Borrowing and Caring for a Non-Stick Pan | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 제가 요리하는 데 쓰게 논스틱 프라이팬을 빌려도 될까요?

   Can I borrow your non-stick pan for something I am cooking?

   제가

   I

   요리하는

   cooking

   쓰게

   to use

   논스틱

   non-stick

   프라이팬

   frying pan

   빌려도 될까요?

   May I borrow it?

   More detail

   제가 means “I” here. It is the humble first-person pronoun 저 with the subject marker 가; the form 제가 is used when the speaker is the subject. The translation identifies this speaker as the person who will cook and borrow the pan. 요리하는 comes from 요리하다, “to cook.” The ending -는 makes a present descriptive form, so 요리하는 데 refers to cooking or the context of cooking. In the reusable pattern V-는 데 쓰다, the first verb describes the activity that something is used for: 공부하는 데 쓰다 means “use [something] for studying.” 쓰게 comes from 쓰다, “to use.” Here -게 connects the intended use to the borrowing: the pan is being borrowed so that the speaker can use it for cooking. This is separate from 요리하는; 요리하는 데 specifies the purpose, while 쓰게 links that purpose to 빌려도 될까요?. 논스틱 is the loanword modifier “non-stick.” It describes the type or coating of the pan; it is not an inflected form of 프라이팬. 프라이팬 means “frying pan” or “pan.” The object marker 을 follows it, marking the pan as the thing to be borrowed. Together, 논스틱 프라이팬을 means “a non-stick pan” as the object of borrowing. 빌려도 될까요? is a permission question built from 빌리다, “to borrow,” plus -어도 되다, “be permitted to,” and the polite question ending -ㄹ까요?. 빌리다 means borrow; the related verb 빌려주다 means lend or let someone borrow. The construction V-아/어도 될까요? politely asks, “May I V?” or “Would it be okay if I V?” Putting the parts together: 제가 identifies the speaker, 요리하는 데 쓰게 gives the intended use, and 논스틱 프라이팬을 빌려도 될까요? asks permission to borrow the pan. The whole utterance means, “Can I borrow your non-stick pan to use for something I am cooking?” The possessive “your” is supplied by the fixed translation rather than by an overt possessive word in the Korean sentence.

2. 빌려도 되지만, 금속 조리 도구는 사용하지 말아 주세요.

   You can, but please do not use metal utensils on it.

   빌려도 되지만

   you may borrow, but

   금속

   metal

   조리 도구

   cooking utensils

   사용하지 말아 주세요

   please do not use

   More detail

   빌려도 되지만 combines 빌리다 (“to borrow”) with -어도 되다, which asks whether an action is permitted or says that it is permitted. Here 빌려도 되다 means “be allowed to borrow,” not simply “borrow.” The ending -지만 adds “but” and connects this permission to the restriction that follows. A reusable pattern is 동사-아/어도 되다 (“may/can do ...”), for example: 여기 앉아도 돼요. — “May I sit here?” 금속 means “metal.” It is a noun used before another noun to specify its material or type, as in 금속 컵 (“a metal cup”). 조리 도구 means “cooking utensil/tool.” 조리 relates to cooking or food preparation, and 도구 means “tool.” Together they form a useful compound for an implement used in cooking. In this sentence, the phrase identifies the kind of object that must not be used; it does not by itself specify one particular utensil. 사용하지 말아 주세요 is a polite request not to use something. The base verb is 사용하다, “to use.” Its negative prohibition pattern is 동사-지 말다 (“do not ...”); 말아 주세요 makes that prohibition into a polite request. Thus 사용하지 말아 주세요 means “please do not use,” while 사용해 주세요 would mean “please use.” Together, 빌려도 되지만 grants permission to borrow the item, while 금속 조리 도구는 사용하지 말아 주세요 sets a restriction on using metal cooking utensils on it. The complete meaning is: “You can [borrow it], but please do not use metal utensils on it.”

3. 표면에 흠집이 나지 않도록 나무 숟가락을 사용할게요.

   I will use a wooden spoon so I do not scratch the surface.

   표면

   surface

   흠집이 나지 않도록

   so as not to scratch

   나무

   wood; wooden

   숟가락

   spoon

   사용할게요

   I’ll use

   More detail

   표면 means “surface” here. It is a noun, and 표면에 marks the surface as the place or area concerned. Example: 표면을 닦아요. — “I wipe the surface.” 흠집이 나지 않도록 expresses prevention: literally, arranging things so that a scratch does not occur. 흠집이 나다 is a useful construction meaning “to get scratched” or “for a scratch to appear”; 나다 here describes the scratch appearing, rather than someone actively scratching. -지 않도록 adds “so that … does not” or “in order not to.” Example: 물이 튀지 않도록 조심하세요. — “Be careful so that water does not splash.” 나무 is a noun used before another noun to describe its material: 나무 숟가락 means “wooden spoon.” In this position, it functions attributively; it is not an inflected adjective. Example: 나무 그릇 — “wooden bowl.” 숟가락 is the noun “spoon.” With the object particle, 숟가락을 means “the spoon” or “a spoon” as the object being used. The particle itself does not establish a specific numeric count. 사용할게요 comes from 사용하다, “to use.” The form combines the verb stem with -ㄹ게요: 사용하- + -ㄹ게요 → 사용할게요. In this sentence, it presents the speaker’s intention or commitment to use it, with the understood first-person subject “I.” Example: 이 도구를 사용할게요. — “I’ll use this tool.” Together, 표면에 identifies the surface concerned, 흠집이 나지 않도록 gives the preventive purpose, 나무 숟가락을 names the object, and 사용할게요 states the speaker’s intention. The whole utterance means: “I will use a wooden spoon so that the surface does not get scratched,” naturally translated here as “I will use a wooden spoon so I do not scratch the surface.”

4. 센 불은 코팅을 손상시킬 수 있으니 불도 중간으로 유지하세요.

   Keep the heat at medium too, because high heat can damage the coating.

   센

   high; strong

   불은

   the heat

   코팅

   coating

   손상시킬

   damage

   수 있으니

   because it can

   불도

   the heat too

   중간으로

   to medium

   유지하세요

   keep; maintain

   More detail

   센 describes 불 here as high or strong in intensity, giving the fixed meaning “high heat.” It is the attributive form of 세다 (“to be strong”): 세다 → 센 불. This is different from 뜨거운 불, which would focus on temperature rather than intensity. Example: 센 불로 끓이지 마세요. — “Don’t boil it over high heat.” 불은 consists of 불 (“fire; heat”) plus the topic marker 은. In this sentence, the fixed translation identifies 불 as cooking heat. The topic form sets up what is being discussed; it does not itself mean “the” or assert a quantity. 코팅 means “coating.” It is a noun that can be used as the object of an action: 코팅을 보호하다 — “protect the coating.” 손상시킬 comes from the verb 손상시키다, “to damage,” and is the form used before 수 있다: 손상시키다 → 손상시킬 수 있다. The -ㄹ form does not mean past tense; in this construction it helps express that damage is possible. Example: 강한 세제가 표면을 손상시킬 수 있어요. — “A strong detergent can damage the surface.” 수 있으니 is the construction -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 plus -으니. -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 expresses ability or possibility, and -으니 links that reason to the following instruction: “because it can …” or “since it may …” Here, the possible damage is the reason for keeping the heat lower. 불도 is 불 plus 도 (“also/too”). It means “the heat too,” adding this heat instruction to the earlier instruction about using a wooden spoon. The 도 marker replaces the topic marker rather than appearing alongside 은. 중간으로 means “to medium” or “at a medium level.” 중간 is “middle/medium,” and -으로 marks the setting or direction of adjustment. With a control or level, 중간으로 맞추다 can mean “set it to medium.” 유지하세요 comes from 유지하다, “to maintain/keep,” with the polite request or instruction ending -세요: 유지하다 → 유지하세요. It asks the listener to keep something in a stated condition. Example: 온도를 일정하게 유지하세요. — “Keep the temperature constant.” Together, 센 불은 코팅을 손상시킬 수 있으니 means “because high heat can damage the coating.” Then 불도 중간으로 유지하세요 means “keep the heat at medium too.” The complete utterance is therefore: “Keep the heat at medium too, because high heat can damage the coating.”

5. 짐작해서 망가뜨리느니 지금 물어보는 게 낫겠어요.

   I would rather ask now than guess and ruin it.

   짐작해서

   by guessing

   망가뜨리느니

   rather than ruin it

   지금

   now

   물어보는

   asking

   낫겠어요

   would be better

   More detail

   짐작해서 comes from 짐작하다, “to guess” or “to infer,” plus -아서/어서. Here it links the guessing to what follows: guessing first and thereby risking damage. A reusable pattern is V-아서/어서 for a connected action or a reason. Example: 생각해서 말했어요. — “I thought about it and spoke.” 망가뜨리느니 comes from the transitive verb 망가뜨리다, “to break” or “to damage,” with -느니. The verb is transitive: it describes causing something to become damaged. -느니 presents the action as the less desirable option in a comparison, commonly in the pattern V-느니 (차라리) ... — “rather than V, ... is preferable.” The object is understood from the situation; this sentence does not name it. 지금 means “now,” referring to the present time. It contrasts with delaying the question, but it does not by itself specify how long the delay would be. 물어보는 is the present attributive form of 물어보다, “to ask” or “to inquire.” The form -는 lets the verb modify 것 in the following construction: 물어보는 것 means “asking” as an action. In the visible sentence, 것 is shortened to 게 (것이), so 물어보는 게 means “asking is.” Example: 직접 물어보는 게 좋아요. — “It is good to ask directly.” 낫겠어요 comes from 낫다, “to be better.” -겠- presents the speaker’s judgment or expectation, and -어요 makes it polite. Thus 낫겠어요 is a polite “would be better” in this context. The form 낫다 changes to 나아요 before a vowel-ending polite ending, but remains 낫- here because -겠- follows. The sentence compares two choices. 짐작해서 망가뜨리느니 means “rather than guessing and damaging it,” while 지금 물어보는 게 낫겠어요 means “asking now would be better.” Together, the speaker expresses a polite preference for asking now instead of relying on a guess that could damage the item.

6. 그게 도움이 되네요. 조심해서 다루면 더 오래 쓸 수 있을 거예요.

   That helps. It should last longer if it is handled carefully.

   그게

   that / it

   도움이 되네요

   is helpful

   조심해서

   carefully

   다루면

   if handled

   더 오래

   longer

   쓸 수 있을 거예요

   should be usable

   More detail

   그게 is the shortened form of 그것이: 그것 (“that thing/it”) plus the subject marker 이. Here it means “that” or “it” as the subject of “is helpful.” The fixed translation identifies the meaning as “That helps,” but it does not uniquely identify what 그게 refers to, so the form itself should not be treated as naming a particular item. 도움이 되네요 combines 도움 (“help”) with 이 되다 (“be helpful” or “serve as help”). The ending -네요 marks the speaker’s recognition or observation. A reusable pattern is N이/가 도움이 되다: 이 설명이 도움이 돼요. — “This explanation is helpful.” Together with the preceding subject, 그게 도움이 되네요 means “That helps.” 조심해서 comes from 조심하다 (“to be careful”) with -아서/어서, which connects this action or manner to what follows. In 조심해서 다루다, it means “handle [it] carefully.” Example: 조심해서 열어 주세요. — “Please open it carefully.” 다루면 comes from 다루다 (“to handle, deal with”) plus conditional -면 (“if” or “when”). Korean 다루다 is an active verb, so the form literally means “if/when someone handles it”; the translation presents the object as being handled, without identifying the handler. Example: 이 물건을 조심해서 다루면 오래 써요. — “If you handle this item carefully, you can use it for a long time.” 더 오래 means “longer” in duration. 오래 means “for a long time,” and 더 adds “more,” giving a comparison of duration. Example: 이 배터리는 더 오래 가요. — “This battery lasts longer.” 쓸 수 있을 거예요 combines 쓰다 (“use”) with -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 (“can” or “be able to”) and the prospective form -ㄹ 거예요, which presents an expectation or prediction. In 쓸, the verb 쓰다 takes the future/modifying ending -ㄹ; 있을 is the inflected form of 있다 inside the possibility construction. In this sentence, the context makes the result “should remain usable” or “should last longer.” Example: 이 제품은 오래 쓸 수 있을 거예요. — “This product should last a long time.” The sentence first gives the observation 그게 도움이 되네요 (“That helps”). Then 조심해서 다루면 sets the condition (“if it is handled carefully”), and 더 오래 쓸 수 있을 거예요 gives the expected result (“it should remain usable for longer”). The complete meaning is: “That helps. It should last longer if it is handled carefully.”

7. 식기세척기에 넣지 말고 손으로 씻어야 하나요?

   Should I wash it by hand instead of putting it in the dishwasher?

   식기세척기

   dishwasher

   넣지 말고

   instead of putting it in

   손으로

   by hand

   씻어야 하나요?

   should I wash it?

   More detail

   식기세척기 means “dishwasher.” It is a compound noun: 식기 refers to dishes or tableware, and 세척기 is a washing machine/device. In this sentence it is the place or appliance associated with the alternative action. 넣지 말고 is built from 넣다 “to put in” and -지 말고, a pattern meaning “rather than doing X” or “don’t do X and instead …”. Here, 넣지 is the negated form of 넣다, and 말고 introduces the alternative of washing by hand. The object understood in the full sentence is the item being discussed; Korean leaves that object unstated here. 손으로 means “by hand.” 손 is “hand,” and -으로 marks the means or method used for an action. Compare 기계로 “by machine”; the choice of 손으로 specifically presents the hands as the washing method. 씻어야 하나요? comes from 씻다 “to wash,” with -어야 하다, which expresses necessity or what is required, followed by the polite question ending -나요?. Thus 씻어야 하나요? asks whether washing is necessary or the appropriate action, naturally translated here as “should I wash it?” The form 씻어야 is an inflected form of 씻다, not of a nearby noun. Together, 식기세척기에 넣지 말고 sets up the alternative “rather than putting it in the dishwasher,” while 손으로 씻어야 하나요? asks whether the item should be washed by hand. The complete meaning is: “Should I wash it by hand instead of putting it in the dishwasher?”

8. 손으로 조심스럽게 씻고, 돌려주기 전에 말려 주세요.

   Wash it gently by hand and dry it before you bring it back.

   손으로

   by hand

   조심스럽게

   carefully; gently

   씻고

   wash and then

   돌려주기 전에

   before returning it

   말려 주세요

   please dry it

   More detail

   손으로 means using the hands as the method. 손 is “hand,” and the particle -으로 marks a means or method here. The same particle can have other uses, but in this sentence it contrasts with using a dishwasher, as supported by the preceding context. 조심스럽게 means carefully or gently. It comes from the descriptive form 조심스럽다 (“to be careful”) with the adverb-forming ending -게, so it describes how the washing is done. For example, 조심스럽게 열어 주세요 means “Please open it carefully.” 씻고 is the form of 씻다, “to wash,” with connective -고. It links this action to the following instruction: “wash it, and …” In this sentence the object is omitted in Korean; the fixed translation identifies it as the item being handled. -고 commonly connects actions without itself always requiring a strict time sequence, but here the surrounding instructions present washing and drying as successive care steps. 돌려주기 전에 contains 돌려주다, “to return or give back,” followed by -기 전에, “before doing.” The ending -기 turns the verb action into something that can be placed before 전에; the pattern 동사-기 전에 means “before [verb]ing.” For example, 나가기 전에 문을 잠가 주세요 means “Please lock the door before going out.” Here, the translation fixes the intended meaning as “before returning it.” 말려 주세요 is a polite request to dry something. The verb is 말리다, “to dry something”; its request form 말려 results from combining the verb stem with -어, and 주세요 adds the polite request meaning. The object is omitted in Korean but is identified by the fixed translation as the same item. 말려요 is a polite statement meaning “I/you dry it” or, with another contextually supplied subject, “someone dries it”; it is not the passive meaning “it is dried.” Together, 손으로 조심스럽게 씻고 says to wash the item carefully by hand. 돌려주기 전에 sets the time of the next action: before returning it. 말려 주세요 asks the listener to dry it. The complete meaning is therefore: “Wash it gently by hand and dry it before you bring it back.”

9. 요리를 마친 후에 깨끗하게 해서 돌려드릴게요.

   I will return it clean after I finish cooking.

   요리

   cooking; dish

   마친

   finished

   후에

   after

   깨끗하게

   cleanly; clean

   해서

   and then; so

   돌려드릴게요

   I will return it to you

   More detail

   요리 means “cooking” here, as selected by the fixed translation. The same noun can also mean “a dish” in another context: 요리가 맛있어요. means “The dish is delicious.” In 요리를, the object particle marks what is finished: “cooking” is the object of `finish.” 마친 comes from the base verb 마치다, “to finish.” Before a noun, 마친 describes a completed action, so 마친 후에 means “after finishing.” Compare 숙제를 마쳤어요. — “I finished my homework.” 후에 means “after” and follows the event or noun that establishes the time. The reusable pattern V-(으)ㄴ 후에 means “after doing V”: 수업 후에 만나요. — “Let’s meet after class.” 깨끗하게 is the adverbial form of 깨끗하다, “to be clean.” It describes how something is made clean in 깨끗하게 하다. The adjective plus -게 combines with 하다 to mean “make something clean”: 방을 깨끗하게 했어요. — “I made the room clean.” 해서 is the connective form of 하다. Here, 깨끗하게 해서 means “make it clean and then,” linking that action to the return. The connective -아서/-어서 can express other relations in other sentences, such as a cause, but this sentence uses it for the intended sequence of actions. 돌려드릴게요 means “I will return it to you.” 돌려드리다 is a respectful form of 돌려주다, “to return/give back”; 드리다 presents the giving as respectful toward the recipient. The ending -ㄹ게요 expresses the speaker’s commitment or intention, often like “I’ll do it.” For example, 내일 다시 연락드릴게요. means “I’ll contact you again tomorrow.” Together, 요리를 마친 후에 means “after I finish cooking,” 깨끗하게 해서 means “make it clean and then,” and 돌려드릴게요 means “I will return it to you.” Thus the whole utterance is: “I will return it clean after I finish cooking.” The item being returned is understood from the fixed translation and context rather than named in this sentence.

10. 요리가 어떻게 되었는지 알려 주세요.

    Let me know how the dish turns out.

    요리

    dish

    어떻게

    how

    되었는지

    turned out

    알려 주세요

    please let me know

    More detail

    요리 means “dish” here. It is a noun; in other contexts it can also mean “cooking” or “a cooked dish,” so the intended sense comes from the fixed translation and context. For example, 요리가 맛있어요. means “The dish is delicious.” 어떻게 asks “how” or “in what way.” Here it asks about the result or condition of the dish, not about a method of cooking. A useful pattern is 어떻게 되다, “turn out / become how.” 되었는지 is the part that turns the question “how did it turn out?” into something that can function as the content of 알려 주세요. Its base verb is 되다, “become; turn out.” 되었- marks a completed or resulting state, and -는지 marks an embedded question. The form 어떻게 되었는지 therefore means “how it turned out” or “what happened to it.” This is different from a direct question such as 어떻게 되었어요?, “How did it turn out?” 알려 주세요 means “please let me know.” The lexical verb is 알리다, “inform; let someone know”; 알려 is its connective form before 주세요. 주세요 literally means “please give,” but in this construction it makes a polite request for the preceding action. The construction V-아/어 주세요 is a reusable polite request pattern: 도와 주세요 means “Please help.” Putting the parts together, 요리가 어떻게 되었는지 is “how the dish turned out,” and 알려 주세요 politely requests that the listener provide that information. The whole utterance means “Let me know how the dish turns out.”