Responding to a Coffee Spill on a Laptop | Learn Korean in English

About This Lesson

Use Responding to a Coffee Spill on a Laptop to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

노트북 근처에 커피를 쏟았는데, 액체가 키보드 아래로 조금 들어갔어요.

NOH-tuh-book GUHN-chuh-eh KUH-pee-reul SSOHT-at-neun-de, EHK-cheh-gah KEE-boh-duh A-ryeh-ro JOH-geum DUH-ruh-gat-SUH-yo. I spilled coffee near my laptop, and some liquid went under the keyboard.

즉시 플러그를 뽑고, 아직 켜져 있으면 전원을 꺼 주세요.

JUHK-sshee PUHL-luh-guh-reul PPOHP-kkoh, A-jik KYUH-jyuh ISS-uh-myun JUHN-wuhn-eul KKUH JOO-seh-yo. Unplug it immediately and turn it off if it is still running.

헤어드라이어로 말려 볼까요?

HEH-uh-duh-rah-ee-uh-ro MAHL-lyuh BOHL-kkah-yo? Should I try to dry it with a hair dryer?

열 때문에 더 손상될 수 있어요. 기술자에게 점검을 맡기세요.

YUHL TTAH-moon-eh DUH SOHN-sahng-dwel soo ISS-uh-yo. GEE-sool-jah-eh-geh JUHM-guhm-eul MAHT-kkee-seh-yo. Heat can cause more damage. Let a technician check it.

프로젝트 파일이 그 노트북에 있어서 걱정돼요.

PUH-ro-JEHK-tuh PAH-eel-ee guh NOH-tuh-book-eh ISS-uh-suh GUHK-jjuhng-DWEH-yo. I am worried because my project files are on it.

다시 노트북을 만지기 전에 다른 기기에서 클라우드 백업을 확인해 보세요.

DAH-shee NOH-tuh-book-eul MAHN-jee-gee JUHN-eh DAH-reun GEE-gee-eh-suh KUHL-lah-oo-duh BEH-guh-beul HWA-gin-hae boh-SEH-yo. Check your cloud backup from another device before you touch the laptop again.

파일 대부분은 이미 동기화되어 있었어요.

PAH-eel DAE-boo-bun-eun EE-mee DONG-gee-hwah-dweh-uh ISS-uh-SUH-yo. Most of the files were already synced.

노트북 전원은 계속 꺼 두고, 너무 빨리 켜려고 하지 마세요.

NOH-tuh-book JUHN-wuhn-eun GYEH-sok KKUH DOO-goh, NUH-moo PPAL-lee KYUH-ryuh-goh HA-jee MAH-seh-yo. Keep the laptop off, and do not try to start it too soon.

기술자에게 가져가서 다음 단계가 무엇인지 물어볼게요.

GEE-sool-jah-eh-geh GAH-jyuh-gah-suh DAH-um DAHN-gyeh-gah MOO-uh-shin-jee MOO-ruh-bohl-geh-yo. I will take it to a technician and ask about the next step.

기술자는 손상을 더 악화시키지 않고도 점검할 수 있어요.

GEE-sool-jah-neun SOHN-sahng-eul DUH AHK-hwah-shee-gee-jee AHN-koh-doh JUHM-guhm-hal soo ISS-uh-yo. A technician can check it without making the damage worse.

Word by Word

노트북 “노트북” means the laptop in this dialogue, the device near which the coffee was spilled. It is commonly used with location markers such as “노트북 근처에” and object markers such as “노트북을”. You would use it when talking about using, carrying, or repairing a laptop.

근처에 “근처에” means near or in the vicinity of, locating the spilled coffee close to the laptop. The location marker 에 appears in the reusable pattern “장소 근처에 있다” for something being near a place or object. You could use it when describing something near your home, office, or another object.

커피를 “커피를” identifies coffee as the object that was spilled. The object marker 를 shows what the action applies to, as in “커피를 쏟다”. You would use it when describing spilling, drinking, or ordering coffee.

쏟았는데 “쏟았는데” means spilled, while introducing the situation that follows: some liquid went under the keyboard. It is the past form of “쏟다” combined with 그런데-style connective meaning, so it links the spill to the next fact or concern. You can use this form when explaining a problem and then adding what happened as a result.

액체가 “액체가” means liquid and marks it as the thing that went under the keyboard. The subject marker 가 identifies what moved or entered in this sentence. You would use “액체” when describing water, coffee, or another liquid in a practical or technical situation.

키보드 “키보드” means keyboard, specifically the part underneath which the liquid went. It commonly combines with location expressions such as “키보드 아래” and object markers such as “키보드를”. You would use it when discussing typing, cleaning, or repairing a computer keyboard.

아래로 “아래로” means downward or to a position underneath, describing the direction in which the liquid went. The particle 로 marks movement or direction, as in “아래로 내려가다”. You can use it when describing something moving downward or toward a lower place.

조금 “조금” means a little or a small amount, reducing the amount of liquid that went under the keyboard. It can modify an amount or an action, such as “조금 들어가다”. You would use it when reporting a limited amount or asking for a small quantity.

들어갔어요 “들어갔어요” means went in or entered, referring here to liquid moving under the keyboard. It is the polite past form of “들어가다”, and the direction or destination is supplied by “키보드 아래로”. You can use it to say that something entered a room, container, or another area.

즉시 “즉시” means immediately and tells the listener that the action should happen without delay. It commonly modifies an action directly, as in “즉시 확인하다”. You would use it for urgent instructions or responses to a problem.

플러그를 “플러그를” means the plug as the object to unplug. The object marker 를 shows what is acted on in “플러그를 뽑다”. You would use it when giving instructions about disconnecting a device from a power source.

뽑고 “뽑고” means unplug and, linking the action of unplugging with the next instruction to turn the laptop off. It is the connective form of “뽑다” in the sequence “플러그를 뽑고”. You can use it to connect one completed action with a following action, such as removing something and then doing something else.

아직 “아직” means still or yet, indicating that the laptop may remain in the on state. Here it appears in the conditional phrase “아직 켜져 있으면”. You would use it when a state continues or when asking whether something has happened yet.

켜져 “켜져” describes the laptop as being turned on in the expression “켜져 있으면”. It contributes the on-state meaning, while “있으면” makes that state the condition for the instruction that follows. You can use this expression when checking whether a device, light, or screen remains on.

있으면 “있으면” means if it is in that state here, completing the condition “켜져 있으면”. It is the conditional form of “있다” and refers to the continuing state described before it. You would use it after a state or location when giving advice based on a condition.

전원을 “전원을” means the power as the object to turn off. The object marker 를 appears in the practical expression “전원을 끄다”. You would use it when talking about switching a device’s power on or off.

꺼 “꺼” means turn off in the instruction “전원을 꺼 주세요”. It is the connective-style form of “끄다” used before “주세요” to make a polite request. You can reuse it in polite requests about turning off a light, device, or engine.

주세요 “주세요” makes the preceding action a polite request, so “꺼 주세요” means please turn it off. It follows an action form and is used when asking someone respectfully to do something. You would use it for ordinary requests to another person, such as asking them to wait or check something.

헤어드라이어로 “헤어드라이어로” means with a hair dryer, identifying the tool proposed for drying the laptop. The particle 로 marks the means or instrument used for an action. You can use the same pattern with another tool when saying that something is done with it.

말려 “말려” means dry it in this dialogue, as part of the suggestion “말려 볼까요?”. It is the action form of “말리다” before “볼까요”, which presents drying as something to try. You would use it when talking about drying clothes, hair, or an object, depending on the context.

볼까요 “볼까요” helps form the polite suggestion “말려 볼까요?”, meaning shall I try drying it? With the preceding action, it proposes trying that action rather than simply asking about an isolated possibility. You can use an action form plus “볼까요?” when offering to try something or asking whether to try it.

열 “열” means heat, identified as a possible cause of further damage. It is the noun used in the causal expression “열 때문에”. You would use it when discussing heat from a device, appliance, or other source.

때문에 “때문에” means because of and links “열” to the possible damage. The reusable pattern “명사 때문에” gives the reason or cause for a situation. You can use it to explain that a delay, problem, or result happened because of something.

더 “더” means more or further, showing that the damage could increase beyond its current level. It modifies “손상되다” in “더 손상될 수 있어요”. You would use it when describing an additional amount, degree, or worsening condition.

손상될 “손상될” means be damaged in the expression “더 손상될 수 있어요”. It is the form of “손상되다” used before “수” to describe a possible future or potential state. You can use it in warnings about an object becoming damaged through heat, water, or handling.

수 “수” expresses possibility in “손상될 수 있어요”, meaning it can be damaged or there is a possibility of damage. It works with the preceding form in the pattern “동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있다”. You would use this pattern to say that an action or situation is possible.

있어요 “있어요” completes the possibility expression “손상될 수 있어요”, making it a polite statement that damage can occur. Together with “수”, it does not mean simple physical existence here. You can use “-(으)ㄹ 수 있어요” to describe something that may happen or can be done.

기술자에게 “기술자에게” means to a technician, the person who should receive responsibility for checking the laptop. The particle 에게 marks the person toward whom an action or request is directed, as in “기술자에게 맡기다”. You would use it when handing something over to a person or asking a person to handle it.

점검을 “점검을” means an inspection or check as the object being entrusted to the technician. The object marker 를 appears in “점검을 맡기다”, meaning to have an inspection handled by someone. You would use “점검” for checking the condition or safety of equipment, systems, or devices.

맡기세요 “맡기세요” means please leave it in someone’s care or have it handled by someone, here referring to the laptop inspection. It is a polite instruction using “맡기다” and directs the listener to entrust the matter to the technician. You would use it when recommending that another person or service handle a task or item.

프로젝트 “프로젝트” means project and identifies the work connected with the files on the laptop. It commonly combines with “파일” in “프로젝트 파일”. You would use it for a planned piece of work, such as a work, school, or personal project.

파일이 “파일이” means files as the subject of the statement about what is on the laptop. The subject marker 이 marks the files as the thing located there. You would use it when saying that files exist somewhere, are available, or have a particular status.

그 “그” means that or the previously mentioned one, referring back to the laptop already being discussed. It appears before “노트북” in “그 노트북에”. You can use it to identify a specific person or thing that the listener can recognize from the context.

노트북에 “노트북에” means on or in that laptop, giving the location of the project files. The particle 에 marks a place where something is located, as in “파일이 노트북에 있다”. You would use it when locating files or other items on a device.

있어서 “있어서” means because they are on it here, connecting the files’ location with the speaker’s worry. It is the connective form of “있다” used to give a reason. You can use it after a state or location when explaining why something happened or why you feel a certain way.

걱정돼요 “걱정돼요” means I am worried, expressing concern about the project files. It is the polite form of “걱정되다” and here the reason is introduced by “프로젝트 파일이 그 노트북에 있어서”. You would use it when telling someone that a situation or possible result is causing concern.

다시 “다시” means again, showing that the laptop may be touched another time after the earlier handling. It commonly appears before the repeated action, as in “다시 만지다”. You would use it whenever an action is repeated or something happens another time.

노트북을 “노트북을” identifies the laptop as the object of “만지기”, meaning to touch the laptop again. The object marker 을 marks the item receiving the action. You would use this form when the laptop is the thing being touched, moved, checked, or used.

만지기 “만지기” means touching, and in “만지기 전에” it names the action that must not happen before the backup is checked. It is the noun-like form of “만지다” used before “전에”. You can use an action form plus “전에” to say before doing something.

전에 “전에” means before and places the backup check earlier than touching the laptop again. The pattern “동사-기 전에” means before doing an action. You would use it to order two actions and state what should happen first.

다른 “다른” means another or different, distinguishing the device used for checking from the damaged laptop. It directly modifies “기기” in “다른 기기”. You would use it when referring to a second option or an item that is not the one already mentioned.

기기에서 “기기에서” means from or on another device, identifying the device used to check the cloud backup. The particle 에서 marks the place or device where an action occurs. You would use it when describing an action performed from a phone, computer, or other device.

클라우드 “클라우드” means cloud in the technology expression “클라우드 백업”. It identifies online storage or backup rather than the damaged laptop itself. You would use it when discussing cloud services, storage, or synchronized data.

백업을 “백업을” means the backup as the object to check. The object marker 을 appears in “백업을 확인하다”. You would use it when checking whether copies of files or other data have been saved.

확인해 “확인해” means check or verify, as part of the request “확인해 보세요”. It is the action form of “확인하다” followed by “보세요”, which suggests trying the check. You can use it when asking someone to verify information, a status, or a saved copy.

보세요 “보세요” contributes a polite suggestion to try the preceding action in “확인해 보세요”. With “확인해”, the whole expression means please check it or try checking it. You would use an action form plus “보세요” when recommending that someone try an action.

파일 “파일” means file or files, referring to the data that may have been synchronized. It is used without an object marker here because “대부분은” sets the topic. You would use it when talking about documents, images, or other saved computer data.

대부분은 “대부분은” means most of them, making most of the files the topic of the statement. “대부분” indicates the larger part of a group, and 은 marks that group for comparison or focus. You would use it when saying that most, but not necessarily all, items have a certain status.

이미 “이미” means already, indicating that the synchronization happened before the current point. It modifies “동기화되어 있었어요” to emphasize the completed prior state. You would use it when reporting that something has happened earlier than expected or before now.

동기화되어 “동기화되어” means synced or in a synchronized state, describing the files’ status. It is the form of “동기화되다” used before “있었어요”, which presents that status as continuing at the relevant past time. You would use it when data has been matched or updated across devices or services.

있었어요 “있었어요” means were in that state here, completing “동기화되어 있었어요” to say that the files were already synced. It presents the synchronized condition as a past state rather than a simple action. You would use it to describe where something was or what condition it was in at an earlier time.

전원은 “전원은” means as for the power, making the laptop’s power state the topic of the instruction. The topic marker 은 highlights the power state that should remain off. You would use it when giving advice about maintaining or changing a device’s power condition.

계속 “계속” means continuously or keep, showing that the laptop should remain off. It modifies “꺼 두고” and emphasizes continuation of the state. You would use it when telling someone to continue an action or maintain a condition.

두고 “두고” means leave it that way and, here, contributes to keeping the laptop off in “꺼 두고”. It is the connective form of “두다” used after an action or state to show that it is left maintained before the next instruction. You can use it after an action when something should remain in the resulting condition.

너무 “너무” means too, indicating that the time to start the laptop would be excessively soon. It modifies “빨리” in “너무 빨리”. You would use it before an adjective or adverb when describing an excessive degree.

빨리 “빨리” means quickly or soon, referring here to starting the laptop too soon after the spill. It modifies the attempted action “켜려고 하지 마세요”. You would use it when discussing speed or telling someone not to do something before enough time has passed.

켜려고 “켜려고” means trying or intending to turn it on in the expression “켜려고 하지 마세요”. It is the form of “켜다” used with “-(으)려고 하다”, which describes an intended or attempted action. You can use this pattern when saying that someone is about to do something or is trying to do it.

하지 “하지” is the first part of the prohibition “하지 마세요”, applying the command not to the preceding intended action “켜려고”. The construction “-지 마세요” means please do not do something. You would use it to politely tell someone not to perform an action.

마세요 “마세요” completes “하지 마세요”, making a polite prohibition meaning please do not. It follows the 지 form of the action being prohibited. You would use it for respectful warnings or instructions not to touch, open, start, or otherwise do something.

가져가서 “가져가서” means take it there and then, linking taking the laptop to the technician with asking about the next step. It is the connective form of “가져가다” and indicates the next action after taking it. You can use it to connect taking an item somewhere with what you do after arriving.

다음 “다음” means next, identifying the step that follows the current response to the spill. It modifies “단계” in “다음 단계”. You would use it when referring to the next step, item, time, or event in an order.

단계가 “단계가” means step as the subject of the embedded question about what comes next. The subject marker 가 identifies the step whose identity is being asked about. You would use “단계” when discussing one part of a process or a sequence of actions.

무엇인지 “무엇인지” means what it is, forming an embedded question about the identity of the next step. It is used in “다음 단계가 무엇인지” before the verb “물어보다”. You can use this pattern when asking or explaining what something is without making it a separate direct question.

물어볼게요 “물어볼게요” means I will ask, expressing the speaker’s intention to ask the technician. It combines “물어보다” with “-ㄹ게요”, which presents a decision or promise concerning the listener or current situation. You would use it when volunteering to ask someone for information or clarification.

기술자는 “기술자는” means the technician as the topic of the final statement. The topic marker 는 sets up what the technician can do. You would use it when introducing or contrasting the role of a technician in a repair or inspection situation.

손상을 “손상을” means the damage as the object that could be made worse. The object marker 을 appears with “손상을 악화시키다”, meaning to worsen the damage. You would use it when discussing damage to equipment, materials, or another object.

악화시키지 “악화시키지” means not make worse, referring to not increasing the existing damage. It is the negative connective form of “악화시키다” and is followed by “않고도”. You can use it in a pattern describing an action that is performed without worsening a problem or condition.

않고도 “않고도” means without doing so or even without doing, completing “악화시키지 않고도”. It indicates that the technician can inspect the laptop without making the damage worse. You would use “-지 않고도” when saying that something is possible without performing a particular action.

점검할 “점검할” means inspect or check in “점검할 수 있어요”. It is the form of “점검하다” used before “수” to express the ability or possibility of carrying out the inspection. You can use it in “점검할 수 있어요” when saying that a person can check equipment or a situation.

Grammar Points

-기 전에

기기를 만지기 전에 확인해 보세요.

GEE-gee-reul MAHN-jee-gee JUHN-eh HWA-gin-hae boh-SEH-yo.

Check before touching the device.

동사 어간에 -기 전에를 붙여 ‘~하기 전에’라는 시간적 순서를 나타냅니다.

-아/어 보다

기기를 말려 볼까요?

GEE-gee-reul MAHL-lyuh BOHL-kkah-yo?

Shall we try drying the device?

-아/어 보다 expresses trying an action. -볼까요? suggests doing it together.

Korean Vocabulary

근처 noun

GUHN-chuh nearby area; vicinity

끄다 verb

KKUH-dah to turn off 꺼 주세요

노트북 noun

NOH-tuh-book laptop

들어가다 verb

DUH-ruh-gah-dah to go in; to enter 들어갔어요

말리다 verb

MAHL-lee-dah to dry 말려 볼까요

뽑다 verb

PPOHP-ttah to pull out; to unplug 뽑고

쏟다 verb

SSOHT-ttah to spill 쏟았는데

액체 noun

EHK-cheh liquid

열 noun

YUHL heat

전원 noun

JUHN-wuhn power; power supply

즉시 adv

JUHK-sshee immediately

켜지다 verb

KYUH-jih-dah to be turned on 켜져 있으면

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Should I try to dry it with a hair dryer?

Show Answer

헤어드라이어로 말려 볼까요?

I am worried because my project files are on it.

Show Answer

프로젝트 파일이 그 노트북에 있어서 걱정돼요.

Most of the files were already synced.

Show Answer

파일 대부분은 이미 동기화되어 있었어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to spill

Show Answer

쏟았는데

to go in; to enter

Show Answer

들어갔어요

liquid

Show Answer

액체

nearby area; vicinity

Show Answer

근처