Adjusting a Jogging Routine for Sore Knees | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 조깅을 시작했는데, 달리고 나면 매번 무릎이 아파요.

   I started jogging, but my knees feel sore after each run.

   조깅

   jogging

   시작했는데

   started, but…

   달리고 나면

   after running

   매번

   each time

   무릎

   knee

   아파요

   feel sore

   More detail

   조깅 means jogging and is a noun in this sentence. The object marker -을 shows that it is what was started: 조깅을 시작하다 = “to start jogging.” Korean can use this loanword directly as a noun. 시작했는데 comes from 시작하다 (“to start”). The form 했- marks the past, and -는데 links this clause to what follows. Here it creates a background-plus-contrast flow, naturally like “I started jogging, but…” or “I started jogging, and…” depending on context. Example: 운동을 시작했는데 시간이 없어요. — “I started exercising, but I don’t have time.” 달리고 나면 is built from 달리다 (“to run”) plus -고 나면, a pattern meaning “after doing something” or “once something has been done.” The subject of the running is understood from context rather than stated in this form. Example: 밥을 먹고 나면 졸려요. — “After eating, I feel sleepy.” 매번 means “every time” or “each time.” It presents the following situation as recurring, not as a single event. In this utterance, it applies to the occasions after running: 매번 ... 아파요 means that the soreness occurs each time. 무릎 means “knee.” The subject marker -이 in 무릎이 marks the knee as the body part experiencing the condition. Korean often leaves number unmarked, so 무릎 can refer to one knee or knees; here the fixed translation supports the plural reading “my knees.” The possessive “my” is also understood from the speaker and is not separately expressed. 아파요 comes from 아프다, “to hurt” or “to be painful/sore.” 아프다 changes to the polite present form 아파요; the observed form is not an adjective derived from 무릎. With a body part as subject, 무릎이 아파요 means “my knee/knees hurt” or “my knee/knees feel sore.” Example: 발이 아파요. — “My foot hurts.” Together, 조깅을 시작했는데 gives the background “I started jogging,” while 달리고 나면 매번 sets up the repeated time condition “after every run.” The final chunk 무릎이 아파요 states the result: the speaker’s knees feel sore. The complete meaning is therefore: “I started jogging, but my knees feel sore after each run.”

2. 속도나 거리를 너무 빨리 늘리고 있을 수도 있어요.

   You may be increasing your pace or distance too quickly.

   속도나

   speed or pace

   거리를

   distance

   너무

   too

   빨리

   quickly

   늘리고

   increasing

   있을 수도 있어요

   may be

   More detail

   속도나: 속도 means speed or pace. The final -나 links alternatives, so the pattern 속도나 거리 means “speed or distance.” 속도 is a noun for how fast something is; for example, 속도가 빨라요 means “The speed is fast.” 거리를: 거리 means distance, and -를 marks it as the object of the action. In 거리를 늘리다, the meaning is “to increase the distance.” 너무: This adverb means “too” or “excessively,” showing that the degree is beyond what is appropriate here. Example: 너무 많이 달려요 means “I run too much.” 빨리: 빨리 means quickly or fast and describes how the increase is happening. It is the adverbial form related to 빠르다 (“to be fast”): 빠르다 describes a thing or situation, while 빨리 modifies an action. Example: 천천히 늘리세요 means “Increase it slowly.” 늘리고: Here 늘리다 means “to increase or extend something,” and it takes an object such as 속도 or 거리. The ending -고 here is part of the progressive pattern -고 있다, not merely a general link to the next clause. Compare 거리가 늘어요, “The distance increases,” with 거리를 늘려요, “Someone increases the distance.” 있을 수도 있어요: The pattern -을 수도 있다 expresses possibility: “may” or “might.” In this sentence, it combines with the preceding progressive form as 늘리고 있을 수도 있어요, meaning “may be increasing.” 있을 is the form of 있다 used before 수도, and 있어요 is its polite present form. The statement presents the explanation as possible rather than certain. Example: 비가 올 수도 있어요 means “It may rain.” Together, 속도나 거리를 gives the alternatives “pace or distance” as the things being increased. 너무 빨리 늘리고 있어요 describes the increase as currently happening too quickly, and -을 수도 있어요 makes that explanation tentative. Thus the utterance means: “You may be increasing your pace or distance too quickly.”

3. 빨리 실력이 늘고 싶어서 너무 무리했어요.

   I wanted to improve fast, so I pushed myself too hard.

   빨리

   quickly

   실력

   skill; proficiency

   늘고 싶어서

   because I wanted to improve

   너무

   too; excessively

   무리했어요

   pushed myself too hard

   More detail

   빨리 means “quickly” here and modifies the desired improvement. It is the adverb form used to describe speed. For example, 빨리 와요 means “Come quickly.” 실력 means ability or proficiency, especially a level of skill that can improve through practice. In this sentence it refers to the speaker’s skill level, without specifying a particular field. A useful related contrast is 실력 “proficiency” versus 속도 “speed”: the context mentions increasing speed, but the fixed sentence itself says the speaker wanted their proficiency to improve. 늘고 싶어서 contains 늘다 “to increase or improve,” -고 싶다 “to want to do,” and -아서/어서 “because, so.” 늘다 is the base form; 늘고 connects it to the desire expression, and 싶어서 gives the reason. Thus 실력이 늘고 싶다 literally presents the wish for one’s ability to improve, and in natural English means “to want to improve.” The ending -어서 connects that wish as the reason for the next clause. Example: 한국어 실력이 늘고 싶어서 매일 연습해요. — “I want to improve my Korean, so I practice every day.” 너무 means “too” or “excessively.” It indicates that the degree of the following action went beyond an appropriate limit. In this sentence it modifies 무리했어요, so the excessive degree applies to pushing oneself, not to the speed expressed by 빨리. 무리했어요 comes from 무리하다, “to overexert oneself” or “to do more than is reasonable.” -했어요 is the polite past form: 무리하다 → 무리했어요. The form describes a completed action, and the fixed translation identifies the actor as the speaker: “I pushed myself too hard.” Korean does not require a separate first-person subject here when the context makes it clear. Example: 어제 너무 무리했어요. — “I overexerted myself too much yesterday.” Together, 빨리 실력이 늘고 싶어서 gives the reason: “because I wanted my proficiency to improve quickly.” 너무 무리했어요 gives the resulting action: “I pushed myself too hard.” The complete utterance therefore means, “I wanted to improve fast, so I pushed myself too hard.”

4. 몸이 아직 적응하지 않았다면 부상으로 이어질 수 있어요.

   That can lead to injury if your body has not adapted.

   몸

   body

   아직

   still; yet

   적응하지 않았다면

   if [it] has not adapted

   부상

   injury

   이어질 수 있어요

   can lead to

   More detail

   몸 means “body” here. In the fixed translation, it is understood as the listener’s body; Korean does not need a separate possessive word in this expression. 몸 can also refer more broadly to one’s physical condition, but this sentence focuses on whether the body has adapted. 아직 means “still” or “yet.” With the negative predicate that follows, it emphasizes that the adaptation has not happened by the relevant time. Compare the reusable contrast: 아직 준비하지 않았어요 means “I’m not ready yet,” while 벌써 준비했어요 means “I’m already ready.” 적응하지 않았다면 is the conditional form of 적응하다 (“to adapt”). Its parts are 적응하- + -지 않다 (“not adapt”) + -았다 (a completed/non-occurring state viewed from the relevant time) + -면/-다면 (“if”). Thus, 적응하지 않았다면 means “if [the body] has not adapted.” The subject is understood from 몸; the form itself does not add a separate English pronoun. Example: 몸이 환경에 적응하지 않았다면 쉬어야 해요. — “If your body has not adapted to the environment, you should rest.” 부상 is “injury.” It is a noun used here as the result of what may happen. Example: 부상을 예방하려면 준비 운동을 하세요. — “To prevent injury, do a warm-up.” 이어질 수 있어요 comes from 이어지다, “to lead to” or “result in,” plus -(으)ㄹ 수 있다, which expresses possibility, and polite 있어요. The quoted span itself means “can lead to”; the destination or result is supplied by the neighboring 부상으로. In 부상으로 이어지다, -으로 marks what something leads to or develops into. Example: 작은 실수가 큰 문제로 이어질 수 있어요. — “A small mistake can lead to a big problem.” Together, 몸이 아직 적응하지 않았다면 sets the condition: “if your body has not adapted yet.” 부상으로 이어질 수 있어요 states the possible result: “that can lead to injury.” The full utterance therefore means: “That can lead to injury if your body has not adapted.” The conditional clause comes first in Korean, while the possible-result clause follows it. -다면 gives the sentence a conditional, cautionary framing rather than asserting that an injury will definitely occur.

5. 운동을 가볍게 하고 스트레칭을 더 해야 할까요?

   Should I make the routine lighter and add stretching?

   운동을

   exercise or workout

   가볍게

   lightly

   하고

   do and

   스트레칭을

   stretching

   더

   more

   해야 할까요?

   should I do ...?

   More detail

   운동을 is 운동 “exercise/workout” with the object particle 을. The noun commonly appears in the reusable pattern 운동을 하다, “to exercise,” where 하다 supplies the action. Example: 운동을 해요. — “I exercise.” 가볍게 means “lightly” here, describing a reduced or gentle intensity for the exercise. It is the adverbial form of 가볍다 “to be light”; compare 가벼운 운동, “light exercise.” Example: 오늘은 가볍게 운동해요. — “I exercise lightly today.” 하고 is the connective form of 하다: 하- + -고. In 운동을 가볍게 하고, it links the exercise action to the next action with “and.” The useful pattern is A하고 B, “do A and B.” Example: 물을 마시고 쉬어요. — “I drink water and rest.” 스트레칭을 is 스트레칭 “stretching” with the object particle 을. It is another object of 하다, as in 스트레칭을 하다, “to stretch.” Example: 스트레칭을 해요. — “I stretch.” 더 means “more” or “additionally.” In this sentence it indicates adding stretching to the action already mentioned, rather than identifying a specific amount. Example: 물을 더 마셔요. — “I drink more water.” 해야 할까요? asks whether the speaker should do something. It contains 해야, from 하다 with -아/어야 하다, a pattern expressing necessity or what one ought to do, followed by 할까요?, a question form used to ask about the speaker’s appropriate action. Thus 스트레칭을 해야 할까요? means “Should I stretch?” Example: 오늘은 쉬어야 할까요? — “Should I rest today?” Together, 운동을 가볍게 하고 presents doing the exercise lightly as the first action, and 스트레칭을 더 해야 할까요? asks whether the speaker should additionally do stretching. The complete utterance therefore asks, “Should I make the routine lighter and add stretching?”

6. 쉬는 날을 만들고 더 짧게 달리면 몸이 회복할 시간을 가질 수 있어요.

   Rest days and shorter runs would give your body time to recover.

   쉬는

   resting

   날

   day

   만들고

   make and

   더 짧게

   for a shorter time

   달리면

   if you run

   몸

   body

   회복할

   to recover

   시간

   time

   가질 수 있어요

   can have

   More detail

   쉬는: In this sentence, 쉬는 means “resting” and modifies the noun that follows it. It is the present attributive form of 쉬다 (“to rest”): 쉬다 → 쉬는. For example, 쉬는 시간 means “break time.” 날: 날 means “day.” Here, 쉬는 날 is “a day off” or “a rest day.” The following particle 을 marks this noun phrase as the object of 만들고; the particle is not included in the selected quote. 만들고: 만들고 means “make and.” It comes from 만들다 (“to make”) with connective -고, which links this action to the next one: 쉬는 날을 만들고 = “make rest days and …” The subject is understood from context rather than stated in this verb form. 더 짧게: 짧게 is the adverbial form of 짧다 (“short”), and 더 means “more.” Together they mean “shorter” or “for a shorter distance/time,” depending on what is being described. Here it modifies 달리면, so the running is to be shorter. This is different from 짧은, the attributive form used before a noun, as in 짧은 달리기 (“short running” or “a short run”). 달리면: 달리면 means “if/when [you] run.” It is formed from 달리다 (“to run”) plus conditional -면. In this sentence, 더 짧게 달리면 means “if you run shorter distances” or, more naturally in the fixed meaning, “if you run for shorter periods/distances.” The understood subject is the person being addressed; Korean commonly leaves such a subject unspoken when context supplies it. 몸: 몸 means “body.” With the following subject particle 이, 몸이 is the grammatical subject of the later clause: the body is the thing that can have recovery time. The particle is outside the selected quote. 회복할: 회복할 means “to recover” in the form used before a noun. It comes from 회복하다 (“to recover”) and uses the prospective attributive form -ㄹ, so 회복할 시간 means “time to recover,” literally “time that [the body] will recover.” This form is not the main finite verb; it modifies 시간. 시간: 시간 means “time.” In 회복할 시간, it is the time needed for the body to recover. The object particle 을 follows it in the sentence, marking the whole noun phrase as the object of 가질 수 있어요. 가질 수 있어요: This means “can have.” 가질 is the prospective form of 가지다 (“to have”), followed by 수 (“way/possibility”) and 있어요 (“there is/is possible” in this construction). -ㄹ 수 있다 expresses ability or possibility, so 시간을 가질 수 있어요 means “can have time.” The polite ending -어요 makes the statement polite and conversational. Putting the parts together: 쉬는 날을 만들고 means “make rest days,” and 더 짧게 달리면 means “if you run shorter.” The result is 몸이 회복할 시간을 가질 수 있어요: “your body can have time to recover.” Thus the whole utterance means, “Rest days and shorter runs would give your body time to recover.”

7. 제 목표는 속도가 아니라 꾸준함이어야 할 것 같아요.

   Maybe my goal should be consistency, not speed.

   제

   my

   목표

   goal

   속도

   speed

   아니라

   rather than

   꾸준함

   consistency

   이어야 할 것 같아요

   seems it should be

   More detail

   제 means “my” here. It is the first-person pronoun 저 combined with the possessive particle 의, written in the contracted form 제. For example: 제 이름은 민수예요. — “My name is Minsu.” 목표 means “goal.” It is a noun that can be used for aims or targets. For example: 목표를 정했어요. — “I set a goal.” 속도 means “speed.” In this sentence it is the noun being contrasted with 꾸준함, not the subject of the whole sentence. For example: 속도를 조금 낮추세요. — “Lower the speed a little.” 아니라 is the connective form of 아니다, used in the pattern A가 아니라 B — “not A, but B” or “rather than A, B.” Here, 속도가 아니라 introduces what the goal should not be: speed. The following 꾸준함 supplies the contrasting choice. For example: 커피가 아니라 차를 마셔요. — “I drink tea, not coffee.” 꾸준함 means “consistency” or “steadiness.” It is a noun formed from the descriptive word 꾸준하다 (“to be consistent/steady”) with the nominalizing ending -ㅁ; it names the quality of continuing steadily. For example: 꾸준함이 중요해요. — “Consistency is important.” 이어야 할 것 같아요 combines a noun predicate with a tentative “should” expression. 이다 means “to be”; after a noun, its form here is 이어야, expressing “should be.” 할 is the modifier form of 하다 in -아/어야 하다, the construction for obligation or necessity, and 것 같아요 softens the statement to “it seems” or “I think.” Thus, this ending presents the judgment as a tentative view rather than an absolute assertion. For example: 오늘은 집에 있어야 할 것 같아요. — “I think I should stay home today.” Putting the parts together, 제 목표는 means “as for my goal,” and 속도가 아니라 꾸준함이어야 할 것 같아요 means “I think it should be consistency rather than speed.” The complete utterance therefore means: “Maybe my goal should be consistency, not speed.”

8. 처음 달리기를 시작한 사람에게는 그 목표가 더 현실적이에요.

   That is more realistic for a new runner.

   처음

   at first; initially

   달리기를

   running

   시작한

   started

   사람

   person

   그

   that

   목표

   goal

   더 현실적이에요

   is more realistic

   More detail

   처음: In this sentence, 처음 means “for the first time” or “as a beginner,” modifying 달리기를 시작한. It helps describe someone at the beginning of running, rather than simply meaning “at first” as a separate time expression. 달리기를: 달리기 is the noun “running,” and 를 marks it as the object of 시작하다 (“to start”). Korean can form activity nouns such as 달리기 from the verb 달리다 (“to run”). Example: 달리기를 좋아해요. — “I like running.” 시작한: This comes from 시작하다 (“to start”). The ending -ㄴ makes a past or completed action modify a noun: 시작한 사람 means “a person who started.” Compare 시작하는 사람 (“a person who is starting” or “who starts”) and 시작할 사람 (“a person who will start”). 사람: This means “person.” Here, 달리기를 시작한 describes the person. The following 에게는 adds the meaning “for/as for” that person and sets the relevant viewpoint; 는 adds contrast or topic emphasis. 그: Before 목표, 그 means “that” and identifies the goal being discussed. It functions as a determiner here, so it directly modifies the noun rather than standing alone as a pronoun. 목표: This means “goal” or “objective.” 그 목표 is therefore “that goal.” In the supplied meaning, it is the goal under discussion, not a newly specified goal. 더 현실적이에요: 더 means “more,” and 현실적이에요 is the polite present form of 현실적이다, “to be realistic.” Together they mean “is more realistic.” 더 creates a comparison with an understood alternative or standard; the sentence does not state exactly what that comparison is. The useful pattern is A가 더 현실적이에요 — “A is more realistic.” Putting the parts together, 처음 달리기를 시작한 사람에게는 means “for someone who has just started running,” 그 목표가 means “that goal,” and 더 현실적이에요 means “is more realistic.” The whole utterance is: “That goal is more realistic for a new runner.”

9. 걷는 시간을 넣고 더 느린 속도로 달리는 게 더 좋은 계획일 것 같아요.

   An easier pace, with walking breaks, would be a better plan.

   걷는

   walking

   시간

   time

   넣고

   include, and

   더 느린

   slower

   속도

   speed; pace

   달리는

   running

   게

   nominalizing the action as the subject

   더 좋은

   better

   계획

   plan

   것 같아요

   seems like

   More detail

   걷는 comes from 걷다, “to walk.” It is the present attributive form, so it describes 시간: “walking time” or “time for walking.” Example: 걷는 시간이 필요해요. — “I need time for walking.” 시간 means “time.” Here it is time set aside for walking, rather than a clock time or a specific hour. 넣고 comes from 넣다, “to put in” or “to include,” with the connective ending -고. Here 걷는 시간을 넣고 means “including walking time and …” Example: 휴식 시간을 넣고 운동해요. — “I exercise while including rest time.” 더 느린 contains 느린, the attributive form of 느리다, “to be slow,” together with 더, “more.” The whole expression means “slower” and describes 속도. 느린 속도 means “a slow pace,” while 더 느린 속도 means “a slower pace.” 속도 means “speed” or “pace.” With running, it refers to how fast someone runs. The following -로 in 속도로 marks the manner or rate, so 더 느린 속도로 means “at a slower pace.” 달리는 comes from 달리다, “to run.” It is the present attributive form. In 달리는 게, the running activity is presented as what is being evaluated. Example: 천천히 달리는 게 좋아요. — “Running slowly is good.” 게 is the contracted form of 것이 in this construction: 달리는 것이 becomes 달리는 게. It nominalizes the preceding action and marks it as the subject of the evaluation. The pattern -는 게 좋다 commonly means that doing something is good or preferable. 더 좋은 contains 좋은, the attributive form of 좋다, “to be good,” and 더, “more.” It means “better” here. The adjective carrying the inflection is 좋다; 계획 is the noun it describes. 좋은 계획 means “a good plan,” while 더 좋은 계획 means “a better plan.” 계획 means “plan.” Here it is the thing evaluated as better: the plan involving walking time and running at a slower pace. 것 같아요 is the polite form of the pattern 것 같다. After a clause, it expresses the speaker’s assessment as “it seems that …” or “it seems like …,” rather than absolute certainty. In 더 좋은 계획일 것 같아요, 일 is the form of 이다 used before 것 같아요, giving the meaning “it seems to be a better plan.” Together, 걷는 시간을 넣고 introduces walking time, 더 느린 속도로 달리는 게 presents running at a slower pace as the activity being evaluated, and 더 좋은 계획일 것 같아요 gives a tentative assessment. The whole utterance means: “It seems like a better plan to include walking time and run at a slower pace.”

10. 취미는 건강에 도움이 되어야지, 건강을 해치면 안 돼요.

    A hobby should support your health, not damage it.

    취미

    hobby

    건강

    health

    도움이 되어야지

    should be helpful

    건강

    health

    해치면

    if it harms

    안 돼요

    is not allowed

    More detail

    취미 means “hobby” here. It is a noun; the topic marker 는 makes “as for a hobby” the topic. Example: 취미가 뭐예요? means “What is your hobby?” 건강 means “health.” In 건강에, the particle 에 marks the area or thing affected: 건강에 도움이 되다 is the useful pattern “to be helpful to one’s health.” The same noun appears again later, where the object particle marks it as the thing affected by the following action. 도움이 되어야지 contains the pattern 도움이 되다, literally “become help,” meaning “be helpful” or “support.” Here, 되어야지 is formed from 되다 plus the ending -어야지, which expresses that something ought to be so or is necessary, with -지 giving an emphatic, concluding tone. The observed form is based on 되다, not on 도움. 건강 in the second occurrence again means “health.” Here, 을 marks it as the object of the action: the hobby must not harm health. 해치면 comes from the verb 해치다, “to harm” or “to damage.” The ending -면 makes a condition: 해치면 means “if it harms.” Within 해치면 안 되다, the conditional clause means “if it harms / harming is not allowed.” Example: 환경을 해치면 안 돼요. means “You must not harm the environment.” 안 돼요 is the polite present form of 안 되다, used here to say that something is not allowed or should not happen. With a preceding conditional verb, -면 안 돼요 forms a prohibition: “must not” or “should not.” Together, 취미는 건강에 도움이 되어야지 sets the standard that a hobby should support health. 건강을 해치면 안 돼요 adds the prohibition that it must not damage health. The whole utterance therefore means: “A hobby should support your health, not damage it.”