Deciding whether to stay in line | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 제 차례가 오려면 아직 한참 남은 것 같아요.

   My turn still seems a long way off.

   제

   my

   차례

   turn

   오려면

   if/when it comes

   아직

   still; yet

   한참

   a long while

   남은

   left; remaining

   것 같아요

   seems like

   More detail

   제 means “my” here. It is the contracted possessive form of 저 (“I,” the humble first-person pronoun) plus 의: 저의 → 제. Thus 제 차례 means “my turn.” 차례 means a person’s turn or the order in which people or things are handled. Here, 제 차례 identifies the speaker’s turn. 오려면 combines 오다 (“to come”) with -(으)려면, which can express a condition or the situation required for something to happen. Here, 제 차례가 오려면 means “for my turn to come” or “when my turn is to come.” The subject marker -가 marks 제 차례 as the subject of 오다. 아직 means “still” or “yet.” Here it indicates that the speaker’s turn has not arrived and that the relevant waiting time remains. 한참 indicates a considerable amount of time. With 남다, 한참 남다 means that a long while remains or that something is still a long way off in time. 남은 is the attributive form of 남다 (“to remain; to be left”), used before a noun or noun-like expression. In 한참 남은 것, it describes 것 as something that remains; in this sentence, the expression conveys that a long time is still left before the turn comes. 것 같아요 comes from 것 같다 and presents an impression: “it seems” or “it looks like.” The polite ending -아요 makes the statement polite. Putting the parts together, 제 차례가 오려면 means “for my turn to come,” 아직 한참 남은 says that a long while still remains, and 것 같아요 presents this as the speaker’s impression. The whole utterance means: “My turn still seems a long way off.”

2. 곧 다른 곳에 가야 해요.

   I need to be somewhere else soon.

   곧

   soon

   다른

   other; different

   곳

   place

   가야 해요

   need to go

   More detail

   곧 means “soon” here: the event is expected in the near future. Example: 곧 시작해요. — “It starts soon.” 다른 means “other” or “different” and appears before the noun it describes. In 다른 곳, it specifies a place different from the relevant current or previously understood place. Example: 다른 방법을 찾아요. — “I look for another method.” 곳 is a noun meaning “place.” It can refer to a physical location without identifying that location more specifically. Example: 조용한 곳에 가요. — “I go to a quiet place.” 가야 해요 expresses that someone needs to or has to go. The verb is 가다 (“to go”); 가야 is formed with -아야, and -아야 하다 expresses necessity. 해요 is the polite-present form of 하다 in this construction. Example: 지금 가야 해요. — “I need to go now.” Together, 곧 + 다른 곳에 + 가야 해요 means “need to go to another place soon.” The particle 에 marks the destination, so the complete utterance means: “I need to be somewhere else soon.”

3. 계속 기다릴지 결정하기 전에 줄이 어떻게 움직이는지 설명해 드릴게요.

   Let me explain how the queue is moving before you decide whether to stay.

   계속

   continuously; keep on

   기다릴지

   whether to wait

   결정하기 전에

   before deciding

   줄이

   the queue

   어떻게

   how

   움직이는지

   moves; is moving

   설명해 드릴게요

   I’ll explain it to you

   More detail

   계속 means “continuously” or “keep on.” It modifies the following action, so 계속 기다리다 means “keep waiting.” 기다릴지 comes from 기다리다 (“to wait”) plus -(으)ㄹ지, a form used for an unresolved choice or question. Here, 기다릴지 means “whether to wait.” The pattern V-(으)ㄹ지 결정하다 means “decide whether to V.” Example: 갈지 말지 결정했어요. — “I decided whether to go or not.” 결정하기 전에 is 결정하다 (“to decide”) plus -기 전에 (“before doing”). The -기 form turns the verb into the action “deciding,” and 전에 places the next clause before that action in time. 출발하기 전에 확인하세요. means “Check before departing.” 줄이 is 줄 (“queue” or “line”) with the subject marker 이. In this sentence, the queue is the thing whose movement is being explained. The same noun can refer to a line of people or a queue in another context. 어떻게 asks “how” or “in what way.” It introduces the manner being discussed: 어떻게 움직이는지 means “how it is moving.” 움직이는지 comes from 움직이다 (“to move”) plus -는지. The present form 움직이는 describes an ongoing or general action, and -는지 turns the question word 어떻게 plus the clause into an embedded question: 어떻게 움직이는지 = “how it is moving.” This is different from a direct question such as 어떻게 움직여요? (“How is it moving?”). 설명해 드릴게요 expresses “I’ll explain it to you.” 설명하다 means “to explain”; 설명해 is its connected form before 드리다. 드리다 is the humble form of “give” and here marks doing the explanation as a service for the listener. The ending -ㄹ게요 presents the speaker’s intention or commitment: “I’ll …” in this situation. 제가 다시 설명해 드릴게요. means “I’ll explain it again for you.” Putting the parts together: 계속 기다릴지 결정하기 전에 means “before you decide whether to keep waiting,” and 줄이 어떻게 움직이는지 설명해 드릴게요 means “I’ll explain how the queue is moving to you.” The complete utterance is therefore: “Let me explain how the queue is moving before you decide whether to stay.”

4. 일정한 속도로 줄어들고 있나요?

   Is it moving at a steady pace?

   일정한

   steady; consistent

   속도

   pace; speed

   줄어들고 있나요?

   is it progressing?

   More detail

   일정한 modifies 속도 and means “steady” or “consistent” here. Its base form is 일정하다 (“to be regular/constant”); before a noun, it takes the form 일정한. This describes a pace that stays regular, not a single momentary speed. Example: 일정한 속도로 걸어요. — “I walk at a steady pace.” 속도 is the noun “speed” or “pace.” In this sentence it refers to the rate at which the queue is getting shorter, so “pace” is the natural translation. It can also describe speed in other contexts: 속도가 빨라요. — “The speed is fast.” 줄어들고 있나요? asks whether something is currently decreasing or becoming shorter. The base form is 줄어들다 (“to decrease; to become shorter”). The ending -고 있다 presents an ongoing process: 줄어들고 있다 means “is decreasing” or “is getting shorter.” -나요? turns the statement into a relatively gentle question. The form does not itself identify the subject’s person or number; the understood subject comes from context. Here, the queue is understood as the thing becoming shorter. 줄어들다 is not the general verb “to move”; with a queue, its shortening conveys that the queue is progressing. Together, 일정한 속도로 means “at a steady pace,” while 줄어들고 있나요? asks whether the queue is currently getting shorter/progressing. Thus the whole utterance means “Is it moving at a steady pace?” The wording focuses on the queue’s rate of shortening rather than using the more general movement verb 움직이다.

5. 오늘은 속도가 일정하지 않아요. 몇몇 요청은 예상보다 오래 걸리고 있어요.

   The pace is uneven today. Some requests are taking longer than expected.

   오늘은

   today

   속도

   pace

   일정하지 않아요

   is uneven

   몇몇

   some

   요청

   request

   예상보다

   than expected

   오래 걸리고 있어요

   is taking a long time

   More detail

   오늘은 means “as for today” or simply “today” in this sentence. 오늘 is the noun “today,” and 은 marks it as the topic. This frames the following observation as applying to today; it is not an indication of a numeric count. 속도 is the noun “speed” or “pace.” In this utterance it refers to the pace being observed, rather than to a person’s movement specifically. For example, 속도가 빨라요 means “The pace is fast.” 일정하지 않아요 says that something is not steady or consistent here. The affirmative adjective is 일정하다 (“to be steady/regular”), and -지 않다 forms its negation: 일정하지 않아요 is the polite present form. In this context 일정하다 means “consistent,” not the separate noun sense related to a schedule. A useful contrast is 일정해요 (“It is steady”) versus 일정하지 않아요 (“It is not steady”). Together, 속도 and 일정하지 않아요 form the first observation: the pace is not consistent. Korean often omits the copular “is” in this kind of adjective sentence; the adjective ending supplies the predicate. 몇몇 means “some” or “several.” It points to more than one member of a group without specifying an exact number. It commonly comes before a noun, as in 몇몇 사람 (“some people”). It does not by itself say that there are only two or give a precise count. 요청 is the noun “request.” In 몇몇 요청, it is the noun modified by 몇몇, producing “some requests.” The topic marker 은 after this noun makes those requests the topic of the second clause. 예상보다 means “than expected.” 예상 is “expectation” or “estimate,” and 보다 marks a comparison against that reference point. The pattern A보다 B presents B as more, less, faster, or otherwise different relative to A. For example, 이 일은 예상보다 빨라요 means “This work is faster than expected.” 오래 걸리고 있어요 describes something currently taking a long time. 오래 is an adverb meaning “for a long time” or “a long time” in a duration expression, while 걸리다 is the verb used for time being required: 시간이 걸리다 means “to take time.” Here 걸리고 있어요 uses -고 있다 with the polite present ending -어요, presenting the taking of time as ongoing. It does not use 걸리다 in its separate possible sense of “to get caught” or “to hang.” For example, 이 작업은 한 시간이 걸려요 means “This task takes one hour.” In the second clause, 몇몇 요청은 identifies some requests as the topic, 예상보다 supplies the comparison point, and 오래 걸리고 있어요 says that their completion is currently requiring a long time. Thus the whole utterance is: “The pace is uneven today. Some requests are taking longer than expected.” The polite endings make the statement suitable for a courteous present-time report.

6. 잠깐 자리를 비우면 같은 자리로 돌아올 수 있나요?

   If I step away for a moment, can I come back to the same place?

   잠깐

   for a moment

   자리

   place; spot

   비우면

   if (someone) leaves it

   같은

   same

   돌아올 수 있나요?

   can (I) come back?

   More detail

   잠깐 means “for a moment” here. It limits the duration of stepping away; it does not say exactly how many seconds. Example: 잠깐 기다려요. — “Please wait a moment.” 자리 means a place or spot, especially a person’s place in a line, seating area, or arrangement. In the sentence it appears as 자리를, with 를 marking 자리 as the object of 비우다. Example: 자리가 있어요. — “There is a spot.” 비우면 comes from 비우다, “to empty” or “to leave a place vacant.” Here it means “if I leave the place,” and -면 marks the condition “if/when.” The first-person subject is understood from the fixed translation; Korean commonly omits such a subject when the context makes it clear. Example: 잠시 자리를 비우면 연락해 주세요. — “If I step away briefly, please contact me.” 같은 is the attributive form of 같다, “to be the same.” It comes before the noun it describes: 같은 자리 means “the same place.” This form is used before a noun; it is not the noun 자리’s form. Example: 같은 방법 — “the same method.” 돌아올 수 있나요? combines 돌아오다, “to come back,” with -(으)ㄹ 수 있다, “can/be able to,” and the polite question ending -나요?. 돌아올 is the form of 돌아오다 used before 수; 수 있다 presents returning as possible. Example: 다시 돌아올 수 있어요? — “Can I come back again?” Together, 잠깐 자리를 비우면 means “if I step away for a moment,” 같은 자리로 means “to the same place,” and 돌아올 수 있나요? asks whether returning is possible. The whole utterance is therefore: “If I step away for a moment, can I come back to the same place?”

7. 줄 가까이에 있어야만 자리를 지킬 수 있어요.

   You can only keep your place if you stay close to the line.

   줄

   line

   가까이에

   nearby; close to

   있어야만

   only if [someone] stays/is

   자리를

   one’s place; spot

   지킬

   keep; maintain

   수 있어요

   can; be able to

   More detail

   줄 means “line” here, specifically the line whose position is being maintained. The same noun can refer to other kinds of lines depending on context, but this sentence uses the queue/position sense supported by the translation. 가까이에 means “near/close to.” It is built from 가까이 (“near”) plus -에, which marks the location. Example: 학교 가까이에 살아요. — “I live near the school.” 있어야만 comes from 있다 (“to be/stay/exist”) with -어야 and -만. -어야 presents a necessary condition, and -만 narrows that condition to “only if.” Thus, being close to the line is presented as the required condition. Example: 예약이 있어야만 들어갈 수 있어요. — “You can enter only if you have a reservation.” The subject of 있다 is not specified by the Korean sentence itself. 자리 means “place” or “spot.” Here 자리를 is the object form, marked by -를, and the context gives it the meaning “one’s place” in the line. Example: 자리를 바꾸고 싶어요. — “I want to change places.” 지킬 is the form of 지키다 (“to keep, maintain, or protect”) placed before 수. In this sentence, 지키다 means “keep/maintain” a place. The -ㄹ form in 지킬 수 있다 is part of the ability construction; it is not a past-tense form. Example: 약속을 지킬 수 있어요. — “I can keep the promise.” 수 있어요 is the polite present form of the construction -을/ㄹ 수 있다, meaning “can” or “be able to.” The preceding verb form combines with it as 지킬 수 있어요, “can keep.” The ending -어요 makes the statement polite; it does not by itself add a separate meaning of ability. Together, 줄 가까이에 있어야만 means “only if [someone] stays/is close to the line,” 자리를 지킬 means “keep one’s place,” and 수 있어요 makes the result possible: “can keep one’s place.” The complete utterance means, “You can only keep your place if you stay close to the line.”

8. 그럼 이 일을 미뤄도 될지 결정해야겠어요.

   Then I need to decide whether this can wait.

   그럼

   then

   이

   this

   일

   matter or task

   미뤄도 될지

   whether it can be postponed

   결정해야겠어요

   I need to decide

   More detail

   그럼 means “then” or “in that case,” linking this decision to something already established. It is a useful conversational connector; for example, 그럼 시작해요 means “Then let’s start.” 이 is a demonstrative meaning “this” before a noun. It identifies the noun as relevant in the situation; it is not an inflection of the noun. For example, 이 책은 재미있어요 means “This book is interesting.” 일 is a noun meaning “matter,” “work,” or “task.” Here, with 이, 이 일 means “this matter” or “this task.” For example, 이 일은 중요해요 means “This matter is important.” 미뤄도 될지 contains 미루다, “to postpone.” Its form 미뤄 combines with -어도 되다, expressing that doing something is permitted or acceptable. 될지 uses 되다 followed by -ㄹ지, which makes an embedded uncertainty or yes/no question. Together, 미뤄도 될지 means “whether it can be postponed” here. For example, 지금 미뤄도 될지 모르겠어요 means “I’m not sure whether it can be postponed now.” 결정해야겠어요 is based on 결정하다, “to decide.” The pattern -아/어야 하다 expresses necessity, so 결정해야 means “need to decide” or “have to decide.” The ending -겠어요 presents the speaker’s judgment or intention; in -해야겠어요, it naturally expresses “I should” or “I need to,” rather than simply marking a future event. For example, 이제 출발해야겠어요 means “I need to leave now.” Together, 미뤄도 될지 결정해야겠어요 means “I need to decide whether it can be postponed.” The subject of 결정해야겠어요 is understood from the speaker’s perspective, while the sentence does not explicitly state who would postpone the matter. With 그럼 and 이 일, the complete utterance is: “Then I need to decide whether this matter can wait.”

9. 오늘 이 서비스가 중요하다면 가까이 있는 게 더 안전한 선택이에요.

   If this service is important today, staying close is the safer choice.

   오늘

   today

   이

   this

   서비스

   service

   중요하다면

   if it is important

   가까이

   closely; nearby

   있는 게

   staying; being

   더 안전한

   safer

   선택

   choice

   More detail

   오늘 means “today.” It is a time adverb and normally appears before the clause or situation it frames. Example: 오늘 바빠요. — “I’m busy today.” 이 means “this” and is a demonstrative determiner placed directly before a noun. In this sentence, it specifies 서비스 as “this service.” Its form does not change for number or gender. Example: 이 책 — “this book.” 서비스 means “service.” It is a noun and can be marked with a particle such as 가 when it is the subject of a clause. Here, 서비스가 is the subject of the condition. 중요하다 means “to be important.” The observed form 중요하다면 combines the adjective 중요하다 with the conditional ending -다면, giving “if it is important.” This condition concerns the service identified by 이 서비스가. The -다면 pattern presents a condition or assumption; it does not itself assert that the condition is true. Example: 시간이 중요하다면 지금 시작해요. — “If time is important, let’s start now.” 가까이 means “nearby” or “closely.” It is an adverb, so it describes how or where the following action or state occurs. Here it modifies 있는, producing the idea of being/staying close. Example: 가까이 앉으세요. — “Please sit nearby.” 있는 게 contains 있는, the present attributive form of 있다, and 게, a contraction of 것이. 있다 can mean “to exist,” “to be located,” or “to be/stay” in a place or state; in this sentence, 가까이 있는 is understood as “being/staying close.” The clause 가까이 있는 게 is nominalized and functions as the subject of the comparison: literally, “being close is ….” Example: 여기 있는 게 좋아요. — “Being here is good.” 더 means “more” and marks a comparison. It increases the degree expressed by 안전한: one option is safer than another relevant option or than an understood alternative. Example: 이 길이 더 빨라요. — “This road is faster.” 안전한 is the attributive form of 안전하다, “to be safe.” The adjective’s own base form is 안전하다; 안전한 is used before the noun 선택. The comparative meaning comes from the separate adverb 더, not from 안전한 itself. Compare 안전한 선택, “a safe choice,” with 더 안전한 선택, “a safer choice.” 선택 means “choice” or “option.” It is a noun, and 안전한 modifies it to form 안전한 선택, “a safe choice.” The sentence-final 이에요 is the polite form of “is” used after a noun, so 더 안전한 선택이에요 means “is the safer choice.” Putting the parts together: 오늘 frames the situation as “today”; 이 서비스가 중요하다면 gives the condition “if this service is important”; 가까이 있는 게 makes “being/staying close” the subject being evaluated; and 더 안전한 선택이에요 says that it is the safer choice. The full meaning is: “If this service is important today, staying close is the safer choice.”

10. 다른 사람에게 메시지를 보내서 지연에 대해 설명할 수 있어요.

    I can message the other person and explain the delay.

    다른

    other; different

    사람

    person

    메시지

    message

    보내서

    send and; by sending

    지연

    delay

    에 대해

    about; regarding

    설명할 수 있어요

    can explain

    More detail

    다른 means “other” here, as in “the other person.” It is the attributive form of 다르다 (“to be different”) and comes before the noun it describes. Example: 다른 방법을 찾아요. — “I look for another method.” 사람 means “person.” In 다른 사람, it forms the reusable noun phrase “another person” or “the other person”; the fixed translation supports the latter intended reading here. 메시지 is the noun “message.” In the sentence it has the object marker 를 in 메시지를, marking what is sent. Korean also uses 메시지를 보내다 for “to send a message.” Example: 친구에게 메시지를 보내요. — “I send a message to a friend.” 보내서 comes from 보내다, “to send,” plus -아서/-어서. Here -서 links the sending action to the following action: “by sending [it] and then …” or “send … and ….” The form does not itself express the ability; that meaning appears later in 설명할 수 있어요. 지연 means “delay.” With 에 대해, 지연에 대해 means “about the delay” or “regarding the delay.” 에 대해 is a useful pattern for introducing the topic being discussed or explained. Example: 문제에 대해 설명해요. — “I explain the problem.” 에 대해 is the reusable postposition pattern meaning “about” or “regarding.” Here, 에 combines with 대해 to mark 지연 as the topic of the explanation. 설명할 수 있어요 means “can explain.” 설명할 is 설명하다 (“to explain”) combined with -(으)ㄹ 수 있다, a pattern for possibility or ability; 있어요 is the polite present form of 있다 in this construction. Example: 이 규칙을 설명할 수 있어요. — “I can explain this rule.” Together, 다른 사람에게 means “to the other person,” with 에게 marking the recipient. 메시지를 보내서 means “by sending a message” or “send a message and then,” 지연에 대해 specifies that the topic is the delay, and 설명할 수 있어요 expresses ability. The whole utterance therefore means: “I can message the other person and explain the delay.”

11. 그러면 그 사람이 내가 왜 늦고 있는지 이해하는 데 도움이 될 거예요.

    That should help them understand why you are running late.

    그러면

    then; in that case

    그 사람이

    that person; they

    내가

    I; the person who is running late

    왜

    why

    늦고 있는지

    why someone is currently running late

    이해하는 데

    in understanding; for understanding

    도움이

    help

    될 거예요

    will be helpful; should help

    More detail

    그러면 means “then” or “in that case,” linking this sentence to the preceding situation. 그 사람이 combines 그 (“that/the previously mentioned”) and 사람 (“person”), with 이 marking the subject. Here it refers to “them” or “that person.” 내가 is 나 (“I”) plus the subject particle 가; 나 changes to 내 before 가. It explicitly means “I,” so the target sentence says that I am the person who is running late. This differs from the supplied translation’s “you.” 왜 means “why.” 늦고 있는지 contains 늦다 (“to be late”), -고 있다 for an ongoing situation, and -는지 for an embedded question. With 왜, it means “why [someone] is currently running late.” 이해하는 데 도움이 되다 is a useful pattern meaning “help with understanding.” 이해하는 데 is the noun-like form of 이해하다 (“to understand”) used before 도움이 되다 (“to be helpful”). 될 거예요 comes from 되다 with -ㄹ 거예요, expressing a future expectation: “will be helpful” or “should help.” Together, the target sentence means: “Then that should help them understand why I am running late.” The Korean text clearly uses 내가 (“I”); therefore, the translation’s “why you are running late” is not compatible with the target text on that point.