Borrowing a Drill Safely | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 작은 선반을 달려고 하는데, 드릴을 빌려도 될까요?

   Could I borrow your drill to put up a small shelf?

   작은

   small

   선반

   shelf

   달려고 하는데

   I’m planning to put up ..., and

   드릴

   drill

   빌려도 될까요?

   Could I borrow ...?

   More detail

   작은 means “small” here and is the form of 작다 used directly before a noun. Korean descriptive words change form in this position: 작다 → 작은 선반 (“a small shelf”). This form does not mark gender or plural number. 선반 means “shelf.” In the full sentence, 선반을 marks the shelf as the object of the action with -을; the selected word itself is the noun. Example: 책을 선반에 올려요. — “I put the book on the shelf.” 달려고 하는데 expresses an intention or current plan to put something up, followed by -는데, which presents that situation as background for what comes next. The useful pattern is 동사 stem + -(으)려고 하다: 달다 → 달려고 하다 (“intend/plan to put up”). Here 달다 means to hang or install something, not the separate adjective 달다 meaning “sweet.” The ending -는데 connects the plan to the following request in a natural, soft way; it does not itself mean “and” in every context. 드릴 means “drill,” the tool. It is a noun borrowed into Korean, so this form is not an inflectional form of a Korean verb. In the sentence, 드릴을 marks the drill as the object of 빌리다 with -을. 빌려도 될까요? is a permission question: “Could I borrow it?” or, with the stated object, “Could I borrow your drill?” The pattern is 동사 stem + -아/어도 되다 (“be allowed to do”) followed here by the polite question ending -ㄹ까요?. 빌리다 means “borrow,” and its form before -어도 is 빌려도. This asks whether borrowing is permitted; it is not the same as 빌려줄까요?, which asks whether the speaker should lend something. Together, 작은 선반을 달려고 하는데 gives the background plan, “I’m planning to put up a small shelf,” and 드릴을 빌려도 될까요? asks permission to borrow the drill. The whole utterance therefore means: “Could I borrow your drill to put up a small shelf?”

2. 빌려도 돼요. 전에 드릴을 써 본 적 있어요?

   You can. Have you used a drill before?

   빌려도 돼요

   may borrow; it is okay to borrow

   전에

   before; previously

   드릴

   drill

   써 본 적 있어요?

   have used it before

   More detail

   빌려도 돼요 means “It is okay to borrow it” or, in this context, “You may borrow it.” The useful pattern is 동사-아/어도 되다, which asks for or gives permission: 가도 돼요? means “May I go?” and 가도 돼요 means “You may go.” Here, 빌려도 comes from 빌리다 “to borrow”; 돼요 is the polite present form of 되다 in this permission pattern. The permission meaning comes from the whole construction, not from 돼요 alone. 전에 means “before” or “previously.” It commonly places an earlier time relative to the relevant situation: 전에 만났어요 means “I met [someone] before.” In this utterance, it points to an earlier occasion of using the drill. 드릴 is the noun “drill.” It is the tool that the speaker is discussing borrowing and using here. Korean nouns do not generally change form for singular versus plural in this context; the surrounding context supplies the intended reference. 써 본 적 있어요? asks whether someone has the experience of having used something before. 써 is the connected form of 쓰다, “to use” here. 보다 in 써 보다 adds the idea of trying or experiencing an action, but in 써 본 적 it is part of an experience construction rather than a request to look at something. -ㄴ/은 적이 있다 expresses having had the experience of doing something; in polite speech, 적 있어요? is a common shortened form of 적이 있어요?. The useful pattern is 동사-(으)ㄴ 적이 있어요?: “Have you ever ...?” For example, 한국 음식을 먹어 본 적 있어요? means “Have you ever tried Korean food?” The observed 써 본 적 있어요? uses 쓰다 and asks about prior experience, while 전에 makes the “before” meaning explicit. The object 드릴 is understood with this verb from the surrounding sentence, so the question means “Have you used a drill before?” Together, 빌려도 돼요 grants permission to borrow the drill. Then 전에 드릴을 써 본 적 있어요? asks whether the listener has previously had experience using a drill: “You can borrow it. Have you used a drill before?”

3. 한 번만 써 봐서 기본적인 설명을 해 주시면 도움이 될 것 같아요.

   Only once, so basic instructions would help.

   한 번만

   only once

   써 봐서

   having tried using it

   기본적인

   basic

   설명

   explanation; instructions

   해 주시면

   if you would explain it for me

   도움

   help

   될 것 같아요

   seems like it would be

   More detail

   한 번만 means “only once.” 번 counts occurrences or times, and 만 restricts the statement to that amount: 한 번 is “one time,” while 한 번만 is “only one time.” 써 봐서 combines 쓰다 (“to use”) with -어 보다, which expresses trying or having the experience of doing something. 쓰다 changes to 써 before 보다, so 써 보다 means “try using.” The ending -아서/어서 links this clause to a reason or background: here, the speaker has tried using the relevant item only once, so the following request is understandable. Example: 이 방법을 써 봐서 알아요. — “I know because I tried this method.” 기본적인 means “basic” or “fundamental” and modifies the noun after it. It is the noun-modifying form of 기본적이다 (“to be basic”). Example: 기본적인 규칙을 배워요. — “I learn the basic rules.” 설명 is the noun “explanation”; in this situation, it can naturally mean instructions or guidance. The following object marker in the full sentence makes the explanation the thing being given or provided: 기본적인 설명을 means “basic instructions/explanation.” 해 주시면 combines 하다 (“do”) with 주다 (“give”) and the polite conditional ending -(으)시면. With an action such as explaining, -아/어 주다 shows that someone performs the action as a favor for the speaker. Thus, together with 기본적인 설명을, it means “if you would explain it/give basic instructions.” The -시- element is the honorific form used for the person being addressed, and -면 gives the “if” condition. Example: 도와 주시면 감사하겠습니다. — “I would appreciate it if you would help me.” 도움 is the noun “help” or “assistance.” In 도움이 되다, it forms the useful pattern “to be helpful” or literally “to become help/use.” 될 것 같아요 expresses the speaker’s expectation that something will be helpful or useful. 될 is the future-looking modifier of 되다 (“become; be”), and 것 같다 means “seem” or “appear likely.” Here, it does not assert certainty. Example: 이 설명이 도움이 될 것 같아요. — “I think this explanation will be helpful.” Together, 한 번만 써 봐서 gives the reason or background: the speaker has used the relevant item only once. 기본적인 설명을 해 주시면 makes a polite request for basic instructions, and 도움이 될 것 같아요 says that those instructions seem likely to help. The whole utterance therefore means: “I’ve only tried using it once, so I think basic instructions would help.”

4. 먼저 벽이 어떤 종류인지 확인하고 보안경을 쓰세요.

   Check what kind of wall it is first, and wear safety glasses.

   먼저

   first

   벽

   wall

   어떤

   what kind of

   종류

   kind; type

   확인하고

   check, and then

   보안경

   safety glasses

   쓰세요

   please wear

   More detail

   먼저 means “first” or “before anything else.” It is an adverb and can be placed before the action it orders. Example: 먼저 읽으세요. — “Read it first.” 벽 means “wall.” In 벽이, the particle 이 marks 벽 as the subject inside the embedded question: literally, “what kind of wall it is.” 어떤 asks what type or characteristics something has and normally comes before a noun. Here it modifies 종류, giving 어떤 종류 — “what kind.” Example: 어떤 책을 좋아해요? — “What kind of books do you like?” 종류 means “kind” or “type.” The sequence 어떤 종류인지 means “what kind it is” in an indirect question. 인지 is the form of 이다 (“to be”) used to embed a question after a noun: 학생인지 means “whether someone is a student” or, depending on context, “what kind of student it is.” Here, 벽이 어떤 종류인지 asks for the wall’s type. 확인하고 comes from 확인하다, “to check” or “confirm,” plus -고. In this sentence, -고 links the checking action to the following action in sequence: check first, and then do the next thing. The polite command 확인하세요 would mean “Please check.” Example: 주소를 확인하고 보내세요. — “Check the address and then send it.” 보안경 means “safety glasses” or “protective goggles.” It is a noun for protective eyewear; the sentence does not use an article or mark a numerical count. 쓰세요 comes from 쓰다, which has several meanings, including “to write,” “to use,” and “to put on” certain items. With eyewear such as 보안경, it means “put on” or “wear.” -세요 makes a polite request or instruction, so 보안경을 쓰세요 means “Please wear safety glasses.” The object particle 을 marks 보안경 as the item being put on. Example: 모자를 쓰세요. — “Please put on a hat.” Together, 벽이 어떤 종류인지 확인하고 means “check what kind of wall it is first,” and 보안경을 쓰세요 means “wear safety glasses.” The complete instruction is: “First check what kind of wall it is, and wear safety glasses.” The polite -세요 makes the instruction courteous while still functioning as a direct safety instruction.

5. 전선을 건드릴까 봐 걱정도 돼요.

   I'm also worried about hitting electrical wires.

   전선을

   electrical wire(s)

   건드릴까 봐

   for fear of touching

   걱정도 돼요

   I’m also worried

   More detail

   전선을 means “electrical wire(s)” here. 전선 is the noun “electrical wire”; the object marker -을 shows that it is what the feared action would affect. Korean does not require a separate plural marker here, so the form can refer to one or more wires when the context does not specify the number. 건드릴까 봐 expresses concern about an action that might happen: “for fear of touching” or “because I might touch.” The verb is 건드리다, “to touch” or “to accidentally make contact with.” Its form 건드릴까 uses the prospective form -ㄹ까 inside the pattern -ㄹ까 봐, which commonly means “worried that … may happen” or “to avoid the possibility that ….” The action is not asserted as having happened; it is a feared possibility. Example: 비가 올까 봐 우산을 가져왔어요. — “I brought an umbrella in case it rains.” 걱정도 돼요 means “I’m also worried.” The useful base expression is 걱정이 되다, literally “concern arises,” which naturally expresses becoming or feeling worried. Here 도 adds this concern to another concern or consideration, giving “also.” 돼요 is the polite present form of 되다; in this expression, it presents the worry as current. Example: 늦을까 봐 걱정이 돼요. — “I’m worried that I might be late.” Together, 전선을 identifies the object of the possible contact, 건드릴까 봐 frames that contact as a feared possibility, and 걱정도 돼요 states that this is also a source of worry. The whole utterance means: “I’m also worried about touching the electrical wires.”

6. 어디든 구멍을 뚫기 전에 이 탐지기를 사용하세요.

   Use this detector before you drill anywhere.

   어디든

   anywhere

   구멍

   hole

   뚫기

   drilling

   전에

   before

   이

   this

   탐지기

   detector

   사용하세요

   please use

   More detail

   어디든 means “anywhere” here. It is formed from 어디 (“where”) plus -든, an ending that gives an unrestricted choice such as “anywhere” or “wherever.” Compare the reusable pattern 무엇이든 (“anything”) and 누구든 (“anyone”); the exact meaning depends on the question word. 구멍 means “hole.” It is a noun and can be used with verbs such as 만들다 (“make”) or 뚫다 (“drill or bore”). Example: 구멍을 만들어요. — “I make a hole.” 뚫기 is the noun-like form of 뚫다, “to drill, bore, or make a hole.” The ending -기 turns the verb into an activity or event: 읽기 is “reading,” and 사용하기 is “using.” In this sentence, 뚫기 refers to drilling a hole, and 구멍 identifies what is being drilled. 전에 means “before.” After a verb’s -기 form, the pattern -기 전에 means “before doing ...”: 자기 전에 means “before sleeping.” Thus 뚫기 전에 means “before drilling.” 이 means “this” when it directly modifies a noun. It does not itself identify a particular object by number; its demonstrative meaning is “this,” and the noun that follows supplies the object category. Here it combines with 탐지기 as 이 탐지기, “this detector.” 탐지기 means “detector,” a device used to detect something. The object-marker form 탐지기를 marks this detector as the object of the following verb. Example: 탐지기를 사용해요. — “I use a detector.” 사용하세요 is a polite request or instruction meaning “please use.” Its base verb is 사용하다, “to use.” The ending -세요 commonly makes a polite command or request; it does not mean that the action has already happened. Example: 이 버튼을 사용하세요. — “Please use this button.” Together, 어디든 구멍을 뚫기 전에 means “before drilling anywhere,” 이 탐지기를 means “this detector” as the object, and 사용하세요 gives the polite instruction “please use.” The complete utterance is therefore: “Use this detector before you drill anywhere.”

7. 구멍 위치를 표시하기 전에 그 자리를 스캔할게요.

   I'll scan the spot before I mark the holes.

   구멍

   hole

   위치

   location; position

   표시하기

   marking

   전에

   before

   그

   that; the

   자리

   spot; place

   스캔할게요

   I’ll scan

   More detail

   구멍 means “hole.” Korean nouns do not obligatorily mark singular versus plural, so this form can refer to one hole or to holes when the context supports that reading. Here it is part of 구멍 위치, “the location(s) of the hole(s).” 위치 means “location” or “position.” The noun combination 구멍 위치 identifies where the holes are, rather than naming the holes themselves. A useful pattern is 명사 + 위치, meaning “the location of [the noun].” 표시하기 is the verb 표시하다, “to mark,” with -기, which turns the verb into a noun-like form: “marking.” In 표시하기 전에, this nominalized verb combines with 전에 to mean “before marking.” The observed form is not a past or present-tense form; -기 is the reusable nominalizing part. 전에 means “before” when it follows a noun-like expression. Thus 표시하기 전에 means “before marking.” With a time noun, the same form can mean “before [that time],” as in 회의 전에 (“before the meeting”). 그 is a demonstrative determiner meaning “that” or, in this context, “the.” It modifies the following noun 자리; its grammatical role is to identify that place, but the sentence itself does not specify a more detailed referent beyond the intended spot. 자리 means “spot,” “place,” or “position.” In 그 자리, it refers to the relevant spot, and 그 자리를 uses the object marker 를 because that spot is what will be scanned. The form 자리 itself does not show number or tense. 스캔할게요 is based on the borrowed verb 스캔하다, “to scan.” The ending -(으)ㄹ게요 presents the speaker’s intended action or commitment, so 스캔할게요 means “I’ll scan” here. The ending is not simply an automatic future marker: it commonly presents what the speaker is undertaking to do. The first-person subject is understood from the ending and does not need to be stated separately. Together, 구멍 위치를 표시하기 전에 means “before marking the hole locations,” while 그 자리를 스캔할게요 means “I’ll scan that spot.” The object marker 를 marks both 구멍 위치 as the thing to be marked and 그 자리 as the thing to be scanned. The complete utterance means: “I’ll scan the spot before I mark the holes.”

8. 충전기와 드릴 비트를 함께 챙겨서 드릴을 돌려 주세요.

   Please bring the drill back with the charger and bits together.

   충전기

   charger

   드릴 비트

   drill bit(s)

   함께

   together

   챙겨서

   bring along, then

   드릴을

   the drill

   돌려 주세요

   please return

   More detail

   충전기 means “charger.” It is a noun; in this sentence, the following 와 links it to the next item: 충전기와 드릴 비트 = “the charger and drill bit(s).” 드릴 비트 means “drill bit(s).” Korean nouns do not have to show plural number, so the context and translation support “bits” here without a separate plural ending. 함께 means “together.” It indicates that the charger and drill bits are to be brought along with the drill as one set. 챙겨서 comes from 챙기다, “to take care of, pack, or make sure to bring.” The ending -어서 connects this action to what follows, giving a sequence or means: “ 챙겨서” = “bringing it/them along and then …” In this sentence, it tells the listener to prepare and bring the charger and bits along before returning the drill. 드릴을 is 드릴 (“drill”) plus the object particle 을. The particle marks the drill as the object of the following return request. 돌려 주세요 is the polite request pattern 돌려 주다 + -세요: “please return” or “please give back.” Here 돌리다 in the combined verb 돌려주다 contributes the idea of returning something to its owner; it does not mean “rotate” in this sentence. -세요 makes the request polite. The related form in the next context sentence, 돌려드리기 전에, uses the more respectful 돌려드리다 (“before returning it”), but the fixed utterance itself uses 돌려 주세요. Together, 충전기와 드릴 비트를 함께 챙겨서 means “bringing the charger and drill bits along together,” and 드릴을 돌려 주세요 means “please return the drill.” The complete utterance is therefore: “Please bring the drill back with the charger and bits together.”

9. 돌려드리기 전에 먼지를 닦아낼게요.

   I'll clean off the dust before I return it.

   돌려드리기

   returning it

   전에

   before

   먼지

   dust

   닦아낼게요

   I’ll wipe it off

   More detail

   돌려드리기 comes from 돌려드리다, meaning “to return or give back” in a respectful form. The ending -기 turns the verb into an action noun, so 돌려드리기 전에 is the reusable pattern “before returning it.” The object is not stated in this sentence; the fixed translation supplies “it.” 드리다 also adds respect toward the recipient, rather than changing who performs the returning. 전에 means “before” and commonly follows a noun or an -기 verb form: V-기 전에 = “before doing V.” Example: 나가기 전에 문을 닫아요. — “I close the door before going out.” 먼지 means “dust.” Here it is the thing being cleaned off; Korean commonly marks this object with 를, as in 먼지를 닦다, although the particle is omitted in the fixed sentence. Example: 책상 위의 먼지를 닦았어요. — “I wiped the dust off the desk.” 닦아낼게요 comes from 닦아내다, “to wipe or clean off completely,” followed by -ㄹ게요. 닦다 means “to wipe/clean,” while the -아내다 part emphasizes removing something from a surface. -ㄹ게요 presents the speaker’s intention or commitment to do it: “I’ll wipe it off.” Example: 제가 얼룩을 닦아낼게요. — “I’ll wipe the stain off.” Together, 돌려드리기 전에 sets the time condition, 먼지 identifies what will be removed, and 닦아낼게요 expresses the speaker’s commitment to remove it. The whole utterance means: “I’ll clean off the dust before I return it.”

10. 서두르지 말고 하세요. 속도보다 안전이 더 중요해요.

    Take your time with it; safety matters more than speed.

    서두르지 말고

    without hurrying; take your time

    하세요

    please do it

    속도보다

    than speed

    안전

    safety

    더

    more

    중요해요

    is important

    More detail

    서두르지 말고 contains 서두르다 (“to hurry”) followed by -지 말고. The -지 말고 pattern tells someone not to do the first action and to proceed with the next one: 서두르지 말고 하세요 means “Do it without hurrying.” The negative form here is not a statement that the listener never hurries; it gives guidance for this action. 하세요 comes from 하다 (“to do”) with the polite ending -세요. In this sentence it is a respectful request or instruction to do the understood task. Korean often leaves the subject and object unspoken when context makes them clear, so this form itself does not specify who should do what object. 속도보다 combines the noun 속도 (“speed”) with 보다, a comparison marker meaning “than” after a noun. A reusable pattern is A보다 B가 더 ... (“B is more ... than A”). The noun 속도 can also be used without comparison: 속도가 빨라요 means “The speed is fast.” 안전 means “safety.” In the sentence, 안전이 marks safety as the subject of the following description; the subject particle 이 is attached to the noun in the original sentence. 안전 is a noun, unlike 안전하다 (“to be safe”), which is a descriptive form. 더 means “more” and strengthens the comparison. Together with 속도보다, it makes the meaning explicitly “more than speed,” rather than merely saying that safety is important. 중요해요 is the polite present form of 중요하다 (“to be important”). The ending -해요 gives a polite everyday style; it does not itself indicate past or future time. For example, 이것도 중요해요 means “This is important too.” Taken together, 서두르지 말고 하세요 gives the instruction to do the task without rushing. 속도보다 안전이 더 중요해요 then states the comparison: safety is more important than speed. The complete utterance is therefore, “Take your time with it; safety matters more than speed.”