Checking an Email Before Sending | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: Before sending a professional follow-up email, one coworker checks the tone, next step, context, and recipient list with another..

EN → KO / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Checking an Email Before Sending to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

제가 보내기 전에 이 이메일의 어조를 확인해 주실 수 있나요?

jeh-GAH poh-NEH-gee juh-neh ee-mee-EL-eh uh-JOH-reul hwah-GIN-heh joo-SHEEL soo een-NAH-yoh Could you check the tone of this email before I send it?
B

전문적이지만, 시작 부분이 조금 날카롭게 느껴져요.

juhn-MOON-juh-GEE-jah-MAHN, shee-JAHK boo-BOON-ee joh-GOOM nahl-KAH-roop-geh neu-KYUH-juh-yoh It is professional, but the opening feels a little sharp.
A

제가 조급하게 들리지 않으면서 상대방에게 그 요청을 상기시키고 싶어요.

jeh-GAH joh-GOOP-hah-geh deul-LEE-jee ahn-eu-myuhn-SUH, sahng-DEH-bahng-eh-geh guh yoh-CHUHNG-eul sahng-GEE-shee-kee-goh SHEE-puh-yoh I want to remind them about the request without sounding impatient.
B

후속 연락을 드린다는 내용으로 더 부드럽게 시작해 보세요.

hoo-SOHK yuhl-LAH-geul deu-REEN-dah-neun neh-YOHNG-eu-ro duh boo-DEU-roop-geh shee-JAHK-heh boh-SEH-yoh Try a softer opening that says you are following up.
A

그게 더 좋게 들리네요. 제 요청이 충분히 명확한가요?

geu-GEH duh JOH-keh deul-LEE-neh-yoh. jeh yoh-CHUHNG-ee choong-BOON-hee myuhng-HWAK-hahn-GAH-yoh That sounds better. Is my request clear enough?
B

같은 문단에서 다음 단계를 설명해 보세요.

GAH-teun moon-DAHN-eh-suh DAH-eum DAN-gyuh-reul seol-MYUNG-heh boh-SEH-yoh Explain the next step in the same paragraph.
A

저는 끝부분 가까이에 추가 맥락도 넣었어요.

juh-NEUN kkeut-BOO-boon gah-KAH-ee-eh choo-GAH maeng-NAK-toh nuh-uh-SSUH-yoh I also added extra context near the end.
B

그 맥락은 도움이 돼요. 보내기 전에 수신자 목록을 확인해 보세요.

geu MAENG-nah-geun doh-OO-mee dweh-yoh. poh-NEH-gee juh-neh soo-SHEEN-jah MOONG-noo-geul hwah-GIN-heh boh-SEH-yoh The context is helpful. Check the recipient list before you send it.
A

그건 놓치기 쉬웠어요. 실수로 잘못된 사람이 포함되어 있었어요.

geu-GUHN noh-CHEE-gee SHEE-wuh-SSUH-yoh. SHEEL-soo-roh jahl-MOHT-twen sah-RAHM-ee poh-HAM-dweh-uh ee-SSUH-yoh That was easy to miss. The wrong person was included by mistake.
B

그 사람을 목록에서 삭제하세요.

geu sah-RAHM-eul MOONG-noo-geh-suh sahk-JJEH-hah-SEH-yoh Remove that person from the list.
B

그러면 이메일을 보낼 준비가 됩니다.

geu-ruh-MYUN ee-mee-EL-eul poh-NAEL joon-BEE-gah DWEHM-nee-dah Then the email is ready to send.

Word by Word

제가 제가 identifies the speaker as the subject: “I.” The form is used before the action the speaker will perform, and it commonly appears when stating who will do something.
보내기 보내기 means “sending” in 보내기 전에, referring to sending the email. It is the nominalized form of 보내다 and commonly comes before 전에 to express an action that happens first.
전에 전에 means “before” and places the following action earlier in time. In 보내기 전에, it follows an action noun and introduces the point before sending.
이 이 means “this” and points to the email being discussed. It comes directly before a noun, as in 이 이메일.
이메일의 이메일의 means “of the email,” linking the email to the tone being checked. 의 marks a possessive or modifying relationship before the related noun.
어조를 어조를 means “the tone” as the object of checking. 를 marks 어조 as the thing affected by the action, and it is used with actions such as 확인하다.
확인해 확인해 contributes the meaning “check” or “confirm” in the request 확인해 주실 수 있나요. It is the 해 form of 확인하다 and commonly connects to a following request or helping expression.
주실 주실 presents the requested checking as something the other person would do as a favor for the speaker. It is related to 주다 and commonly follows another action in a polite request.
수 수 expresses possibility or ability in 확인해 주실 수 있나요. It is used with a preceding action and 있다 to ask whether that action is possible.
있나요 있나요 completes the polite question about whether something is possible: “can you?” or “is it possible?” It is the question form of 있다 and follows 수 in this possibility expression.
전문적이지만 전문적이지만 means “professional, but” and contrasts the professional quality with the opening feeling sharp. The form combines 전문적이다 with the contrast ending 지만.
시작 시작 means “beginning” or “opening,” referring here to the beginning of the email. It is a noun that can modify or combine with words describing a section or stage.
부분이 부분이 means “the part” as the subject of the sentence, specifically the opening section. 이 marks that section as what feels sharp.
조금 조금 means “a little” and softens the degree of 날카롭게. It commonly comes before a description to make the amount or intensity less strong.
날카롭게 날카롭게 means “sharply” or, here, “in a sharp way” as the email opening comes across. It is the adverbial form of 날카롭다 and describes how something feels or sounds.
느껴져요 느껴져요 means “feels” or “seems” from the speaker’s impression, rather than stating an objective fact. It is the polite form of 느껴지다 and commonly follows a subject that gives a particular impression.
조급하게 조급하게 means “impatiently” or “with a sense of urgency,” describing how the speaker might come across. It functions as an adverb before the negative sounding expression 들리지 않으면서.
들리지 들리지 contributes “sound” or “come across” in the negative expression 들리지 않으면서. It is not complete by itself here; the following negative form supplies the meaning “without sounding.”
않으면서 않으면서 means “without” or “while not,” linking a negative condition to the speaker’s main intention. Here it expresses avoiding an impatient impression while reminding the recipient.
상대방에게 상대방에게 means “to the other person” or “to the other party.” 에게 marks the person toward whom an action such as reminding is directed.
그 그 means “that” or “the” and points to the request already being discussed. It comes before the noun it identifies, as in 그 요청을.
요청을 요청을 means “the request” as the object of reminding. 를 marks 요청 as the thing that is being brought back to the other person’s attention.
상기시키고 상기시키고 means “remind and,” linking the reminding action to the following expression of desire. It comes from 상기시키다 with -고 and can connect one action to another.
싶어요 싶어요 expresses the speaker’s desire to do the preceding action: “want to.” It follows an action ending in -고, as in 상기시키고 싶어요.
후속 후속 means “follow-up” and modifies 연락 to describe contact made after an earlier request or message. It commonly comes before a noun related to the next communication or action.
연락을 연락을 means “contact” as the object of the polite contact expression 드린다는. 를 marks 연락 as what is being offered or made.
드린다는 드린다는 presents the message as saying that the speaker will make contact politely, as in 후속 연락을 드린다는 내용. It comes from 드리다 with a form that presents stated content and commonly modifies 내용.
내용으로 내용으로 means “with the content” or “using the message that says …” in this context. 로 marks the content or wording used to shape the opening.
더 더 means “more” and marks a higher degree than the previous opening. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb describing the improved quality.
부드럽게 부드럽게 means “softly” or “gently,” describing a less sharp email opening. It is the adverbial form of 부드럽다 and modifies the way an action is performed.
시작해 시작해 means “start” or “begin” in the suggestion 시작해 보세요. It is the 해 form of 시작하다 and connects to the expression meaning “try doing it.”
보세요 보세요 contributes the meaning “try doing it” in the pattern 시작해 보세요, rather than simply meaning “see.” It is used after an action in a polite suggestion to try that action.
그게 그게 means “that” as the subject, referring to the softer opening just suggested. It is commonly used to identify a previously mentioned option or idea as the subject of an evaluation.
좋게 좋게 means “well” or “in a better way” and describes how the revised opening sounds. It is the adverbial form of 좋다 and comes before a verb describing the resulting impression.
들리네요 들리네요 means “sounds” or “comes across,” with -네요 showing the speaker’s immediate assessment. In 좋게 들리네요, it evaluates the way the wording is perceived.
제 제 means “my” and identifies the request as belonging to the speaker. It is the shortened form of 저의 and comes directly before the noun it modifies.
요청이 요청이 means “the request” as the subject of the question about clarity. 이 marks 요청 as the item being evaluated.
충분히 충분히 means “sufficiently” or “enough,” indicating the required degree of clarity. It commonly comes before an adjective or description of quality.
명확한가요 명확한가요 asks whether something is clear or unambiguous in a polite question. It is the question form of 명확하다 and follows the subject being evaluated.
같은 같은 means “same” and specifies that the paragraph is the one already being used. It is a determiner that comes directly before a noun, as in 같은 문단.
문단에서 문단에서 means “in the paragraph,” identifying where the next step should be explained. 에서 marks the location in which an action takes place.
다음 다음 means “next” and describes the step that follows the current one. It comes before the noun it modifies, as in 다음 단계.
단계를 단계를 means “the step” as the object of explaining. 를 marks the step as the information that should be explained.
설명해 설명해 means “explain” in the suggestion 설명해 보세요. It is the 해 form of 설명하다 and connects to the polite try-doing expression.
저는 저는 presents the speaker as the topic: “as for me” or “I.” 는 marks the topic and is useful when adding information about the speaker’s actions.
끝부분 끝부분 means “the end part” or “the ending section,” referring to the latter part of the email. It is a noun that can be followed by a location expression such as 가까이에.
가까이에 가까이에 means “near” or “close to” and locates the added context near the end. 에 marks the relevant position or location.
추가 추가 means “additional” or “extra,” specifying that the context was added beyond the existing content. It commonly comes before the noun describing what was added.
맥락도 맥락도 means “context also” or “additional context too,” adding context to the other information already mentioned. 도 marks 맥락 as an additional item.
넣었어요 넣었어요 means “added” or “put in” in the polite past form of 넣다. Here it describes inserting context into the email, and it commonly follows the item that was inserted.
맥락은 맥락은 means “as for the context,” making context the topic of the next evaluation. 는 marks the topic, as in 맥락은 도움이 돼요.
도움이 도움이 means “help” or “benefit” as the subject of 도움이 돼요. 이 marks 도움 as the subject, while 돼요 completes the expression meaning “is helpful.”
돼요 돼요 comes from 되다 and means “works,” “becomes,” or “is helpful” here. In 도움이 돼요, it completes the expression that says the context provides help.
수신자 수신자 means “recipient,” the person who receives the email. It commonly modifies or combines with email-related nouns, as in 수신자 목록.
목록을 목록을 means “the list” as the object of checking. 를 marks the list as the thing to inspect before sending.
그건 그건 means “that” as the topic and refers to the recipient-list issue just noticed. It is a shortened form of 그것은 and commonly introduces a comment about a previously mentioned matter.
놓치기 놓치기 means “missing” or “overlooking” as an action noun. In 놓치기 쉬웠어요, it names the action that was easy to overlook.
쉬웠어요 쉬웠어요 means “was easy” in the polite past form of 쉽다. With an action noun such as 놓치기, it describes how easy that action was.
실수로 실수로 means “by mistake” or “accidentally,” explaining that the inclusion happened unintentionally. It commonly comes before the action caused by the mistake.
잘못된 잘못된 means “wrong” or “incorrect” and identifies the person who should not have been included. It is a modifying form placed directly before a noun.
사람이 사람이 means “the person” as the subject of being included. 이 marks 사람 as the item whose inclusion is being described.
포함되어 포함되어 means “included” and describes the person’s state in the list. It is the connective form of 포함되다 and commonly comes before a form of 있다 to describe an inclusion state.
있었어요 있었어요 means “was present” in the polite past form of 있다. In 포함되어 있었어요, it completes the meaning that the person had been included in the list.
사람을 사람을 means “the person” as the object of removal. 를 marks the person as what should be removed from the list.
목록에서 목록에서 means “from the list,” showing the source or place from which the person is removed. 에서 commonly marks the place or group an item is taken out of.
삭제하세요 삭제하세요 means “remove” or “delete” as a polite instruction. It is the polite request form of 삭제하다 and commonly follows the object being removed.
그러면 그러면 means “then” or “in that case,” linking the correction to its result. It commonly introduces what will be true after the preceding action is completed.
이메일을 이메일을 means “the email” as the object of sending. 를 marks the email as the thing that will be sent.
보낼 보낼 means “to send” or “that will be sent” in 보낼 준비가 됩니다. It is the modifying form of 보내다 and comes before 준비 to express readiness for sending.
준비가 준비가 means “readiness” or “preparation” as the subject of becoming ready. 이 marks 준비 as the state that changes in 보낼 준비가 됩니다.
됩니다 됩니다 comes from 되다 and means “becomes” or “is ready” in 보낼 준비가 됩니다. Together with 준비가, it states that the email reaches a ready-to-send state.

Grammar Points

-지만

전문적이지만 날카롭게 느껴져요.

juhn-MOON-juh-gee-jah-MAHN nahl-KAH-roop-geh neu-KYUH-juh-yoh

It feels professional but sharp.

-지만 connects contrasting ideas and means “but” or “although.”

-게

부드럽게 시작해요.

boo-DEU-roop-geh shee-JAHK-heh-yoh

Start gently.

-게 changes an adjective into an adverb describing how an action is done.

Korean Vocabulary

날카롭다 adj
nahl-KAH-roop-dah sharp 날카롭게
느껴지다 verb
neu-KYUH-jee-dah to feel; to seem 느껴져요
보내다 verb
poh-NEH-dah to send 보내기
상기시키다 verb
sahng-GEE-shee-kee-dah to remind 상기시키고
상대방 noun
sahng-DEH-bahng the other person
시작 부분 phrase
shee-JAHK boo-BOON opening; beginning section
어조 noun
uh-JOH tone
요청 noun
yoh-CHUHNG request
이메일 noun
ee-mee-EL email
전문적이다 adj
juhn-MOON-juhk-ee-dah professional 전문적이지만
조급하다 adj
joh-GOOP-hah-dah to be impatient 조급하게
확인하다 verb
hwah-GIN-hah-dah to check 확인해

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

It is professional, but the opening feels a little sharp.

Show Answer전문적이지만, 시작 부분이 조금 날카롭게 느껴져요.

Explain the next step in the same paragraph.

Show Answer같은 문단에서 다음 단계를 설명해 보세요.

I also added extra context near the end.

Show Answer저는 끝부분 가까이에 추가 맥락도 넣었어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

sharp

Show Answer날카롭게

professional

Show Answer전문적이지만

to feel; to seem

Show Answer느껴져요

to be impatient

Show Answer조급하게