Handling Sensitive Workplace Feedback | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a workplace feedback session, two adults discuss frustration during a review and how to make sensitive criticism easier to receive..

EN → KO / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Handling Sensitive Workplace Feedback to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

검토하는 동안 많이 답답해 보이셨어요.

gum-TOH-ha-nun dong-AHN MAH-nee DAHP-TAHP-heh boh-ee-SYUH-suh-yo. I noticed you seemed frustrated during the review.
B

그랬어요. 하지만 그 감정이 상황을 지배하게 두지는 않으려고 했어요.

guh-RAESS-uh-yo. hah-JEE-mahn guh gam-JUNG-ee sahng-HWANG-ul jee-BEH-ha-geh doo-JEE-nun ah-nuh-RYUH-goh HESS-uh-yo. I was, although I tried not to let it dominate.
A

의견은 직접적이었지만, 업무를 대상으로 한 것이었어요.

ee-GYUN-un jik-JJUP-juhk-ee-UHT-jjee-mahn, uhm-MOO-rul DEH-sahng-uh-roh han guh-SHEE-uh-SSUH-yo. The comments were direct, but they were aimed at the work.
B

이제는 이해하지만, 그 시점은 예상하지 못해서 당황했어요.

ee-JEH-nun ee-HEH-ha-jee-mahn, guh SHEE-juhm-un yeh-SAHNG-ha-jee moh-TEH-suh dahng-HWANG-heh-SSUH-yo. I understand that now, but the timing caught me off guard.
A

민감한 피드백을 드릴 예정이면 더 미리 알려 드릴 수 있어요.

MEEN-gahm-han PEE-duh-BAEK-ul duh-REEL yeh-JUNG-ee-myun duh mee-REE ahl-LYUH duh-REEL soo ee-SSUH-yo. We can give you more notice when we expect sensitive feedback.
B

그러면 그 순간에 더 신중하게 대응하는 데 도움이 될 것 같아요.

guh-ruh-MYUN guh SOON-gan-eh duh SHIN-joong-ha-geh deh-UNG-ha-nun deh doh-OO-mee dwel gut gah-TAH-yo. That would help me respond more thoughtfully in the moment.
A

수정이 필요한 부분에서도 분석은 가치가 있었어요.

soo-JUNG-ee pee-RYOH-han boo-BUN-eh-suh-doh boon-SUK-un GAH-chee-gah ee-SSUH-ssuh-yo. Your analysis was valuable, even where revisions were needed.
B

그 구분이 있다는 점을 이해하게 되어 감사해요. 그게 제가 비판을 해석하는 방식을 바꿔 주거든요.

guh goo-BUN-ee eet-DAH-nun juhm-ul ee-HEH-ha-geh dweh-uh gahm-SAH-heh-yo. guh-geh jeh-gah pee-PAHN-ul heh-SUK-ha-nun BAHNG-shik-ul bah-KWUH joo-GUH-dun-yo. I appreciate that distinction, because it changes how I interpret criticism.

Word by Word

검토하는 검토하는 means reviewing here, as in 검토하는 동안, “during the review.” It is the form of 검토하다 used before 동안; this pattern is useful for describing an activity taking place during another event.
동안 동안 means during or for the duration of something, and here it marks the period of 검토하는 동안. It commonly follows a noun or a verb modifier to describe how long an action or state continues.
많이 많이 means quite or a lot here, strengthening the impression that the person looked frustrated. It is placed before 답답해 보이셨어요 to modify the degree, and it is useful when describing the extent of an action or feeling.
답답해 답답해 describes looking frustrated or emotionally uncomfortable in this workplace situation. In 답답해 보이셨어요, it describes the apparent state before 보이다; this pattern is useful when saying that someone seems a certain way.
보이셨어요 보이셨어요 means seemed or looked in this polite, honorific past form. It is used in 답답해 보이셨어요 to report an observed impression respectfully, such as when giving feedback to a colleague.
그랬어요 그랬어요 confirms the previous observation with the contextual meaning I was or That was so. It is a polite past response used when agreeing that the situation just described was true.
하지만 하지만 means but or however and introduces a qualification to the agreement in 그랬어요. It is useful at the beginning of a sentence when adding an opposing or limiting point.
그 그 means that or the in 그 감정이, referring to the frustration just mentioned. It is a determiner placed directly before a noun and is useful for pointing back to something already known in the conversation.
감정이 감정이 means the emotion or feeling, with 이 marking it as the subject of the following action. In 그 감정이 상황을 지배하게, the emotion is presented as what might dominate the situation.
상황을 상황을 means the situation, with 을 marking it as the object of 지배하게 두다. The phrase 상황을 지배하게 두다 means let the situation be dominated, so this form is useful when describing what an action affects.
지배하게 지배하게 contributes the meaning to dominate in the expression 그 감정이 상황을 지배하게 두다. The ending 게 connects 지배하다 to 두다 in a pattern meaning let something do something, useful when describing whether an influence is allowed to control a situation.
두지는 두지는 contributes the meaning let or leave in 지배하게 두지는 않으려고 했어요. The 는 highlights the action that the speaker tried not to allow, and the expression is useful for saying that someone did not let a feeling control events.
않으려고 않으려고 means in order not to or trying not to in 그 감정이 상황을 지배하게 두지는 않으려고 했어요. It forms the negative intention pattern 지 않으려고, used when describing an effort to avoid an action.
했어요 했어요 completes 않으려고 했어요 and gives the meaning tried or intended to. It is the polite past form of 하다 used after an intention pattern, useful when reporting an effort that was made in the past.
의견은 의견은 means the comments or opinions, with 은 marking them as the topic. In 의견은 직접적이었지만, it presents the comments first and then contrasts their directness with the fact that they focused on the work.
직접적이었지만 직접적이었지만 means were direct, but, combining the past description 직접적이었다 with the contrast ending 지만. It is useful for acknowledging one characteristic before adding a different or balancing point.
업무를 업무를 means the work or job-related duties, with 를 marking it as the object in 업무를 대상으로 한. This form is useful when identifying the work that feedback or attention is directed toward.
대상으로 대상으로 means as the target or directed toward in 업무를 대상으로 한 것이었어요. In the construction 업무를 대상으로 하다, it identifies what something is aimed at, which is useful when distinguishing criticism of work from criticism of a person.
한 한 means directed or made in 업무를 대상으로 한 것이었어요. It is the modifier form of 하다 that connects the expression 업무를 대상으로 하다 to the noun 것, and it is useful for describing something that was directed at a particular target.
것이었어요 것이었어요 means was the thing or was what it was, completing 업무를 대상으로 한 것이었어요. It turns the preceding description into the statement that the comments were something aimed at the work, a polite way to identify what something was.
이제는 이제는 means now, with 는 marking a contrast between the present understanding and the earlier reaction. It is useful when explaining that one’s view has changed by this point.
이해하지만 이해하지만 means understand, but and introduces a limitation to the current understanding. The ending 지만 connects the understanding with the separate problem about the timing.
시점은 시점은 means the timing or point in time, with 은 marking it as the topic. In 시점은 예상하지 못해서, the timing is contrasted with the speaker’s present understanding of the comments.
예상하지 예상하지 contributes the meaning expect or anticipate in 예상하지 못해서. It is the first part of the negative pattern 예상하지 못하다, useful when describing something that was not anticipated.
못해서 못해서 means because it was not possible or because someone did not manage to do something; here, 예상하지 못해서 means because the timing was not anticipated. The ending 해서 gives the reason for 당황했어요.
당황했어요 당황했어요 means felt flustered or was caught off guard because the timing was unexpected. This polite past form is useful when explaining a confused or unsettled reaction to an unexpected event.
민감한 민감한 means sensitive in 민감한 피드백, describing feedback that may be difficult to receive. It is the form of 민감하다 used before a noun and is useful for qualifying topics that require careful handling.
피드백을 피드백을 means the feedback, with 을 marking it as the object of 드릴. In 민감한 피드백을 드릴, it identifies what will be given respectfully to the listener.
드릴 드릴 means give or provide in 민감한 피드백을 드릴 예정이면. It is the modifier form of the deferential verb 드리다 before 예정, used when offering something such as feedback to the listener.
예정이면 예정이면 means if it is planned or when it is scheduled in 드릴 예정이면. It combines 예정이다 with 면 and is useful for setting a condition based on a planned future action.
더 더 means more here, as in more advance notice. It modifies 미리 알려 and is useful when comparing a proposed amount or degree with what was provided before.
미리 미리 means in advance or beforehand in 더 미리 알려 드릴 수 있어요. It is placed before the action that should happen earlier and is useful when discussing advance notice or preparation.
알려 알려 means inform or let someone know in 미리 알려 드릴 수 있어요. It is the connecting form of 알리다 before 드리다, and the expression is useful for politely saying that information will be given to someone.
수 수 contributes the meaning possibility or ability in 알려 드릴 수 있어요. In the pattern verb modifier plus 수 있다, it helps express that someone can perform the action.
있어요 있어요 completes 알려 드릴 수 있어요 and makes the phrase mean can let you know. Here it is not simply be present; together with 수, it expresses ability or possibility in polite speech.
그러면 그러면 means then or in that case and connects the proposed advance notice with its expected benefit. It is useful for introducing a result that follows from the previous situation or condition.
순간에 순간에 means at that moment, with 에 marking the time when the response occurs. In 그 순간에 대응하는, it identifies the specific time of reacting to the feedback.
신중하게 신중하게 means thoughtfully or carefully and describes the manner of responding. It is the adverbial form of 신중하다, useful when explaining that an action is performed with careful consideration.
대응하는 대응하는 means responding or handling in 대응하는 데 도움이 될 것 같아요. It is the form of 대응하다 used before 데, and this pattern is useful for describing how someone handles a situation.
데 데 means in doing or for doing in 대응하는 데 도움이 되다. In this construction, it turns the activity of responding into the purpose or area in which something is helpful.
도움이 도움이 means help, with 이 marking it as the subject of 도움이 되다. The expression 도움이 되다 means be helpful, useful when describing what supports a person’s action.
될 될 means will be or will become in 도움이 될 것 같아요. It is the modifier form of 되다 before 것 and expresses the expected future result in the expression that something will be helpful.
것 것 is a noun meaning thing or fact, but in 될 것 같아요 it helps nominalize the expected situation. The whole pattern verb modifier plus 것 같다 means it seems or I think that something will happen.
같아요 같아요 contributes the meaning seems or I think in 될 것 같아요. Together with 것, it softens the prediction and is useful when expressing an expectation rather than a firm statement.
수정이 수정이 means revisions or modification, with 이 marking it as the subject of 필요한. In 수정이 필요한 부분, it identifies what is needed in the relevant parts.
필요한 필요한 means needed or necessary in 수정이 필요한 부분. It is the form of 필요하다 used before 부분 and is useful for describing a requirement or necessity.
부분에서도 부분에서도 means even in the parts or areas, combining 부분 with 에서 and 도. In 수정이 필요한 부분에서도, it says that even the areas needing revision still contained valuable analysis.
분석은 분석은 means the analysis, with 은 marking it as the topic. In 분석은 가치가 있었어요, the analysis is presented as valuable despite the need for some revisions.
가치가 가치가 means value, with 이 marking it as the subject of 가치가 있었어요. The phrase 가치가 있다 means have value or be worthwhile, useful when evaluating work or an idea.
있었어요 있었어요 means was or had in 가치가 있었어요, giving the meaning had value or was valuable. It is the polite past form of 있다 and describes the value of the analysis in the completed review.
구분이 구분이 means distinction or separation, with 이 marking it as the subject of 구분이 있다는 점. It identifies the distinction between direct comments and comments aimed at the work.
있다는 있다는 means that there is or that it exists in 구분이 있다는 점. It is used to describe the fact that a distinction exists before 점, and this pattern is useful when referring to a stated fact.
점을 점을 means the point or fact, with 을 marking it as the object of understanding in 구분이 있다는 점을 이해하게 되어. The expression identifies the specific fact that the speaker came to understand.
이해하게 이해하게 contributes the meaning come to understand in 이해하게 되어. Together with 되다, the pattern 이해하게 되다 describes reaching an understanding, useful for reporting a change in one’s perspective.
되어 되어 means having come to or as a result of becoming in 이해하게 되어 감사해요. It connects the change in understanding with the speaker’s gratitude and is useful for linking a preceding result to a following response.
감사해요 감사해요 means I appreciate it or I am grateful in this polite expression of thanks. Here it follows the fact that the speaker came to understand the distinction, so it is useful when acknowledging helpful clarification.
그게 그게 means that or it and functions as the subject of 바꿔 주거든요, referring to the distinction just mentioned. It is a spoken form used to point back to an already discussed fact or idea.
제가 제가 means I, with 가 marking the subject and highlighting who interprets the criticism. In 제가 비판을 해석하는 방식, it identifies the speaker as the person whose way of interpreting is being discussed.
비판을 비판을 means criticism, with 을 marking it as the object of 해석하는. In 비판을 해석하는 방식, it identifies what is being interpreted.
해석하는 해석하는 means interpreting in 비판을 해석하는 방식. It is the form of 해석하다 used before 방식 and is useful for describing the way someone understands or interprets something.
방식을 방식을 means the way or manner, with 을 marking it as the object of 바꿔 주거든요. The phrase 비판을 해석하는 방식을 바꾸다 means change the way of interpreting criticism, useful when describing a change in perspective.
바꿔 바꿔 means change in 바꿔 주거든요 and connects 바꾸다 to the auxiliary 주다. Together, the expression says that something changes the speaker’s way of interpreting criticism for their benefit.
주거든요 주거든요 completes 바꿔 주거든요 and adds the meaning does that for me, you see, while giving an explanation or background. In this sentence it explains why the distinction matters: it changes how the speaker interprets criticism.

Grammar Points

-지만

직접적이었지만

jik-JJUP-juhk-ee-UHT-jjee-mahn

although it was direct

-지만 attaches to verbs or adjectives to express contrast, meaning “but” or “although.”

-아서/어서

예상하지 못해서

yeh-SAHNG-ha-jee moh-TEH-suh

because it was not expected

-아서/어서 connects a cause or reason to a result. After 못하다, use the form 못해서.

Korean Vocabulary

감정 noun
gahm-JUNG emotion; feeling
검토하다 verb
gum-TOH-ha-dah to review 검토하는
답답하다 adj
dahp-TAHP-ha-dah to feel frustrated or stifled 답답해
대상 noun
DEH-sahng target; subject 대상으로
두다 verb
doo-dah to let; to leave 두지는
보이다 verb
boh-EE-dah to seem; to look 보이셨어요
상황 noun
sahng-HWANG situation
업무 noun
uhm-MOO work; 업무
의견 noun
ee-GYUN comment; opinion
이해하다 verb
ee-HEH-ha-dah to understand 이해하지만
지배하다 verb
jee-BEH-ha-dah to dominate 지배하게
직접적이다 adj
jik-JJUP-juhk-ee-dah to be direct 직접적이었지만

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I noticed you seemed frustrated during the review.

Show Answer검토하는 동안 많이 답답해 보이셨어요.

The comments were direct, but they were aimed at the work.

Show Answer의견은 직접적이었지만, 업무를 대상으로 한 것이었어요.

Your analysis was valuable, even where revisions were needed.

Show Answer수정이 필요한 부분에서도 분석은 가치가 있었어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to be direct

Show Answer직접적이었지만

to review

Show Answer검토하는

to dominate

Show Answer지배하게

to seem; to look

Show Answer보이셨어요