About This Lesson
Use Staying Safe During Poor Air Quality to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
오늘은 공기가 답답하게 느껴지고 대기 질이 나쁠 수도 있어요.
oh-NEU-run gong-gee-ga dap-TTAH-pa-geh nuh-KYUH-jee-go dae-gee JEE-ree na-PPUL SOO-do ee-SSUH-yo. The air feels heavy today, and air quality may be poor.
B
그렇다면 야외 운동은 좋은 생각이 아닐 수도 있겠네요.
guh-ruh-TAH-myun YAH-weh oon-DONG-eun JOH-eun saeng-GAH-gee ah-NIL SOO-do it-KKET-neh-yo. Outdoor exercise might not be a good idea, then.
A
공원에서 달리려고 했어요.
gong-WON-eh-suh dal-LEE-ryuh-go hae-SSUH-yo. I was planning to run in the park.
B
오염 때문에 불편하면 대신 실내 운동을 선택하세요.
oh-YUM ttae-MOO-neh bool-PYUN-ha-myun dae-SHIN shil-LAE oon-DONG-eul suhn-TAEK-ha-se-yo. If pollution bothers you, choose an indoor workout instead.
A
공원보다 덜 편안하게 느껴지긴 하지만 헬스장을 이용할 수도 있어요.
gong-WON-bo-da dul pyun-AHN-ha-geh nuh-KYUH-jee-gin ha-JEE-man hel-SSEU-jang-eul ee-YONG-hal SOO-do ee-SSUH-yo. I could use the gym, although it feels less relaxing than the park.
B
실내에서 운동하는 것이 오염된 공기를 마시는 것보다 건강에 더 좋아요.
shil-LAE-eh-suh oon-DONG-ha-neun guh-SHEE oh-YUM-dwen gong-GEE-reul ma-SHEE-neun guh-BWOH-da gun-GANG-eh duh JOH-ah-yo. Training indoors is healthier than breathing poor air.
A
밖에 걸어 나가야 한다면 마스크를 써야 할까요?
BAK-keh guh-RUH na-GAH-ya han-da-MYUN MAH-suh-kuh-rul SSUH-ya hal-KKAH-yo. Should I wear a mask if I need to walk outside?
B
마스크가 도움이 될 수 있고 지역 보건 안내에서 추가 예방 조치를 권할 수도 있어요.
MAH-suh-kuh-ga doo-OO-mee DWEL ssoo EET-koh jee-YUK boh-GUN an-NAE-eh-suh CHOO-ga yeh-BANG joh-CHEE-reul gwon-HAL SOO-do ee-SSUH-yo. A mask can help, and local health advice may suggest extra precautions.
A
공기가 좋아질 때까지 달리기를 미루는 것이 더 안전해 보여요.
gong-GEE-ga JOH-ah-jil ttae-KKAH-jee dal-LEE-gee-reul mee-ROO-neun guh-SHEE duh an-JEON-hae bo-YUH-yo. Postponing the run until the air improves seems safer.
B
그러면 운동 때문에 또 다른 건강 문제가 생기는 것을 막을 수 있어요.
guh-ruh-MYUN oon-DONG ttae-MOO-neh tto DAH-reun gun-GANG moon-JEH-ga saeng-GEE-neun guh-SEUL MAH-geul SOO ee-SSUH-yo. That keeps exercise from turning into another health problem.Word by Word
오늘은
오늘은 means today in this dialogue, with the topic marker 은 showing that today is the time being discussed. It is useful for setting the time of a situation, as in 오늘은 공기가 답답하게 느껴져요.
공기가
공기가 means the air as the subject of the feeling described here. The subject marker 가 shows that the air itself feels 답답하게, or stuffy.
답답하게
답답하게 describes the air as feeling stuffy, heavy, or oppressive. It is the adverbial form of 답답하다 and comes before 느껴지고 to describe how the air feels.
느껴지고
느껴지고 means feels and in 오늘은 공기가 답답하게 느껴지고. It connects this observation about the air to the following statement about air quality.
대기
대기 means air or atmosphere here as part of 대기 질, air quality. 대기 질 is a common expression for discussing the condition of the air.
질이
질이 means quality as the subject in 대기 질이 나쁠 수도 있어요. The marker 이 shows that the quality of the air may be poor.
나쁠
나쁠 means be poor or bad in 대기 질이 나쁠 수도 있어요. It is the form of 나쁘다 used before 수도 있어요 to express a possible condition.
수도
수도 contributes the meaning may or might in 나쁠 수도 있어요. The reusable pattern is adjective or verb plus ㄹ 수도 있다 for a possible situation.
있어요
있어요 completes the possibility expression 나쁠 수도 있어요, meaning that the condition may exist or may be true. It is a polite form used at the end of the sentence.
그렇다면
그렇다면 means then or if that is the case. It connects the poor-air-quality information to the suggestion that outdoor exercise may not be a good idea.
야외
야외 means outdoors or outdoor in 야외 운동. It identifies exercise done outside rather than inside.
운동은
운동은 means exercise as the topic in 야외 운동은 좋은 생각이 아닐 수도 있겠네요. The topic marker 은 sets outdoor exercise up for the following evaluation.
좋은
좋은 means good in 좋은 생각, a good idea. It is the noun-modifying form of 좋다 and comes directly before 생각.
생각이
생각이 means idea as the subject in 좋은 생각이 아닐 수도 있겠네요. The marker 이 identifies the idea being evaluated as possibly not good.
아닐
아닐 means not be in 좋은 생각이 아닐 수도 있겠네요. It is the form of 아니다 used before 수도 to express that something may not be the case.
있겠네요
있겠네요 adds a tentative conclusion or realization to the preceding possibility expression 아닐 수도. In this dialogue, 아닐 수도 있겠네요 politely suggests that outdoor exercise may not be a good idea.
공원에서
공원에서 means at or in the park, the place where the planned running would happen. The particle 에서 marks the location of an activity.
달리려고
달리려고 means intending or planning to run in 공원에서 달리려고 했어요. It comes from 달리다 and shows the purpose or intention leading into 했어요.
했어요
했어요 is the polite past form of 하다 in 달리려고 했어요. Together with 달리려고, it says that the speaker had planned or intended to run.
오염
오염 means pollution or contamination in 오염 때문에 불편하면. Here it refers to pollution causing discomfort when considering exercise outside.
때문에
때문에 means because of and follows the noun 오염 in 오염 때문에. The pattern N 때문에 gives the reason for a condition or action.
불편하면
불편하면 means if you find it uncomfortable or bothersome in 오염 때문에 불편하면. It is the conditional form of 불편하다 and introduces the condition for choosing indoor exercise.
대신
대신 means instead in 대신 실내 운동을 선택하세요. It signals that indoor exercise is being offered as the alternative to outdoor exercise.
실내
실내 means indoors or indoor in 실내 운동. It describes a place or activity inside a building and contrasts with 야외.
운동을
운동을 means exercise or a workout as the object of 선택하세요. The marker 을 shows what should be chosen.
선택하세요
선택하세요 means choose in this polite request. It can be reused with an object, as in 실내 운동을 선택하세요.
공원보다
공원보다 means than the park in 공원보다 덜 편안하게 느껴지다. 보다 marks the park as the point of comparison.
덜
덜 means less in 덜 편안하게, showing a lower degree of comfort. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb to form a comparison.
편안하게
편안하게 means comfortably or in a relaxed way in 덜 편안하게 느껴지긴 하지만. It is the adverbial form of 편안하다 and describes how the gym feels compared with the park.
느껴지긴
느껴지긴 acknowledges that something does feel a certain way in 느껴지긴 하지만. In the dialogue, 느껴지긴 하지만 admits the gym feels less relaxing before presenting its benefit.
하지만
하지만 means but or although and creates the contrast in 느껴지긴 하지만. It allows the speaker to acknowledge a disadvantage and then state that the gym can still be used.
헬스장을
헬스장을 means the gym as the object in 헬스장을 이용할 수도 있어요. The marker 을 shows the place or facility that can be used.
이용할
이용할 means use in 헬스장을 이용할 수도 있어요. It is the form of 이용하다 used before 수도 있어요 to express the possibility of using the gym.
실내에서
실내에서 means indoors as the place where exercise takes place. The particle 에서 marks the location of the activity in 실내에서 운동하는 것이.
운동하는
운동하는 means exercising or training in 실내에서 운동하는 것이. It is the noun-modifying form of 운동하다 and describes the action that is being evaluated.
것이
것이 turns the action 실내에서 운동하는 into the subject of the sentence. In 운동하는 것이 건강에 더 좋아요, it means the act of exercising indoors.
오염된
오염된 means polluted or contaminated in 오염된 공기. It is the form of 오염되다 that modifies 공기.
공기를
공기를 means air as the object in 오염된 공기를 마시는 것보다. The marker 를 shows the air being breathed in.
마시는
마시는 means breathing in here because it modifies 오염된 공기를. It is the noun-modifying form of 마시다 in the comparison with exercising indoors.
것보다
것보다 means than doing the action described before it. In 오염된 공기를 마시는 것보다, it sets breathing polluted air as the comparison point.
건강에
건강에 means for health or beneficial to health in 건강에 더 좋아요. The particle 에 marks the area for which something is better.
더
더 means more in 건강에 더 좋아요. It marks the comparative meaning that indoor exercise is better for health than breathing polluted air.
좋아요
좋아요 means is good or is better in 건강에 더 좋아요. Here it describes the health benefit of indoor exercise, with 더 making the comparison explicit.
밖에
밖에 means outside in 밖에 걸어 나가야 한다면. It identifies the destination or setting when the speaker needs to go out.
걸어
걸어 means walking in 걸어 나가야 한다면. It is the connective form of 걷다 and combines with 나가다 to express walking out.
나가야
나가야 means must or need to go out in 밖에 걸어 나가야 한다면. The form 나가야 introduces a necessary condition before 한다면.
한다면
한다면 means if one has to do so in 나가야 한다면. Together with 나가야, it forms the condition if I need to go outside.
마스크를
마스크를 means a mask as the object of wearing in 마스크를 써야 할까요. The marker 를 shows what the speaker is considering wearing.
써야
써야 means should or must wear in 마스크를 써야 할까요. It is the form of 쓰다 used with 어야 to express necessity or what is advisable.
할까요
할까요 forms a polite question asking should I or shall I. In 써야 할까요, it asks whether wearing a mask is the appropriate action.
마스크가
마스크가 means the mask as the subject in 마스크가 도움이 될 수 있고. The marker 가 identifies the mask as what may provide help.
도움이
도움이 means help in 도움이 될 수 있고. In the expression 도움이 되다, it is the thing that provides assistance.
될
될 means be or become in 도움이 될 수 있고, where the mask can be helpful. It is the form of 되다 used before 수 있다.
수
수 contributes the meaning possibility or ability in 도움이 될 수 있고. The pattern V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 expresses that something can happen or be possible.
있고
있고 means can be, and in 도움이 될 수 있고. It connects the possibility that a mask may help with the following information about local health guidance.
지역
지역 means local area or region in 지역 보건 안내. It specifies that the health guidance comes from the relevant local area.
보건
보건 means public health in 지역 보건 안내. It describes guidance related to health and safety in the local community.
안내에서
안내에서 means in or from the guidance in 지역 보건 안내에서. The particle 에서 marks the source or context from which a recommendation may come.
추가
추가 means additional or extra in 추가 예방 조치. It shows that the precautions go beyond the basic step already being discussed.
예방
예방 means prevention in 예방 조치. It describes measures intended to prevent a health problem or reduce risk.
조치를
조치를 means measures or precautions as the object of 권할. In 추가 예방 조치를 권하다, it refers to extra preventive actions that may be recommended.
권할
권할 means recommend in 추가 예방 조치를 권할 수도 있어요. It is the form of 권하다 used before 수도 있어요 to express that a recommendation is possible.
좋아질
좋아질 means improve or get better in 공기가 좋아질 때까지. It is the form of 좋아지다 used before 때까지 to describe the air becoming better.
때까지
때까지 means until the time or point when something happens. In 공기가 좋아질 때까지, it sets the time limit for postponing the run.
달리기를
달리기를 means running as the object of postponing in 달리기를 미루는 것이. The ending 기 turns 달리다 into the activity running, and 를 marks it as the object.
미루는
미루는 means postponing in 달리기를 미루는 것이. It is the noun-modifying form of 미루다 and describes the action being considered safer.
안전해
안전해 means safe in 안전해 보여요. It is the conversational form of 안전하다 and describes the choice to postpone the run.
보여요
보여요 contributes the meaning seems or looks in 안전해 보여요. It makes the speaker's judgment sound like an appearance or impression rather than an absolute statement.
그러면
그러면 means then or that way and introduces the result of postponing the run. It connects the safer choice to preventing another health problem.
운동
운동 means exercise in 운동 때문에. Here it refers to the exercise that could cause an additional health problem if done in poor air.
또
또 means another or additionally in 또 다른 건강 문제. It shows that the health problem would be an additional problem beyond the original concern.
다른
다른 means another or different and modifies 건강 문제 in 또 다른 건강 문제가. It identifies the possible problem as a separate one.
건강
건강 means health in 건강 문제. Together, 건강 문제 refers to a problem related to health.
문제가
문제가 means problem as the subject in 건강 문제가 생기는 것을 막을 수 있어요. The marker 가 identifies the problem as what may arise.
생기는
생기는 means arising or developing in 건강 문제가 생기는 것. It is the noun-modifying form of 생기다 and describes a health problem coming into existence.
것을
것을 turns the event 건강 문제가 생기는 into an object. In 생기는 것을 막다, it means preventing that event from happening.
막을
막을 means prevent or stop in 생기는 것을 막을 수 있어요. It is the form of 막다 used before 수 있어요 to express that the event can be prevented.
Grammar Points
A/V-(으)면
야외 운동이 불편하면 실내 운동을 선택하세요.
YAH-weh oon-DONG-ee bool-PYUN-ha-myun shil-LAE oon-DONG-eul suhn-TAEK-ha-se-yo.If outdoor exercise is uncomfortable, choose indoor exercise.
-(으)면 forms a condition meaning “if” or “when.”
A-게
공기가 답답하게 느껴지고 대기 질이 나쁘다.
gong-GEE-ga dap-TTAH-pa-geh nuh-KYUH-jee-go dae-GEE JEE-ree nahp-PPUH-da.The air feels stuffy, and the air quality is poor.
Adjectives take -게 to describe how something feels or happens: 답답하다 becomes 답답하게.
Korean Vocabulary
공기
noun
gong-GEE
air
공기가
공원
noun
gong-WON
park
공원에서
나쁘다
adj
nahp-PPUH-da
to be poor or bad
나쁠
느껴지다
verb
nuh-KYUH-jee-da
to feel; to seem
느껴지고
달리다
verb
dal-LEE-da
to run
달리려고
답답하다
adj
dahp-TTAH-pa-da
to feel stuffy or oppressive
답답하게
대기 질
phrase
dae-GEE JEEL
air quality
불편하다
adj
bool-PYUN-ha-da
to be uncomfortable; to be bothered
불편하면
야외
noun
YAH-weh
outdoors; outdoor
오염
noun
oh-YUM
pollution; contamination
운동
noun
oon-DONG
exercise
운동은
좋은 생각
phrase
JOH-eun saeng-GAHK
good idea
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
I was planning to run in the park.
Show Answer
공원에서 달리려고 했어요.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
park
Show Answer
공원에서to feel; to seem
Show Answer
느껴지고to feel stuffy or oppressive
Show Answer
답답하게to run