Building a Healthier Routine | Learn Korean in English

About This Lesson

Use Building a Healthier Routine to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

더 건강한 생활 습관을 만들고 싶지만, 저는 항상 일주일 후에 그만둬요.

duh gun-GANG-han saeng-HWAL seup-GWAN-eul MAN-deul-go SHIM-jji-man, juh-neun HANG-sang il-joo-IL hoo-eh guh-man-DWOH-yoh. I want a healthier routine, but I always quit after a week.

한 번에 너무 많은 것을 바꾸려고 하는 것 같아요.

han BUN-eh, nuh-MOO MAN-eun guh-SEUL ba-KKOO-ryuh-GOH ha-neun guh GAT-ta-yoh. Maybe you are trying to change too much at once.

저는 보통 운동과 요리와 일찍 자는 것을 모두 동시에 계획해요.

juh-neun BOH-tong oon-DONG-gwa yoh-REE-wa il-JJIK ja-neun guh-SEUL MOH-doo dong-SHI-eh kye-HWAEK-hae-yoh. I usually plan exercise, cooking, and earlier sleep all at the same time.

먼저 한 가지 습관을 고르고 무엇이 방해하는지 살펴보세요.

MON-juh han GA-jee seup-GWAN-eul goh-REU-go moo-uh-shi bang-HAE-ha-neun-jee sal-PYUH-boh-SEH-yoh. Pick one habit first and look at what gets in the way.

가장 큰 문제는 제가 퇴근 후에 기운이 별로 없다는 거예요.

ga-JANG keun MOON-je-neun jeh-ga tweh-geun hoo-eh gi-OON-ee byuhl-loh eop-TTA-neun guh-yeh-yoh. The main problem is that I have low energy after work.

그럼 저녁 식사 전에 짧게 산책하는 것부터 시작해 보세요.

geu-reom juh-NYUK SHIK-sa jeon-eh JJAL-kkeh san-CHAEK-ha-neun guh-BUH-tuh shi-JAK-hae boh-SEH-yoh. Then start with a short walk before dinner.

그건 현실적이고 너무 부담스럽지 않게 느껴져요.

geu-geon hyun-SHIL-juh-gee-goh nuh-MOO boo-DAM-seu-reop-JJI an-ke neu-KKYUH-juh-yoh. That feels realistic and not too demanding.

산책이 자연스럽게 느껴지면 나중에 균형 잡힌 식사를 추가해도 돼요.

san-CHAEK-ee ja-yuhn-SEU-reop-kkeh neu-KKYUH-jee-myun na-JOONG-eh gyoon-HYUNG jap-PEEN SHIK-sa-reul choo-GA-hae-doh dwae-yoh. You can add balanced meals later, once walking feels natural.

일주일에 세 번 기록하는 게 매일 하려고 하는 것보다 더 나을 것 같아요.

il-joo-IL-eh seh BUN gi-ROK-ha-neun geh mae-IL ha-ryuh-GOH ha-neun guh-BBOH-dah duh na-eul GAT-ta-yoh. Tracking it three times a week sounds better than trying every day.

유연한 목표는 시간이 지나도 지키기 더 쉬워요.

yoo-YUN-han MOK-pyo-neun shi-GAN-ee jee-NA-doh JEE-kee-gee duh SHWEE-uh-yoh. Flexible goals are easier to keep over time.

Word by Word

더 더 means “more” here and strengthens 건강한, giving the meaning “healthier.” It is useful before an adjective when comparing a greater degree, as in 더 건강한 생활 습관.

건강한 건강한 means “healthy” in 더 건강한 생활 습관, describing the kind of lifestyle habit being discussed. It appears before a noun and is useful when describing a healthy routine, meal, or activity.

생활 생활 refers to daily life or lifestyle here, as part of 생활 습관, “daily-life habits.” It commonly combines with 습관 when talking about routines and everyday behavior.

습관 습관 means “habit,” specifically the routine the speaker wants to make healthier. It can be used with a describing word before it, as in 건강한 생활 습관, when discussing a repeated behavior.

을 을 marks 생활 습관 as the object of 만들고 싶지만, showing what the speaker wants to make. It is used after an object ending in a consonant and commonly follows a noun before a verb.

만들고 만들고 means “make and” in 더 건강한 생활 습관을 만들고 싶지만, linking 만들다 with the following expression. The -고 form connects an action to another verb or expression, and it is useful when describing connected actions.

싶지만 싶지만 contributes “want to ..., but” in 만들고 싶지만, expressing a desire followed by a contrast. The form is useful when you want to state what you want and then introduce an opposing fact or difficulty.

저 저 means “I” or “me” in this polite conversation. It is the humble first-person form used in polite speech, and it can be followed by 는 or 가 depending on whether the speaker marks a topic or subject.

는 는 marks 저 as the topic in 저는 항상 일주일 후에 그만둬요, setting up what happens to the speaker. It commonly follows a noun or pronoun when introducing the topic of a sentence.

항상 항상 means “always,” describing the repeated pattern of quitting after one week. It usually comes before the verb or phrase it modifies and is useful for talking about regular behavior.

일주일 일주일 means “one week” in 일주일 후에, identifying the time period before the speaker quits. It can combine with 후에 to express an event occurring after a stated period.

후 후 means “after” in 일주일 후에, so the phrase refers to the time after one week. It commonly follows a time expression such as 일주일 and can be followed by 에 when marking the time of an event.

에 에 marks the time point in 일주일 후에, meaning that the quitting happens after one week. It is commonly attached to a time expression to locate an action in time.

그만둬요 그만둬요 means “quit” or “stop” here, referring to giving up the routine after a week. It is a polite conversational form useful when saying that someone stops an activity, plan, or habit.

번 번 is a counter for times or occurrences in 한 번에, where 한 번에 means “at once” or “in one go.” It follows a number or quantity expression when counting how many times something happens.

너무 너무 means “too” in 너무 많은 것을, showing that the amount is excessive for the situation. It commonly comes before an adjective or describing phrase when expressing an excessive degree.

많은 많은 means “many” or “a large amount of,” describing the things being changed in 너무 많은 것을. It appears before a noun or nominalized expression when describing quantity.

것 것 refers to a thing or idea in 너무 많은 것을, turning the preceding description into the object “too many things.” It is commonly used after a describing phrase to refer to an action, idea, or thing in a general way.

바꾸려고 바꾸려고 contributes the intention or attempt to change in 바꾸려고 하는 것 같아요. The -려고 form is useful before a following verb or expression when describing an intended action.

하는 하는 links the action 바꾸려고 to the impression expressed by 것 같아요, describing what the person appears to be doing. It is useful before a noun-like expression when an action is being described.

같아요 같아요 means “seems” or “I think” here, softening B’s judgment that the person appears to be trying to change too much. It commonly follows 것 to express an impression rather than a firm statement.

보통 보통 means “usually,” describing the speaker’s normal planning pattern. It commonly comes before the verb or activity that happens regularly.

운동 운동 means “exercise” in the list of habits being planned. It can be used as a noun for physical activity and can be linked with other nouns in a list, as in 운동과 요리와 일찍 자는 것.

과 과 means “and” after 운동, linking 운동 with the next listed activity. It follows a noun ending in a consonant and is useful for joining nouns in a list.

요리 요리 means “cooking” in the list of activities the speaker plans. It can refer to the activity of preparing food and can be linked to another noun with 와.

와 와 means “and” after 요리, linking it with 일찍 자는 것. It follows a noun ending in a vowel and is used to connect nouns in a list.

일찍 일찍 means “early” in 일찍 자는 것, describing going to sleep early. It is an adverb placed before the action it modifies and is useful when discussing an earlier-than-usual time.

자는 자는 means “sleeping” or “going to bed” in 일찍 자는 것, describing the activity that is planned. It appears before 것 to turn the action into a noun-like idea that can be listed with 운동 and 요리.

모두 모두 means “all,” emphasizing that every listed habit is planned. It commonly appears with a list or plural set when referring to the entire group.

동시에 동시에 means “at the same time,” showing that the speaker plans all the habits together. It is useful for describing multiple actions or plans happening simultaneously.

계획해요 계획해요 means “plan” in the polite present form used here. It takes the activity or object being planned before it and is useful for discussing intended routines or arrangements.

먼저 먼저 means “first,” indicating that one habit should be selected before examining other changes. It commonly comes before the first action in an ordered plan.

가지 가지 means “kind” or “type” in 한 가지 습관, identifying one type of habit. It commonly follows 한 or another quantity expression when specifying the number of kinds or choices.

고르고 고르고 means “choose and,” linking the choice of one habit with the next action, 살펴보세요. The -고 form is useful when presenting two actions in sequence or connection.

무엇 무엇 means “what” in 무엇이 방해하는지, asking which thing causes the difficulty. It is used before a subject marker when asking about an unknown thing or cause.

이 이 marks 무엇 as the subject in 무엇이 방해하는지, so the question concerns what is getting in the way. It follows a noun or question word ending in a consonant and identifies the subject of the clause.

방해하는지 방해하는지 expresses “what is getting in the way” inside the indirect question 무엇이 방해하는지. The form is useful when examining or asking which factor causes an action or plan to be difficult.

살펴보세요 살펴보세요 means “please look into” or “please examine” here, inviting the listener to identify the obstacle. It is a polite suggestion used when asking someone to inspect a situation carefully.

가장 가장 means “most,” marking the highest degree in 가장 큰 문제. It commonly comes before an adjective when identifying the most important, largest, or strongest item.

큰 큰 means “big” and describes 문제 in 가장 큰 문제, meaning the main or biggest problem. It appears before a noun and can describe importance or seriousness as well as physical size.

문제 문제 means “problem,” referring to the main difficulty with maintaining the routine. It commonly follows a describing phrase such as 가장 큰 when identifying a specific difficulty.

제가 제가 means “I” as the subject in 제가 퇴근 후에 기운이 별로 없다는 거예요. It is the subject-marked form used when the speaker identifies who lacks energy.

퇴근 퇴근 means leaving work or finishing work for the day in 퇴근 후에. It commonly combines with 후에 to describe something that happens after work.

기운 기운 means energy or strength in 기운이 별로 없다는 거예요, referring to the speaker’s energy level. It is useful when describing whether someone has enough energy for an activity.

별로 별로 means “not much” or “not particularly” here, together with 없다는 to describe having little energy. It commonly appears with a negative expression when indicating a low degree.

없다는 없다는 presents the idea that there is not much energy in 기운이 별로 없다는 거예요. It is useful for embedding a statement about absence or lack inside a larger explanation.

거예요 거예요 means “the point is that” or “it is the case that” here, presenting the lack of energy as the main explanation. It commonly follows a noun-like clause when explaining or identifying the reason for a situation.

그럼 그럼 means “then” or “in that case,” connecting the stated problem with B’s suggestion. It is commonly used at the start of a reply when proposing a next step based on what was just said.

저녁 저녁 means “evening” or “dinner” here as part of 저녁 식사, the evening meal. It commonly combines with 식사 when referring specifically to dinner.

식사 식사 means “meal” in 저녁 식사, referring to the meal before which the walk should begin. It is a polite, general word for a meal and can be preceded by a time such as 저녁.

전 전 means “before” in 저녁 식사 전에, placing the walk before dinner. It commonly follows a noun or time expression and can be followed by 에 when marking when something happens.

짧게 짧게 means “briefly” or “for a short time,” describing the walk in 짧게 산책하는 것. It is the adverbial form used before an action when limiting its length or duration.

산책하는 산책하는 means “taking a walk” in 짧게 산책하는 것, describing the activity to start. It appears before 것 when the walking activity is treated as an idea or plan.

부터 부터 means “starting from” in 산책하는 것부터 시작해 보세요, marking the walk as the first activity to begin with. It is useful when identifying the starting point of an action or sequence.

시작해 시작해 means “start” in 시작해 보세요, introducing the suggested action. Here it combines with 보세요 to make a polite suggestion to try starting with the walk.

보세요 보세요 contributes “please try” in 시작해 보세요, making the suggestion gentle and practical. After a verb form such as 시작해, it commonly forms a suggestion to try doing that action.

그건 그건 means “that” as the topic of the response, referring to the suggested short walk. It is the conversational form used to point back to an option or idea already mentioned.

현실적이고 현실적이고 means “realistic and,” linking the judgment that the plan is realistic with the next description. The -고 ending is useful for joining two descriptions of the same thing.

부담스럽지 부담스럽지 contributes the idea of being burdensome or demanding in 부담스럽지 않게 느껴져요. The negative meaning is completed with 않게, so this form should be understood as part of that expression.

않게 않게 makes the preceding description negative and adverbial in 부담스럽지 않게 느껴져요, meaning “without feeling too demanding.” It is useful when describing how something is experienced or done without a particular quality.

느껴져요 느껴져요 means “feels” or “seems” here, describing the speaker’s impression of the proposed habit. It is useful for reporting how a plan, situation, or experience feels to someone.

산책 산책 means “walk” or “a walk” in 산책이 자연스럽게 느껴지면, referring to the walking habit. It is a noun that can be marked as the subject of how the activity feels.

자연스럽게 자연스럽게 means “naturally,” describing the point at which walking feels easy and established. It is an adverb used before a verb or expression to describe a natural manner or progression.

느껴지면 느껴지면 means “if” or “when it feels,” setting the condition for adding balanced meals. The -면 ending is useful for expressing a condition or a point in time when something becomes possible.

나중에 나중에 means “later,” showing that balanced meals should be added after the walking habit feels natural. It commonly marks a later time in a plan or sequence.

균형 균형 means “balance” in 균형 잡힌 식사, referring to nutritional balance in meals. It combines with 잡힌 to describe meals that have balance.

잡힌 잡힌 means “balanced” in 균형 잡힌 식사, describing the meal as having balance. It appears before 식사 as part of a fixed descriptive expression for a balanced meal.

를 를 marks 식사 as the object of 추가해도 돼요 in 균형 잡힌 식사를 추가해도 돼요. It follows a noun ending in a vowel and identifies what is being added.

추가해도 추가해도 means “even if you add” or, with 돼요, “you may add,” referring to adding balanced meals later. The -아도 form combines with 돼요 to express permission or that an action is acceptable.

돼요 돼요 means “is okay,” “can,” or “is allowed” in 추가해도 돼요, giving permission to add balanced meals. It commonly follows -아도 or -어도 when saying that an action may be done.

기록하는 기록하는 means “recording” or “tracking” in 기록하는 게, referring to keeping track of the habit. It appears before 게 to turn the tracking activity into the subject of the comparison.

게 게 presents 기록하는 as a noun-like activity in 기록하는 게 더 나을 것 같아요, meaning “tracking it seems better.” It is commonly used after a verb phrase when that activity functions as the subject of a sentence.

매일 매일 means “every day,” describing the frequency of the alternative effort in 매일 하려고 하는 것보다. It commonly comes before an action to specify that it is done daily.

하려고 하려고 expresses the intention or attempt to do something in 매일 하려고 하는 것보다. It is useful before a following verb or expression when describing an intended action or effort.

보다 보다 means “than” in 매일 하려고 하는 것보다, marking the option used for comparison. It follows the thing or action being compared against the preferred option.

나을 나을 expresses “be better” in 나을 것 같아요, presenting the speaker’s opinion that tracking three times a week is the better option. It appears before 것 같아요 when giving a tentative judgment about which choice is better.

유연한 유연한 means “flexible,” describing goals that can adapt over time. It appears before 목표 and is useful when characterizing a plan that is not overly rigid.

목표 목표 means “goal,” referring to the habits or standards the learner wants to maintain. It commonly follows a describing word, as in 유연한 목표, when specifying the kind of goal.

시간 시간 means “time” in 시간이 지나도, referring to the passage of time. It is the subject of 지나도 and is useful when discussing how a situation changes or continues over time.

지나도 지나도 means “even as time passes” in 시간이 지나도, showing that the goals remain easier to keep despite the passage of time. The -아도 form is useful for expressing that a result remains true under a condition.

지키기 지키기 means “keeping” or “sticking to” in 목표는 시간이 지나도 지키기 쉬워요, referring to maintaining the goals. It is a noun-like verb form used before 쉬워요 to express that an action is easy.

쉬워요 쉬워요 means “is easy” in 지키기 쉬워요, describing how manageable flexible goals are to maintain. The pattern 지키기 쉬워요 is useful for saying that a particular action is easy to do.

Grammar Points

동사-(으)려고 하다

생활 습관을 바꾸려고 해요.

saeng-HWAL seup-GWAN-eul ba-KKOO-ryuh-GOH hae-yoh.

I’m planning to change my lifestyle habits.

Attach -(으)려고 to a verb to express an intention or plan to do something.

동사-아/어도 돼요?

운동을 추가해도 돼요?

oon-DONG-eul choo-GA-hae-doh dwae-yoh?

Is it okay to add exercise?

Use -아/어도 돼요? to ask for or give permission to do something.

Korean Vocabulary

건강하다 adj

gun-GANG-ha-da to be healthy 건강한

더 건강한 생활 습관

계획하다 verb

kye-HWAEK-ha-da to plan 계획해요

모두 동시에 계획해요

고르다 verb

goh-REU-da to choose; to pick 고르고

한 가지 습관을 고르고

그만두다 verb

guh-man-DOO-da to quit; to give up 그만둬요

일주일 후에 그만둬요

동시에 adv

dong-SHI-eh at the same time; simultaneously

모두 동시에 계획해요

바꾸다 verb

ba-KKOO-da to change 바꾸려고

너무 많은 것을 바꾸려고

생활 습관 noun

saeng-HWAL seup-GWAN lifestyle habit

더 건강한 생활 습관을 만들고 싶지만

습관 noun

seup-GWAN habit

한 가지 습관을 고르고

요리 noun

yoh-REE cooking

운동과 요리와 일찍 자는 것

운동 noun

oon-DONG exercise

운동과 요리와 일찍 자는 것

일찍 adv

il-JJIK early

일찍 자는 것

한 번에 adv

han BUN-eh at once; all at once

한 번에 너무 많은 것을 바꾸려고

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

That feels realistic and not too demanding.

Show Answer

그건 현실적이고 너무 부담스럽지 않게 느껴져요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to change

Show Answer

바꾸려고

to quit; to give up

Show Answer

그만둬요

to plan

Show Answer

계획해요

cooking

Show Answer

요리