Handling expired food in a shared fridge | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a shared kitchen, two adults discuss expired food in a fridge and plan labels, a deadline, and a weekly cleanout..

EN → KO / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Handling expired food in a shared fridge to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

공용 냉장고에 유통기한이 지난 음식이 또 있어요.

gong-YONG naeng-JANG-go-eh yoo-tong-gee-HAH-nee jee-NAN eum-SHEE-gee ttoh ee-SSUH-yoh There's expired food in the shared fridge again.
B

훨씬 더 오래 두면 위생 문제가 될 수 있어요.

hwal-SSIN duh oh-RAE doo-myuhn wee-SAENG moon-JEH-ga dwel soo ee-SSUH-yoh It could become a hygiene problem if it sits there much longer.
A

몇몇 용기에 표시가 없어서 누구 것인지 아무도 몰라요.

myun-MYUT yong-GEE-eh PYO-shee-ga uhp-SSUH-suh noo-GOO guh-SHEEN-jee ah-MOO-doh moll-LAH-yoh Some containers aren't labeled, so nobody knows who owns them.
B

사람들에게 이름과 날짜를 적어 달라는 안내문을 붙여야 해요.

sah-RAHM-deu-reh-geh ee-REUM-gwah NAL-jjah-reul juh-GUH dall-RAH-neun an-NAE-moon-eul boo-CHUH-ya HAE-yoh We should post a notice asking people to add their names and dates.
A

일주일보다 오래된 것은 뭐든지 버릴까요?

eel-JOO-eel-boh-dah oh-RAE-dwen guh-sun MWOH-deun-jee buh-RILL-kkah-yoh Should we throw away anything older than a week?
B

모두에게 분명한 기한을 알려 준 다음에만요.

MOH-doo-eh-geh boon-MYUNG-han gee-HAHN-eul al-LYUH joon DAH-um-eh-MAN-yoh Only after we give everyone a clear deadline.
A

단체 채팅방에서 매주 정리하자고 제안해도 좋겠어요.

dan-CHEH cheh-ting-bahng-eh-suh meh-JOO jung-nee-ha-ja-go jeh-AHN-hae-doh joh-GET-ssuh-yoh Maybe we can suggest a weekly cleanout in the group chat.
B

그러면 매주 정리하는 일이 갑작스럽지 않고 예측 가능해질 거예요.

guh-ruh-MYUN meh-JOO jung-nee-ha-neun ee-REE-ga gap-JJAK-seu-reop-JJEE an-KOH yeh-CHUK gah-NEUNG-hae-jeel guh-YEH-yoh That would make the weekly cleanout predictable instead of sudden.
A

사람들이 청소하는 날 전에 자기 선반을 정리할 수 있어요.

sah-RAHM-deu-ree CHUNG-soh-ha-neun NAL juhn-eh JAH-gee SUN-bahn-eul jung-nee-hal soo ee-SSUH-yoh People can clear their shelves before cleaning day.
B

그러면 모두가 냉장고를 공평하고 안전하게 사용할 수 있을 거예요.

guh-ruh-MYUN MOH-doo-ga naeng-JANG-go-reul GONG-pyung-ha-go an-JUN-ha-geh sa-YONG-hal soo ee-SSUL guh-YEH-yoh That should make fridge use fair and safe for everyone.

Word by Word

공용 공용 means shared or communal here and describes the refrigerator as a facility used by multiple people. It commonly comes before a noun for a shared place or object. Use it when discussing something that belongs to or is available to a group.
냉장고에 냉장고에 means in the refrigerator and marks the place where the expired food is located. The ending 에 marks a location or destination. It can follow a place noun when stating where something is.
유통기한이 유통기한이 means the expiration date, with the date marked as the subject of the following description. In 유통기한이 지난 음식, it identifies the date that has passed. This form is useful when discussing whether food or a product is still within its usable period.
지난 지난 describes the food as having passed its expiration date in this dialogue. It is the form placed before 음식이 to describe the food. It can also modify a time period or event that has already passed.
음식이 음식이 means food, and the ending 이 marks it as the subject of the sentence. Here it identifies the food that is in the shared refrigerator. This form is used when food is the thing being described or said to exist.
또 또 means again here, showing that the expired food has appeared in the shared refrigerator another time. It is commonly placed before the verb or predicate it modifies. Use it when an event or situation repeats.
있어요 있어요 states politely that something exists or is present. Here it means that expired food is in the refrigerator. It is commonly used after a place phrase when saying that something is there.
훨씬 훨씬 means much or far and strongly increases the comparison in 훨씬 더 오래. It emphasizes that the time would be considerably longer. Use it before a comparative expression when a large difference matters.
더 더 means more or longer here and increases the duration expressed by 오래. Together with 오래, it indicates continuing for an additional amount of time. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb when adding to an amount, degree, or duration.
오래 오래 means for a long time and describes how long the food is left. In 훨씬 더 오래, it refers to a longer duration rather than an object being old. Use it to describe the length of time an action or state continues.
두면 두면 means if it is left or kept, referring here to leaving the food in the refrigerator. The form links the condition of leaving something with a possible result. It can follow an action when explaining what may happen if something remains that way.
위생 위생 means hygiene and identifies the area of concern in 위생 문제가 될 수 있어요. It combines with a noun such as 문제 to describe a hygiene-related problem. Use it when discussing cleanliness and conditions that affect health.
문제가 문제가 means a problem, with 가 marking the problem as the subject of the following possibility. Here it is the thing that could develop from leaving the food longer. It commonly appears before expressions describing a problem arising or becoming something.
될 될 contributes the meaning become in 문제가 될 수 있어요, describing a possible change into a problem. It is the form used before 수 to express that this change is possible. Use it when describing what something may become.
수 수 is the possibility element in 될 수 있어요. It does not mean ability by itself here; the full construction expresses that something could become a problem. This element is used after a verb form when discussing possibility or ability.
몇몇 몇몇 means some or several, referring to an unspecified but limited number of containers. It comes before 용기에 to indicate that not all containers are meant. Use it when referring to more than one item without identifying the exact number.
용기에 용기에 means in the containers, marking the containers as the place where the labels are absent. The ending 에 marks location. It can follow a container or place noun when describing what is or is not there.
표시가 표시가 means a label or marking, with 가 marking it as the thing that is absent. Here it refers to the identification written on the containers. It is useful when discussing whether an item has a visible sign, label, or marking.
없어서 없어서 means because there is none or because it is absent. Here the absence of 표시가 explains why nobody knows who owns the containers. This form commonly links an absent condition to its reason or result.
누구 누구 means who and appears in 누구 것인지 to ask which person owns something. It identifies the unknown owner rather than asking about the object itself. Use it when forming a question about a person in an embedded question.
것인지 것인지 turns 누구 것, someone’s thing, into an embedded question about whose item it is. In 누구 것인지, it helps express the unknown ownership that nobody knows. This form is useful when a question is included inside a larger statement.
아무도 아무도 means nobody in this sentence because it is used with the negative verb 몰라요. It emphasizes that not a single person knows the ownership. It commonly appears with a negative predicate when referring to no person.
몰라요 몰라요 means does not know here and politely states that nobody knows whose the containers are. The negative meaning of the sentence comes from this verb together with 아무도. Use it when politely saying that someone does not know information.
사람들에게 사람들에게 means to the people and marks the people as the recipients of the request. In the sentence, the notice asks these people to write their names and dates. It can follow a person or group noun when indicating who receives information or a request.
이름과 이름과 means names and, linking 이름 with the next item in the list. The ending 과 connects nouns. Use it when joining one noun to another in a list.
날짜를 날짜를 means dates, with 를 marking the dates as the object of 적어. Here the dates are information that people are asked to write. It commonly follows a noun when that noun is the object of an action.
적어 적어 means write down in this request and links the writing action to 달라는. It shows what people are being asked to do with their names and dates. This form can connect an action to a following request or helping expression.
달라는 달라는 expresses that someone is asking people to do the action in 적어. In 적어 달라는 안내문, it describes a notice that asks people to write the information. It can modify a noun when reporting the content of a request.
안내문을 안내문을 means a notice or announcement, with 를 marking the notice as the object of 붙여야 해요. Here it is the notice that should be put up in the shared space. Use it for written information that guides or informs people.
붙여야 붙여야 means must put up or attach in 붙여야 해요. It sets up the required action, which is completed by 해요 in the full expression. Use it when something needs to be attached, posted, or put up as a necessary action.
해요 해요 completes 붙여야 해요 and gives the sentence a polite conversational ending. The full construction means that the notice must be put up. Here it is used to state a practical obligation politely.
일주일보다 일주일보다 means than a week, with 보다 marking the comparison point. It sets the standard for identifying food that is older than one week. Use it after a noun or time period when comparing age, amount, or duration.
오래된 오래된 describes something as old or having been kept for a long time. Here it modifies 것은 and refers to food older than a week. It can come before a noun when describing an item’s age or length of storage.
것은 것은 means the thing or item being discussed, with 는 marking it as the topic. Here it refers to items older than a week without naming the food directly. It is commonly used to turn a general thing or item into the topic of a sentence.
뭐든지 뭐든지 means anything or whatever and gives the disposal question a broad scope. It refers to any item that meets the condition of being older than a week. Use it when the choice is open and no particular item is selected.
버릴까요 버릴까요 asks shall we throw it away, inviting the other person to decide about disposal. It is used here as a polite suggestion question about the older food. Use it when proposing an action for the speakers to do together.
모두에게 모두에게 means to everyone and identifies every person in the shared space as the recipient of the deadline information. The ending 에게 marks the people who receive the information. It is useful when giving, telling, or explaining something to all members of a group.
분명한 분명한 means clear or definite and describes the deadline as easy to understand. Here it emphasizes that everyone should know exactly when the deadline is. It commonly comes before a noun when describing information or rules that are unambiguous.
기한을 기한을 means a deadline or time limit, with 를 marking it as the object of 알려 준. Here it is the time limit that must be communicated to everyone. Use it when discussing the final time by which an action should be completed.
알려 알려 means inform or let someone know and links the act of informing to 준 in 알려 준. Here the speakers are communicating the deadline to everyone. It can be used before a following component that describes providing information to someone.
준 준 contributes the meaning provided or gave in 알려 준, describing the deadline as information given to everyone. It is the form used before 다음에만요 to refer to the completed act of informing. Use it when describing something that has been provided or done for someone.
다음에만요 다음에만요 means only after that and answers the previous question by setting a condition for throwing things away. The ending 만 limits the action to the time after everyone has been informed. It is a polite conversational reply that leaves the previously mentioned action understood.
단체 단체 means group and describes the chat room as one used by a group. It commonly comes before a noun to specify that something is organized for multiple people. Use it when referring to a collective or group setting.
채팅방에서 채팅방에서 means in the chat room and marks the place where the suggestion will be made. The ending 에서 marks the location of an action. It can follow a place or communication space when saying where something is discussed or done.
매주 매주 means every week and sets the frequency of the proposed cleanout. It appears before 정리하자고 to describe a repeated weekly action. Use it to state that something happens once during each week.
정리하자고 정리하자고 reports the proposed content “let’s clean up” in the suggestion. Here it is followed by 제안해도, so the speakers are considering suggesting a regular cleanout. It can precede a verb that reports or describes a proposal.
제안해도 제안해도 means even if suggesting or suggesting as an acceptable option in 제안해도 좋겠어요. The ending 도 connects the suggestion with the idea that it would be good. In this construction, it presents an action as something that would be a good idea.
좋겠어요 좋겠어요 means it would be good here and expresses a polite opinion or recommendation. Together with 제안해도, it says that suggesting the weekly cleanout would be a good idea. Use it when offering a gentle recommendation rather than a firm order.
그러면 그러면 means then or in that case and connects the proposed weekly schedule with its expected result. It signals that the next statement follows from the previous idea. Use it to introduce a consequence or result based on what was just said.
정리하는 정리하는 describes the activity of cleaning up or organizing in 정리하는 일이. It modifies 일이 and turns the action into a task being discussed. Use it before a noun when describing an ongoing or repeated activity.
일이 일이 means the task or matter, with 이 marking the weekly cleanout as the subject of the description. Here it refers to the cleanout activity itself rather than a separate job. It commonly follows an action description when that action is treated as a task or matter.
갑작스럽지 갑작스럽지 means not sudden in this sentence and links with 않고 to contrast the cleanout with an unexpected event. It describes the scheduled activity as planned rather than abrupt. This form is used before a following connective when linking a negative description to another one.
않고 않고 links the negative idea in 갑작스럽지 않다 with the following idea 예측 가능해질. Here it means not being sudden and instead becoming predictable. Use it to connect a negative condition with another action or description.
예측 예측 means prediction and contributes the idea of being able to anticipate the cleanout in 예측 가능해질. Together with 가능해질, it describes the schedule as predictable. It is useful when discussing the ability to anticipate an event or result.
가능해질 가능해질 means become possible and here contributes to the meaning become predictable in 예측 가능해질 거예요. It describes a change in the schedule’s predictability. Use it before a future or expected expression when saying that something will become possible.
거예요 거예요 completes 가능해질 거예요 and expresses an expected future result. The full expression says that the weekly cleanout will become predictable. It is a polite way to state what is expected to happen.
사람들이 사람들이 means people, with 이 marking them as the subject of the ability to clear their shelves. Here it refers to the users of the shared refrigerator. It commonly appears before a verb when people are the ones carrying out the action.
청소하는 청소하는 means cleaning and modifies 날 in 청소하는 날. It identifies the day on which cleaning takes place. Use it before a time noun when describing an activity associated with that time.
날 날 means day here and refers to the scheduled cleaning day. In 청소하는 날, it is modified by the activity that happens on that day. Use it after an activity description when identifying the day for that activity.
전에 전에 means before and places the shelf-clearing action earlier than cleaning day. In 청소하는 날 전에, it marks the time before that specific day. Use it after a time expression when stating that something happens earlier.
자기 자기 means one’s own here and refers back to the people who use the refrigerator. It shows that each person should clear the shelf belonging to that person. It commonly comes before a noun when the subject’s own possession or responsibility is meant.
선반을 선반을 means the shelves, with 를 marking them as the object of 정리할. Here the shelves are the refrigerator areas that people should clear or organize. It can follow a noun when that object is being cleaned, cleared, or arranged.
정리할 정리할 means organize or clear in 정리할 수 있어요. It is the action placed before 수 in the construction expressing ability. Use it when describing an organizing or clearing action that someone can carry out.
모두가 모두가 means everyone, with 가 marking everyone as the subject of using the refrigerator. It emphasizes that the result should apply to all users. Use it when every member of a group is included as the subject of an action or state.
냉장고를 냉장고를 means the refrigerator, with 를 marking it as the object of 사용할. Here it is the shared appliance that everyone should be able to use. It commonly follows a noun when that object is used, opened, or managed.
공평하고 공평하고 means fair and links 공평하다 with 안전하게 in the description of refrigerator use. It says that use should be fair as well as safe. This form commonly connects two descriptions of the same situation.
안전하게 안전하게 means safely and describes how everyone should use the refrigerator. Its adverbial form modifies 사용할. Use it when stating that an action should be carried out without danger or harm.
사용할 사용할 means use in 사용할 수 있을 거예요. It is the action placed before 수 in the expression for being able to use the refrigerator. Use it when describing intended or possible use of an object or facility.
있을 있을 is the form used in 사용할 수 있을 거예요 to express an expected future ability. The ability comes from the full construction 사용할 수 있다, while 있을 places that ability in the expected future. Use it when saying that someone will be able to do something.

Grammar Points

누구 것인지

용기에 누구 것인지 표시해요.

yong-GEE-eh noo-GOO guh-SHEEN-jee PYO-shee-hae-yoh

We label whose container it is.

-인지 turns a question into an embedded clause, meaning “whether/whose it is.”

-자고 하다

단체 채팅방에서 매주 정리하자고 해요.

dan-CHEH cheh-ting-bahng-eh-suh meh-JOO jung-nee-ha-ja-go HAE-yoh

We suggest cleaning up every week in the group chat.

-자고 하다 reports a suggestion or proposal: “let’s…”

Korean Vocabulary

공용 adj
gong-YONG shared; communal
냉장고 noun
naeng-JANG-go refrigerator; fridge
누구 것인지 phrase
noo-GOO guh-SHEEN-jee whose it is
버릴까요 verb
buh-RILL-kkah-yoh shall we throw it away?
안내문 noun
an-NAE-moon notice
오래된 adj
oh-RAE-dwen old; that has been there for a long time
용기 noun
yong-GEE container
위생 문제 phrase
wee-SAENG moon-JEH hygiene problem
유통기한이 지난 phrase
yoo-tong-gee-HAH-nee jee-NAN expired; past its expiration date
이름과 날짜 phrase
ee-REUM-gwah NAL-jjah names and dates
표시 noun
PYO-shee label; marking
훨씬 더 오래 adv
hwal-SSIN duh oh-RAE much longer

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Should we throw away anything older than a week?

Show Answer일주일보다 오래된 것은 뭐든지 버릴까요?

Only after we give everyone a clear deadline.

Show Answer모두에게 분명한 기한을 알려 준 다음에만요.

Maybe we can suggest a weekly cleanout in the group chat.

Show Answer단체 채팅방에서 매주 정리하자고 제안해도 좋겠어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

shall we throw it away?

Show Answer버릴까요

notice

Show Answer안내문

old; that has been there for a long time

Show Answer오래된

label; marking

Show Answer표시