Handling a Misdelivered Package Politely | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a shared building, one neighbor checks on a misdelivered package and arranges to pick it up from another neighbor's door..

EN → KO / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Handling a Misdelivered Package Politely to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

제 택배가 옆집 현관문 앞에 놓여 있었어요.

jeh taek-PPAE-gah yup-JJIP hyun-GWAN-moon ah-PEH no-YUH ee-SUH-suh-yo A package for my apartment was left outside your door.
B

제가 그걸 보고 문 옆에 보관해 두었어요.

jeh-GAH guh-GUL BOH-goh moon YUH-peh boh-GWAN-hae doo-uh-SUH-yo I noticed it and kept it by the door for you.
A

혹시 사라진 건 아닌가 걱정했어요.

hok-SHEE sah-rah-JEEN gun ah-NEEN-gah guhK-JJUNG-hae-SUH-yo I was hoping it had not gone missing.
B

아마 라벨이 잘못 붙은 것뿐일 거예요.

ah-MAH rah-BEHL-ee jal-MOHT boo-TEUN guhT-PPUN-eel guh-YEH-yo It was probably just a label mix-up.
A

몇 분 후에 들러서 가져갈게요.

myuht-PPUN hoo-EH DULL-uh-suh gah-jyuh-GAHL-geh-yo I can come by in a few minutes to pick it up.
B

그게 더 편하시면 제가 가져다드릴게요.

guh-GEH duh pyun-HAH-shi-myun jeh-GAH gah-jyuh-dah-DEU-ril-GEH-yo I can bring it over if that is easier for you.
A

고맙지만, 저는 이미 근처에 와 있어요.

goh-MAHP-jji-man juh-NEUN ee-MEE guhn-CHUH-eh wah ee-SUH-yo I appreciate that, but I am nearby already.
B

오실 때까지 제 문 옆에 놓아둘게요.

oh-SHEEL TTAE-kkah-jee jeh MOON YUH-peh no-ah-DOOL-geh-yo I'll leave it by my door until you get here.

Word by Word

제 “제” means “my” in this dialogue and refers to the speaker’s package. It comes before a noun, as in “제 택배”. A learner can use it when identifying something that belongs to them, such as “제 문서” for “my document”.
택배가 “택배가” means “the package” as the subject of the sentence. The ending “가” marks the package as what was left by the door. It is used here in the location statement “제 택배가 옆집 현관문 앞에 놓여 있었어요”.
옆집 “옆집” means the next-door neighbor’s place or the home next door. It identifies the neighboring home in “옆집 현관문”. Use it before a place-related noun when referring to the home next door.
현관문 “현관문” means the entrance or front door of a home. In this dialogue it identifies the door in “옆집 현관문 앞에”. It is useful when describing where a package, person, or object is near a building entrance.
앞에 “앞에” means “in front of” and marks the location where the package was left. It combines with a place noun, as in “현관문 앞에”. The same pattern can describe an object being in front of another place.
놓여 “놓여” describes something being placed or left in a position. Here it is part of “놓여 있었어요”, meaning that the package was left there in that state. It is used before “있었어요” when describing an object that remains placed somewhere.
있었어요 “있었어요” means “was there” or “was in that state” in this dialogue. Together with “놓여”, it describes the package as having been left in place: “놓여 있었어요”. This polite past form is useful for reporting where something was.
제가 “제가” means “I” as the subject of the action. The form identifies the speaker as the person who saw and stored the package in “제가 그걸 보고”. It is used when the speaker wants to make their own role or action clear.
그걸 “그걸” means “that” or “it” as the object of the action. It refers back to the package and is the object of “보고” and “보관해 두었어요”. The form is useful when referring to an already mentioned object without repeating its noun.
보고 “보고” means “seeing it and” or “after seeing it” in this dialogue. It connects seeing the package with the following action in “그걸 보고 문 옆에 보관해 두었어요”. This form is useful for linking one action to the next.
문 “문” means “door”. In “문 옆에”, it identifies the door beside which the package was stored. It can be combined with a location expression when describing where something is.
옆에 “옆에” means “beside” or “next to”. It marks the position of the package in “문 옆에”. Use it after a place or object noun to describe something located alongside it.
보관해 “보관해” means “keep” or “store” in the connected form used before the next part of the sentence. It appears in “보관해 두었어요”, where the speaker explains that they stored the package. This form is useful when linking storing something to leaving it in place.
두었어요 “두었어요” means that the speaker kept or left something in a particular place. In “보관해 두었어요”, it shows that the package was stored and left there for the other person. The polite past form is useful for explaining what was done with an object.
혹시 “혹시” means “perhaps” or “by any chance” and softens the speaker’s concern. In “혹시 사라진 건 아닌가”, it introduces the possibility that the package might have disappeared. It is useful when raising a possibility carefully or politely.
사라진 “사라진” means “gone” or “disappeared” and describes the package in “사라진 건 아닌가”. It is the form used before “건” to refer to the possibility of its having disappeared. Use it when describing something that is no longer where it was expected to be.
건 “건” refers to “the matter” or “the fact” under discussion in “사라진 건 아닌가”. It turns the preceding description into the topic of the speaker’s concern. In this sentence, the whole expression asks whether the package might have disappeared.
아닌가 “아닌가” expresses the wondering concern “might it not be” in this dialogue. Together with “사라진 건”, it asks whether the package may have gone missing, rather than stating that it did. This form is useful for voicing a cautious doubt or worry.
걱정했어요 “걱정했어요” means “was worried” or “worried” in this dialogue. The worry is about the possibility expressed in “혹시 사라진 건 아닌가”. It is useful for explaining a past concern about a person, object, or situation.
아마 “아마” means “probably” and signals that the speaker is giving a likely explanation rather than complete certainty. It introduces “아마 라벨이 잘못 붙은 것뿐일 거예요”. Use it before an explanation when making a reasonable guess.
라벨이 “라벨이” means “the label” as the subject of what happened. The ending “이” marks the label as the thing that was attached incorrectly in “라벨이 잘못 붙은”. It is useful when explaining an issue involving a label or identifying tag.
잘못 “잘못” means “wrongly” or “mistakenly” in this dialogue. It modifies “붙은” in “라벨이 잘못 붙은”, explaining that the label was attached in the wrong way. Use it before an action when describing a mistake in how something was done.
붙은 “붙은” means “attached” or “stuck” and describes the label in “라벨이 잘못 붙은”. It indicates the state resulting from the label being attached. This form is useful before a noun or before a following expression that describes what was attached.
것뿐일 “것뿐일” expresses that something is “only a matter of” or “nothing more than” what has just been described. In “라벨이 잘못 붙은 것뿐일 거예요”, it limits the explanation to the label being attached incorrectly. It is useful when reassuring someone that a problem has no larger cause.
거예요 “거예요” gives a polite conclusion or prediction in this dialogue. Together with “것뿐일”, “것뿐일 거예요” means that it is probably only that matter. It is useful when offering a careful explanation or likely assessment.
몇 “몇” means “a few” or “several” before a counting word. In “몇 분”, it gives an approximate number of minutes rather than an exact number. Use it before a counter when the precise amount is unknown or unimportant.
분 “분” means “minutes” in “몇 분 후에”. It is the counting word used for a short amount of time here. It can follow a number or an approximate quantity when referring to minutes.
후에 “후에” means “after” or “later” and places the action after a point in time. In “몇 분 후에”, it means “in a few minutes”. Use it after a time expression to say when something will happen later.
들러서 “들러서” means “stopping by and then” in this dialogue. It links stopping by the neighbor’s place with taking the package in “들러서 가져갈게요”. This form is useful when a brief visit is followed by another action.
가져갈게요 “가져갈게요” means “I’ll take it” or “I’ll take it away” in this dialogue. The speaker offers to stop by and take the package in “들러서 가져갈게요”. It is useful for making a polite offer or stating what the speaker will do for the situation.
그게 “그게” means “that” or “it” as the subject of the following judgment. It refers to the option of the neighbor bringing the package over in “그게 더 편하시면”. The form is useful when evaluating or comparing an option already mentioned.
더 “더” means “more” and marks a higher degree in “더 편하시면”. It shows that one option may be more convenient than another. Use it before an adjective or adverb when comparing degrees.
편하시면 “편하시면” means “if it is more convenient for you” in this dialogue. It presents the other person’s convenience as the condition for the offer “가져다드릴게요”. This polite conditional form is useful when offering help while letting the other person choose what is easier.
가져다드릴게요 “가져다드릴게요” means “I’ll bring it to you” in this dialogue. It expresses the speaker’s offer to take the package to the other person if that is more convenient. The form is useful when offering to deliver or bring something for someone.
고맙지만 “고맙지만” means “thank you, but” and accepts the offer before giving a different reason. In this dialogue, it introduces the explanation that the speaker is already nearby. It is useful for declining help politely without sounding abrupt.
저는 “저는” means “as for me” or “I” as the topic of the sentence. It sets up the speaker’s situation in “저는 이미 근처에 와 있어요”. The form is useful when contrasting the speaker’s situation with the other person’s offer.
이미 “이미” means “already” and shows that the situation has happened before the current moment. In “이미 근처에 와 있어요”, it explains why the speaker does not need the package brought over. Use it before an action or state that is already true.
근처에 “근처에” means “nearby” or “in the vicinity”. It marks the speaker’s location in “근처에 와 있어요”. Use it with a verb or state that describes being or arriving near a place.
와 “와” means “having come” or “come and be here” in “와 있어요”. It connects coming to the resulting state of being nearby. This form is useful when explaining that someone has arrived and is currently present.
있어요 “있어요” means “am” or “is” in this dialogue. Together with “와”, “와 있어요” means that the speaker has come and is now nearby. This polite form is useful for describing someone’s current location or state.
오실 “오실” means “you come” in a respectful form and modifies “때까지” in “오실 때까지”. It refers respectfully to the other neighbor’s coming to collect the package. Use this form when describing a respected person’s future or expected action before a noun such as “때”.
때까지 “때까지” means “until the time when”. In “오실 때까지”, it sets the time limit for leaving the package by the door. Use it after an action or event to say that something continues until that event occurs.
놓아둘게요 “놓아둘게요” means “I’ll leave it there” or “I’ll put it down and leave it there”. In this dialogue, the package will remain by the speaker’s door until the other person arrives. It is useful for making a polite promise to leave something in a specified place.

Grammar Points

V-고

그걸 보고 보관해 두었어요.

guh-GUL BOH-goh boh-GWAN-hae doo-uh-SUH-yo

I saw it and kept it in storage.

-고 connects actions in sequence: do the first action, then the next one.

V-(으)실 때까지

오실 때까지 보관해 두었어요.

oh-SHEEL TTAE-kkah-jee boh-GWAN-hae doo-uh-SUH-yo

I kept it until you came.

This means “until someone does something.” -시- honors the person who comes.

Korean Vocabulary

걱정했어요 verb
guhK-JJUNG-hae-SUH-yo worried
그걸 pron
guh-GUL that; it
놓여 있었어요 phrase
no-YUH ee-SUH-suh-yo was placed; had been left
라벨 noun
rah-BEHL label
보고 verb
BOH-goh seeing; noticing and
보관해 두었어요 phrase
boh-GWAN-hae doo-uh-SUH-yo kept in storage; put aside
사라진 verb
sah-rah-JEEN gone; missing
아마 adv
ah-MAH probably; perhaps
옆집 noun
yup-JJIP neighboring apartment or house
택배 noun
taek-PPAE package
현관문 noun
hyun-GWAN-moon front door
혹시 adv
hok-SHEE perhaps; by any chance

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I was hoping it had not gone missing.

Show Answer혹시 사라진 건 아닌가 걱정했어요.

It was probably just a label mix-up.

Show Answer아마 라벨이 잘못 붙은 것뿐일 거예요.

I can come by in a few minutes to pick it up.

Show Answer몇 분 후에 들러서 가져갈게요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

worried

Show Answer걱정했어요

seeing; noticing and

Show Answer보고

probably; perhaps

Show Answer아마

gone; missing

Show Answer사라진