Solving a Plant Care Problem | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: At home, two adults troubleshoot a wilting plant by checking watering, drainage, light, and repotting..

EN → KO / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Solving a Plant Care Problem to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

제가 자주 물을 주는데도 제 식물이 시들고 있어요.

cheh-GAH cha-JOO moo-reul joo-NEHN-deh-doh jeh SHING-moo-ree shee-deul-GOH ee-SUH-yoh My plant is wilting, even though I water it often.
B

물을 너무 적게 준 것보다 너무 많이 준 것일 수 있어요.

moo-reul Nuh-moo JUK-keh joon gut-BOH-dah Nuh-moo MAH-nee joon guh-SHEEL ssoo ee-SUH-yoh It may have too much water rather than too little.
A

물을 더 주면 식물이 회복하는 데 도움이 될 거라고 생각했어요.

moo-reul duh JOO-myun SHING-moo-ree hweh-boh-KAH-neun deh doh-oom-ee dwel guh-RAH-goh saeng-gak-HAE-suh-yoh I thought more water would help it recover.
B

배수 상태를 확인하고 흙을 조금 말리세요.

beh-SOO sahng-TAE-reul hwah-GEEN-hah-goh HEUL-geul joh-GEUM mahl-lee-SEH-yoh Check the drainage and let the soil dry a little.
A

화분 바닥에 구멍이 없는데, 그게 문제일 수도 있어요.

hwa-boon bah-dah-geh goo-muhng-ee eom-NEUN-deh, guh-GEH moon-jeh-eel soo-doh ee-SUH-yoh The pot has no hole at the bottom, which may be the problem.
B

물이 빠져나갈 곳이 없으면 뿌리가 상할 수 있어요.

moo-ree PPAH-jyuh-nah-gahl goh-see up-SSEU-myun PPOO-ree-gah sahng-hahl ssoo ee-SUH-yoh Roots can suffer when water has nowhere to escape.
A

제 식물도 창문 가까이 옮겨야 할까요?

jeh SHING-mool-doh chahng-moon gah-KKAH-ee ohm-GYUH-yah hahl-KKAH-yoh Should I move it closer to the window too?
B

무엇이 도움이 되는지 알 수 있도록 한 번에 한 가지씩 바꿔 보세요.

moo-UH-shee doh-oom-ee dweh-neun-jee ahl ssoo ee-TTOH-rohk hahn BUH-neh hahn GAH-jee-ssik BAH-kkwoh boh-SEH-yoh Try changing one thing at a time so you can tell what helps.
A

그럼 식물을 다른 화분에 옮겨 심고 이번 주에는 물을 덜 줄게요.

guh-RUHM SHING-moo-reul dah-reun hwa-boon-eh ohm-GYUH shim-KKOH ee-buhn JOO-eh-neun moo-reul duhl jool-KKAE-yoh Then I will repot it and water it less this week.
B

식물 관리는 대부분 관찰하면서 조금씩 조정하는 거예요.

SHING-mool GWAHL-lee-neun dae-boo-boon gwahn-chahl-ha-myuhn-suh joh-geum-ssik joh-jung-ha-neun guh-yeh-yoh Plant care is mostly observation and small adjustments.

Word by Word

제가 In '제가 자주 물을 주는데도', 제가 means 'I' as the subject of giving the plant water. The subject marker 이 is attached after 저, producing 제가 in this expression. Use it when clearly identifying yourself as the person doing an action.
자주 자주 means 'often' and describes how frequently the speaker waters the plant. In '제가 자주 물을 주는데도', it comes before the verb phrase 물을 주다. Use it when describing a repeated action in everyday routines.
물을 물을 means 'water' as the object being given to the plant. The object marker 을 shows that water receives the action in '물을 주다'. Use it with actions that involve water as the object, such as watering a plant.
주는데도 주는데도 means 'even though I give or water' in '제가 자주 물을 주는데도'. The ending 는데도 connects an expected reason with an unexpected result: the plant still wilts. Use this form when something happens despite the situation described before it.
제 제 means 'my' and identifies the plant as belonging to the speaker in '제 식물이'. It is placed directly before the noun it describes. Use it when referring politely to something that belongs to you.
식물이 식물이 means 'the plant' as the subject of wilting. The subject marker 이 shows that the plant is the thing undergoing the change in '제 식물이 시들고 있어요'. Use it when making the plant the subject of an action or condition.
시들고 시들고 means 'wilting and' and connects the verb 시들다 with 있어요 in '시들고 있어요'. Together, 시들고 있어요 describes wilting that is currently in progress. Use this connecting form before another verb or before 있어요 when linking an action or state.
있어요 있어요 helps express an ongoing action in '시들고 있어요', so the whole expression means that the plant is wilting now. It also gives the sentence a polite ending. Use it after -고 when describing an action in progress.
너무 너무 means 'too' in the expressions '너무 적게' and '너무 많이'. Here it shows that the amount of water is outside the suitable range. Use it before an adjective or adverb when describing an excessive degree.
적게 적게 means 'in a small amount' in '너무 적게 준'. The meaning 'too little' comes from 너무 적게 together, not from 적게 alone. Use it before an action to describe doing something in a small amount.
준 준 means 'given' or 'provided' and modifies 것 in '물을 너무 적게 준 것'. It presents the earlier act of giving water as something that can be compared with another possibility. Use this modifying form when describing something that someone gave or did.
것보다 것보다 means 'rather than the thing or action described before' or 'compared with it'. In '물을 너무 적게 준 것보다 너무 많이 준 것', it compares giving too little water with giving too much. Use it after a clause turned into a thing for comparison.
많이 많이 means 'a lot' or 'in a large amount' in '너무 많이 준'. The meaning 'too much' comes from 너무 많이 together. Use it before a verb when describing a large amount or high frequency.
것일 것일 presents the previous situation as 'being the case' in '너무 많이 준 것일 수 있어요'. It connects that possibility to 수 있어요, which expresses uncertainty. Use this form when a described situation may be what something is.
수 수 refers to a possibility in '것일 수 있어요', so the sentence says that this may be the case rather than stating it with certainty. The pattern 수 있다 expresses possibility here, not physical ability. Use it when giving a careful explanation or possibility.
더 더 means 'more' in '물을 더 주면'. It increases the amount of water being given and does not by itself mean 'again'. Use it before a verb or adjective when comparing with an existing amount or degree.
주면 주면 means 'if or when one gives' in '물을 더 주면'. The ending 면 makes the action a condition for the result that follows. Use it when explaining what happens if someone performs a particular action.
회복하는 회복하는 means 'recovering' and modifies 데 in '식물이 회복하는 데'. It describes the plant's recovery as the activity related to the next phrase. Use this form before a noun when describing an ongoing or general action.
데 데 means 'in doing' or 'for' in '회복하는 데 도움이 될'. It turns the preceding action into the context in which something is helpful. Use the pattern V-는 데 도움이 되다 when saying that something helps with an activity.
도움이 도움이 means 'help' as the subject of 도움이 되다 in '회복하는 데 도움이 될'. The full expression means that something will be helpful for recovery. Use it with an activity or goal followed by 에 when describing what receives help.
될 될 means 'will be' or 'will become' in '도움이 될 거라고'. It presents 도움이 되다 as a future possibility inside the speaker's thought. Use this form before 거예요 or a similar expression when describing what something will be.
거라고 거라고 means 'that it would' in '도움이 될 거라고 생각했어요'. It packages the preceding idea as the content of the speaker's thought. Use it before 생각하다 when reporting what you thought or believed.
생각했어요 생각했어요 means 'thought' and reports the speaker's past belief in '도움이 될 거라고 생각했어요'. The polite ending shows that this is a completed statement to the listener. Use it after a quoted or reported idea when explaining a past assumption.
배수 배수 means 'drainage' in '배수 상태'. It refers to how water is able to leave the pot or soil. Use it with words about checking or improving the movement of water.
상태를 상태를 means 'the condition or state' as the object of checking in '배수 상태를 확인하고'. The object marker 를 shows that the condition is what the speaker checks. Use it after a noun when describing the condition being examined.
확인하고 확인하고 means 'check and' and links checking the drainage with letting the soil dry in '배수 상태를 확인하고 흙을 조금 말리세요'. The ending 고 connects actions in sequence or combination. Use it when giving two related instructions or describing two connected actions.
흙을 흙을 means 'soil' as the object affected by 말리세요 in '흙을 조금 말리세요'. The object marker 을 shows that the soil is what should be dried. Use it when discussing actions performed on plant soil.
조금 조금 means 'a little' in '흙을 조금 말리세요'. It limits the amount or degree of drying being requested. Use it before a verb or adjective when asking for a small amount or mild degree.
말리세요 말리세요 means 'let it dry' or 'dry it' in '흙을 조금 말리세요'. With 흙을, it tells the listener to allow the soil to become drier, and -세요 makes the instruction polite. Use it when giving a polite request about drying something.
화분 화분 means 'flowerpot' in '화분 바닥'. It identifies the container holding the plant. Use it when discussing planting, moving a plant, or checking the container.
바닥에 바닥에 means 'at or on the bottom' in '화분 바닥에 구멍이 없는데'. The location marker 에 identifies the bottom as the place where the hole would be. Use it after a place noun when describing something located there.
구멍이 구멍이 means 'a hole' as the subject of 없다 in '구멍이 없는데'. The subject marker 이 identifies the hole whose presence or absence is being described. Use the pattern N에 구멍이 있다 or 없다 when checking whether a place or object has a hole.
없는데 없는데 means 'there is not, but' or 'there is not, and' in '구멍이 없는데, 그게 문제일 수도 있어요'. It gives background information before the speaker points out a possible consequence. Use this form when connecting an absence with an explanation or observation.
그게 그게 means 'that' or 'it' as the subject in '그게 문제일 수도 있어요'. It refers back to the missing hole rather than introducing a new object. Use it when pointing back to something already mentioned.
문제일 문제일 means 'be the problem' in '그게 문제일 수도 있어요'. It labels the previously mentioned issue as a possible problem, while 수도 expresses the uncertainty. Use it before a possibility expression when identifying what may be causing a situation.
수도 수도 contributes the meaning 'may also' or 'could also' in '그게 문제일 수도 있어요'. The 도 adds the sense that this is one possible explanation among others. Use it when presenting an additional possibility without claiming certainty.
물이 물이 means 'water' as the subject in '물이 빠져나갈 곳이 없으면'. It identifies water as the thing that needs to escape. Use it when describing what water does or where it moves.
빠져나갈 빠져나갈 means 'that can escape or drain out' and modifies 곳 in '물이 빠져나갈 곳'. It describes a place through which water can leave. Use this form before a noun when describing where something will or can move out.
곳이 곳이 means 'a place' as the subject in '물이 빠져나갈 곳이 없으면'. The sentence says that there is no place for the water to escape. Use it when describing whether a place for an action or movement exists.
없으면 없으면 means 'if there is no' in '곳이 없으면 뿌리가 상할 수 있어요'. The ending 으면 makes the absence a condition for the possible damage that follows. Use it when explaining what may happen if something is unavailable or absent.
뿌리가 뿌리가 means 'the roots' as the subject of being damaged in '뿌리가 상할 수 있어요'. The subject marker 가 shows that the roots are the part affected by the condition. Use it when discussing what happens to plant roots.
상할 상할 means 'be damaged' in '뿌리가 상할 수 있어요'. It appears before 수 to describe damage as a possible result rather than a certain one. Use this form when warning that something may become damaged.
식물도 식물도 means 'the plant too' in '제 식물도 창문 가까이 옮겨야 할까요?'. The particle 도 adds the plant as another thing being considered for movement. Use it after a noun when saying that it also applies to that noun.
창문 창문 means 'window' in '창문 가까이'. It identifies the reference point for moving the plant. Use it when discussing light, location, or placing something near a window.
가까이 가까이 means 'near' or 'closer to' in '창문 가까이 옮겨야 할까요?'. It describes the destination as a position close to the window. Use it after a place noun when describing movement or placement nearby.
옮겨야 옮겨야 means 'must or should move' in '옮겨야 할까요?'. It presents moving the plant as the action being considered or possibly necessary. Use it before 할까요 when asking whether something should be moved.
할까요 할까요 means 'shall I?' or 'should I?' in '옮겨야 할까요?'. It politely asks the other person for advice about an action. Use the ending -할까요? when asking whether to do something.
무엇이 무엇이 means 'what' as the subject in '무엇이 도움이 되는지'. It asks which thing provides help. Use it when asking what performs an action or has a particular effect.
되는지 되는지 means 'whether it helps or works' in '무엇이 도움이 되는지 알 수 있도록'. It marks an indirect question about what is effective. Use it after a clause when saying that someone knows, checks, or discovers whether something works.
알 알 means 'know' in '알 수 있도록'. Together with 수 있도록, it expresses being able to tell or know something. Use it before 수 있다 or 수 있도록 when referring to knowing or being able to recognize something.
있도록 있도록 means 'so that one can' in '알 수 있도록'. It helps form a purpose expression: the changes are made so the speaker can identify what helps. Use it after a possibility expression when stating the purpose of an action.
한 한 means 'one' in '한 번에 한 가지씩'. It comes before the counter 번 and specifies one time or occasion. Use it before a counter when counting a single item or occasion.
번에 번에 means 'at a time' in '한 번에 한 가지씩'. It sets the unit or occasion for doing something, so the advice is to change one thing during each round. Use it with 한 번에 when describing actions done one at a time.
가지씩 가지씩 means 'one kind or item at a time' in '한 번에 한 가지씩'. The ending 씩 distributes the action evenly across individual items. Use it when recommending that several items be handled separately rather than all together.
바꿔 바꿔 means 'change and' in '한 가지씩 바꿔 보세요'. It connects 바꾸다 with 보세요 and identifies the action the listener is asked to try. Use it before 보세요 when suggesting that someone try changing something.
보세요 보세요 means 'try' in '바꿔 보세요', rather than simply 'look'. Together with a preceding verb ending in -어, it gives a polite suggestion to try that action. Use the pattern V-어 보세요 when recommending an action.
그럼 그럼 means 'then' or 'in that case' at the start of '그럼 식물을 다른 화분에 옮겨 심고'. It shows that the speaker is responding to the advice and drawing a next conclusion. Use it when introducing an action that follows from what was just said.
식물을 식물을 means 'the plant' as the object of 옮겨 심고. The object marker 을 shows that the plant is the thing being transplanted. Use it when describing an action performed on the plant.
다른 다른 means 'another' or 'different' in '다른 화분에'. It distinguishes the new flowerpot from the current one. Use it directly before a noun when selecting an alternative object or place.
화분에 화분에 means 'into another flowerpot' in '다른 화분에 옮겨 심고'. The location marker 에 identifies the destination of the transplanting. Use it after a destination noun with verbs of moving or planting.
옮겨 옮겨 means 'move or transfer and' in '화분에 옮겨 심고'. Together with 심고, it describes moving the plant and planting it in a new pot. Use it before another action when describing a transfer followed by the next step.
심고 심고 means 'plant and' in '옮겨 심고 물을 덜 줄게요'. It connects planting the plant in the new pot with watering it less. Use this form when listing planting as one action among connected actions.
이번 이번 means 'this' or 'current' in '이번 주에는'. It identifies the particular week currently being discussed. Use it before a period such as a week or month when referring to the current one.
주에는 주에는 means 'during this week' in '이번 주에는 물을 덜 줄게요'. It sets this week as the time frame for the planned watering. Use it after a time expression when focusing on what will happen during that period.
덜 덜 means 'less' in '물을 덜 줄게요'. It reduces the amount of water the speaker plans to give. Use it before a verb or adjective when describing a lower amount or degree.
줄게요 줄게요 means 'I will give' and here means 'I will water' in '물을 덜 줄게요'. The ending -ㄹ게요 presents the speaker's intention or promise to the listener. Use it when telling someone what you will do in response to the situation.
식물 식물 means 'plant' in the compound '식물 관리'. It names the living thing that is being cared for. Use it before 관리 or another noun when discussing plant-related care.
관리는 관리는 means 'care or management' as the topic in '식물 관리는'. Together with 식물, it means plant care, and 는 marks that topic for the explanation that follows. Use it after a noun when introducing the activity or subject being described.
대부분 대부분 means 'mostly' or 'for the most part' in '대부분 관찰하면서'. It says that observation and small adjustments make up most of plant care, without saying they are the only parts. Use it when describing the main portion of an activity.
관찰하면서 관찰하면서 means 'while observing' in '관찰하면서 조금씩 조정하는'. The ending 면서 connects observing with adjusting as actions carried out together. Use it when describing one action that happens while another action is taking place.
조금씩 조금씩 means 'little by little' or 'in small increments' in '조금씩 조정하는'. The ending 씩 emphasizes repeated small changes rather than one large change. Use it when recommending gradual adjustments.
조정하는 조정하는 means 'adjusting' and modifies 거예요 in '조금씩 조정하는 거예요'. It describes making small changes to the care routine based on observation. Use it before a noun or 거예요 when explaining an ongoing or general activity.
거예요 거예요 frames the preceding phrase as an explanation in '관찰하면서 조금씩 조정하는 거예요'. The whole sentence explains what plant care mainly consists of. Use the pattern -는 거예요 when clarifying or defining what someone does.

Grammar Points

-는데도

물을 주는데도 식물이 시들고 있어요.

moo-reul joo-NEHN-deh-doh SHING-moo-ree shee-deul-GOH ee-SUH-yoh

Even though I water the plant, it is wilting.

-는데도 expresses a result that occurs despite the preceding action or condition.

-아/어야 하다

화분을 옮겨야 해요.

hwa-boo-neul ohm-GYUH-yah HEH-yoh

I have to move the plant pot.

-아/어야 하다 expresses obligation or necessity: “must” or “have to.”

Korean Vocabulary

너무 adv
NUH-moo too much; too
도움이 되다 phrase
doh-oom-ee dweh-dah to be helpful 도움이 될 거라고
많이 adv
MAH-nee a lot; much
물을 주다 phrase
moo-reul JOO-dah to water a plant 물을 주는데도
배수 noun
beh-SOO drainage
상태 noun
sahng-TAE condition; state
시들다 verb
shee-deul-dah to wilt 시들고 있어요
식물 noun
SHING-mool plant
자주 adv
JAH-joo often
적다 adj
JUK-ttah to be little; to be insufficient 적게
확인하다 verb
hwah-GEEN-hah-dah to check; to confirm 확인하고
회복하다 verb
hweh-boh-KAH-dah to recover 회복하는

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Check the drainage and let the soil dry a little.

Show Answer배수 상태를 확인하고 흙을 조금 말리세요.

Should I move it closer to the window too?

Show Answer제 식물도 창문 가까이 옮겨야 할까요?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to recover

Show Answer회복하는

to check; to confirm

Show Answer확인하고

drainage

Show Answer배수

often

Show Answer자주