Setting Sustainable Work Boundaries | Learn Korean in English

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Use Setting Sustainable Work Boundaries to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

생산적으로 일해 왔지만, 이 속도는 지속하기 어려워지고 있어요.

SENG-sahn-juh-guh-ro eel-heh wad-jji-MAHN, ee SOK-ttoh-neun ji-SOK-ha-gi uh-RYUH-woh-ji-goh ee-SSUH-yoh. I have been productive, but the pace is becoming unsustainable.

성과가 떨어지기 전에 이 문제를 제기해 줘서 고마워요.

SEONG-gwah-gah tteo-ruh-ji-gi jeon-eh ee MUN-jeh-reul jeh-GI-heh jwo-suh goh-MAH-woh-yoh. I appreciate you raising it before performance drops.

우선순위를 줄인다면 계속 성과를 낼 수 있어요.

oo-SEON-soon-wee-reul joo-LIN-da-myun gyeh-SOK SEONG-gwah-reul nel soo ee-SSUH-yoh. I can continue delivering, provided priorities are reduced.

우리는 긴급한 업무와 주로 눈에 보이기 위해 하는 업무를 구분해야 해요.

oo-REE-neun GIN-geup-han EOM-moo-wah JOO-roh NOO-neh BOH-ee-gi WEE-heh HAH-neun EOM-moo-reul goo-BOON-hae-ya HEH-yoh. We need to distinguish urgent work from work done mainly for visibility.

눈에 잘 보이는 업무 중에는 결과를 바꾸지 않으면서 에너지만 소모하는 것도 있어요.

NOO-neh jal BOH-ee-neun EOM-moo joong-eh-neun gyeol-GWA-reul ba-KOO-ji ah-neu-myun-suh EH-neh-ji-man so-MOH-ha-neun GUT-toh ee-SSUH-yoh. Some visible tasks consume energy without changing results.

그렇다면 그런 업무는 의도적으로 줄이거나 위임해야 해요.

GUH-ruh-ta-myun GUH-reon EOM-moo-neun ee-DOH-juh-guh-ro joo-REE-guh-nah wee-EEM-hae-ya HEH-yoh. Then we should cut or delegate them deliberately.

업무를 멈출 시점을 더 명확히 정하면 저에게도 도움이 될 것 같아요.

EOM-moo-reul MEOM-chool SHEE-jjum-eul duh MYUNG-hwak-hee jeong-ha-myun juh-eh-geh-doh doo-oom-ee dwel gut ga-TAH-yoh. I would also benefit from clearer stopping points.

현재 진행 중인 각 업무의 완료 기준을 정할 수 있어요.

HYUN-jeh jin-HENG joong-in gak EOM-moo-eh wan-RYOH gee-JOON-eul jeong-hal soo ee-SSUH-yoh. I can define completion criteria for each active task.

Word by Word

생산적으로 생산적으로 means “productively” here and describes how the speaker has been working. It is the adverbial form used to describe an action, as in 생산적으로 일하다. New example: 생산적으로 일하고 있어요.

일해 일해 means “work” here and is the verb form used before 왔지만 in 일해 왔지만. It comes from 일하다 and fits the continuing pattern 일해 오다. New example: 저는 매일 일해 왔어요.

왔지만 왔지만 helps express that the work has continued up to now and then introduces a contrast in 일해 왔지만. It comes from 오다 with the contrast ending -지만. This form is useful in patterns such as 계속해 왔지만.

이 이 means “this” and directly modifies 속도 in 이 속도는. Use 이 before a nearby noun when pointing to a specific thing, such as 이 업무 or 이 문제.

속도는 속도는 means “as for this pace,” with 속도 meaning pace and 는 marking it as the topic. In 이 속도는, it identifies the pace being discussed. A common pattern is 이 속도는 너무 빠르다.

지속하기 지속하기 means “sustaining or continuing” and presents the action as something that is difficult in 지속하기 어려워지고 있어요. It comes from 지속하다 with -기, commonly used in the pattern V-기 어렵다. New example: 이 속도로 지속하기 어렵다.

어려워지고 어려워지고 means “becoming difficult” in 어려워지고 있어요. It comes from 어렵다 and uses -고 to connect the developing change to 있어요. A common pattern is 점점 어려워지고 있다.

있어요 있어요 completes 어려워지고 있어요 and shows that the change is currently in progress. This is the polite form used in the ongoing pattern V-고 있어요. New example: 상황이 계속 바뀌고 있어요.

성과가 성과가 means “performance or results” as the subject of 떨어지기 전에. The particle 가 marks 성과 as what may fall. A common expression is 성과가 떨어지다.

떨어지기 떨어지기 means “falling or dropping” in 성과가 떨어지기 전에. It comes from 떨어지다 with -기 before 전에, forming the pattern V-기 전에, “before doing or before something happens.”

전에 전에 means “before” in 떨어지기 전에. With a verb in -기, it places one event before another, as in V-기 전에. New example: 회의가 시작되기 전에 준비해요.

문제를 문제를 means “the issue” as the object of 제기해 in 문제를 제기해 줘서. 문제 is followed by 를 because it is what is raised. A common expression is 문제를 제기하다.

제기해 제기해 means “raise or bring up” in 문제를 제기해 줘서. It comes from 제기하다 and is the connected verb form before 줘서. The reusable expression 문제를 제기하다 is used for bringing an issue to someone’s attention.

줘서 In 제기해 줘서, 줘서 expresses that someone did the action for the speaker or as a helpful favor, and it leads to 고마워요. It is the -아/어 주다 form followed by 서. New example: 도와줘서 고마워요.

고마워요 고마워요 means “thank you” and politely expresses appreciation for the other person raising the issue. It commonly follows a reason with -아/어 줘서, as in 문제를 제기해 줘서 고마워요.

우선순위를 우선순위를 means “the priorities” as the object of 줄인다면. 우선순위 is followed by 를 because it is what will be reduced. A common expression is 우선순위를 줄이다.

줄인다면 줄인다면 means “if we reduce” in 우선순위를 줄인다면. It comes from 줄이다 with the conditional ending -ㄴ다면 and takes 우선순위를 as its object. New example: 업무를 줄인다면 더 집중할 수 있어요.

계속 계속 means “continuously” or “onward” in 계속 성과를 낼 수 있어요. It modifies the following action and shows that it can continue. A common pattern is 계속 + verb, such as 계속 진행하다.

성과를 성과를 means “results or performance” as the object of 낼 in 성과를 낼 수 있어요. The particle 를 marks what is produced or achieved. The common expression 성과를 내다 means to produce results.

낼 낼 means “produce or achieve” in 성과를 낼 수 있어요. It comes from 내다 and is the -ㄹ form used before 수 in the possibility pattern V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다. New example: 좋은 결과를 낼 수 있어요.

수 In 낼 수 있어요, 수 is the noun used in a construction expressing that producing results is possible. The full pattern V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 is used for ability or possibility. New example: 오늘 끝낼 수 있어요.

우리는 우리는 means “we” as the topic of the statement. 우리 is followed by 는 to present the group being discussed. A common pattern is 우리는 ... 해야 해요 when stating what the group needs to do.

긴급한 긴급한 means “urgent” and modifies 업무 in 긴급한 업무와. It is the noun-modifying form used to describe work requiring immediate attention. A common phrase is 긴급한 업무.

업무와 업무와 means “work and” in 긴급한 업무와 ... 업무를 구분해야 해요. The particle 와 joins 업무 with the second category being compared. A common pattern is A와 B를 구분하다.

주로 주로 means “mainly” and limits the purpose of the second type of work to visibility. It usually comes before the verb or phrase it modifies, as in 주로 공부하다 or 주로 업무를 하다.

눈에 눈에 means “to the eye” in 눈에 보이기 위해, giving the expression the meaning “be visible.” It is used with 보이다 in the common pattern 눈에 보이다.

보이기 보이기 means “being visible” in 눈에 보이기 위해. It comes from 보이다 with -기 before 위해, forming the purpose pattern V-기 위해. New example: 잘 보이기 위해 앞에 놓았어요.

위해 위해 means “for the purpose of” in 눈에 보이기 위해. Together with -기, it forms V-기 위해, meaning “in order to do something.” New example: 시간을 절약하기 위해 미리 준비해요.

하는 하는 means “doing” and modifies 업무 in 주로 눈에 보이기 위해 하는 업무. It comes from 하다 and describes the work as work performed for that purpose. A common pattern is V-는 업무.

업무를 업무를 means “the work or tasks” as the object of 구분해야 in 업무를 구분해야 해요. The particle 를 marks what is distinguished. A common expression is 업무를 구분하다.

구분해야 구분해야 means “must or need to distinguish” in 업무를 구분해야 해요. It comes from 구분하다 with -아야 and expresses a necessary action before 해요 completes the polite statement. A common pattern is A와 B를 구분해야 해요.

해요 해요 completes 구분해야 해요 and makes the obligation polite and conversational. In 해야 해요, it is part of the expression meaning “have to” or “need to.” New example: 오늘 이 일을 해야 해요.

잘 잘 means “clearly” or “easily” in 잘 보이는 업무, rather than describing how well someone performs an action. With 보이다, it helps express that something is easy to see. A common pattern is 잘 보이다.

보이는 보이는 means “visible” in 잘 보이는 업무 and modifies the noun 업무. It comes from 보이다 in a noun-modifying form. A common pattern is 잘 보이는 + noun.

업무 업무 means “work” or “a task” in visible work that may consume energy. It is a work-related noun that can take particles such as 를, 는, or 의. New example: 이 업무를 먼저 처리해요.

중에는 중에는 means “among” or “within the group of” in 업무 중에는. 중 identifies the set being considered, and 는 marks it as the topic or contrast. A common pattern is N 중에는 ... 것도 있다.

결과를 결과를 means “the results” as the object of 바꾸지 in 결과를 바꾸지 않으면서. The particle 를 marks what is changed. A common expression is 결과를 바꾸다.

바꾸지 바꾸지 means “not changing” in 결과를 바꾸지 않으면서. It is the negative -지 form of 바꾸다 before 않으면서. The pattern V-지 않다 expresses negation.

않으면서 않으면서 means “while not” or “without” in 바꾸지 않으면서. Together with 바꾸지, it forms the negative connective pattern V-지 않으면서. New example: 결과를 바꾸지 않으면서 시간을 줄일 수 있어요.

에너지만 에너지만 means “only energy” in 에너지만 소모하는 것도 있어요. 만 focuses the statement on energy as the only thing being consumed. A common pattern is N만 소모하다.

소모하는 소모하는 means “consuming” in 에너지만 소모하는 것도 있어요. It comes from 소모하다 and modifies the following 것, describing things that consume energy. A common expression is 에너지를 소모하다.

것도 In 소모하는 것도 있어요, 것도 refers to “some things or cases” described by the preceding phrase, and 도 adds “also.” This is the pattern V-는 것도 있다, used to say that such examples exist too. New example: 시간이 오래 걸리는 것도 있어요.

그렇다면 그렇다면 means “if so” or “then” and responds to the previous observation about energy-consuming tasks. It introduces the practical conclusion that follows. A common pattern is 그렇다면 ... 해야 해요.

그런 그런 means “such” and points back to the tasks just discussed in 그런 업무는. It modifies a noun by referring to a previously described type or quality. A common pattern is 그런 + noun.

업무는 업무는 means “as for those tasks,” with 는 marking 업무 as the topic of the proposed action. In 그런 업무는, it refers back to the tasks that consume energy without changing results. A common pattern is N은/는 줄이다.

의도적으로 의도적으로 means “deliberately” and describes the planned manner of reducing or delegating the tasks. It is an adverb placed before the action. A common pattern is 의도적으로 + verb.

줄이거나 줄이거나 means “reduce or cut” in 줄이거나 위임해야 해요. It comes from 줄이다 with -거나, which presents one option alongside another. A common pattern is V-거나 V-다.

위임해야 위임해야 means “must delegate” in 줄이거나 위임해야 해요. It comes from 위임하다 with -아야 and expresses a necessary action before 해요. New example: 이 업무를 다른 사람에게 위임해야 해요.

멈출 멈출 means “to stop” in 멈출 시점을. It comes from 멈추다 in the -ㄹ form that modifies the noun 시점. The phrase 멈출 시점 refers to the point at which work should stop.

시점을 시점을 means “the point or time” as the object of 정하면 in 멈출 시점을 더 명확히 정하면. It refers specifically to the stopping point for work. A common expression is 시점을 정하다.

더 더 means “more” in 더 명확히 정하면 and increases the degree of clarity. It comes before the adverb it modifies. A common pattern is 더 + adjective or adverb.

명확히 명확히 means “clearly” and describes how the stopping point should be defined. It is an adverb modifying 정하면. A common pattern is 명확히 정하다.

정하면 정하면 means “if we set or define” in 멈출 시점을 더 명확히 정하면. It comes from 정하다 with the conditional ending -면. A common pattern is 기준을 정하면, “if we set the criteria.”

저에게도 저에게도 means “for me too” in 저에게도 도움이 될 것 같아요. 저에게 marks the person affected, and 도 adds “also.” A common pattern is 저에게 도움이 되다.

도움이 도움이 means “help” as the subject of 도움이 될 것 같아요. 도움 is followed by 이 because it is what will be helpful. A common expression is 도움이 되다.

될 될 means “will be or become” in 도움이 될 것 같아요. It comes from 되다 in the -ㄹ form before 것, allowing the speaker to describe a possible result. A common pattern is 도움이 될 것 같다.

것 In 도움이 될 것 같아요, 것 turns the preceding possibility into something that can be judged or described. Together with 같아요, the construction expresses “it seems” or “I think.” A common pattern is V-(으)ㄹ 것 같다.

같아요 같아요 means “it seems” or “I think” in 도움이 될 것 같아요. Here it presents the statement as the speaker’s impression rather than a firm declaration. A common pattern is 것 같아요.

현재 현재 means “currently” and sets the time for the work described in 현재 진행 중인 각 업무의. It commonly comes before a phrase describing an ongoing situation. A common expression is 현재 진행 중인 업무.

진행 진행 means “progress” or “proceeding” in 진행 중인. Together with 중인, it describes something that is in progress. A common pattern is 진행 중이다.

중인 중인 means “being in progress” in 진행 중인 각 업무. It follows 진행 and modifies 업무, identifying tasks that are currently ongoing. A common pattern is 진행 중인 + noun.

각 각 means “each” and modifies 업무 in 각 업무의. It treats the tasks individually rather than as one group. A common pattern is 각 + noun, such as 각 항목.

업무의 업무의 means “of each task” in 각 업무의 완료 기준. The particle 의 links the task to the completion criteria belonging to it. A common pattern is 업무의 기준.

완료 완료 means “completion” in 완료 기준. It identifies the state that the criteria are meant to establish. A common phrase is 완료 기준, meaning the criteria for completion.

기준을 기준을 means “the criteria or standard” as the object of 정할 in 완료 기준을 정할 수 있어요. The particle 를 marks what is set or defined. A common expression is 기준을 정하다.

정할 정할 means “to set or define” in 완료 기준을 정할 수 있어요. It comes from 정하다 in the -ㄹ form before 수, forming the possibility pattern V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다. New example: 목표를 정할 수 있어요.

Grammar Points

동사 어간 + 기 위해(서)

눈에 보이기 위해 우선순위를 구분해야 해요.

NOO-neh BOH-ee-gi WEE-heh oo-SEON-soon-wee-reul goo-BOON-hae-ya HEH-yoh.

We need to distinguish priorities in order to be visible.

-기 위해(서)는 어떤 목적을 이루기 위해 하는 행동을 나타냅니다.

동사 어간 + 아/어야 해요

긴급한 업무는 의도적으로 위임해야 해요.

GIN-geup-han EOM-moo-neun ee-DOH-juh-guh-ro wee-EEM-hae-ya HEH-yoh.

Urgent tasks should be deliberately delegated.

-아/어야 해요는 의무나 필요성을 나타냅니다.

Korean Vocabulary

계속 adv

gyeh-SOK continuously; keep

계속 성과를 낼 수 있어요

긴급한 adj

GIN-geup-han urgent

긴급한 업무

눈에 보이기 위해 phrase

NOO-neh BOH-ee-gi WEE-heh for visibility; in order to be visible

주로 눈에 보이기 위해 하는 업무

문제를 제기해 줘서 phrase

MUN-jeh-reul jeh-GI-heh jwo-suh for raising the issue

이 문제를 제기해 줘서 고마워요

생산적으로 adv

SENG-sahn-juh-guh-ro productively

생산적으로 일해 왔지만

성과 noun

SEONG-gwah performance; results

성과가 떨어지기 전에

성과를 낼 phrase

SEONG-gwah-reul nel to produce results; to deliver results

계속 성과를 낼 수 있어요

속도 noun

SOK-ttoh pace; speed

이 속도는 지속하기 어려워지고 있어요

업무 noun

EOM-moo work; task

긴급한 업무와 주로 눈에 보이기 위해 하는 업무

우선순위 noun

oo-SEON-soon-wee priority

우선순위를 줄인다면

주로 adv

JOO-roh mainly; primarily

주로 눈에 보이기 위해

지속하기 어려워지고 있어요 phrase

ji-SOK-ha-gi uh-RYUH-woh-ji-goh ee-SSUH-yoh is becoming difficult to sustain

이 속도는 지속하기 어려워지고 있어요

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

priority

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우선순위

productively

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생산적으로

urgent

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긴급한

continuously; keep

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계속