Asking someone to hold your place in line | Learn Korean in English

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Use Asking someone to hold your place in line to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

줄을 서 있는 동안 작은 부탁 하나 해도 될까요?

joo-reul suh IN-neun dong-AN JAH-geun boo-TAK ha-NA heh-DOH dwel-KKAH-yoh Could I ask a small favor while we are in line?

필요한 걸 말해 주세요. 제가 도울 수 있을지도 몰라요.

pih-RYOH-han guhl mahl-HEH joo-SEH-yoh. jeh-GA doh-ool soo EES-seul-jih-doh moll-AH-yoh Tell me what you need, and I may be able to help.

제가 물을 좀 가지러 가는 동안 제 자리를 지켜 주실 수 있나요?

jeh-GA moo-reul johm gah-jih-ruh gah-neun dong-AN jeh JAH-ree-reul jih-KYUH joo-shil soo inn-NAH-yoh Could you hold my place while I get some water?

줄 가까이에 계시면 그렇게 할게요.

jool gah-kkah-ee-eh gyeh-shih-myun guh-ruh-keh hahl-GEH-yoh I can do that if you stay close to the line.

제가 보이는 곳에 있으면서 줄을 계속 지켜볼게요.

jeh-GA boh-EE-neun goh-SEH ee-suh-myun-suh joo-reul gyeh-SOK jih-kyuh-BOL-geh-yoh I can stay where you can see me and keep an eye on the line.

그렇게 하면 도움이 돼요. 누군가 자리를 비우면 사람들이 걱정할 수도 있으니까요.

guh-ruh-keh hah-myun doh-oo-MEE dweh-yoh. noo-gun-gah JAH-ree-reul bee-oo-myun sah-rahm-deu-ree guhK-JJUNG-hal soo-doh ee-sseu-nee-KKAH-yoh That helps, because people may worry if someone disappears.

제가 새치기한다고 생각하게 만들고 싶지 않아요.

jeh-GA seh-chee-gee-han-DAH-goh seng-gah-KAH-geh man-deul-goh ship-JJEE ah-NAH-yoh I do not want anyone to feel I am cutting in.

누가 물어보면, 제가 부탁드린 분이 근처에 계셨다고 설명할 수 있어요.

noo-GA moo-ruh-boh-myun, jeh-GA boo-tak-TTEU-rin boo-nee guhN-CHUH-eh gyeh-SHYUT-tah-goh suhL-myung-hal soo EES-suh-yoh If anyone asks, I can explain that you stayed nearby.

도와주셔서 감사해요. 금방 다녀올게요.

doh-wah-joo-SHYUH-suh gahm-SAH-heh-yoh. guhm-PPANG dah-nyuh-ohl-GEH-yoh I appreciate the help. I will be quick.

줄이 많이 움직이기 전에 돌아오세요.

joo-REE MAH-nee oom-JIH-gee-gee juh-NEH doh-rah-oh-SEH-yoh Just come back before the line moves much.

Word by Word

줄을 In this dialogue, 줄을 means “the line” as the object of 서다 in “줄을 서 있는 동안.” The particle 을 marks the object, and a common new example is 줄을 서다, “to stand in line.”

서 Here 서 means “stand,” as in standing in line. It is the form of 서다 used before 있는 in “줄을 서 있는”; a common new pattern is 줄에 서다, “to stand in line.”

있는 In “서 있는 동안,” 있는 describes being or remaining in a state, so it means “being” or “staying.” It comes from 있다 and commonly appears in the pattern “있는 동안,” meaning “while being or staying.”

동안 동안 means “while” or “during,” referring to the time when another action or state continues. In “서 있는 동안,” it marks the period during which the speakers are standing in line; it commonly follows a verb or noun to express a time span.

작은 작은 means “small” and describes the request in “작은 부탁.” It is the form of 작다 used before a noun, and it can describe a small amount or degree in expressions such as a small request.

부탁 부탁 means “a favor” or “a request,” specifically the small favor being asked here. It commonly appears with 하다, as in “부탁을 하다,” a new example meaning “to ask a favor.”

하나 하나 means “one” in “부탁 하나,” emphasizing one favor or request. It can be placed after a noun to count one item or one request, as in “질문 하나,” a new example meaning “one question.”

해도 해도 presents the action as something the speaker is asking permission to do in “해도 될까요?” It comes from 하다 and combines with 되다 to form the useful permission pattern “해도 되다,” meaning that doing something is okay.

될까요 될까요 asks politely whether something would be okay or possible. In the dialogue it completes “해도 될까요?”; this is a reusable way to ask permission, such as “들어가도 될까요?” in a new example.

필요한 필요한 means “needed” or “necessary” and describes the thing the listener needs in “필요한 걸.” It is the form of 필요하다 used before a noun, and it commonly comes before an object or thing that is needed.

걸 걸 means “the thing” or “what,” referring here to what the listener needs in “필요한 걸.” It is a conversational form of 것을, and it commonly follows a phrase describing the thing being discussed.

말해 말해 means “tell” or “say” in “말해 주세요,” asking the listener to state what is needed. Together with 주세요 it forms a polite request, and the reusable pattern is “말해 주세요,” meaning “please tell me.”

주세요 주세요 makes “말해” into a polite request: “please tell me.” It commonly follows an action form in the pattern “동사-아/어 주세요,” asking someone politely to do something.

제가 제가 means “I” as the subject of “도울 수 있을지도 몰라요.” The particle 가 marks the subject, so it identifies the speaker as the person who may be able to help; it commonly appears before an action the speaker will perform.

도울 도울 means “help” in the possibility expression “도울 수 있다,” meaning “be able to help.” It is the form of 돕다 used before 수, and the same pattern can be reused with another action in a new example.

수 수 expresses possibility or ability in “도울 수 있을지도 몰라요.” It is used with a verb in the pattern “동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있다,” meaning that someone can or is able to do the action.

있을지도 있을지도 contributes the possibility meaning in “도울 수 있을지도 몰라요,” so the speaker says help may be possible. It commonly appears before 몰라요 in the pattern “-(으)ㄹ지도 몰라요,” meaning “might” or “may.”

몰라요 몰라요 literally means “I do not know,” but in “있을지도 몰라요” it completes an expression of uncertainty: “may be able to.” The pattern “-(으)ㄹ지도 몰라요” is useful when the speaker does not want to state something as certain.

물을 물을 means “water” as the object of getting in “물을 좀 가지러 가는 동안.” The particle 을 marks water as the thing involved in the action, and it can be replaced by another object in the same kind of phrase.

좀 좀 means “some” or “a little” here, referring to getting some water. In requests, it also makes the wording softer; it commonly appears before an action or object when asking for a small amount.

가지러 가지러 means “in order to go get” in “물을 좀 가지러 가는 동안.” It expresses the purpose of going and commonly appears before 가다 in the pattern “무엇을 가지러 가다,” a new example meaning “go to get something.”

가는 가는 means “going” in “가지러 가는 동안,” describing the action that is in progress during that period. It is the form of 가다 used before a noun such as 동안, and it can describe an ongoing trip or movement.

제 제 means “my” in “제 자리를,” identifying the place as belonging to the speaker. It is the possessive form used before a noun, so it commonly appears in phrases such as 제 자리, “my place.”

자리를 자리를 means “place” or “spot” as the object of 지켜 in “제 자리를 지켜 주실 수 있나요?” The particle 을 marks the place being kept, and 자리 commonly refers to someone’s spot in a line or location.

지켜 지켜 means “keep,” “guard,” or “watch” the speaker’s place in “자리를 지켜 주실 수 있나요?” Together with 주실 it asks someone to do this as a favor; a common pattern is 자리를 지키다, “keep one’s place.”

주실 주실 indicates doing the preceding action for someone in the polite request “지켜 주실 수 있나요?” It is the honorific form used with the helping construction 주다, and it commonly follows an action when asking someone to do it as a favor.

있나요 있나요 asks whether the listener can or is able to do the requested action in “주실 수 있나요?” It completes the polite ability question “동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있나요?”, a reusable way to ask if someone can do something.

줄 줄 means “line” or “queue” in “줄 가까이에,” referring to the line the speakers are waiting in. Here it is followed by a location expression, and it commonly appears in phrases about joining, leaving, or staying near a queue.

가까이에 가까이에 means “close to” or “near,” specifying the location relative to the line in “줄 가까이에 계시면.” It commonly follows a place or object to show that someone or something is nearby.

계시면 계시면 means “if you stay” or “if you are there” in the polite condition “가까이에 계시면.” It is an honorific form of 있다 with the conditional ending 면, used when respectfully referring to the listener’s location or presence.

그렇게 그렇게 means “like that” or “that way,” referring to the arrangement just described. In “그렇게 할게요,” it points back to holding the place under the stated condition; it commonly refers to an action or method already mentioned.

할게요 할게요 means “I will do it” and shows the speaker’s willing commitment to hold the place. It comes from 하다 with -ㄹ게요, a useful ending for promising or volunteering to do something for the listener.

보이는 보이는 means “visible” or “able to be seen” in “보이는 곳,” describing a place from which the listener can see the speaker. It is the form of 보이다 used before a noun, and it commonly describes a visible place, object, or person.

곳에 곳에 means “in” or “at the place,” marking the location where the speaker will stay in “보이는 곳에 있으면서.” The particle 에 marks a destination or location, and 곳에 commonly follows a description of the place.

있으면서 있으면서 means “while staying” or “while being” in “곳에 있으면서,” linking the speaker’s continued presence with watching the line. It is useful for describing two actions or states happening at the same time.

계속 계속 means “continuously” or “keep,” emphasizing that the line will be watched without stopping. In “계속 지켜볼게요,” it commonly comes before an action to show continued activity.

지켜볼게요 지켜볼게요 means “I will keep an eye on it” in the promise to watch the line. Together with 계속 it forms “계속 지켜볼게요,” and the ending -ㄹ게요 presents this as the speaker’s commitment.

하면 하면 means “if you do” or “if that happens” in “그렇게 하면 도움이 돼요.” It is 하다 with the conditional ending 면, and the pattern “동사-면” is used to state a condition.

도움이 도움이 means “help” as the subject of “도움이 돼요,” referring to the helpful effect of staying visible and nearby. The particle 이 marks help as what becomes useful, and 도움이 되다 is a common expression for “be helpful.”

돼요 돼요 means “helps” or “is helpful” in “도움이 돼요.” It comes from 되다 and commonly completes the expression 도움이 되다, meaning that something provides help or is useful.

누군가 누군가 means “someone,” referring to an unspecified person who might leave the line in “누군가 자리를 비우면.” It commonly appears as the subject of an action when the person is not identified.

비우면 비우면 means “if someone leaves or vacates” in “자리를 비우면,” specifically leaving a place empty. It is 비우다 with the conditional ending 면, and 자리 비우다 is a reusable expression for leaving one’s place.

사람들이 사람들이 means “people” as the subject of “걱정할 수도 있어요.” The particle 이 marks people as the ones who may worry, and 사람들이 commonly introduces a general group of people in a situation.

걱정할 걱정할 means “worry” in “걱정할 수도,” where it appears before a possibility expression. It is the form of 걱정하다 used before 수, and “걱정할 수 있다” can express that worrying is possible.

수도 수도 contributes the meaning “may” or “might” in “걱정할 수도 있어요.” Together with 있다, it forms the pattern “동사-(으)ㄹ 수도 있다,” used to say that something is one possible outcome.

있으니까요 있으니까요 means “because it is so” or “since that may happen,” giving the reason for the previous statement. In “걱정할 수도 있으니까요,” the ending 으니까요 presents the possibility as an explanation or reason.

새치기한다고 새치기한다고 means “that someone is cutting in line” in “제가 새치기한다고 생각하게.” It reports the content of someone’s possible thought using 다고, and 새치기하다 refers specifically to entering a line unfairly.

생각하게 생각하게 means “to think” in the causative expression “생각하게 만들고,” meaning “make someone think.” It connects the thought content “새치기한다고” to the verb 만들다, and this pattern can describe causing someone to form an impression.

만들고 만들고 means “make” and links to the following desire expression in “생각하게 만들고 싶지 않아요.” Here it describes causing other people to think something, and -고 connects it with what the speaker does not want.

싶지 싶지 marks an unwanted desire in “싶지 않아요,” meaning “do not want to.” It is the form of 싶다 used before the negative 않다, and the pattern “동사-고 싶지 않다” expresses not wanting to do something.

않아요 않아요 supplies polite negation in “싶지 않아요,” making the speaker say that they do not want this result. It commonly follows a verb or adjective form to state that something is not the case or is not wanted.

누가 누가 means “who” or “anyone” as the subject of “물어보면.” In this conditional context, it refers to any person who asks, and the particle 가 marks that person as the one performing the action.

물어보면 물어보면 means “if someone asks” in “누가 물어보면.” It combines 물어보다, “ask,” with the conditional ending 면, and the pattern “누가 물어보면” is useful when explaining what to say if someone asks a question.

부탁드린 부탁드린 means “asked” or “requested” politely in “부탁드린 분,” identifying the person whom the speaker asked for help. It comes from the honorific expression 부탁드리다 and modifies the following noun 분.

분이 분이 means “person” as the respectful subject of “계셨다고,” referring to the person who was asked for help. 분 is a respectful word for a person, and the particle 이 marks that person as the subject.

근처에 근처에 means “nearby” or “in the vicinity,” describing where the requested person was in “근처에 계셨다고.” The particle 에 marks the location, and 근처에 commonly follows a place or person being used as a reference point.

계셨다고 계셨다고 means “that someone was or stayed” respectfully in the reported statement “근처에 계셨다고 설명할 수 있어요.” It combines the honorific past form 계셨다 with the reporting marker 고, allowing the speaker to explain what was true.

설명할 설명할 means “explain” in “설명할 수 있어요,” where it appears before the ability expression 수 있다. It is the form of 설명하다 used before 수, and the pattern “설명할 수 있다” means “can explain.”

있어요 있어요 means “can” or “is able to” in “설명할 수 있어요.” Together with 수 it completes the polite ability pattern “동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있어요,” used to say that someone is able to do something.

도와주셔서 도와주셔서 means “for helping” or “because you helped,” respectfully referring to the listener’s help in “도와주셔서 감사해요.” It combines 도와주다 with the honorific connective ending 셔서, and it commonly comes before 감사하다 when thanking someone for an action.

감사해요 감사해요 means “thank you” or “I appreciate it,” expressing thanks for the help. It is a polite expression commonly used after stating what someone did, as in the dialogue’s “도와주셔서 감사해요.”

금방 금방 means “soon” or “quickly,” assuring the listener that the speaker will return without taking long. It commonly appears with an action such as returning or finishing when the time will be short.

다녀올게요 다녀올게요 means “I will go and come back,” promising to return after making a short trip. It is useful when leaving temporarily and reassuring the listener that the speaker will come back.

줄이 줄이 means “the line” as the subject of “움직이기 전에.” The particle 이 marks the queue as what may move, and 줄이 commonly appears when describing the line’s movement or length.

많이 많이 means “a lot” or “much,” describing how far or significantly the line moves in “많이 움직이기 전에.” It commonly comes before a verb to indicate a large amount or degree.

움직이기 움직이기 means “moving” in “많이 움직이기 전에,” referring to the line’s movement. It is the noun form of 움직이다 used before 전에, and this pattern can mark an event that should happen before an action.

전에 전에 means “before,” placing the return before the line moves much in “움직이기 전에.” It commonly follows a noun-like action form to express that one event occurs earlier than another.

돌아오세요 돌아오세요 means “please come back,” politely telling the listener to return to the line. It is a polite request form of 돌아오다 and is useful when asking someone to return to a place or group.

Grammar Points

동사-(으)면

자리를 비우면

JAH-ree-reul bee-OO-myun

if you leave your place; when you are away

Attach -(으)면 to express a condition, similar to “if” or “when” in English.

동사-ㄹ게요

지켜볼게요

jih-kyuh-BOL-geh-yoh

I’ll keep an eye on it.

-ㄹ게요 shows the speaker’s intention or promise to do something for the listener.

Korean Vocabulary

가까이 adv

gah-kkah-EE nearby; close 가까이에

줄 가까이에 계시면

계속 adv

gyeh-SOK continuously; 계속

줄을 계속 지켜볼게요

돕다 verb

dohp-TTAH to help 도울

제가 도울 수 있을지도 몰라요

말하다 verb

mahl-HAH-dah to tell; to say 말해

필요한 걸 말해 주세요

물 noun

mool water 물을

물을 좀 가지러 가는 동안

부탁 noun

boo-TAK favor; request

작은 부탁 하나

서다 verb

suh-DAH to stand; to line up 서 있는

줄을 서 있는 동안

자리 noun

JAH-ree place; spot 자리를

제 자리를 지켜 주실 수 있나요

줄 noun

jool line; queue 줄을

줄을 서 있는 동안

지켜보다 verb

jih-kyuh-BOH-dah to keep an eye on; to watch 지켜볼게요

줄을 계속 지켜볼게요

지키다 verb

JEE-kee-dah to keep; to hold; to look after 지켜

제 자리를 지켜 주실 수 있나요

필요하다 adj

pih-RYOH-hah-dah to need; to be necessary 필요한

필요한 걸 말해 주세요

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I can do that if you stay close to the line.

Show Answer

줄 가까이에 계시면 그렇게 할게요.

I do not want anyone to feel I am cutting in.

Show Answer

제가 새치기한다고 생각하게 만들고 싶지 않아요.

I appreciate the help. I will be quick.

Show Answer

도와주셔서 감사해요. 금방 다녀올게요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

nearby; close

Show Answer

가까이에

to keep an eye on; to watch

Show Answer

지켜볼게요

to tell; to say

Show Answer

말해

to need; to be necessary

Show Answer

필요한