Making a Private Call During a Break | Learn Korean in English

About This Lesson

Use Making a Private Call During a Break to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

휴식 시간에 개인적인 전화를 해야 해요.

hyoo-SHIK SHEE-gahn-eh geh-in-juh-GEEN juhn-HWAH-rul HEH-yah HEH-yoh. I need to make a private call during the break.

내용이 민감하면 조용한 복도를 이용하세요.

neh-YONG-ee min-GAHM-ha-myun joh-YONG-han BOHK-doh-rul ee-YONG-ha-SEH-yoh. Use the quiet hallway if the topic is sensitive.

아직 일하고 있는 사람들을 방해하고 싶지 않아요.

ah-JIK eel-ha-go IN-neun sah-ram-deu-rul bang-HEH-ha-go SHIP-jjee ah-NAH-yoh. I don't want to interrupt people who are still working.

곧 회의가 다시 시작하니까 가능하면 짧게 통화하세요.

GOHT HWEH-ee-gah dah-SHEE shee-jah-ka-nee-kka gah-NEUNG-ha-myun JJAHL-kkeh tong-HWAH-ha-SEH-yoh. The meeting restarts soon, so keep it brief if you can.

제가 정확히 제시간에 돌아오지 못하면, 제가 놓치는 내용을 기록해 주실 수 있나요?

JEH-gah juhng-HWAK-hee jeh-SHEE-gahn-eh doh-rah-oh-jee mo-TAH-myun, JEH-gah NOHT-chee-neun neh-YONG-eul gee-ROHK-heh joo-SHEEL soo IN-nah-yoh? If I'm not back exactly on time, could you keep track of anything I miss?

그렇게 할게요. 하지만 통화가 더 길어지면 저에게 메시지를 보내세요.

guh-ruh-kehyo. hah-jee-MAHN tong-HWAH-gah duh gee-ruh-JEE-myun juh-eh-geh meh-SHEE-jee-rul boh-NEH-seh-yoh. I can do that, but message me if the call takes longer.

그럴게요. 다음 안건이 시작되기 전에 돌아와야 해요.

guh-REOL-geh-yoh. DAH-eum AHN-guh-nee shee-jahk-DWEH-gee juh-neh doh-rah-WAH-yah HEH-yoh. I will. I should be back before the next agenda item.

휴식 시간 후 첫 부분은 간단한 업데이트예요.

hyoo-SHIK SHEE-gahn hoo JUHT poo-BOON-eun gahn-DAHN-han up-deh-ee-TOO-yeh-yoh. The first part after the break is just a quick update.

도움이 되네요. 이제 밖으로 나갈게요.

doh-OO-mee dweh-NEH-yoh. EE-jeh BAH-kkuh-roh nah-GAHL-geh-yoh. That helps. I'll step outside now.

필요한 만큼 시간을 쓰되 시계를 계속 확인하세요.

pee-ryoh-han MAHN-keum SHEE-gahn-uhl suh-dweh SHEE-gyeh-rul gyeh-SOHK hwah-GEEN-ha-SEH-yoh. Take the time you need, but keep an eye on the clock.

Word by Word

휴식 “휴식” means a break or rest here, as in the break during which the speaker needs to make a call. It commonly appears in “휴식 시간” for break time. You can use it when talking about resting during work, school, or another activity.

시간에 “시간에” means during or at the time of something; here it marks when the call happens in “휴식 시간에”. The particle 에 marks a time point or period. A common pattern is “시간에 + action” for an action done at a certain time.

개인적인 “개인적인” means private or personal here and describes the call. It is used before a noun, as in “개인적인 전화”. You can use it when referring to a matter or activity intended for one person rather than a group.

전화를 “전화를” refers to the phone call as the object of the action in this sentence. The object particle 를 marks what the speaker needs to make. A common pattern is “전화를 하다” for making or having a phone call.

해야 “해야” contributes the meaning of needing or having to do something in “전화를 해야 해요”. It expresses the required action and is completed by “해요” in this dialogue. Use the pattern “동사-아/어야 해요” when saying that someone must do something.

해요 “해요” completes the obligation expression “해야 해요”, meaning that the speaker needs to make the call. Here it is not an independent action meaning “do”; it finishes the polite statement of necessity. Use “-아/어야 해요” to state a polite requirement.

내용이 “내용이” means the content or topic as the subject of the condition. In “내용이 민감하면”, the content is what may be sensitive. A common pattern is “내용이 + description” when describing the subject matter of a conversation, message, or document.

민감하면 “민감하면” means if the content is sensitive in this dialogue. The ending 면 makes the condition, while the form 민감하다 describes something requiring care. Use “-면” after a condition when giving advice about what to do in that situation.

조용한 “조용한” means quiet and describes the hallway the speaker is advised to use. It appears before the noun in “조용한 복도”. You can use it before places, rooms, or other nouns that are not noisy.

복도를 “복도를” means the hallway as the object of using or taking in this sentence. The object particle 를 marks the hallway affected by the instruction. A common pattern is “복도를 이용하다” when referring to using a hallway.

이용하세요 “이용하세요” means please use or use it, as a polite instruction. Here it tells the listener to use the quiet hallway if the topic is sensitive. Use this form when politely directing someone to use a place, service, or resource.

아직 “아직” means still here, indicating that the people have not finished working. It appears in “아직 일하고 있는 사람들”. You can use it before a verb or description when something continues up to the present time.

일하고 “일하고” means working and links the action of working to “있는” in “일하고 있는”. It presents working as part of the description of the people. Use “-고” to connect one action or state to another expression.

있는 “있는” shows the ongoing state of working in “일하고 있는 사람들”. Together with the preceding action, it describes people who are currently working. Use “-고 있는” before a noun to describe someone who is in the middle of an action.

사람들을 “사람들을” means the people as the object of interrupting. The form includes the object marker 를, and the plural meaning comes from the context and the form 들. Use it before verbs such as “방해하다” when people receive the action.

방해하고 “방해하고” means interrupting or disturbing and connects to “싶지 않아요” in “방해하고 싶지 않아요”. It identifies the action the speaker does not want to do. Use “-고 싶다” after an action verb to express wanting to do that action.

싶지 “싶지” contributes the meaning of not wanting to do something in “방해하고 싶지 않아요”. The negative part is completed by “않아요”. Use “-고 싶지 않아요” when politely saying that you do not want to do an action.

않아요 “않아요” makes the desire expression negative in “방해하고 싶지 않아요”, meaning the speaker does not want to interrupt people. Here it completes the pattern after “싶지”. Use it to politely negate a preceding expression.

곧 “곧” means soon, referring to the meeting restarting in the near future. It comes before the verb phrase in “곧 회의가 다시 시작하니까”. Use it when an event is expected to happen shortly.

회의가 “회의가” means the meeting as the subject of restarting. The subject particle 가 marks the meeting as what will start again. Use “회의가” when describing what happens to a meeting or what a meeting does.

다시 “다시” means again here, showing that the meeting will start another time after the break. It is placed before “시작하니까”. Use it with an action when that action happens again.

시작하니까 “시작하니까” means because the meeting starts again soon, giving the reason for keeping the call brief. The ending 니까 connects the reason to the advice that follows. Use “-니까” when explaining a reason, especially before a suggestion or instruction.

가능하면 “가능하면” means if possible and limits the request to what can reasonably be done. It introduces the condition for keeping the call brief. Use the pattern “가능하면 + request or suggestion” when making a flexible request.

짧게 “짧게” means briefly or for a short time here, describing how the call should be kept. It is the adverb form used before “통화하세요”. Use it with actions that should be done briefly, such as speaking or calling.

통화하세요 “통화하세요” means please make or have the call, expressed as a polite instruction. Here “짧게” shows that the call should be brief. Use it when politely telling someone to have a phone conversation.

제가 “제가” means I as the subject of the condition in “제가 정확히 제시간에 돌아오지 못하면”. The particle 가 marks the speaker as the person who may not return on time. Use it when clearly identifying yourself as the subject of an action or condition.

정확히 “정확히” means exactly here and emphasizes that the return should occur precisely on time. It modifies the time-related expression that follows. Use it before a time, amount, or description when precision matters.

제시간에 “제시간에” means on time, referring to returning at the expected time. It is used with an action such as returning in “제시간에 돌아오다”. Use it when discussing punctual arrival, return, or completion.

돌아오지 “돌아오지” contributes the meaning of not returning in “돌아오지 못하면”. It is the negated connective form before “못하면”, which adds inability in the full condition. Use “돌아오지 못하다” when someone is unable to return.

못하면 “못하면” means if someone cannot or fails to do something; here it completes the condition about not being able to return on time. The form combines inability with the conditional ending 면. Use it after an action when describing what happens if that action cannot be completed.

놓치는 “놓치는” means missing or failing to catch, and it describes the content the speaker may miss. It appears before “내용을” in “놓치는 내용을”. Use it before a noun when describing information, events, or opportunities that someone fails to catch.

내용을 “내용을” means the content as the object of recording. The object particle 를 marks the information that may have been missed and should be recorded. Use “내용을 기록하다” when writing down the content of a discussion, message, or event.

기록해 “기록해” means record and connects the recording action to “주실” in the polite request. It identifies what the listener is being asked to do for the speaker. Use “기록해 주세요” when politely asking someone to write something down.

주실 “주실” shows that the listener would perform the recording for the speaker in “기록해 주실 수 있나요”. It is part of a polite request asking whether the listener can do the action. Use “-아/어 주실 수 있나요” to politely ask someone to do something for you.

수 “수” means possibility or ability in “주실 수 있나요”. It appears with “있나요” to ask whether the listener can perform the requested action. Use the pattern “-을/ㄹ 수 있다” for ability or possibility.

있나요 “있나요” asks politely whether the possibility or ability exists in “주실 수 있나요”. Together with “수”, it forms a question about whether someone can do something. Use it to ask politely if an action is possible.

그렇게 “그렇게” means that way or so, referring back to recording the content that the speaker misses. It lets the speaker avoid repeating the whole action. Use it when referring to an action or method already mentioned.

할게요 “할게요” means I will do it and expresses the speaker’s commitment to carry out the suggested action. Here it refers back to recording anything the other person misses. Use it when promising or agreeing to do something for the listener.

하지만 “하지만” means but or however and introduces a condition or limitation after the agreement. Here it connects the promise to the request to send a message if the call takes longer. Use it to contrast an earlier statement with the next one.

통화가 “통화가” means the call as the subject of becoming longer. The subject particle 가 marks the call as what may continue for more time. Use it when describing the length, timing, or progress of a phone call.

더 “더” means more here and indicates that the call lasts longer than expected. It comes before “길어지면”. Use it before a description when expressing an increase in amount, degree, or duration.

길어지면 “길어지면” means if it becomes longer, referring to the call taking more time. The form describes a change in length and adds the conditional ending 면. Use it when stating what to do if a conversation, meeting, or delay lasts longer than expected.

저에게 “저에게” means to me and marks the recipient of the message. The polite pronoun 저 is followed by 에게, which marks the person receiving something. Use “저에게 + message or action” when identifying yourself as the recipient.

메시지를 “메시지를” means a message as the object of sending. The object particle 를 marks what should be sent. Use it in the common pattern “메시지를 보내다” for sending a message.

보내세요 “보내세요” means please send or send it, as a polite instruction. Here the listener is asked to send a message if the call takes longer. Use it when politely telling someone to send a message, file, or other item.

그럴게요 “그럴게요” means I will do so, referring back to sending a message. It expresses the speaker’s agreement or commitment without repeating the action. Use it when accepting a request that has just been stated.

다음 “다음” means next and describes the agenda item that follows the current part of the meeting. It appears before “안건”. Use it before a noun when identifying the next item, event, or time.

안건이 “안건이” means the agenda item as the subject of starting. The subject particle 가 marks the agenda item as what will begin. Use it when discussing a specific item on a meeting agenda.

시작되기 “시작되기” means starting and turns the event of starting into a form that can be followed by “전에”. In “시작되기 전에”, it identifies the time before the next agenda item begins. Use “동사-기 전에” to say before an action happens.

전에 “전에” means before and marks the time before the next agenda item starts. Here it follows “시작되기” to form “시작되기 전에”. Use “-기 전에” before an action that should happen earlier.

돌아와야 “돌아와야” expresses that the speaker must return before the next agenda item starts. It contributes the necessity meaning in the sentence, which is completed by the polite ending later in the dialogue line. Use “돌아와야 해요” when saying that someone has to come back.

시간 “시간” means time here and forms part of “휴식 시간 후”, referring to the period of the break. It is used with other words to specify when something happens. A common pattern is “시간 + 후” for after a period of time.

후 “후” means after and marks what follows the break in “휴식 시간 후”. It comes after the noun or time expression it follows. Use “명사 + 후” to say after an event or period.

첫 “첫” means first and describes the part that comes immediately after the break. It appears before the noun “부분”. Use it before a noun when identifying the first item, stage, or part.

부분은 “부분은” means the part as the topic of the sentence. It identifies the first section after the break, and 은 marks it as the topic. Use it when describing one section or part of a larger meeting, task, or event.

간단한 “간단한” means simple or brief here and describes the update after the break. It appears before “업데이트예요”. Use it before a noun when describing something short or uncomplicated.

업데이트예요 “업데이트예요” means it is an update, stated politely. Here it identifies the first part after the break as a brief update. Use “명사예요” to politely say that something is a particular noun.

도움이 “도움이” means help as the subject of becoming helpful in “도움이 되네요”. The subject particle 이 marks help as what has a useful effect. Use “도움이 되다” when saying that something helps.

되네요 “되네요” means it is helpful or I see that it helps, with a nuance of realizing or reacting to the situation. Here the speaker responds that the information about the quick update is helpful. Use “도움이 되네요” when acknowledging that something has turned out to be useful.

이제 “이제” means now and signals that the speaker is about to leave at this point. It comes before “밖으로 나갈게요”. Use it when marking a change from what was happening before to what will happen now.

밖으로 “밖으로” means to the outside and marks the direction of going out. The particle 로 indicates the destination or direction in “밖으로 나갈게요”. Use it when someone moves from inside to outside.

나갈게요 “나갈게요” means I will go out and expresses the speaker’s immediate commitment to leave. Here it means the speaker will step outside to make the private call. Use it when announcing that you will go out or leave for a purpose.

필요한 “필요한” means needed or necessary and describes the amount of time required. It appears before “만큼” in “필요한 만큼”. Use it before a noun or amount expression when referring to what is necessary.

만큼 “만큼” means as much as or to the extent that, setting the amount of time the speaker may use in “필요한 만큼”. Together, “필요한 만큼” means as much as needed. Use “명사나 표현 + 만큼” to indicate an equivalent amount or extent.

시간을 “시간을” means time as the object of spending or using. The object particle 를 marks the time being used in “시간을 쓰되”. Use it with verbs such as “쓰다” when talking about using or spending time.

쓰되 “쓰되” means use or spend, but, connecting the permission to take needed time with the reminder to watch the clock. The connective ending 되 introduces the condition or contrasting instruction that follows. Use it when allowing one action while adding an important limitation or instruction.

시계를 “시계를” means the clock as the object of checking. The object particle 를 marks what should be watched or checked. Use it in “시계를 확인하다” when telling someone to check the clock.

계속 “계속” means continuously or keep doing something here, emphasizing repeated checking of the clock. It comes before “확인하세요”. Use it before an action when the action should continue or be repeated.

확인하세요 “확인하세요” means please check or keep an eye on it, as a polite instruction. Here it tells the listener to keep checking the clock. Use it when politely asking someone to check information, an object, or a situation.

Grammar Points

-(으)면

내용이 민감하면 조용한 복도를 이용하세요.

neh-YONG-ee min-GAHM-ha-myun joh-YONG-han BOHK-doh-rul ee-YONG-ha-SEH-yoh.

If the content is sensitive, use the quiet hallway.

Attach -으면 after a consonant and -면 after a vowel to express “if” or “when.”

형용사 어간 + -게

가능하면 통화를 짧게 하세요.

gah-NEUNG-ha-myun tong-HWAH-rul JJAHL-kkeh ha-SEH-yoh.

If possible, keep the phone call brief.

-게 changes an adjective into an adverb, like 짧다 → 짧게 (“briefly”).

Korean Vocabulary

개인적인 adj

geh-in-juh-GEEN private; personal

내용 noun

neh-YONG content; topic 내용이

민감하다 adj

min-GAHM-hah-dah to be sensitive 민감하면

방해하다 verb

bang-HEH-hah-dah to interrupt; to disturb 방해하고

복도 noun

BOHK-doh hallway 복도를

아직 adv

ah-JIK still; yet

이용하다 verb

ee-YONG-hah-dah to use 이용하세요

일하다 verb

eel-HAH-dah to work 일하고

전화하다 verb

juhn-HWAH-hah-dah to make a phone call 전화를

조용하다 adj

joh-YONG-hah-dah to be quiet 조용한

회의 noun

HWEH-ee meeting 회의가

휴식 시간 phrase

hyoo-SHIK SHEE-gahn break time 휴식 시간에

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need to make a private call during the break.

Show Answer

휴식 시간에 개인적인 전화를 해야 해요.

Use the quiet hallway if the topic is sensitive.

Show Answer

내용이 민감하면 조용한 복도를 이용하세요.

That helps. I'll step outside now.

Show Answer

도움이 되네요. 이제 밖으로 나갈게요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

private; personal

Show Answer

개인적인

to use

Show Answer

이용하세요

to be sensitive

Show Answer

민감하면

to interrupt; to disturb

Show Answer

방해하고