Confirming the Right Queue for a Complicated Request | Learn Korean in English

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Use Confirming the Right Queue for a Complicated Request to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

실례합니다, 복잡한 요청을 도와주는 줄인가요?

shil-lyeh-ham-nee-DAH, bok-jja-pan yo-cheong-eul doh-wah-joo-neun jool-in-gah-yo? Excuse me, is this the line for help with a complicated request?

이 줄은 간단한 질문을 위한 곳이지, 자세한 요청을 위한 곳은 아니에요.

ee joo-reun gan-dan-han jil-moon-eul wee-han goh-chee, jah-seh-han yo-cheong-eul wee-han goh-seun ah-nee-eh-yo. This line is for simple questions, not detailed requests.

표지판이 헷갈려서 어디에서 기다려야 할지 확신이 없었어요.

pyo-jee-pan-ee het-kkal-lyuh-seo uh-dee-eh-seo gee-dah-ryuh-yah hal-jee hwak-shin-ee uhp-sseuh-yo. The sign is confusing, so I was not sure where to wait.

자세한 도움을 받으려면 주 안내 데스크 근처 줄에 서세요.

jah-seh-han doh-oomeul bah-deu-ryuh-myun joo an-nae deh-seu-keu geun-cheo joo-reh suh-SEH-yo. For detailed help, join the line near the main desk.

이동하기 전에 접수처에 물어봐야 할까요?

ee-dong-ha-gee jeon-eh jeop-soo-cheo-eh moo-ruh-bwah-yah hal-kkah-yo? Should I ask at reception before I move?

필요한 것을 말씀해 보세요.

pee-ryo-han guh-seul mal-sseum-heh boh-SEH-yo. Tell them what you need.

그분들이 맞는 곳을 가리켜 줄 수 있어요.

geu-boon-deu-ree man-neun goh-seul gah-ree-kyuh jool soo ee-SUH-yo. They can point you to the right place.

엉뚱한 줄에서 기다리고 싶지 않아요.

uhng-ttoong-han joo-reh-seo gee-dah-ree-goh ship-jjee ah-NAH-yo. I do not want to wait in the wrong line.

표지판이 별로 명확하지 않아서 그런 일이 자주 있어요.

pyo-jee-pan-ee byul-lo myung-hwak-ha-jee ah-nah-seo geu-reon ee-ree jah-joo ee-SUH-yo. It happens often because the sign is not very clear.

먼저 물어본 다음, 맞는 줄에 서야겠어요.

muhn-juh moo-ruh-bon da-eum, man-neun joo-reh suh-yah-geh-SUH-yo. Let me ask first, then join the correct queue.

그러면 더 기다리는 일을 피하는 데 도움이 될 거예요.

geu-ruh-myun duh gee-dah-ree-neun ee-reul pee-ha-neun deh doh-oo-mee doel guh-yeh-yo. That should help you avoid extra waiting.

Word by Word

실례합니다 “실례합니다” means “excuse me” and politely gets someone’s attention before asking a question. Use it when speaking to staff or another person you do not know, especially in a public service area.

복잡한 “복잡한” means “complicated” and describes the request in “복잡한 요청”. It is the form used before a noun; a common pattern is “복잡한 문제” for “a complicated problem” in a new example.

요청을 “요청을” means “the request” and marks “복잡한 요청” as the object of “도와주는”. The particle “을” is used after a consonant-ending noun when it is the object, as in “도움을 받다” in a new example.

도와주는 “도와주는” means “helping with” and describes the kind of line being asked about in “복잡한 요청을 도와주는 줄”. It presents the line as one that helps with the request; a reusable pattern is “도와주는 사람” for “a person who helps” in a new example.

줄인가요 “줄인가요” asks politely whether something is a line or queue: “is it the line?” Here it asks whether this is the line for help, and the question ending “인가요” follows the noun “줄”.

이 “이” means “this” and points to the line immediately being discussed in “이 줄은”. It is placed before a noun, as in “이 곳” for “this place” in a new example.

줄은 “줄은” means “this line” and marks the line as the topic of the explanation. The topic marker “은” contrasts this line with the detailed-request line mentioned afterward.

간단한 “간단한” means “simple” and describes “질문” in “간단한 질문”. It is the form used before a noun; a common pattern is “간단한 설명” for “a simple explanation” in a new example.

질문을 “질문을” means “questions” and marks “간단한 질문” as the object of the phrase describing what the line is for. The object marker “을” follows this consonant-ending noun.

위한 “위한” means “intended for” in “간단한 질문을 위한 곳”. It describes the purpose of the place, and “명사를 위한 명사” is a reusable pattern meaning “a noun intended for a noun” in a new example.

곳이지 “곳이지” means “it is a place” and presents the line as a place for simple questions, with a contrasting tone before “자세한 요청을 위한 곳은 아니에요”. The ending “-지” can make the statement sound like a clarification or reminder.

자세한 “자세한” means “detailed” and describes the requests in “자세한 요청”. It is used before a noun; a common pattern is “자세한 설명” for “a detailed explanation” in a new example.

곳은 “곳은” means “the place” and marks the place for detailed requests as the contrasting topic. The topic marker “은” helps set up the negative statement “아니에요”.

아니에요 “아니에요” means “is not” in a polite style. Here it says that the line is not the place for detailed requests, and it commonly follows a noun when politely denying an identification or description.

표지판이 “표지판이” means “the sign” and marks the sign as the subject of “헷갈려서”. The subject marker “이” follows this consonant-ending noun, as in “문이 열려요” in a new example.

헷갈려서 “헷갈려서” means “being confusing, so” and gives the reason the speaker was unsure where to wait. The ending “-아서” connects the reason to the result; a common pattern is “헷갈려서 잘 모르겠어요” in a new example.

어디에서 “어디에서” means “where” or “at which place” and identifies the location of waiting. The particle “에서” marks the place where an action occurs, as in “집에서 기다리다” in a new example.

기다려야 “기다려야” means “must or need to wait” inside “어디에서 기다려야 할지”. The ending “-어야” expresses necessity and combines with “할지” to describe where the speaker needs to wait.

할지 “할지” means “where or what to do” as part of the uncertainty pattern “어디에서 기다려야 할지”. It turns the action into an uncertain question, and a reusable pattern is “어떻게 할지 모르겠어요” for “I do not know what to do” in a new example.

확신이 “확신이” means “certainty” and marks certainty as the thing the speaker did not have in “확신이 없었어요”. The particle “이” marks the subject, and “확신이 없다” is a common pattern for “to be uncertain.”

없었어요 “없었어요” means “did not have” or “was not there” in a polite past form. With “확신이”, it means “was not sure”; “시간이 없었어요” is a new example meaning “I did not have time.”

도움을 “도움을” means “help” and marks help as the object of “받으려면”. The object marker “을” follows “도움”, and “도움을 받다” is a common expression meaning “to receive help.”

받으려면 “받으려면” means “if you want to receive” or “to receive, if” in “자세한 도움을 받으려면”. The ending “-(으)려면” introduces a condition or purpose, and a common pattern is “도움을 받으려면 신청해야 해요” in a new example.

주 “주” means “main” or “primary” in “주 안내 데스크”. It identifies the main information desk, and it is used before a noun to specify the principal one.

안내 “안내” means “information” or “guidance” in “안내 데스크”. Together, “안내 데스크” refers to a desk that provides information or directions; this expression is useful in service areas.

데스크 “데스크” means “desk” and refers here to the main information desk. It is a loanword used for a service counter or desk, as in “접수 데스크” in a new example.

근처 “근처” means “near” or “the vicinity” in “데스크 근처”. A common pattern is “명사 근처” for “near a noun,” such as “역 근처” in a new example.

줄에 “줄에” means “to or at the line” and marks the line where the listener should stand in “줄에 서세요”. The particle “에” marks the destination or position, and “줄에 서다” means “to join the line.”

서세요 “서세요” politely tells someone to stand or line up. In this dialogue it means “please stand in the line,” and it is useful when giving a polite instruction about where someone should stand.

이동하기 “이동하기” means “moving” and presents the action as a noun before “전에”. The pattern “동사-기 전에” means “before doing something,” as in “출발하기 전에” in a new example.

전에 “전에” means “before” in “이동하기 전에”. It follows an action noun to show that one action happens earlier, and “식사 전에” means “before a meal” in a new example.

접수처에 “접수처에” means “at or to the reception desk” and marks the place or staff member to ask before moving. The particle “에” identifies the destination or target of the question, as in “창구에 물어보다” in a new example.

물어봐야 “물어봐야” means “must or should ask” in the question “물어봐야 할까요?”. It combines asking with the necessity ending “-아야”, and “직원에게 물어봐야 해요” is a common pattern meaning “I have to ask a staff member” in a new example.

할까요 “할까요” asks politely “shall I?” or “should I?” Here it completes “물어봐야 할까요?” to ask whether the speaker should ask at reception. It is commonly used when asking for advice or proposing an action.

필요한 “필요한” means “needed” or “necessary” and describes “것” in “필요한 것을”. It is used before a noun, and “필요한 정보” means “the information that is needed” in a new example.

것을 “것을” means “the thing” or “what” and marks “필요한 것” as the object of “말씀해”. In “필요한 것을”, it refers to what the person needs; the object marker “을” follows “것”.

말씀해 “말씀해” means “tell or say” politely, using respectful speech for what someone says. In “말씀해 보세요”, it asks the listener to state what they need, and “필요한 것을 말씀해 주세요” is a common polite request in a new example.

보세요 “보세요” means “please try” in the expression “말씀해 보세요”. After another verb, “-아/어 보세요” gives a gentle suggestion to try doing that action, as in “확인해 보세요” in a new example.

그분들이 “그분들이” means “those people” with an honorific reference and marks them as the subject of “가리켜 줄 수 있어요”. The subject marker “이” follows the plural form, and this expression is useful when referring respectfully to people already mentioned.

맞는 “맞는” means “right” or “correct” and describes “곳” in “맞는 곳”. It is used before a noun, and “맞는 방법” means “the right method” in a new example.

곳을 “곳을” means “the place” and marks the right place as the object of “가리켜”. The object marker “을” follows “곳”, and “맞는 곳을 찾다” is a common pattern meaning “to find the right place.”

가리켜 “가리켜” means “point to” or “indicate” in “가리켜 줄 수 있어요”. Together with “줄”, it describes pointing someone toward the right place, and “길을 가리켜 주다” is a reusable pattern in a new example.

줄 “줄” in “가리켜 줄 수 있어요” is part of the helping construction “가리켜 주다”, meaning to point something out for someone. It is different from “줄” meaning a queue in “줄에 서세요”; here it follows another verb and shows that the action is done for the listener.

수 “수” means possibility or ability in “가리켜 줄 수 있어요”. The pattern “동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있다” expresses “can do something,” and the following “있어요” completes that possibility expression.

있어요 “있어요” means “can” or “is possible” in “가리켜 줄 수 있어요”. Here it does not mean simple physical existence; it completes the pattern “-(으)ㄹ 수 있어요” for ability or possibility.

엉뚱한 “엉뚱한” means “wrong” or “unintended” and describes the line in “엉뚱한 줄”. It is used before a noun when something is not the expected or appropriate one, as in “엉뚱한 곳” in a new example.

줄에서 “줄에서” means “in or at the line” and marks where the unwanted waiting would happen. The particle “에서” marks the place of the action, and “줄에서 기다리다” means “to wait in line.”

기다리고 “기다리고” means “waiting and” and connects the action of waiting to “싶지 않아요”. The ending “-고” links actions or phrases, and “여기서 기다리고 있어요” is a common pattern meaning “I am waiting here” in a new example.

싶지 “싶지” is the desire part of “기다리고 싶지 않아요”, meaning “want to” before the negative “않아요”. Together, the phrase means “do not want to wait”; a common pattern is “하고 싶지 않아요” for “I do not want to do it” in a new example.

않아요 “않아요” is a polite negative form meaning “do not” or “not”. In “기다리고 싶지 않아요”, it negates the desire expressed by “싶지”, producing “do not want to wait.”

별로 “별로” means “not particularly” or “not very” in “별로 명확하지 않아서”. It is normally used with a negative expression, and “별로 어렵지 않아요” is a common pattern meaning “it is not very difficult” in a new example.

명확하지 “명확하지” means “not clear” as part of “명확하지 않아서”. The form combines “명확하다” with negation and the following reason ending, and “설명이 명확하지 않아요” is a common pattern in a new example.

않아서 “않아서” means “because it is not” or “because someone does not” and gives the reason for the situation. Here it connects the sign’s lack of clarity to the fact that this kind of mistake happens often.

그런 “그런” means “such” or “that kind of” and points back to the situation just described in “그런 일이”. It is placed before a noun to refer to a previously mentioned type of event or situation.

일이 “일이” means “a thing, event, or situation” and marks that situation as the subject of “자주 있어요”. In “그런 일이”, it refers to waiting in the wrong line rather than to a specific physical object.

자주 “자주” means “often” and describes how frequently the situation happens. It usually appears before the verb or predicate, as in “자주 만나요” for “meet often” in a new example.

먼저 “먼저” means “first” and sets the order of the speaker’s actions in “먼저 물어본 다음”. It is useful for explaining the first step before another action, as in “먼저 확인하세요” in a new example.

물어본 “물어본” means “asked” and modifies “다음” in “물어본 다음”. It presents asking as the completed first action; “확인해 본 다음” is a similar reusable pattern in a new example.

다음 “다음” means “after” or “next” in “물어본 다음”. The pattern “동사-ㄴ/은 다음” means “after doing something,” so the speaker will join the line after asking first.

서야겠어요 “서야겠어요” means “I should stand or line up” and expresses the speaker’s decision or conclusion. It combines the necessity of standing with “-겠어요”, and “이제 출발해야겠어요” is a similar pattern in a new example.

그러면 “그러면” means “then” or “in that case” and connects the suggested action with its expected result. It is commonly used when drawing a conclusion from the previous information, as in “그러면 그렇게 할게요” in a new example.

더 “더” means “more” or “extra” and describes additional waiting in “더 기다리는 일”. It is placed before the verb or adjective it modifies, as in “더 기다리다” for “wait longer” in a new example.

기다리는 “기다리는” means “waiting” and describes “일” in “기다리는 일을”. It turns the action of waiting into a description of the matter being avoided; “기다리는 시간” is a common pattern in a new example.

일을 “일을” means “the matter or act” and marks the act of waiting longer as the object of “피하는”. In “더 기다리는 일을”, it refers to the experience or task of waiting more, not to a separate physical thing.

피하는 “피하는” means “avoiding” and describes the action in “더 기다리는 일을 피하는 데”. It is the form used before “데” in this purpose expression, and “문제를 피하다” is a common pattern meaning “to avoid a problem” in a new example.

데 “데” means “in doing” or “for the purpose of” in “피하는 데 도움이 될 거예요”. The pattern “동사-는 데 도움이 되다” means “be helpful for doing something,” and it keeps the action before “데” as the purpose.

도움이 “도움이” means “help” and marks help as the subject of “될 거예요”. In “도움이 되다”, it forms the common expression “to be helpful,” and the subject marker “이” follows “도움”.

될 “될” means “will be” or “will become” in “도움이 될 거예요”. It is the form of “되다” used before “거예요” to describe an expected future result, as in “도움이 될 거예요” for “it will be helpful.”

거예요 “거예요” expresses an expected or likely result in “도움이 될 거예요”, meaning “it will be helpful”. It completes the future-looking pattern “될 거예요”, which is useful when making a polite prediction or reassurance.

Grammar Points

V-(으)려면

도움을 받으려면 먼저 물어봐야 할까요?

doh-oomeul bah-deu-ryuh-myun muhN-juh moo-ruh-bwah-yah hal-kkah-yo?

If you want to receive help, should you ask first?

-으려면 expresses a condition or goal: “if you want to…” or “in order to…”

V-기 전에

이동하기 전에 접수처에 물어봐야 할까요?

ee-dong-ha-gee jeon-eh jeop-soo-cheo-eh moo-ruh-bwah-yah hal-kkah-yo?

Before moving, should I ask at the reception desk?

-기 전에 means “before doing.” Attach it to the verb stem to describe an earlier action.

Korean Vocabulary

간단한 adj

gan-DAN-han simple

간단한 질문

곳 noun

GOHT place

요청을 위한 곳

기다려야 할지 phrase

gee-dah-RYUH-yah hal-JEE whether I should wait

어디에서 기다려야 할지

도와주는 verb

doh-wah-JOO-neun helping

요청을 도와주는 줄

복잡한 adj

bok-jja-PAN complicated

복잡한 요청

실례합니다 intj

shil-lyeh-ham-nee-DAH Excuse me

실례합니다, 복잡한 요청을 도와주는 줄인가요?

요청 noun

yo-CHEONG request

복잡한 요청

자세한 adj

jah-SEH-han detailed

자세한 요청

줄 noun

JOOL line; queue

이 줄은 간단한 질문을 위한 곳이지

질문 noun

jil-MOON question

간단한 질문

표지판 noun

pyo-jee-PAN sign

표지판이 헷갈려서

헷갈려서 verb

het-kkal-LYUH-seo because it was confusing

표지판이 헷갈려서

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Excuse me, is this the line for help with a complicated request?

Show Answer

실례합니다, 복잡한 요청을 도와주는 줄인가요?

Should I ask at reception before I move?

Show Answer

이동하기 전에 접수처에 물어봐야 할까요?

Tell them what you need.

Show Answer

필요한 것을 말씀해 보세요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

helping

Show Answer

도와주는

Excuse me

Show Answer

실례합니다

because it was confusing

Show Answer

헷갈려서

detailed

Show Answer

자세한