Rebooking After a Possible Missed Connection | Learn Korean in English

Sentence explanations

1. 이 지연 때문에 환승을 놓칠 수도 있어요.

   I might miss my connection because of this delay.

   이

   this

   지연

   delay

   때문에

   because of

   환승

   connection; transfer

   놓칠

   miss

   수도 있어요

   there is a possibility

   More detail

   이 means “this” and stands before a noun as a demonstrative modifier: 이 지연 is “this delay.” It does not by itself mark number or grammatical gender. Korean also contrasts it with 그 (“that/the one already mentioned”) and 저 (“that over there”); choose among them according to reference and distance or discourse context. 지연 is a noun meaning “delay.” It can be followed by the cause expression 때문에 to identify a cause. In the fixed sentence, this delay is presented as the cause of the possible missed connection. 때문에 follows a noun or noun phrase and means “because of” that cause. Thus 이 지연 때문에 means “because of this delay.” It is a cause expression; it is not the form used in every possible clause structure meaning “because.” 환승 is a noun for a transfer or connection between vehicles or routes. In this sentence it is the connection the speaker may fail to catch. A useful related expression is 환승하다, “to transfer,” but 환승 itself is the noun used here. 놓칠 comes from the verb 놓치다, “to miss” or “let slip.” The form 놓칠 uses the -(으)ㄹ form, which places the verb before the dependent noun 수 in the possibility pattern V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다. Here it presents missing the connection as a possible event, not as an already completed event. 수도 있어요 contributes the possibility part of the expression. 수 is a dependent noun associated here with possibility, and 있어요 is the polite present form of 있다, “to exist/be.” In V-(으)ㄹ 수도 있어요, 도 adds the sense that this event is one possible outcome; the whole expression commonly means “might” or “may.” Example: 비가 올 수도 있어요. — “It might rain.” The sentence assembles as 이 지연 때문에 (“because of this delay”) + 환승을 (“the connection,” marked as the object) + 놓칠 수도 있어요 (“might miss”). Its complete meaning is “I might miss my connection because of this delay.” Korean leaves the subject unstated here; the fixed English translation identifies the intended subject as the speaker, while 을 marks 환승 as what may be missed.

2. 지연이 확정되면 안내 데스크에서 다른 경로를 확인해 줄 수 있어요.

   The service desk can check other routes once the delay is confirmed.

   지연이

   the delay

   확정되면

   once confirmed

   안내 데스크

   service desk

   다른

   other

   경로

   route

   확인

   check; verify

   해 줄 수 있어요

   can do it for someone

   More detail

   지연이 means “the delay” here. 지연 is a noun meaning a delay, and 이 marks it as the subject of the following clause. The subject marker is attached after a noun ending in a consonant; after a vowel, Korean uses 가 instead. 확정되면 means “once it is confirmed.” Its base form is 확정되다, “to be confirmed” or “to become definite”: 확정되- combines with -면 to express a condition or time, here “once/when.” The form is passive or change-of-state; it is different from 확정하다, “to confirm or finalize something.” For example, 일정이 확정되면 알려 주세요. means “Please let me know once the schedule is confirmed.” 안내 데스크 is a noun compound meaning “information/service desk.” 안내 relates to guidance or information, while 데스크 means a desk or counter in this type of service setting. In the full sentence, 에서 follows this phrase and marks the place where the checking is done: “at the service desk.” 다른 means “other” in front of a noun. It is the attributive form of 다르다, “to be different,” and it modifies 경로 here. For example, 다른 방법 means “another method” or “a different method.” 경로 means “route” or “path.” In this sentence it refers to a route for continuing a journey. It can also describe a path or channel in other contexts, so the surrounding sentence selects the travel-route meaning here. 확인 means “checking” or “verification” here. It is a noun that forms the common verb 확인하다, “to check or verify”; in the sentence, 확인해 is the connected form of that verb before the following construction. For example, 주소를 확인해요. means “I check the address.” 해 줄 수 있어요 is a polite construction meaning “can do it for someone” or, in this sentence, “can check it as a service.” 해 comes from 하다, 줄 comes from 주다, and -ㄹ 수 있어요 expresses possibility or ability in a polite present form. The pattern 동사-아/어 줄 수 있어요? can ask whether someone can do an action for the speaker or another beneficiary, as in 다시 설명해 줄 수 있어요? — “Can you explain it again for me?” Together, 지연이 확정되면 sets the time condition, “once the delay is confirmed.” 안내 데스크에서 identifies the service desk as the place of the action, and 다른 경로를 확인해 줄 수 있어요 says that the desk can check other routes. The whole utterance is therefore: “The service desk can check other routes once the delay is confirmed.”

3. 나중에 서두르느니 지금 계획을 세우고 싶어요.

   I would rather make a plan now than rush later.

   나중에

   later

   서두르느니

   rather than rushing

   지금

   now

   계획

   plan

   세우고

   make

   싶어요

   want to

   More detail

   나중에 means “later” here. It is an adverb that places the rushing situation in a later time. For a present-time contrast, compare 지금 (“now”) with 나중에 (“later”): 지금 시작해요 means “I start now,” while 나중에 시작해요 means “I start later.” 서두르느니 comes from the verb 서두르다, “to rush.” The ending -느니 presents the action as the less-preferred alternative in a choice, commonly with the sense “rather than doing …” or “if the choice is between doing … and another option.” Thus 나중에 서두르느니 means “rather than rushing later.” The -느니 form does not mean that the rushing actually happened; it frames it as the alternative being rejected or avoided. 지금 means “now.” In this sentence it contrasts with 나중에, so the preferred action is located in the present rather than the later situation. 계획 is a noun meaning “plan.” A useful related expression is 계획을 세우다, literally “to establish a plan,” and naturally “to make a plan.” In Korean, 계획 takes the object marker 을 before the verb: 계획을 세우다. 세우고 is the connective form of 세우다, “to establish, set up, or make” in this expression. 세우다 is the base form; 세우고 uses -고 to connect this verb to what follows. Here it connects 계획을 세우다 with 싶어요, producing the desire pattern -고 싶어요. 싶어요 is the polite present form used in the pattern 동사-고 싶어요, “want to do …” or “would like to do ….” The subject is understood from the fixed translation as the speaker: 계획을 세우고 싶어요 means “I want to make a plan.” 싶어요 itself is not the verb meaning “make”; the action verb is 세우다, and 싶어요 expresses the speaker’s desire for that action. Together, 나중에 서두르느니 sets up the less-preferred alternative, “rather than rushing later,” and 지금 계획을 세우고 싶어요 gives the preferred action, “I would like to make a plan now.” The complete utterance therefore means: “I would rather make a plan now than rush later.”

4. 그럼 선택지를 비교해 보죠. 다만 바뀔 수도 있다는 점은 염두에 두세요.

   Then let us compare the options, but keep in mind they may change.

   그럼

   then

   선택지

   option

   비교해

   compare

   보죠

   let’s do it

   다만

   but

   바뀔 수도

   may change

   점

   fact; point

   염두에 두세요

   keep in mind

   More detail

   그럼 is a discourse connector meaning “then” or “in that case.” It can introduce the next proposal without necessarily referring to a time sequence. 선택지 is a noun meaning “option” or “choice.” Korean does not require a plural ending here, so the form can refer to one or more options when the context supports that reading. In this sentence, the fixed translation identifies the options as what will be compared. 비교해 comes from 비교하다, “to compare.” The -해 form connects this verb to the following auxiliary. A reusable pattern is 동사-아/어 보다, meaning “try doing something”: for example, 확인해 보세요 means “please try checking.” 보죠 is 보다 used as the auxiliary in 비교해 보다, followed by the polite ending -지요, commonly contracted here to -죠. In this context, 비교해 보죠 is a polite suggestion: “let’s compare.” Here 보다 does not mean “see” independently; it contributes the idea of trying an action. 다만 is a contrast marker meaning “but,” “however,” or “with one qualification.” It introduces an important limitation to the proposal that came before it. 바뀔 수도 expresses the possibility that something may change. 바뀌다 means “to change” or “to be changed,” and 바뀔 is its form before the dependent noun 수, used in the pattern 동사-(으)ㄹ 수 있다. 수도 contains 수 “possibility” plus 도 “also/even,” and in this pattern it gives the meaning “may” or “could.” The omitted subject is understood from the fixed translation as the options. 점 is a noun meaning “point,” “fact,” or “aspect.” In 바뀔 수도 있다는 점, the pattern -다는 점 turns the preceding statement into “the fact that ...” or “the point that ...”; 은 then marks that fact as the topic. Thus the relevant fact here is that the options may change. 염두에 두세요 is the polite request form of the idiom 염두에 두다, “to keep in mind” or “to bear in mind.” 두세요 uses the polite request ending -세요; the expression is normally learned as a whole rather than translated word for word. For example, 시간을 염두에 두세요 means “Please keep the time in mind.” Together, 그럼 선택지를 비교해 보죠 means “Then, let’s compare the options.” 다만 adds a qualification, and 바뀔 수도 있다는 점은 염두에 두세요 means “but keep in mind the fact that they may change.” The complete utterance is therefore: “Then let’s compare the options, but keep in mind they may change.”

5. 여기서 유연하게 재예약할 수 있는지 확인해 주실 수 있나요?

   Can you check whether flexible rebooking is available here?

   여기서

   here

   유연하게

   flexibly

   재예약할

   to rebook

   수 있는지

   whether it is possible

   확인해 주실 수 있나요?

   Could you check?

   More detail

   여기서 means “here” in this request: it identifies the place or situation where the availability should be checked. It is formed from 여기 (“here”) plus 에서, the location marker used for an action or event. For example, 여기서 신청해요 means “I apply here.” 유연하게 is the adverb “flexibly,” from the descriptive form 유연하다 (“to be flexible”). The ending -하게 turns this descriptive form into an adverb, describing how the rebooking would be done. 재예약할 comes from 재예약하다, “to rebook” or “to make a new reservation.” The prefix 재- adds the meaning “again.” Here, -할 is the form used before 수 in the possibility pattern -을/ㄹ 수 있다. It does not by itself assert that rebooking will happen; the full construction asks whether it is possible. 수 있는지 forms an embedded yes-or-no question. -을/ㄹ 수 있다 expresses ability or possibility, and -는지 turns that proposition into “whether ….” Thus, 재예약할 수 있는지 means “whether it is possible to rebook.” Compare 재예약할 수 있어요 (“It is possible to rebook”) with 재예약할 수 있는지 확인해요 (“I check whether it is possible to rebook”). 확인해 주실 수 있나요? is a polite request meaning “Could you check?” 확인하다 means “to check” or “to confirm.” -해 is its connective form before the auxiliary 주다, which presents the action as being done for the requester. -시- in 주실 is the honorific marker for the person being asked, and -ㄹ 수 있나요? politely asks whether that person can perform the action. In this context, the whole expression functions as a courteous request. Putting the parts together, 여기서 sets the relevant place or situation, 유연하게 재예약할 수 있는지 identifies the question about whether flexible rebooking is possible, and 확인해 주실 수 있나요? politely asks the listener to check it for the speaker. The complete meaning is: “Can you check whether flexible rebooking is available here?”

6. 물어볼 수는 있지만, 운영자가 승인해야 해요.

   I can ask, but the operator has to approve it.

   물어볼

   ask

   수는 있지만

   can, but

   운영자

   operator

   승인해야 해요

   has to approve

   More detail

   물어볼 comes from 물어보다, meaning “to ask” or “to inquire.” The -ㄹ form appears before 수 in the ability pattern -을/ㄹ 수 있다/없다; here it links to the possibility expression rather than marking past time. 물어보다 is a useful everyday verb for asking someone about something. 수는 있지만 expresses a contrast: “it is possible, but …” The noun 수 means a way or possibility in the pattern -을/ㄹ 수 있다, and 는 adds contrast. 있지만 is 있다 (“exist/be possible”) plus -지만 (“but/although”). Together with the preceding form, 물어볼 수는 있지만 means “I can ask, but …” The subject “I” is understood from the fixed translation and is not overtly written in this Korean clause. 운영자 means “operator,” a person or organization responsible for operating a service or system. The plural or singular number is not marked by this noun itself. In 운영자가, 가 marks 운영자 as the subject of the following clause. 승인해야 해요 means “has to approve.” 승인하다 is the base verb “to approve,” and -아/어야 하다 expresses necessity: 승인해야 하다 is literally the construction “must approve.” The polite ending -해요 makes the statement conversationally polite. The thing being approved is understood from context and from the fixed translation; it is not overtly stated in this utterance. As a whole, 물어볼 수는 있지만 sets up a contrast between the possibility of asking and a requirement that follows. 운영자가 승인해야 해요 says that the operator is the one who must approve it. Thus the utterance means: “I can ask, but the operator has to approve it.”

7. 환승 사이에 시간이 충분한 경로를 찾아 주세요.

   Please look for routes with enough time between transfers.

   환승

   transfer

   사이에

   between; in between

   시간

   time

   충분한

   sufficient; enough

   경로

   route

   찾아 주세요

   please find; please look for

   More detail

   환승 means a transfer or changing from one vehicle or route to another. It is a noun, so it can combine with particles or modifiers: 환승이 많아요 means “There are many transfers.” 사이에 marks a position or interval between things. 사이 is the noun “between/in-between,” and -에 marks the relevant location or time interval. Here, 환승 사이에 means “between transfers,” referring to the time interval separating one transfer from the next. 시간 means “time.” In this sentence it is the amount of time available in that interval. For example, 시간이 있어요 means “There is time.” 충분한 means “sufficient” or “enough” and directly modifies the following noun. Its base form is 충분하다 (“to be sufficient”); 충분한 is its noun-modifying form. Thus, 충분한 시간 means “enough time.” This is different from 많은 시간, “a lot of time”: quantity and sufficiency are not the same idea. 경로 means “route” or “path.” 경로를 marks it as the object of the search: the speaker asks for routes that meet the described condition. A useful example is 가장 빠른 경로를 찾아 주세요, “Please find the fastest route.” 찾아 주세요 is a polite request meaning “please find” or, in this context, “please look for.” 찾다 means “to find” or “to look for,” and 찾아 is its connective form before 주세요. 주세요 literally contains 주다 (“to give”), but in this request pattern it adds the meaning “please do this for me.” The request form can be reused with another action, such as 확인해 주세요, “Please check.” Putting the parts together, 환승 사이에 identifies the interval between transfers, 시간이 충분한 describes routes for which that interval has enough time, and 경로를 찾아 주세요 asks the listener to look for those routes. The whole utterance means: “Please look for routes with enough time between transfers.”

8. 그 노선들을 먼저 고려할게요.

   I will put those first.

   그

   those

   노선들

   routes

   먼저

   first

   고려할게요

   will consider

   More detail

   그 is a demonstrative determiner meaning “those” here. It comes before the noun it specifies. The form itself does not mark number; the plural meaning in this phrase comes from 노선들. In Korean, demonstratives can identify something already understood in the situation, without specifying exactly which items they are. 노선들 means “routes” here. Its base noun is 노선, “route” or “line,” and 들 is an explicit plural marker. Korean does not require 들 with every plural noun, but it is used here to make the plural group clear. The surrounding context supports routes as the items being discussed, while it does not identify their exact individual names. 먼저 means “first” or “before the others.” Here it modifies the act of considering the routes, so it adds priority: the speaker will consider these routes before other possibilities. For example, 이 방법을 먼저 시도해요 means “I try this method first.” 고려할게요 comes from the verb 고려하다, “to consider.” The ending -ㄹ게요 presents the speaker’s intention or commitment to do something; after 고려하-, it appears as 고려할게요. It is therefore useful for saying what the speaker will undertake, often in response to a request or situation. The observed form is not merely a neutral prediction about the future. For example, 제가 확인할게요 means “I’ll check.” Together, 그 노선들 identifies the routes being discussed, 먼저 gives them priority, and 고려할게요 expresses the speaker’s commitment to consider them. The whole utterance means “I’ll consider those routes first,” matching the fixed translation “I will put those first.”

9. 그러면 다음 기차를 타려고 뛰지는 않아도 되겠네요.

   So we are not running for the next train.

   그러면

   then; in that case

   다음

   next; following

   기차

   train

   타려고

   intending to ride; to ride

   뛰지는 않아도 되겠네요

   it seems we do not have to run

   More detail

   그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It connects this utterance to the preceding situation and introduces a conclusion based on it. 다음 means “next” or “following.” It modifies 기차, so 다음 기차 means “the next train.” A useful contrast is 다음 기차 (“the next train”) and 지난 기차 (“the train that has already gone by”). 기차 means “train.” In 다음 기차를, the particle 를 marks 다음 기차 as the object of 타다, “to ride” or “to board.” 타려고 is formed from 타다 (“to ride; to board”) and -(으)려고, which expresses an intention or purpose. Because 타다 has the vowel-ending stem 타-, the form is 타려고. Here, 다음 기차를 타려고 gives the purpose of the running: “to ride the next train.” Example: 버스를 타려고 걸어요. means “I walk to take the bus.” 뛰지는 않아도 되겠네요 contains 뛰다 (“to run”), the contrastive negative form -지는 않다, the pattern -지 않아도 되다, and -겠네요. The reusable pattern 동사-지 않아도 되다 means “not have to [verb]” or “be allowed not to [verb].” In this sentence, 뛰지 않아도 되다 means “not have to run.” The 는 in 뛰지는 gives the negation a contrastive focus: running, specifically, is unnecessary. This should not be confused with positive -아/어도 되다, which means that doing something is permitted; the “not have to” meaning here comes from the preceding negation -지 않다. -겠네요 presents the conclusion as the speaker’s inference or realization. Example: 오늘은 일찍 오지 않아도 되겠네요. means “It looks like I don’t have to come early today.” Putting the parts together, 그러면 (“then/in that case”) introduces the conclusion, 다음 기차를 타려고 gives the purpose (“to ride the next train”), and 뛰지는 않아도 되겠네요 says that running is apparently unnecessary. The subject is not overtly expressed in the Korean sentence; the fixed translation supplies “we.” The whole utterance therefore means: “So we are not running for the next train,” with the Korean wording more explicitly conveying, “So it seems we do not have to run to take the next train.”