Requesting Privacy at Clinic Reception | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 접수 창구에서 민감한 내용을 이야기하는 것이 불편합니다.

   I am not comfortable discussing sensitive details at the reception desk.

   접수 창구

   reception desk

   민감한

   sensitive

   내용

   details; content

   이야기하는 것이

   discussing; talking about it

   불편합니다.

   is uncomfortable

   More detail

   접수 창구 means “reception desk” or “reception counter.” 접수 relates to receiving or processing registrations, applications, or requests, while 창구 is a service counter or window. Together, they name the place where reception-related service is handled. In the sentence, 에서 marks this as the place where the action occurs. 민감한 means “sensitive” here. It is the attributive form of 민감하다 (“to be sensitive”), used before the noun 내용. The ending -한 lets this descriptive form modify a noun. For example, 민감한 질문 means “a sensitive question.” 내용 means “content,” “details,” or “information.” Here it refers to the details being discussed, and 을 marks it as the object of that action. 내용 can refer broadly to what something contains, while the translation’s “details” fits this context. 이야기하는 것이 expresses “discussing” or “the act of talking about.” 이야기하다 means “to talk” or “to discuss”; 이야기하는 is its present attributive form, and 것 nominalizes the action as “the act of talking.” The subject marker 이 marks this whole nominalized action as the subject of 불편합니다. A reusable pattern is V-는 것이 ..., meaning “doing V is ...” or “it is ... to do V.” 불편합니다. means “is uncomfortable.” It is the polite formal-present form of the adjective 불편하다. In this sentence, the subject is the action of discussing the sensitive details, so the sentence describes that action as uncomfortable for the speaker. 불편하다 can also describe physical inconvenience, but the intended meaning here is personal discomfort. Together, 접수 창구에서 sets the location, 민감한 내용을 identifies the sensitive details as the object, and 이야기하는 것이 불편합니다 says that discussing them is uncomfortable. The complete meaning is: “I am not comfortable discussing sensitive details at the reception desk.”

2. 개인적인 내용은 별도 공간으로 이동해서 말씀하실 수 있습니다.

   We can move to a private area for anything personal.

   개인적인

   personal

   내용

   content; details

   별도

   separate

   공간

   space; area

   이동해서

   move and

   말씀하실

   speak; say (honorific)

   수 있습니다

   can; be able to

   More detail

   개인적인 means “personal” here and modifies 내용 directly. It is the attributive form of 개인적이다 (“to be personal”); the ending -인 lets this descriptive word come before a noun. For example, 개인적인 질문 means “a personal question.” 내용 means “content” or “details.” In this sentence, it refers to the personal matters being discussed, not to a particular item named in the sentence. A useful related expression is 내용을 말하다, “to talk about the details.” 별도 means “separate” or “apart.” It commonly appears before a noun, as in 별도 안내, “separate guidance.” 공간 means “space” or “area.” In 별도 공간, it forms the noun phrase “a separate area.” The particle 으로 marks that area as the destination or direction of movement: 공간으로 이동하다 means “to move to the area.” 이동해서 comes from the verb 이동하다, “to move,” plus -해서, the connective form of -하다 verbs. Here it links the movement to what follows: “move there and then …” or, more naturally in the full sentence, “by moving there …” For example, 다른 방으로 이동해서 기다리세요 means “Move to another room and wait.” 말씀하실 is the honorific form of 말씀하시다, used for speaking or saying something respectfully. The ending -(으)ㄹ makes it the form used before 수 있습니다 in the ability pattern. It therefore contributes “speak/discuss” in the respectful expression 말씀하실 수 있습니다. The honorific marking is on 말씀하시다, not on 내용 or 공간. 수 있습니다 is the formal-polite ability construction -(으)ㄹ 수 있다, meaning “can” or “be able to.” In this sentence, 말씀하실 수 있습니다 means “can speak/discuss” respectfully. The negative counterpart is -(으)ㄹ 수 없습니다, “cannot.” Together, 개인적인 내용은 sets “personal matters” as the topic. 별도 공간으로 이동해서 presents moving to a separate area, and 말씀하실 수 있습니다 says that speaking about them is possible there, in respectful formal language. With the fixed translation’s intended meaning, the whole utterance is: “We can move to a private area for anything personal.”

3. 대기실이 바로 가까이에 있어서 그러면 도움이 될 것 같아요.

   That would help, because the waiting room is very close.

   대기실이

   the waiting room

   바로

   right; just

   가까이에

   nearby

   있어서

   because it is; because there is

   그러면

   then; in that case

   도움이

   help; assistance

   될 것 같아요

   seems likely to be

   More detail

   대기실이 means “the waiting room” here. 대기실 is the noun “waiting room,” and 이 marks it as the subject; after a noun ending in a consonant, Korean uses 이 rather than 가. Example: 방이 가까워요. — “The room is close.” 바로 strengthens the description: “right” or “just,” as in a location that is directly nearby. Here it emphasizes the short distance. 가까이에 means “nearby.” It is the location expression 가까이 (“near; nearby”) plus 에, a particle used with a location. It is used with 있다 to express being in a nearby place. The related adjective is 가깝다 (“to be close”), whose polite present form is 가까워요; 가까이에 is not that adjective form. Example: 학교가 가까이에 있어요. — “The school is nearby.” 있어서 comes from 있다 (“to exist; to be located”) plus -어서, a connective ending that can give a reason. Here, the waiting room’s being nearby is the reason for the following assessment: “because it is nearby.” 그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It points to the situation just described and introduces the resulting assessment. 도움이 contains 도움 (“help; assistance”) plus 이, the subject marker. In the construction 도움이 되다, literally “become help,” the phrase means “be helpful” or “help.” Example: 이 정보가 도움이 돼요. — “This information is helpful.” 될 것 같아요 is a polite expression built from 되다 (“to become; to be”) and 것 같다 (“seem likely; seem to be”). 될 is the future-looking attributive form of 되다 before 것, giving the sense “seems likely to be/become.” With 도움이, the complete pattern 도움이 될 것 같아요 means “it seems likely to be helpful” or, naturally here, “that would help.” Example: 조용한 곳이 도움이 될 것 같아요. — “A quiet place seems like it would help.” Together, 대기실이 바로 가까이에 있어서 gives the reason “because the waiting room is right nearby.” 그러면 connects that situation to the result, and 도움이 될 것 같아요 says that it seems likely to help. The whole utterance therefore means: “That would help, because the waiting room is very close.”

4. 사생활 보호가 중요하므로 그런 내용은 공개된 곳에서 이야기하면 안 됩니다.

   Your privacy matters, and those details should not be discussed in public.

   사생활

   privacy

   보호

   protection

   중요하므로

   because it is important

   그런

   such

   내용

   details

   공개된

   public

   곳

   place

   이야기하면 안 됩니다

   must not discuss

   More detail

   사생활 means “privacy,” especially a person’s private life. It is a noun and can combine with words such as 사생활 보호 (“privacy protection”). Example: 사생활을 존중해 주세요. — “Please respect my privacy.” 보호 means “protection.” In 사생활 보호, it forms a compact noun phrase meaning “privacy protection”; 보호 is not the noun being described by the following adjective. 중요하므로 means “because it is important.” Its base form is 중요하다 (“to be important”), and -므로 attaches to the adjective stem to give a formal, somewhat written “because/since” relation. Here, the important thing is the preceding 사생활 보호. A more conversational causal ending is -아서/어서, as in 중요해서 (“because it is important”). 그런 is a demonstrative modifier meaning “such” or “that kind of.” It must directly modify a noun, here 내용; it does not by itself identify a particular detail beyond the supported “such details” reading. Compare 이런 내용 (“this kind of content”) and 저런 내용 (“that kind of content over there/in that context”). 내용 means “content,” “information,” or, in this sentence, “details.” It is a noun. Example: 내용을 확인했어요. — “I checked the details.” 공개된 means “made public” or “publicly available” and modifies the following noun 곳. Its base form is 공개되다 (“to become/be made public”); -ㄴ is the attributive form used here to describe a noun: 공개된 곳 = “a public place.” This form presents the place as already open to the public, rather than saying that someone is currently making it public. 곳 means “place” or “location.” In 공개된 곳, it refers generally to a place that is open or visible to the public. Example: 사람이 많은 곳에서는 조용히 말해 주세요. — “Please speak quietly in places with many people.” 이야기하면 안 됩니다 expresses a prohibition: “must not discuss” or “should not talk about.” It consists of 이야기하다 (“to talk/discuss”) with -(으)면 안 되다 (“it is not allowed if…”), followed by the formal polite ending -ㅂ니다. The construction V-(으)면 안 됩니다 is reusable for saying that an action is not permitted. Example: 여기에서 사진을 찍으면 안 됩니다. — “You must not take pictures here.” Together, 사생활 보호가 중요하므로 gives the reason, “because privacy protection is important.” 그런 내용은 marks “such details” as the topic, and 공개된 곳에서 means “in a public place,” with 에서 marking the location of the discussion. The prohibition 이야기하면 안 됩니다 then says that discussing them is not allowed. The whole utterance means: “Your privacy matters, and those details should not be discussed in public.”

5. 대부분의 배경 정보를 대신 서면 양식에 적어도 될까요?

   Could I put most of the background on the written forms instead?

   대부분의

   most of; the majority of

   배경

   background

   정보

   information

   대신

   instead; in place of

   서면

   written; in writing

   양식

   form

   적어도 될까요?

   May I write it?

   More detail

   대부분의 means “most of” or “the majority of.” 대부분 is the noun-like word meaning “most,” and -의 links it to the following noun: 대부분의 N = “most of N.” Here it modifies the combined noun phrase 배경 정보. 배경 means “background.” It can describe context or background details, as in 배경 이야기 (“background story”). In this utterance it combines with 정보 to form 배경 정보, “background information.” 정보 means “information.” Korean commonly uses this noun without marking an English-style count distinction; the sentence refers to the relevant background information as a whole. Together, 배경 정보 is a reusable compound noun meaning “background information.” 대신 means “instead” or “in place of.” It indicates replacement: one option is used instead of another. Here it applies to putting the information on written forms rather than providing it through the alternative understood from the situation. 서면 means “written” or “in writing.” In 서면 양식, it modifies 양식, producing “written form” or “paper form.” The exact English choice depends on what kind of form is meant, but the Korean expression presents it as a form in written format. 양식 means “form” in the sense of a document or template for entering information. In 서면 양식에, the particle -에 marks the place or medium where something is put: “on/in the written form.” Do not confuse this meaning of 양식 with other uses of the same word, such as “style” or “format”; the document meaning is the one supported here. 적어도 될까요? asks for permission to write or enter something. The base verb is 적다, “to write” or “to fill in,” and the observed 적어도 is its -어도 form. The pattern -아/어도 되다 means “it is permitted to do”; with -까요?, -아/어도 될까요? becomes a polite question such as “May I ...?” or “Would it be okay if I ...?” The subject is understood from the question, so the speaker is asking whether the speaker may do the writing. Putting the parts together, 대부분의 배경 정보 is “most of the background information,” 대신 marks doing this as a substitute, and 서면 양식에 적어도 될까요? asks whether it may be written on the written forms. The complete meaning is: “Could I put most of the background information on the written forms instead?”

6. 그렇게 하셔도 되지만 의료진이 별도 공간에서 여전히 질문할 수도 있습니다.

   You can, although the clinician may still ask questions in private.

   그렇게 하셔도 되지만

   You may do so, but

   의료진이

   the clinician

   별도 공간에서

   in a separate space

   여전히

   still

   질문할 수도 있습니다

   may ask questions

   More detail

   그렇게 하셔도 되지만 means “you may do so, but/although.” 그렇게 refers to doing something in that manner; the exact action is supplied by the preceding context. 하셔도 되다 combines 하다 “to do” with the honorific subject marker -시-, the permission pattern -아/어도 되다 “it is permissible to…,” and -지만 “but/although.” The honorific form here is appropriate when referring respectfully to the listener; it does not by itself establish a plural subject. Example: 여기서 기다리셔도 돼요. — “You may wait here.” This uses the same permission pattern, with honorific 기다리시-. 의료진이 means “the clinician” in this translation and is the subject of the following action. 의료진 is a noun for medical personnel or clinical staff, and 이 marks it as the subject. Korean nouns such as this can refer to a staff group even when an English translation chooses a singular role such as “the clinician.” 별도 공간에서 means “in a separate space.” 별도 modifies the noun 공간 “space,” and 에서 marks the place where an action occurs. The location marker 에서 is used here because asking questions is an activity taking place there. 별도의 공간에서 is also possible; the supplied phrase uses the compact modifier 별도. Example: 별도 공간에서 상담합니다. — “We provide consultations in a separate space.” This illustrates 에서 with the location of an activity. 여전히 means “still.” It indicates that the asking may continue to be relevant despite the permission or contrast expressed earlier. It does not itself indicate how many times questions will be asked. 질문할 수도 있습니다 means “may ask questions.” 질문하다 is the base form “to ask questions”; its -ㄹ form 질문할 combines with 수도 있다 to express possibility. In this sentence, -ㄹ 수도 있습니다 gives the possibility meaning “may,” while 습니다 supplies formal polite style. The subject 의료진이 is understood with this verb. Example: 의료진이 추가로 질문할 수도 있습니다. — “The clinician may ask additional questions.” This reuses the possibility pattern -ㄹ 수도 있다. Together, 그렇게 하셔도 되지만 grants permission to do the action mentioned in the preceding context while introducing a qualification. 의료진이 별도 공간에서 identifies the clinician as the subject and a separate space as the setting, 여전히 says that this remains possible, and 질문할 수도 있습니다 expresses that the clinician may ask questions. The complete meaning is: “You can, although the clinician may still ask questions in private.”

7. 그러면 저에게는 대화가 훨씬 수월해질 것 같아요.

   That would make the conversation much easier for me.

   그러면

   then / in that case

   저에게는

   for me

   대화가

   conversation

   훨씬

   much; far

   수월해질

   become easier

   것 같아요

   it seems; I think

   More detail

   그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It connects the utterance to a condition or proposal already understood: “If that is so, …” It is a reusable way to introduce a consequence. 저에게는 means “for me.” 저 is the humble first-person pronoun “I/me”; 에게 marks the person toward whom something is relevant, and 는 makes that phrase the topic, often with a possible contrast: “as for me.” 대화가 means “the conversation” as the subject. 대화 is “conversation,” and 가 is the subject-marking particle. A useful contrast is 대화를, where 를 marks the conversation as an object instead. 훨씬 is an intensifier meaning “much” or “far,” especially with a comparison or a change of degree. Here it strengthens the idea of becoming easier: “much easier,” not merely “easier.” 수월해질 comes from 수월하다, “to be easy, smooth, or manageable,” combined with -아/어지다, which expresses a change into a state: 수월해지다, “become easier.” The -ㄹ form makes it modify the following 것 in this construction; it does not belong to 대화. 것 같아요 is a polite construction for an impression or tentative judgment, similar here to “it seems” or “I think.” In 수월해질 것 같아요, the speaker presents becoming easier as an expectation rather than an absolute certainty. 같아요 is the polite form of 같다, “to be like/seem.” Putting the parts together, 그러면 sets up the consequence, 저에게는 identifies the perspective, 대화가 marks the conversation as what changes, and 훨씬 수월해질 것 같아요 says that it seems likely to become much easier. The complete meaning is: “That would make the conversation much easier for me.” The polite ending makes this a courteous, somewhat cautious assessment rather than a firm guarantee.

8. 호출되시기 전에 원하시는 방식을 기록해 두겠습니다.

   I will note your preference before you are called.

   호출되시기 전에

   before you are called

   원하시는

   want; prefer

   방식

   way; method

   기록해 두겠습니다

   I will write it down

   More detail

   호출되시기 전에 means “before you are called.” 호출되다 is the passive verb “to be called/summoned.” In this form, -시- is an honorific marker referring to the person being called, and -기 turns the verb into a noun-like unit before 전에 (“before”). The form 전에 marks that the later action happens earlier than the event in this clause. Example: 도착하기 전에 연락하세요. — “Please contact me before you arrive.” 원하시는 describes the preference belonging to the person addressed: “that you want/prefer.” It comes from 원하다 (“to want”), with honorific -시- and the attributive ending -는, which lets the verb modify the following noun. The honorific marking is on 원하시는, not on 방식. Example: 원하시는 시간을 알려 주세요. — “Please tell me the time you prefer.” 방식 is a noun meaning “way,” “method,” or “approach.” Here it is the preferred way or method. A useful related noun is 방법, which also commonly means “method,” though the two words are not interchangeable in every expression. Example: 이 방식이 더 편합니다. — “This way is more convenient.” 기록해 두겠습니다 means “I will write it down / note it for later.” 기록하다 is the base verb “to record” or “to note.” 기록해 is its connective form, followed by 두다; -아/어 두다 says that an action is done in advance and its result is kept available. -겠습니다 expresses the speaker’s intention or commitment in a polite formal style. Thus, this is not merely a prediction: it presents the speaker’s plan to make a note. Example: 주소를 적어 두겠습니다. — “I will write down the address for later.” Together, 원하시는 방식 forms “the way you prefer,” and 기록해 두겠습니다 says that the speaker will note and retain that information. The opening 호출되시기 전에 places this planned note-taking before the addressee is called. The complete utterance therefore means: “I will note your preference before you are called.”