Clarifying Repair Responsibility | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: In a housing office discussion, a tenant asks whether a gradually loosened fixture is routine maintenance and how to document the repair request..

EN → KO / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Clarifying Repair Responsibility to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

이 수리가 제 책임인지 잘 모르겠습니다.

ee soo-REE-gah jeh chae-GEEM-in-jee jal moh-reu-GESS-seum-nee-dah I am unsure whether this repair is my responsibility.
B

정상적인 사용으로 생긴 손상인지에 따라 달라집니다.

jung-sang-juh-GIN soo-YONG-eu-ro saeng-GIN son-SANG-in-jee-eh ttah-rah dal-LAH-jim-nee-dah It depends on whether the damage came from normal use.
A

누군가 특별히 힘을 가하지 않았는데 시설물이 서서히 느슨해졌습니다.

noo-goon-gah teuk-PPYEOL-hee hee-meul gah-ha-jee ah-NAT-neun-deh shee-seol-moo-ree suh-suh-hee neu-seun-hae-JYUT-seum-nee-dah The fixture loosened gradually, without any unusual force.
B

그렇다면 정기적인 유지 관리에 해당할 수도 있습니다.

guh-ruh-tah-myun jung-gee-juh-GIN yoo-jee gwal-LEE-eh hae-DANG-hal soo-doo eess-seum-nee-dah Then it may fall under routine maintenance.
A

그 판단 내용을 문서로 남겨 주셨으면 합니다.

guh PAN-dahn nae-YONG-eul moon-SUH-ro NAM-gyeh joo-SYUT-seu-myun HAM-nee-dah I would prefer the assessment to be documented.
B

원인에 따라 책임을 정해야 하니 그렇게 하는 것이 맞습니다.

wuh-NIN-eh ttah-rah chae-GEEM-eul jung-hae-yah hah-nee guh-ruh-keh hah-neun guh-shee mat-seum-nee-dah That makes sense, since responsibility should be based on the cause.
A

유지 관리 요청서와 함께 사진을 보낼 수 있습니다.

yoo-jee gwal-LEE yo-CHUNG-suh-gwah ham-KKeh sa-JIN-eul boh-NAEL soo eess-seum-nee-dah I can send photos with the maintenance request.
B

사진을 첨부하시고 문제가 어떻게 생겼는지 설명해 주세요.

sa-JIN-eul chum-boo-ha-SHEE-goh moon-JEH-gah uh-TTUH-keh saeng-GYUN-neun-jee sul-myung-hae joo-SEH-yoh Please attach them and describe how the problem developed.

Word by Word

이 이 in 이 수리가 points to the repair being discussed: “this repair.” It is useful before a noun when identifying a specific nearby or current thing, as in 이 문제 (“this problem”).
수리 수리 means “repair” in 이 수리가, referring to the work needed to fix the housing problem. It commonly combines with 요청서 in 수리 요청서 (“repair request form”).
가 가 in 수리가 marks 수리 as the subject of the embedded question: whether the repair is the speaker’s responsibility. It is attached to a noun that is being identified as the subject.
제 제 in 제 책임인지 means “my,” referring politely to the speaker’s responsibility. 제 is commonly placed directly before a noun, such as 제 문제 (“my problem”).
책임 책임 means “responsibility” in 제 책임인지, referring to who must handle or pay for the repair. It commonly appears with 제, 그의, or 누구의 to identify whose responsibility it is.
인지 인지 in 책임인지 introduces an embedded yes-or-no question: whether it is responsibility. It is used after a noun or descriptive statement when asking or expressing uncertainty about whether something is so.
잘 잘 in 잘 모르겠습니다 modifies 모르겠습니다 and gives the contextual meaning “not be sure” or “not know clearly.” A common reuse pattern is 잘 모르겠습니다 after a question or uncertain situation.
모르겠습니다 모르겠습니다 means “I do not know” or, here, “I am not sure,” in a polite form suitable for speaking with a housing-office employee. It commonly combines with 잘 in 잘 모르겠습니다 when expressing uncertainty politely.
정상적인 정상적인 means “normal” in 정상적인 사용, describing use that follows ordinary conditions. It is placed before a noun, such as 정상적인 사용 (“normal use”).
사용 사용 means “use” in 정상적인 사용, referring to the ordinary use of the fixture. It commonly combines with an adjective or modifier before it, as in 정상적인 사용.
으로 으로 in 사용으로 indicates that normal use is the means or source through which the damage arose. After a noun, it can mark a means or cause, as in 이 방법으로 (“by this method”).
생긴 생긴 in 생긴 손상 means “that arose” or “that was caused,” modifying 손상 and linking the damage to normal use. 생긴 comes from 생기다 and commonly appears before a noun to describe how it came about.
손상 손상 means “damage” in 손상인지에 따라, referring to the condition whose cause determines responsibility. It commonly combines with 생긴 in 생긴 손상 (“damage that arose”).
에 에 in 인지에 따라 is part of the pattern meaning “depending on whether.” In a reusable pattern, a condition or basis can be followed by 에 따라, as in 원인에 따라 (“depending on the cause”).
따라 따라 in 인지에 따라 means “depending on” or “according to,” so the responsibility varies with the cause of the damage. The reusable pattern is noun or clause plus 에 따라, such as 원인에 따라.
달라집니다 달라집니다 means “varies” or “depends” in this discussion about responsibility. It is a polite form used to state that an answer changes according to a condition, commonly with 에 따라 before it.
누군가 누군가 means “someone” in 누군가 특별히 힘을 가하지 않았는데, referring to an unspecified person who might have applied force. It can be placed before a verb when the person is unknown or not important to identify.
특별히 특별히 means “particularly” or “in an unusual way” in 특별히 힘을 가하다, emphasizing that no unusual force was applied. It commonly modifies a verb or action to highlight an exceptional manner or degree.
힘 힘 means “force” in 힘을 가하지 않았는데, referring to force applied to the fixture. The common expression is 힘을 가하다, meaning “to exert or apply force.”
을 을 in 힘을 marks 힘 as the object of 가하다 in 힘을 가하다. It follows a noun ending in a consonant and identifies what the action is applied to.
가하지 가하지 in 힘을 가하지 않았는데 means “exert or apply” as part of the negative expression “did not apply force.” It comes from 가하다 and is commonly used in the pattern 힘을 가하다.
않았는데 않았는데 in 가하지 않았는데 says that the force was not applied and provides background for the following statement about the fixture. This form commonly connects a negative past situation with a result, explanation, or contrast.
시설물 시설물 means “fixture” or “installed facility” in 시설물이, referring here to the physical item that became loose. It can be used before or with words describing its condition, such as 시설물이 느슨해지다.
서서히 서서히 means “gradually” in 서서히 느슨해졌습니다, showing that the change happened little by little rather than suddenly. It commonly modifies verbs describing a gradual change.
느슨해졌습니다 느슨해졌습니다 means “became loose” in 시설물이 서서히 느슨해졌습니다. It is a polite past form used to describe a condition that changed over time, and it commonly follows the thing whose condition changed.
그렇다면 그렇다면 means “then” or “if that is so,” connecting the reported absence of unusual force with the office worker’s conclusion. It commonly appears at the beginning of a response before a resulting assessment or suggestion.
정기적인 정기적인 means “routine” or “regular” in 정기적인 유지 관리, describing maintenance carried out as part of ordinary upkeep. It is placed before a noun, such as 정기적인 관리 (“regular upkeep”).
유지 유지 in 유지 관리 contributes the meaning of maintaining or keeping something in its proper condition. Together with 관리, it forms the maintenance-related expression 유지 관리, which can be used for upkeep of a property or facility.
관리 관리 in 유지 관리 contributes the meaning of management or care of the property or fixture. It commonly follows 유지 in 유지 관리 and can also describe the care of a facility.
해당할 해당할 in 유지 관리에 해당할 수 있습니다 means “fall under” or “be classified as,” referring to the category of routine maintenance. It comes from 해당하다 and commonly appears before 수 있다 when classification is only possible, not certain.
수 수 in 해당할 수 있습니다 marks possibility in the pattern “may fall under routine maintenance.” It is used after a verb’s modifying form, such as 할 수 있습니다 (“can do” or “may do”).
도 도 in 수도 있습니다 adds the sense of “also” or “possibly as well” to the possibility expressed by 수 있습니다. The reusable pattern 수도 있습니다 is useful when presenting one possible result among others.
있습니다 있습니다 in 해당할 수 있습니다 completes the possibility pattern 수 있습니다, giving the meaning “may be” or “could fall under.” In this pattern, it does not describe physical existence; it expresses that an action or classification is possible.
그 그 in 그 판단 points to the assessment just discussed: “that assessment.” It is placed before a noun when referring to something already known from the conversation.
판단 판단 means “assessment” or “judgment” in 그 판단 내용을, referring to the office’s conclusion about responsibility. It commonly combines with 내용 when the details of an assessment need to be recorded.
내용 내용 means “content” or “details” in 판단 내용, referring to what the assessment says. It is commonly placed after a noun to specify the contents of a decision, report, or document.
문서 문서 means “document” in 문서로 남겨, referring to a written record. It commonly combines with 로 when something is recorded in document form.
로 로 in 문서로 남겨 indicates the form or means in which the assessment should be recorded: “as a document” or “in writing.” It commonly follows a noun naming the medium or method.
남겨 남겨 in 문서로 남겨 주셨으면 합니다 means “leave” or “record,” asking that the assessment remain in written form. It comes from 남기다 and commonly appears before 주세요 or 주셨으면 합니다 in polite requests.
주셨으면 주셨으면 in 남겨 주셨으면 합니다 makes the request especially polite, expressing “I would prefer it if you would kindly leave or record it.” A reusable polite preference pattern is verb plus 주셨으면 합니다.
합니다 합니다 in 주셨으면 합니다 completes the polite expression of preference, giving the sentence the meaning “I would prefer that you…” It is the polite form of 하다 used after the conditional request expression.
원인 원인 means “cause” in 원인에 따라, referring to what produced the damage. It commonly appears with 에 따라 when a decision or responsibility changes according to the cause.
정해야 정해야 in 책임을 정해야 하니 means “must or should determine,” referring to deciding responsibility. It comes from 정하다 and is commonly followed by 하다 in a pattern expressing necessity.
하니 하니 in 정해야 하니 gives the reason “since it must be determined,” linking the need to decide responsibility with the conclusion that documentation makes sense. It commonly connects a reason to the statement that follows.
그렇게 그렇게 means “that way” or “so” in 그렇게 하는 것이 맞습니다, referring back to documenting the assessment. It commonly points to an action or method already mentioned in the conversation.
하는 하는 in 그렇게 하는 것 means “doing” or “carrying out,” modifying 것 and turning the previously mentioned action into the topic being evaluated. It comes from 하다 and commonly appears before 것 in expressions such as 하는 것이 좋습니다.
것 것 in 하는 것이 맞습니다 refers to the action of documenting the assessment as a thing or fact being judged. The pattern verb modifier plus 것이 can make an action the subject of a sentence.
맞습니다 맞습니다 means “is right” or “makes sense” in 그렇게 하는 것이 맞습니다, approving the proposed way of documenting the repair assessment. It is a polite expression used to agree that an action or conclusion is appropriate.
요청서 요청서 means “request form” or “request document” in 유지 관리 요청서, referring to the written maintenance request. It commonly follows the type of request being submitted, such as 유지 관리 요청서.
와 와 in 요청서와 함께 connects 요청서 with the photos and means “with.” It follows a noun ending without a final consonant and commonly appears in the pattern noun와 함께.
함께 함께 means “together with” in 요청서와 함께, showing that the photos are sent along with the maintenance request. A common reuse pattern is noun와 함께 or noun과 함께.
사진 사진 means “photo” or “photos” in 사진을 보낼 수 있습니다, referring to images documenting the fixture and damage. It commonly combines with 보내다 or 첨부하다 when submitting visual evidence.
보낼 보낼 in 사진을 보낼 수 있습니다 means “send,” placed before 수 to form a possibility expression: “can send photos.” It comes from 보내다 and commonly appears in the pattern object을 보낼 수 있습니다.
첨부하시고 첨부하시고 means “attach and,” politely directing the listener to attach the photos before describing the problem. It combines the honorific request form 첨부하시다 with 고 to connect the next action.
문제 문제 means “problem” in 문제가 어떻게 생겼는지, referring to the repair issue whose development should be described. It commonly appears as the subject in 문제가 생기다 (“a problem arises”).
어떻게 어떻게 means “how” in 어떻게 생겼는지, asking about the way the problem arose or developed. It commonly comes before a verb when requesting an explanation of a process or manner.
생겼는지 생겼는지 means “how it arose” or “how it developed” in 문제가 어떻게 생겼는지, forming an embedded question about the problem’s origin. It commonly appears before 설명하다 when asking someone to explain how a problem came about.
설명해 설명해 means “explain” in 설명해 주세요, asking the listener to give an account of how the problem developed. It is commonly followed by 주세요 to make a polite request.
주세요 주세요 in 설명해 주세요 makes the preceding action a polite request: “please explain.” It commonly follows a verb ending in 아 or 어, as in 첨부해 주세요 (“please attach”).

Grammar Points

-을 수도 있습니다

정기적인 유지 관리에 해당할 수도 있습니다.

jung-gee-juh-GIN yoo-jee gwal-LEE-eh hae-DANG-hal soo-doo eess-seum-nee-dah

It may fall under routine maintenance.

This pattern expresses possibility or uncertainty in a polite, formal way.

-아/어 주셨으면 합니다

판단 내용을 문서로 남겨 주셨으면 합니다.

pahn-DAHN nae-YONG-eul moon-SUH-ro NAM-gyeh joo-SYUT-seu-myun HAM-nee-dah

I would prefer the assessment details to be documented.

This formal expression politely states a request or preference.

Korean Vocabulary

느슨해졌습니다 verb
neu-seun-hae-JYUT-seum-nee-dah loosened
서서히 adv
suh-SUH-hee gradually
손상 noun
son-SANG damage
수리 noun
soo-REE repair
시설물 noun
shee-SEOL-mool fixture
정기적인 유지 관리 phrase
jung-gee-juh-GIN yoo-jee gwal-LEE routine maintenance
정상적인 사용 phrase
jung-sang-juh-GIN soo-YONG normal use
책임 noun
chae-GEEM responsibility
특별히 adv
teuk-PPYEOL-hee specially; unusually
판단 내용 phrase
pahn-DAHN nae-YONG assessment details
해당할 수도 있습니다 phrase
hae-DANG-hal soo-doo eess-seum-nee-dah may fall under; may apply to
힘을 가하다 phrase
hee-meul gah-HAD-ah apply force

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I am unsure whether this repair is my responsibility.

Show Answer이 수리가 제 책임인지 잘 모르겠습니다.

It depends on whether the damage came from normal use.

Show Answer정상적인 사용으로 생긴 손상인지에 따라 달라집니다.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

loosened

Show Answer느슨해졌습니다

gradually

Show Answer서서히

damage

Show Answer손상

fixture

Show Answer시설물