Using the Shared Laundry Room Fairly | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a shared laundry room, two adults discuss waiting for a machine, moving abandoned laundry fairly, and tracking cycle times..

EN → KO / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Using the Shared Laundry Room Fairly to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

세탁기가 또 전부 사용 중이에요.

suh-TAHK-kkee-gah TTOH jeon-BOO sah-YONG joong-ee-eh-yoh. All the washing machines are full again.
B

일정을 확인해서 다음 세탁이 언제 끝나는지 보세요.

eel-JJUNG-eul hwa-GIN-hae-seo dah-EUM suh-TAH-gee eon-je KKEUN-na-neun-jee boh-SEH-yoh. Check the schedule and see when the next load finishes.
A

한 대는 곧 끝날 것 같은데, 시작한 사람은 보이지 않아요.

hahn dae-neun goht KKEUN-nal geot gah-teun-de, shee-jah-kan sah-rah-meun bo-ee-jee ah-nah-yoh. One should be done soon, but the person who started it isn't around.
B

그 사람의 빨래를 옮기기 전에 몇 분만 더 기다려 주세요.

geu sah-rah-meh PPAL-lae-reul OHM-gee-gee jeon-eh myut-PPON-man duh gee-dah-ryuh joo-SEH-yoh. Give them a few minutes before moving their laundry.
A

얼마나 기다린 뒤에 옮기는 게 공평할까요?

uhl-MAH-nah gee-dah-rin dwee-eh OHM-gee-neun geh gong-PYUNG-hal-KKAH-yoh. How long is fair before I move it?
B

다른 사람들이 기다리고 있다면, 잠깐 기다려 주는 것만으로 충분해요.

DAH-reun sah-rahm-deu-ree gee-dah-ree-go eet-TTAH-myun, jahm-KKAN gee-dah-ryuh joo-neun geon-mah-neu-ro choong-boon-HEH-yoh. A short grace period is enough if other people are waiting.
A

제 세탁이 끝나자마자 돌아오도록 알림을 설정할게요.

jeh suh-TAH-gee KKEUN-na-ja-ma-ja doh-rah-oh-doh-ROHK ahl-LEE-meul suhl-JJUNG-hal-KKEH-yoh. I'll set a reminder so I come back as soon as my load is done.
B

그러면 다른 사람들에게도 똑같이 요구하기가 더 쉬워져요.

geu-ruh-myun DAH-reun sah-rahm-deu-ree-geh-doh TTOHK-kka-chee yoh-goo-ha-gee-gah duh SHWEE-wuh-jyuh-yoh. That makes it easier to ask the same of everyone else.
A

저도 제 빨래를 거기에 두고 가면, 남이 두고 간 빨래에 대해 불평할 수 없어요.

juh-DOH jeh PPAL-lae-reul guh-gee-eh doo-go GAH-myun, nah-MEE doo-go gan PPAL-lae-eh deh-HEH bool-PYUNG-hal ssoo uhps-SUH-yoh. I can't complain about abandoned laundry if I leave mine there too.
B

사람들이 세탁 시간을 확인하면 공용 세탁실이 더 순조롭게 운영돼요.

sah-rahm-deu-ree suh-TAHK SHEE-gah-neul hwa-GIN-ha-myun gong-YONG suh-TAHK-SSHEE-ree duh soon-joh-ROHP-kkeh oo-nyung-DWEH-yoh. Shared laundry goes more smoothly when people watch the cycle times.

Word by Word

세탁기가 “세탁기가” means “the washing machine” as the subject of the sentence. The ending 가 marks the machine as what is currently full or in use here. Use it when describing the condition or action of a washing machine.
또 “또” means “again,” showing that all the machines are in use once more. It is placed before the situation or action that is repeated, as in “세탁기가 또 전부 사용 중이에요.” Use it when the same situation happens another time.
전부 “전부” means “all” or “entirely,” referring here to every washing machine. It emphasizes that there are no available machines among them. Use it with a group or amount when the whole group is included.
사용 “사용” means “use” in “사용 중이에요,” which describes the machines as being in use. It is a noun used in the expression “사용 중이다,” meaning that something is currently being used. Use it when talking about the use or operation of equipment or facilities.
중이에요 “중이에요” means that something is currently in a particular process or state; here, “사용 중이에요” means “is in use.” It follows a noun such as 사용 to describe an ongoing situation politely. Use it to say that an activity or use is currently underway.
일정을 “일정을” means “the schedule” as the object being checked. The ending 을 marks the schedule as the thing affected by 확인해서. Use it with actions such as checking, changing, or following a schedule.
확인해서 “확인해서” means “check and then,” linking the act of checking the schedule to looking at the next finishing time. It shows that the second action follows the first one. Use it when one action is done as a step toward the next action.
다음 “다음” means “next,” identifying the load that follows or is currently the next one in order. It comes before a noun, as in “다음 세탁.” Use it to refer to the next item, event, or turn in an order.
세탁이 “세탁이” means “the wash” or “the laundry cycle” as the subject of finishing. The ending 이 marks 세탁 as what finishes in “세탁이 언제 끝나는지.” Use it when referring to washing as an activity or cycle.
언제 “언제” means “when,” asking about the time of an event. Here it appears in “언제 끝나는지,” an embedded question about when the wash finishes. Use it to ask or report when something happens.
끝나는지 “끝나는지” means “when it finishes” in the embedded question “언제 끝나는지.” The form connects the verb 끝나다 to information that someone should find out or check. Use it after a question word when asking indirectly about when an event ends.
보세요 “보세요” is a polite request to look at or check something. Here it asks the listener to check when the next wash finishes. Use it after an object or question clause when politely telling someone to look or find something out.
한 “한” means “one” before the counter for machines in “한 대는.” It identifies one machine from the group. Use it before a suitable counter when specifying one item.
대는 “대는” means “as for one machine,” combining the machine counter 대 with the topic marker 는. In “한 대는,” it sets one machine apart as the topic of the next statement. Use this form when comparing or separately describing one machine or other counted device.
곧 “곧” means “soon,” indicating that the machine is expected to finish in a short time. It comes before the action or state that will happen soon, as in “곧 끝날.” Use it when an event is near in time.
끝날 “끝날” describes something that is expected to finish, as in “끝날 것 같은데.” It is used before 것 같아 to express an impression or prediction about a future completion. Use it when saying that an activity seems likely to end.
것 “것” is the noun-like element in “끝날 것 같은데,” turning the preceding idea into something that can be described as seeming so. The whole expression means that it seems the machine will finish soon. Use 것 같아 after a clause when expressing an impression or uncertain judgment.
같은데 “같은데” means “it seems like ..., but” or “it looks like ...,” connecting the speaker’s impression to the following situation. In “끝날 것 같은데,” the speaker thinks the machine will finish soon before adding that its user is absent. Use it when giving an impression and then continuing with related information.
시작한 “시작한” means “who started” in “시작한 사람,” describing the person who began the wash. It places the completed starting action before the noun it describes. Use it before a person or thing to identify who or what performed an earlier action.
사람은 “사람은” means “the person” as the topic of the clause. The ending 은 marks that person as the one being discussed in “사람은 보이지 않아요.” Use it when setting a person or group as the topic of a statement.
보이지 “보이지” means “be seen” in the expression “보이지 않아요,” which says that the person cannot be seen or is not visible. It is followed by 않아요 to make the expression negative. Use it when someone or something is not visible or does not appear.
않아요 “않아요” makes the preceding expression negative and polite. In “보이지 않아요,” it means that the person is not visible or cannot be seen. Use it after a verb or adjective when politely saying that an action or state does not occur.
그 “그” means “that” or “the aforementioned,” referring back to the person already mentioned. In “그 사람의 빨래,” it identifies the laundry as belonging to that person. Use it before a noun when referring to something already known in the conversation.
사람의 “사람의” means “the person’s,” showing possession or association. Here it identifies whose laundry is being moved in “그 사람의 빨래.” Use 의 after a noun to connect an owner or related person to another noun.
빨래를 “빨래를” means “the laundry” as the object that may be moved. The ending 를 marks the laundry as the thing affected by 옮기기. Use it when talking about laundry in relation to washing, moving, or leaving it somewhere.
옮기기 “옮기기” means “moving” in “옮기기 전에,” referring to moving the other person’s laundry. The form turns the action 옮기다 into a noun-like expression before 전에. Use it before a time expression when saying that something happens before moving or transferring an object.
전에 “전에” means “before,” placing one action earlier than another. Here “옮기기 전에” means “before moving it.” Use it after a noun-like action or time expression to state what must happen first.
몇 “몇” means “a few” or “how many,” and here it indicates an unspecified small number before 분. In “몇 분만 더,” it refers to a few additional minutes. Use it before a counter when the exact number is not specified.
분만 “분만” means “only minutes” in “몇 분만 더,” limiting the requested waiting time to a small amount. The particle 만 adds the meaning “only” to 분. Use it after a time amount when asking for or allowing only that much time.
더 “더” means “more” or “additional,” referring here to additional waiting time. In “몇 분만 더,” it asks the listener to wait a few more minutes. Use it after an amount or action when adding to what has already happened.
기다려 “기다려” means “wait” in the polite request “기다려 주세요.” It is the action requested before the other person’s laundry is moved. Use it before 주세요 when politely asking someone to wait.
주세요 “주세요” makes the preceding action into a polite request. In “기다려 주세요,” it means “please wait.” Use it after an action form when asking someone politely to do that action.
얼마나 “얼마나” means “how long” here, asking about the amount of time to wait. It appears with “기다린 뒤에” to ask after how much waiting moving the laundry would be fair. Use it to ask about the extent or amount of time, distance, or degree.
기다린 “기다린” means “having waited” in “얼마나 기다린 뒤에.” It describes the waiting that comes before the next action. Use it before a noun such as 뒤에 when referring to waiting that has already taken place.
뒤에 “뒤에” means “after,” showing that moving the laundry happens following the waiting period. In “기다린 뒤에,” it follows an action and places the next action afterward. Use it after an event or action when describing what happens later.
옮기는 “옮기는” means “moving” in “옮기는 게 공평할까요,” where the action of moving is being evaluated. It turns 옮기다 into a form that can be followed by 게 and treated as the subject. Use it before 게 when asking about or describing whether an action is appropriate.
게 “게” makes “옮기는” into the subject-like phrase “the act of moving.” In “옮기는 게 공평할까요,” the speaker asks whether moving it would be fair. Use it after a verb description when treating an action as the subject of a sentence.
공평할까요 “공평할까요” means “would it be fair?” and politely asks for a judgment about the proposed action. Here it asks whether moving the laundry after waiting a certain amount of time is fair. Use it when politely asking whether a decision or arrangement is fair.
다른 “다른” means “other” or “different,” and here it modifies 사람들이 to mean people other than the speaker or current person. It comes directly before the noun it describes. Use it before a noun when distinguishing another person, group, or thing.
사람들이 “사람들이” means “people” as the subject of waiting. The ending 들 marks a plural group and 이 marks that group as the subject. Use it when describing what several people are doing or experiencing.
기다리고 “기다리고” means “waiting and” as the first part of “기다리고 있다면.” It connects the waiting action with the state expressed by 있다면. Use it with 있다 to describe an action that is in progress.
있다면 “있다면” means “if they are” in “기다리고 있다면,” giving the condition that other people are waiting. Together with 기다리고, it forms a conditional progressive expression. Use it after a state or ongoing action when stating a condition.
잠깐 “잠깐” means “briefly” or “for a short time,” referring to the short grace period allowed here. It describes a limited duration rather than a precise number of minutes. Use it when asking someone to wait or pause for a short time.
주는 “주는” means “doing or giving for someone” in “기다려 주는 것만으로.” Here it shows that waiting is being done as a favor or consideration for the other people. Use it after an action when emphasizing that the action is done for someone.
것만으로 “것만으로” means “by only doing that,” referring to the act expressed before it, namely waiting briefly for others. 것 nominalizes the action, 만 means “only,” and 으로 marks the means or condition. Use it when saying that one action alone is sufficient for a result.
충분해요 “충분해요” means “is enough” or “is sufficient.” Here a short period of waiting is enough when other people are waiting. Use it to say that an amount, action, or condition meets what is needed.
제 “제” means “my” in “제 세탁,” referring politely to the speaker’s wash or laundry. It comes before the noun that belongs to or concerns the speaker. Use it when politely referring to something connected with yourself.
끝나자마자 “끝나자마자” means “as soon as it finishes,” showing that the return happens immediately after the wash ends. It connects the ending of one event directly to the next action. Use it when one action follows another without delay.
돌아오도록 “돌아오도록” means “so that I come back” or “in order to come back.” In this sentence, it expresses the intended result of setting the reminder. Use it after an action when describing the purpose or desired result.
알림을 “알림을” means “the reminder” as the object being set. The ending 을 marks the reminder as what is affected by 설정할게요. Use it when talking about setting, receiving, or checking a notification or reminder.
설정할게요 “설정할게요” means “I’ll set it,” expressing the speaker’s intention or commitment to set the reminder. It is used here as a promise to take that action. Use it when telling someone what you will do in response to the situation.
그러면 “그러면” means “then” or “in that case,” introducing a consequence of setting a reminder. Here it connects the reminder plan with making the same request of others easier. Use it at the start of a statement when drawing a practical conclusion from what was just said.
사람들에게도 “사람들에게도” means “to people too,” referring to the people who should receive the same request. 에게 marks the recipients, and 도 adds “also” or “too.” Use it when applying an action or request to additional people.
똑같이 “똑같이” means “in the same way” or “equally.” Here it says that the same expectation should be applied to other people. Use it when emphasizing that treatment, actions, or standards should match.
요구하기가 “요구하기가” means “asking or requiring” as the subject of “쉬워져요.” It turns 요구하다 into a noun-like action and marks that action as what becomes easier. Use it when evaluating how easy or difficult it is to make a request or demand.
쉬워져요 “쉬워져요” means “becomes easier,” describing a change to a more manageable state. Here setting a reminder makes it easier to ask the same behavior of everyone else. Use it when something changes so that an action requires less effort or difficulty.
저도 “저도” means “I too” or “I also,” adding the speaker to the group of people who might leave laundry behind. 저 identifies the speaker politely, and 도 means “also.” Use it when saying that the speaker shares the same action, situation, or quality.
거기에 “거기에” means “there,” referring to the location where the laundry is left. The ending 에 marks that place as the location of the action. Use it when pointing back to a previously mentioned place.
두고 “두고” means “leaving and” in “두고 가면,” describing leaving the laundry in a place before going away. It connects the act of leaving something with the following action of going. Use it when saying that an object remains somewhere while the person leaves.
가면 “가면” means “if I go” or, in “두고 가면,” “if I leave after putting it there.” It presents the speaker’s own leaving as the condition for the following result. Use it after an action or verb when stating what happens if someone goes or leaves.
남이 “남이” means “someone else” or “another person” as the subject of leaving the laundry. In “남이 두고 간 빨래,” it identifies the laundry as left by another person. Use it when contrasting another person’s actions with your own.
빨래에 “빨래에” means “about the laundry” in the phrase “빨래에 대해.” The ending 에 forms part of the expression used to mark the topic or object of concern. Use it with 대해 when specifying what a complaint or discussion concerns.
대해 “대해” means “about” or “concerning” in “빨래에 대해 불평할.” It links the laundry to the complaint. Use it after a noun, commonly with 에, when introducing the subject of a comment, complaint, or discussion.
불평할 “불평할” means “to complain about” in “불평할 수 없어요.” It appears before 수 to describe the possible action being denied. Use it with a subject or topic to express dissatisfaction about something.
수 “수” means “possibility” or “ability” in the pattern “-할 수 없어요.” The whole pattern says that the speaker cannot complain because they also leave laundry behind. Use it after a verb form when expressing whether an action is possible.
없어요 “없어요” means “there is no” or, in “수 없어요,” “cannot.” Here it completes the expression saying that complaining is not possible. Use it after 수 to deny the possibility of an action.
세탁 “세탁” means “laundry” or “washing” in “세탁 시간을,” referring to the washing time or cycle time. It is a noun placed before 시간을 to specify what kind of time is being watched. Use it when talking about washing as a process or activity.
시간을 “시간을” means “the time” as the object being watched. The ending 을 marks the time as what people monitor in “세탁 시간을 확인하면.” Use it with 확인하다 or similar actions when checking a time period or schedule.
공용 “공용” means “shared” or “communal,” describing a facility used by multiple people. Here it modifies 세탁실 in “공용 세탁실.” Use it before a noun when identifying something intended for common use.
세탁실이 “세탁실이” means “the laundry room” as the subject of being operated smoothly. The ending 이 marks the laundry room as what functions well. Use it when describing the condition or operation of a laundry room.
순조롭게 “순조롭게” means “smoothly” or “without problems.” Here it describes how the shared laundry room operates when people monitor cycle times. Use it to describe a process, plan, or operation that proceeds well.
운영돼요 “운영돼요” means “is operated” or “runs,” describing the way the shared laundry room functions. Here it says that the laundry room runs more smoothly under the stated condition. Use it when talking about how a facility, service, or system operates.

Grammar Points

동사 어간 + 는지

세탁이 끝나는지 확인해서 알림을 설정할게요.

suh-TAH-gee KKEUN-na-neun-jee hwa-GIN-hae-seo ahl-LEE-meul suhl-JJUNG-hal-KKEH-yoh.

I’ll check whether the laundry is finished and set a notification.

‘-는지’ expresses uncertainty or an indirect question, meaning ‘whether’ or ‘if.’

동사 어간 + 도록

돌아오도록 알림을 설정할게요.

doh-rah-oh-doh-ROHK ahl-LEE-meul suhl-JJUNG-hal-KKEH-yoh.

I’ll set a reminder so that you come back.

‘-도록’ expresses a purpose or desired result: ‘so that’ or ‘in order to.’

Korean Vocabulary

곧 adv
goht soon
공평하다 adj
gong-PYUNG-hah-dah to be fair 공평할까요
기다리다 verb
gee-dah-REE-dah to wait 기다리고 있다면
끝나다 verb
KKEUN-na-dah to finish; to end 끝나는지
보이다 verb
boh-ee-dah to be seen; to appear 보이지 않아요
사용 중 phrase
sah-YONG joong in use 사용 중이에요
세탁 noun
suh-TAHK laundry; wash load 세탁이
세탁기 noun
suh-TAHK-kkee washing machine 세탁기가
시작하다 verb
shee-jah-KAH-dah to start 시작한
옮기다 verb
OHM-gee-dah to move; to relocate 옮기기
일정 noun
eel-JJUNG schedule 일정을
확인하다 verb
hwa-GIN-hah-dah to check; to confirm 확인해서

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

All the washing machines are full again.

Show Answer세탁기가 또 전부 사용 중이에요.

How long is fair before I move it?

Show Answer얼마나 기다린 뒤에 옮기는 게 공평할까요?

I'll set a reminder so I come back as soon as my load is done.

Show Answer제 세탁이 끝나자마자 돌아오도록 알림을 설정할게요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

washing machine

Show Answer세탁기가

to check; to confirm

Show Answer확인해서

to finish; to end

Show Answer끝나는지

to be fair

Show Answer공평할까요