니 is useful for giving a reason based on a possibility. Example: 비가 올 수도 있으니 우산을 가져가요. — “It may rain, so take an umbrella.” 제 is the shortened possessive form of 저의, meaning “my” in a polite or formal style. It identifies the possessor, not the thing possessed; 제 휴대전화 means “my phone.” 휴대전화 is a noun meaning “mobile phone” or “cell phone.” It is the object being brought in the final clause. Example: 휴대전화가 있어요. — “I have a phone.” 가져갈게요 comes from 가져가다, “to take or carry something along,” with -(으)ㄹ게요. This ending presents the speaker’s intention or commitment, so the form means “I’ll bring it” in the fixed translation. The exact choice between “take” and “bring” depends on the viewpoint and destination; here the supplied translation establishes the intended meaning as bringing the phone. Together, 목업을 확인해야 할 수도 있으니 gives the reason: “since we may need to check the mockup.” 제 휴대전화를 가져갈게요 states the speaker’s response and intention: “I’ll bring my phone.” The complete utterance is therefore: “I’ll bring my phone in case we need to check the mockup.”

8. 걸음 속도를 편하게 유지해서 이게 또 다른 일이 되지 않게 해요.

   Keep the pace relaxed so it doesn't turn into another task.

   걸음

   step; gait

   속도를

   speed; pace

   편하게

   comfortably; relaxed

   유지해서

   maintain so that

   이게

   this

   또 다른

   another

   일이

   task; work

   되지 않게

   so it does not become

   해요

   do; make

   More detail

   걸음 means a step or a manner of walking. Here it modifies 속도 in 걸음 속도, “walking speed” or “walking pace.” In other contexts, 걸음 can refer to an individual step or someone’s gait. 속도를 is 속도 (“speed; pace”) plus the object marker -를. The object marker shows that the pace is what is being maintained. 속도 can describe speed more generally, while this sentence uses it specifically for the pace of walking. 편하게 comes from the descriptive word 편하다, “to be comfortable,” and is its adverbial form. It describes how the pace should be maintained: comfortably or in a relaxed way. For example, 편하게 앉으세요 means “Please sit comfortably.” 유지해서 comes from 유지하다, “to maintain,” with -아서/어서. This connective links the maintaining action to the following purpose or result: “maintain ... so that ...” The observed form is not the bare form; its ending makes it connect to what follows. For example, 속도를 유지해서 걸어요 means “Walk while maintaining the pace.” 이게 combines 이것 (“this”) with the subject marker -이, in a conversational shortened form. Here it has the supported deictic meaning “this,” rendered as “it” in the fixed translation; the exact referent is not named by this word alone. The subject form contrasts with object forms such as 이걸 (“this” as an object). 또 다른 means “another” or “a different additional one.” 또 contributes the sense of “again/additionally,” and 다른 is the modifier form of 다르다, “to be different.” Together they modify the following noun, rather than functioning as a single inflected noun. For example, 또 다른 방법 means “another method.” 일이 is 일 (“work; task”) plus the subject-like marker -이. In the construction 또 다른 일이 되다, the noun phrase 또 다른 일이 is the predicate complement of 되다, while 이게 is the subject: the meaning is that “this” becomes another task. For example, 이것이 일이 됐어요 means “This became work/a task.” 되지 않게 is built from 되다, “to become,” its negative form 되지 않다, and -게. The result expresses preventing a state or change: “so that it does not become.” Here 되다 is the lexical verb carrying the change into “another task,” while 않다 negates that change. A reusable pattern is A-지 않게 하다, “make sure that A does not happen.” 해요 is the polite present-style form of 하다, “to do” or “to make.” At the end of ...되지 않게 해요, it completes the pattern ...-지 않게 하다: “make sure ... does not ...” or “keep ... from ...” The polite ending -요 makes the utterance suitable for ordinary courteous conversation. Putting the parts together, 걸음 속도를 편하게 유지해서 means “by keeping the walking pace relaxed.” 이게 또 다른 일이 되지 않게 해요 means “make sure this does not become another task.” Together, the utterance means: “Keep the pace relaxed so it doesn’t turn into another task.”

9. 잠깐 걷고 나면 돌아와서 한 방향을 선택할 수 있어요.

   After a short walk, we can come back and choose one direction.

   잠깐

   for a short time

   걷고 나면

   after walking

   돌아와서

   come back and then

   한

   one

   방향

   direction

   선택할

   choose

   수 있어요

   can

   More detail

   잠깐 means “briefly” or “for a short time.” It is an adverb, so it describes the duration of the walking rather than naming a short object or period as a noun. 걷고 나면 is built from 걷다 (“to walk”) + -고 나면 (“after doing”). The pattern [verb stem]고 나면 presents one action as completed before the condition or event that follows: 먹고 나면 means “after eating.” Here, the walking is the earlier action. 돌아와서 comes from 돌아오다 (“to come back”) with -아서, a connective meaning “and then” or “after doing so.” 돌아오다 contains the idea of coming back toward the relevant place or point. The form links returning to the next action; it does not itself express the ability to choose. 한 is the modifier form of the native Korean numeral 하나 (“one”). Before a noun, 하나 becomes 한: 한 방향 means “one direction.” In this sentence, the translation explicitly supports the numeric meaning “one,” not merely an indefinite article-like meaning. 방향 means “direction,” a noun for a course or way. Together, 한 방향 refers to one direction as the choice being made. 선택할 comes from 선택하다 (“to choose” or “to select”). Its -ㄹ form is used before 수 in the pattern [verb stem]-(으)ㄹ 수 있다, which expresses ability or possibility. Thus, 선택할 수 있다 means “can choose.” 수 있어요 completes that ability pattern. 수 is the noun-like element in the expression for a way or possibility, and 있어요 is the polite present form of 있다 (“to exist / be”). The Korean form does not mark the subject as “we”; the supplied translation identifies the understood subject here as “we.” As a whole, 잠깐 걷고 나면 sets the condition “after a short walk,” 돌아와서 adds “come back and then,” and 한 방향을 선택할 수 있어요 says “we can choose one direction.” The complete meaning is: “After a short walk, we can come back and choose one direction.”

10. 잠깐 생각을 정리하면 한 시간 더 지나치게 고민하는 일을 피할 수 있을지도 몰라요.

    A short reset might save us from another hour of overthinking.

    잠깐

    for a moment

    생각

    thoughts

    정리하면

    if one organizes

    한 시간

    one hour

    더

    more; another

    지나치게

    excessively

    고민하는

    overthinking

    일

    act; matter

    피할 수 있을지도 몰라요

    might be able to avoid

    More detail

    잠깐 is an adverb meaning “for a short time” or “briefly.” It limits the duration of the organizing action, not the amount of thought. Example: 잠깐 기다려요. — “Please wait a moment.” 생각 is the noun “thought” or “thoughts.” With 정리하다, it refers to putting one’s thoughts in order. Example: 생각이 많아요. — “I have a lot on my mind.” 정리하면 comes from the base verb 정리하다, “to organize” or “sort out.” The ending -면 makes a condition: “if/when [someone] organizes.” In this sentence, the omitted subject is understood as “we/us” in line with the fixed translation, so 잠깐 생각을 정리하면 means “if we briefly sort out our thoughts.” 한 시간 is “one hour.” Here 한 is the numeral modifier meaning “one,” so the expression explicitly identifies a one-hour period. It is not merely an indefinite article. 시간 is the noun “hour” or “time.” Example: 한 시간 기다렸어요. — “I waited for one hour.” 더 means “more” or “additional.” After 한 시간, it gives 한 시간 더, “one more hour” or “an additional hour.” 지나치게 is the adverb “excessively” or “too much.” It modifies the following activity, showing that the worrying goes beyond a reasonable amount. A related but different adverb is 많이, “a lot”; 지나치게 adds the idea of excess. 고민하는 comes from the verb 고민하다, “to worry about” or “to deliberate over.” The ending -는 makes a present attributive form, so 고민하는 일 is “the act of worrying/overthinking.” Example: 문제를 너무 오래 고민해요. — “I worry over the problem for too long.” 일 is a noun meaning “matter,” “thing,” or “act.” In 고민하는 일, it refers to the activity as “the act of worrying” or “the matter of worrying.” It is not the noun for a job here; its meaning comes from the construction around it. 피할 수 있을지도 몰라요 combines several forms. 피하다 means “to avoid,” and 피할 is its form before 수 있다, the pattern for possibility or ability: 피할 수 있다, “can avoid.” 있을지도 모르다 adds uncertainty, meaning “might be” or “perhaps.” The polite ending -요 makes the sentence polite. Together, this ending expresses “might be able to avoid,” rather than a certain prediction. The structure is: [잠깐 생각을 정리하면] [한 시간 더 지나치게 고민하는 일을] [피할 수 있을지도 몰라요]. The first clause gives the condition: briefly sorting out our thoughts. The middle noun phrase identifies what may be avoided: spending one additional hour worrying excessively. The final possibility expression makes the result tentative. As a whole, the utterance means: “If we briefly sort out our thoughts, we might be able to avoid another hour of overthinking,” matching the fixed translation’s idea of a short reset possibly saving time.