Verifying an unexpected maintenance visitor | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 누군가 아까 문을 두드리더니 환기 시설을 점검하러 왔다고 했어요.

   Someone knocked earlier and said they were here to inspect the ventilation.

   누군가

   someone

   아까

   earlier

   문

   door

   두드리더니

   knocked and then

   환기 시설

   ventilation system

   점검하러

   to inspect

   왔다고 했어요

   said they came

   More detail

   누군가 means “someone” here: an unspecified person. It is built from 누구 (“who”) plus -ㄴ가, which makes an indefinite pronoun. Example: 누군가 전화했어요. — “Someone called.” 아까 means “earlier,” referring to a time not long before the relevant moment. It is a time adverb, so it does not change form. Example: 아까 만났어요. — “I met [them] earlier.” 문 means “door.” It is a noun and can combine with particles: 문이 marks 문 as the subject, while 문을 marks it as the object. Here 문을 is the object of the following action. 두드리더니 comes from 두드리다 (“to knock”) plus -더니. The verb is in the connective form 두드리더니, linking the knocking with what happened next; in this sentence, the person knocked and then made the statement that follows. Example: 비가 오더니 날씨가 추워졌어요. — “It rained, and then the weather became cold.” 환기 시설 is a noun phrase meaning “ventilation system/facility.” 환기 means “ventilation,” and 시설 means a facility or installed system. The space between them reflects Korean word spacing; together they identify the system being inspected. 점검하러 comes from 점검하다 (“to inspect” or “to check”) plus -러, a purpose ending used before a movement verb. Thus 점검하러 오다 means “to come to inspect.” Example: 기계를 고치러 왔어요. — “I came to repair the machine.” 왔다고 했어요 means “said [that they] came.” 왔다 is the past form of 오다 (“to come”), and -다고 하다 reports a statement. The subject of the reported clause is omitted in Korean; here, the fixed translation identifies it as the same unspecified person expressed by 누군가. 했어요 is the polite spoken form of 하다 in the reporting expression; it is not an honorific form for the person who came. Together, 환기 시설을 점검하러 왔다고 했어요 reports the person’s statement that they came to inspect the ventilation system. With 누군가 아까 문을 두드리더니 before it, the whole utterance means: “Someone knocked earlier and said they were here to inspect the ventilation.”

2. 유지 보수 방문은 보통 건물 시스템을 통해 미리 공지돼요.

   Maintenance visits are usually announced through the building system.

   유지 보수

   maintenance

   방문

   visit

   보통

   usually

   건물

   building

   시스템

   system

   통해

   through

   미리

   in advance

   공지돼요

   are announced

   More detail

   유지 보수 means maintenance. It is a noun phrase made from 유지 (“upkeep/maintenance”) and 보수 (“repair/maintenance”); together, it commonly labels maintenance work. In 유지 보수 방문, it modifies 방문, so the combined meaning is “maintenance visit.” 방문 means a visit. As a noun, it can refer to the act or occasion of visiting; the related verb is 방문하다, “to visit.” Example: 정기 방문 means “regular visit.” 보통 means “usually” here. It presents the announcement method as the normal practice, not as something that happens without exception. Example: 보통 아침에 와요. means “They usually come in the morning.” 건물 means building. In 건물 시스템, it comes before 시스템 and specifies the system associated with the building. Example: 건물 출입구 means “building entrance.” 시스템 means system. It is a borrowed noun used here for the building’s system or notification channel. The noun itself does not specify what kind of system it is; the sentence only identifies it as the means used for the announcement. 통해 is used in the pattern N을/를 통해, “through N” or “by means of N.” It is related to 통하다, “to pass through / operate through.” Here, 건물 시스템을 통해 means that the building system is the channel through which the announcement is made. Example: 앱을 통해 신청해요. means “I apply through the app.” 미리 means “in advance” or “beforehand.” It says that the announcement happens before the maintenance visit, without specifying exactly how long beforehand. Example: 미리 알려 주세요. means “Please let me know in advance.” 공지돼요 means “are announced” in this sentence. It is the polite present 해요-style form of 공지되다, “to be announced/notified”: 공지되다 → 공지돼요 (되어요 contracts to 돼요). The 되다 form presents the visits as receiving an announcement, rather than naming the person or system that announces them. The polite ending -요 makes the statement courteous; the present form works here for a general practice. The topic marker -은 makes 유지 보수 방문 the topic: “as for maintenance visits.” The object marker -을 marks 건물 시스템 as the channel used with 통해. Together, 유지 보수 방문은 보통 건물 시스템을 통해 미리 공지돼요 means “Maintenance visits are usually announced in advance through the building system.”

3. 그래서 조심스러워져서 그 사람들을 안으로 들이지 않았어요.

   That made me cautious, so I did not let them in.

   그래서

   so; therefore

   조심스러워져서

   becoming cautious

   그 사람들을

   those people; them

   안으로

   inside

   들이지 않았어요

   did not let in

   More detail

   그래서 means “so” or “therefore.” It links this sentence to a preceding cause or situation and presents the result. Example: 비가 와서 그래서 집에 있었어요 is not a natural model because the two causal links overlap; a reusable pattern is A-아서/어서 그래서 B only when the context supports both links, while usually one link is enough. 조심스러워져서 means “becoming cautious, so.” The useful base adjective is 조심스럽다, “cautious” or “careful.” -어지다 adds a change of state, so 조심스러워지다 means “become cautious”; -어서 then connects that result as a cause for what follows. Example: 상황이 달라져서 더 조심스러워졌어요. — “The situation changed, so I became more cautious.” 그 사람들을 means “those people” as the object of the following action. 그 identifies people associated with the discourse rather than marking their grammatical role; 사람들 is the plural noun “people,” and -을 is the object marker after a consonant. The fixed translation confirms that this group is the people who were not let in. Example: 그 사람들을 만났어요. — “I met those people.” 안으로 means “inside” or “inward,” marking the destination or direction of movement. 안 means “inside,” and -으로 marks movement toward or in the direction of that place. Example: 고양이가 안으로 들어갔어요. — “The cat went inside.” 들이지 않았어요 means “did not let [someone] in.” The base verb is 들이지 않다 in this negative form, built from 들이다, “to let in” or “to bring in,” plus -지 않다, “not do.” 않았어요 places the negation in the past and uses a polite conversational ending. The understood subject is the speaker, as made explicit by the fixed translation “I,” while the object is 그 사람들을; the Korean subject is omitted because it is recoverable from context. Example: 손님을 안으로 들이지 않았어요. — “I did not let the guest in.” Together, 그래서 조심스러워져서 gives the result-and-cause connection “so, becoming cautious,” 그 사람들을 identifies the people affected, 안으로 gives the direction “inside,” and 들이지 않았어요 states the speaker’s past negative action “did not let them in.” The whole utterance therefore means: “That made me cautious, so I did not let them in.”

4. 그게 옳은 판단이었어요. 먼저 그들이 들어올 권한이 있는지 확인해야 해요.

   That was the right call. Their authorization to enter should be verified first.

   그게

   that (subject)

   옳은

   right; correct

   판단

   judgment; call

   이었어요

   was

   먼저

   first

   그들이

   they

   들어올

   to enter

   권한

   authorization; permission

   있는지

   whether there is; whether someone has

   확인해야 해요

   must verify

   More detail

   그게 is the contracted form of 그것이: 그것 (“that thing”) plus the subject marker 이, with 것이 becoming 게 in ordinary speech. Here, the fixed translation identifies “that” as the earlier decision. The contraction is reusable in forms such as 이게 (“this”) and 저게 (“that over there”), though the choice depends on the demonstrative. 옳은 comes from 옳다 (“to be right/correct”). 옳은 is the form used before a noun: 옳다 → 옳은 판단, “a right judgment.” In this sentence it describes the judgment as correct, not necessarily as a judgment that was made recently. Example: 그 선택은 옳아요. — “That choice is right.” 판단 means “judgment” or, in this context, “call” or “decision.” It is a noun, and it combines with 이다 to say what something was: 판단이다 (“is a judgment”), 판단이었어요 (“was a judgment”). Example: 좋은 판단이었어요. — “It was a good decision.” 이었어요 is the polite past form of the noun-predicate 이다: N이다 means “is N,” while N이었어요 means “was N.” Because 판단 ends in a consonant, 이었어요 follows it directly. After a vowel-ending noun, the corresponding past form commonly contracts to 였어요, as in 의사였어요 (“was a doctor”). 먼저 means “first” or “before doing something else.” It sets the order of the required action; it does not by itself specify how many actions will follow. Example: 먼저 확인하세요. — “Check first.” 그들이 consists of 그들 (“they”) and the subject marker 이. In the fixed sentence, this group is the subject associated with the authorization to enter, matching the translation’s “their authorization.” The marker 이 follows because 그들 ends in a consonant. A subject ending in a vowel takes 가, as in 그녀가 (“she,” as subject). 들어올 is the noun-modifying form of 들어오다, “to come in” or “to enter toward the relevant place”: 들어오다 → 들어올. In 들어올 권한, it modifies 권한, producing “authorization to enter.” The related verb 들어가다 means “to go in,” with the direction viewed away from the relevant location. Example: 손님이 들어올 시간이에요. — “It is time for the guest to come in.” 권한 means “authority” or “authorization,” especially an officially allowed ability to do something. Here it is the authorization connected with entering, rather than a general physical ability. Example: 이 기능을 사용할 권한이 없어요. — “I do not have authorization to use this function.” 있는지 combines 있다 (“to exist; to be available; to be possessed”) with -는지, a form used inside an indirect question meaning “whether.” In 권한이 있는지, the meaning is “whether there is authorization” or, naturally with the stated subject, “whether they have authorization.” The pattern V-는지 확인하다 means “check whether someone does V,” while N이/가 있는지 확인하다 means “check whether N exists or is available.” Example: 예약이 있는지 확인해 주세요. — “Please check whether there is a reservation.” 확인해야 해요 is the polite obligation pattern 확인하다 (“to check; verify”) + -아/어야 하다 (“must; need to”). 확인해야 해요 therefore means “must verify” or “need to check.” The same pattern is reusable with other verbs: 기다려야 해요. — “I have to wait.” Together, 그게 옳은 판단이었어요 says “That was the right judgment,” naturally “That was the right call.” Then 먼저 그들이 들어올 권한이 있는지 확인해야 해요 says that the first required step is to verify whether they have authorization to enter. The whole utterance therefore means: “That was the right call. Their authorization to enter should be verified first.”

5. 실제로 점검 일정이 잡혀 있는지 확인해 주실 수 있나요?

   Could you check whether an inspection is actually scheduled?

   실제로

   actually; in reality

   점검

   inspection; check

   일정

   schedule

   잡혀 있는지

   whether it is scheduled

   확인해

   check; confirm

   주실 수 있나요?

   could you please...?

   More detail

   실제로 is an adverb meaning “actually” or “in reality.” It emphasizes checking the fact itself rather than relying on an assumption. Example: 실제로 그렇게 되었어요. — “It actually happened that way.” 점검 is a noun meaning “inspection” or “check,” especially a check of a condition or operation. It can combine with 하다 to form 점검하다, “to inspect/check.” In this sentence, it modifies 일정, so the phrase concerns an inspection schedule. 일정 means “schedule” or “planned timetable.” It is a noun and can refer to a planned event or the timing assigned to it. Example: 일정을 확인해 주세요. — “Please check the schedule.” 잡혀 있는지 expresses whether something has been arranged or scheduled. The form 잡혀 있다 means that something is in a set or arranged state; here, 잡혀 is the connective form of 잡히다, and 있는지 turns the state into an embedded yes-or-no question. The subject is 점검 일정, so the intended question is whether the inspection schedule is already set. Example: 회의 일정이 잡혀 있는지 확인해 주세요. — “Please check whether the meeting schedule has been set.” 확인해 comes from 확인하다, “to check” or “to confirm.” The -해 form connects this verb to the following request expression, rather than completing the request by itself. Example: 주소를 확인해 주세요. — “Please check the address.” 주실 수 있나요? is a polite request pattern. 주시다 is the honorific form used when someone provides a helpful action, -실 marks honorific respect toward the person being asked, and 수 있다 expresses possibility or ability. Together, -해 주실 수 있나요? politely asks, “Could you do ... for me?” It is a request for the listener’s assistance, not a claim about a numeric quantity. Together, 점검 일정이 잡혀 있는지 asks whether the inspection schedule is set, while 확인해 주실 수 있나요? politely asks the listener to check that point. 실제로 emphasizes the reality of the scheduling. The whole utterance therefore means: “Could you check whether an inspection is actually scheduled?”

6. 기록을 확인한 다음 포털을 통해 메시지를 보내 드릴게요.

   I will check the records and send you a message through the portal.

   기록

   record(s)

   확인한 다음

   after checking

   포털

   portal

   통해

   through

   메시지

   message

   보내 드릴게요

   will send for you

   More detail

   기록 means “record(s)” here. It is a noun, and the following 을 in 기록을 marks it as the object of the checking action. The same noun can refer to written or stored records in other contexts. Example: 기록을 남겨요. — “I leave a record.” 확인한 다음 means “after checking.” The base verb is 확인하다, “to check” or “to confirm.” In 확인한, the verb takes the form 확인하- + -ㄴ before 다음, creating the reusable pattern V-(으)ㄴ 다음, “after doing V.” 다음 means “next” or “after that” in this construction. Example: 내용을 확인한 다음 서명하세요. — “Check the contents, and then sign.” 포털 is the noun “portal.” In the larger expression 포털을 통해, the following 을 marks 포털 as the noun used with 통해 in the route or means expression. 통해 is used in N을 통해, meaning “through N” or “by means of N.” It comes from 통하다, “to pass through” or “to go via,” and functions here as a means or route marker rather than describing physical movement through an opening. Example: 이메일을 통해 알려 드릴게요. — “I’ll let you know by email.” 메시지 means “message.” In 메시지를, the following particle 를 marks it as the thing being sent. The noun itself does not specify whether the message is written, electronic, or another kind; that comes from context. 보내 드릴게요 means “will send for you” here. The lexical verb is 보내다, “to send.” 드리다 follows another verb to present the action as something done for the recipient, with deferential wording. The ending -(으)ㄹ게요 presents the speaker’s intention or commitment to the listener: 보내다 becomes 보낼게요, and with the auxiliary 드리다, the form is 보내 드릴게요. In this sentence, the object of 보내다 is the preceding 메시지를, so the full clause means that the speaker will send the message to the listener. Example: 자료를 보내 드릴게요. — “I’ll send you the materials.” Together, 기록을 확인한 다음 sets the order: the speaker will first check the records. 포털을 통해 identifies the route, and 메시지를 보내 드릴게요 states the planned action of sending a message for the listener. The complete meaning is: “I will check the records and send you a message through the portal.”

7. 누군가 다시 오기 전에 미리 알고 싶어요.

   I would rather know before anyone comes back.

   누군가

   someone

   다시

   again

   오기 전에

   before coming

   미리

   in advance

   알고 싶어요

   want to know

   More detail

   누군가 means “someone” or “anyone” in this sentence. It is an indefinite pronoun, so it refers to an unspecified person; the sentence does not identify who that person is. Compare 누군가 왔어요 (“Someone came”) with the question word 누구 (“who?”): 누군가 presents the person as unknown or unspecified rather than asking for their identity. 다시 means “again” or “back.” It marks a repeated event here: the person comes back. Its position before the verb phrase is common, but its exact English placement can vary with the translation. 오기 전에 is the reusable pattern V-기 전에, “before doing V.” Here 오다 (“to come”) becomes 오기 before 전에 (“before”): 오기 전에 means “before coming.” The separate 다시 adds the meaning “again” or “back.” Example: 자기 전에 이를 닦아요 means “I brush my teeth before going to bed.” The verb in that example is 자다, not 오다. 미리 means “in advance” or “ahead of time.” It says that the knowing should happen before the relevant event, adding preparation to the timing expressed by 오기 전에. Example: 미리 준비해요 means “I prepare in advance.” 알고 싶어요 is the polite form of “want to know.” The lexical verb is 알다 (“to know”); 알고 싶다 combines 알고 with 싶다 to express wanting to do or experience the verb’s action, and -어요 makes the expression polite in this style. Thus 알고 싶어요 is not simply “I know”; it expresses the speaker’s desire to know. Example: 한국어를 배우고 싶어요 means “I want to learn Korean.” Together, 누군가 다시 오기 전에 sets the time limit—before someone comes back—while 미리 emphasizes knowing ahead of time. 알고 싶어요 states the speaker’s desire, producing the intended meaning: “I would rather know before anyone comes back.”

8. 확인될 때까지는 오기로 알고 있던 사람이 아니라면 아무도 들이지 마세요.

   Until it is confirmed, do not let anyone in unless you were expecting them.

   확인될

   be confirmed

   때까지는

   until

   오기로

   as expected to come

   알고 있던

   had been thinking/knowing

   사람

   person

   아니라면

   if it is not

   아무도

   anyone

   들이지 마세요

   please do not let in

   More detail

   확인될 is the attributive form of 확인되다, “to be confirmed/verified.” The passive form presents confirmation as something that happens to the matter, rather than saying who confirms it. In 확인될 때까지, it modifies 때 (“time”), giving the pattern [event]-(으)ㄹ 때까지: “until [the event].” 때까지는 adds 는 to 까지, making “until then” the time frame being highlighted or contrasted. It does not change the basic meaning of 까지. 오기로 comes from 오다 (“to come”) with -기로, a form used in a decision or arrangement such as 오기로 하다 (“decide/agree to come”). Here it describes someone understood to be scheduled or expected to come. Compare 오기 전에 in the preceding context: that means “before coming,” whereas 오기로 here refers to an agreed or expected plan to come. 알고 있던 is the attributive form of 알고 있다, literally “be knowing/understanding.” 알다 is the base verb, and -고 있다 presents the state as continuing; -던 looks back on that earlier state. Thus 오기로 알고 있던 사람 is “a person understood to be coming” or “a person you had been expecting to come.” The omitted subject is supplied by the intended translation, not by an overt Korean pronoun. 사람 means “person.” In this sentence it is the noun modified by the preceding description: 오기로 알고 있던 사람 means “a person whom [someone] understood to be coming.” Korean often places this kind of descriptive clause before the noun. 아니라면 is 아니다 (“to not be”) plus the conditional ending -라면, meaning “if it is not” or “if [someone] is not.” Together with the preceding noun phrase, 사람이 아니라면 means “if [the entrant] is not such a person.” The conditional clause is completed by the prohibition that follows. 아무도 means “anyone/no one” in this use. With the negative predicate 들이지 마세요, the combination 아무도 ... 않다/말다 means “no one” or, in an instruction, “do not let anyone ...” It is not asserting a specific number of people. 들이지 마세요 is the polite prohibition pattern -지 마세요, attached here to 들이다, “to let or bring someone in.” 들이다 is causative/transitive: it describes causing another person to enter, unlike 들어가다 (“go in”) or 들어오다 (“come in”). -지 마세요 politely tells someone not to perform the action. Putting the parts together: 확인될 때까지는 sets the limit “until it is confirmed”; 오기로 알고 있던 사람이 아니라면 identifies the exception as someone you were expecting to come; and 아무도 들이지 마세요 gives the instruction “do not let anyone in.” The complete meaning is: “Until it is confirmed, do not let anyone in unless you were expecting them.”