About This Lesson
Use Changing plans honestly and respectfully to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
우리 계획을 바꿔야 해서 직접 말하고 싶었어.
oo-ree gyeh-HWEH-geul bah-KWAW-yah-seo jik-JJUP mahl-HAH-goh shee-PUHSS-uh I need to change our plans, and I wanted to tell you directly.
B
애매한 메시지를 보내는 대신 직접 말해 줘서 고마워.
eh-MEH-hahn meh-SHEE-jeul boh-NEH-neun deh-SHEEN jik-JJUP mahl-HEH-jwuh-suh goh-MAH-wuh I appreciate you telling me directly instead of sending a vague message.
A
내가 너무 많은 약속을 잡아서 지친 상태로 가고 싶지는 않아.
neh-gah nuh-MOO MAH-neun yak-SSOH-geul jah-BAH-suh jee-CHIN sahng-TEH-roh gah-GOH sheep-JJEE-neun AH-nah I overcommitted, and I don't want to show up exhausted.
B
실망스럽긴 하지만 무리해서 진행하면 아마 하루가 더 힘들어질 거야.
shee-MAHNG-seu-ROHP-kkin hah-jee-MAHN moo-ree-HEH-suh jin-HAENG-hah-myuhn ah-MAH hah-ROO-gah duh heem-deuh-RUH-jil KKUH-yah I'm disappointed, but forcing it would probably make the day harder.
A
동의하기 전에 내가 감당할 수 있는지 확인했어야 했어.
dong-EE-hah-gee juh-neh neh-gah gahm-DAHNG-hahl SSOO een-neun-jee hwa-GEEN-heh-SSUH-yah HEH-ssuh I should have checked my capacity before agreeing.
B
그럴 수 있어. 특히 모든 일이 다 급하게 느껴질 때는 말이야.
geuh-REOL SSOO EE-ssuh. teuk-HEE moh-DEUN EEL-lee dah geuh-PAH-geh nuh-KKYUH-jil TTEH-neun mah-REE-yah It happens, especially when everything feels urgent.
A
대신 만날 때 좀 더 간단한 걸 할 수 있을까?
deh-SHEEN mahn-NAHL tteh johm duh gahn-DAHN-hahn guhl hahl SSOO EE-ssul-kkah Could we do something simpler when we meet instead?
B
그러면 우리 둘 다 더 쉽게 감당할 수 있겠네.
geuh-RUH-myuhn oo-ree dool TTAH duh SHEEP-kkeh gahm-DAHNG-hahl SSOO eet-KKEN-neh That would be easier for both of us to manage.Word by Word
우리
In 우리 계획을, 우리 means “our” and identifies the plans shared by the speaker and listener. It is placed before a noun to show a shared relationship or possession. Use it when referring to something belonging to or involving the speaker and another person.
계획을
In 우리 계획을 바꿔야 해서, 계획을 means “the plans” as the object of changing, with 을 marking the object. The phrase 우리 계획을 refers to the shared plans being changed. A noun followed by 을 or 를 commonly marks what an action affects.
바꿔야
In 바꿔야 해서, 바꿔야 means “need to change” or “have to change.” It expresses that changing the plans is necessary and is followed by 해서 to give the reason. Use this form when an action is required before explaining what follows.
해서
In 바꿔야 해서 직접 말하고 싶었어, 해서 means “because” or “so,” connecting the need to change the plans with the decision to speak directly. Here it gives the reason for the following statement. It is useful for linking a reason to a result or action.
직접
In 직접 말하고, 직접 means “directly” or “in person,” emphasizing that the speaker chose to speak personally rather than communicate vaguely. It modifies the act of telling someone. Use it when stressing straightforward or face-to-face communication, especially about a sensitive matter.
말하고
In 직접 말하고 싶었어, 말하고 contributes “tell” or “say” to the desire expression and links 말하다 with 싶었어. The speaker wanted to tell the listener directly. Use a verb in this -고 form before 싶다 to describe something someone wants to do.
싶었어
In 말하고 싶었어, 싶었어 means “wanted to,” describing a past desire. The complete expression 말하고 싶었어 explains the speaker’s earlier intention to tell the listener. Use this pattern when explaining what you wanted to do in the past.
애매한
In 애매한 메시지를, 애매한 means “vague” or “ambiguous” and describes a message whose meaning is not clear. It appears before the noun 메시지. Use this form when a message or explanation leaves the other person unsure what is meant.
메시지를
In 애매한 메시지를 보내는 대신, 메시지를 means “a message” as the object of sending, with 를 marking the object. The specific message here is described as vague. A noun followed by 을 or 를 commonly marks what is sent, changed, or otherwise acted on.
보내는
In 메시지를 보내는 대신, 보내는 means “sending” and describes the alternative action being contrasted with speaking directly. It is followed by 대신, meaning “instead of.” Use a verb in this form before 대신 when comparing one action with another.
대신
In 보내는 대신 직접 말해 줘서, 대신 means “instead of” and introduces the action chosen as an alternative to sending a vague message. Here it contrasts sending with speaking directly. It commonly follows an action description before presenting the preferred alternative.
말해
In 직접 말해 줘서 고마워, 말해 means “tell” or “say” as part of the expression for telling someone something as a favor. The speaker thanks the listener for speaking directly. Use it with a recipient or content when describing telling someone something.
줘서
In 말해 줘서 고마워, 줘서 expresses that the listener did the action for the speaker, followed by a reason for thanks. The whole expression means “thank you for telling me.” This pattern is useful when thanking someone for doing something beneficial or considerate.
고마워
In 말해 줘서 고마워, 고마워 means “thanks” or “I appreciate it” in an informal conversational style. It directly acknowledges the listener’s considerate action. Use it with someone you can address in a casual, familiar way, especially after describing what they did.
내가
In 내가 너무 많은 약속을 잡아서, 내가 means “I” and explicitly marks the speaker as the person who arranged too many commitments. The subject marker 가 highlights who was responsible. Use a pronoun with 이 or 가 when identifying the person performing or causing an action.
너무
In 너무 많은 약속을, 너무 means “too” or “overly,” showing that the number of commitments was excessive for the situation. It comes before 많은 to intensify the amount. Use it before an adjective or quantity expression when something exceeds a suitable or manageable level.
많은
In 너무 많은 약속을, 많은 means “many” or “a lot of” and describes the number of appointments or commitments. It appears before the noun 약속. Use a quantity description before a noun when stating that there is a large amount of something.
약속을
In 너무 많은 약속을 잡아서, 약속을 means “appointments” or “commitments” as the object of arranging, with 을 marking the object. In this context it refers to scheduled plans rather than only a promise. The reusable expression 약속을 잡다 is used for arranging an appointment or commitment.
잡아서
In 약속을 잡아서 지친 상태로 가고 싶지는 않아, 잡아서 means “having arranged” or “because I scheduled,” explaining why the speaker is overextended. It connects the cause to the result that follows. Use this form when an earlier action provides the reason for a later situation.
지친
In 지친 상태로, 지친 means “tired” or “exhausted” and describes the speaker’s condition. It modifies 상태, so the phrase means “in an exhausted state.” Use this form before a noun when describing someone’s condition after effort or stress.
상태로
In 지친 상태로 가고, 상태로 means “in a state of” and describes the condition in which the speaker would go. The phrase 지친 상태로 means going while exhausted. Use a condition followed by 상태로 before a verb when showing the state maintained during an action.
가고
In 가고 싶지는 않아, 가고 means “go” as the action inside the expression for not wanting to go. It is not functioning as a separate “and” here; it links 가다 to the desire expression 싶다. Use a verb in this -고 form before 싶다 to express wanting or not wanting to do it.
싶지는
In 가고 싶지는 않아, 싶지는 means “do not want to” with emphasis or contrast from the attached 는. The speaker says they do not want to go while exhausted, without simply describing a neutral preference. Use this pattern when carefully stating that you do not want to do something, often in contrast with another possibility.
않아
In 가고 싶지는 않아, 않아 completes the negative expression and means “do not” or “am not.” It is the informal ending that makes the speaker’s lack of desire clear. Use it after a -지 form to negate an action or state in casual conversation.
실망스럽긴
In 실망스럽긴 하지만, 실망스럽긴 means “it is disappointing, though,” acknowledging a negative feeling before introducing a different consideration. The ending 긴 gives the acknowledgment a concessive tone. Use this form before 하지만 when recognizing something honestly while preparing to explain a practical counterpoint.
하지만
In 실망스럽긴 하지만 무리해서 진행하면, 하지만 means “but” or “however” and contrasts disappointment with the likely difficulty of forcing the plan. It connects two viewpoints in a respectful response. Use it after acknowledging one point when you want to introduce a limitation or opposing consideration.
무리해서
In 무리해서 진행하면, 무리해서 means “by forcing it” or “by overexerting ourselves.” It describes continuing with the plan despite limited energy and leads into the condition about making the day harder. Use it when an action would exceed what a person can reasonably manage.
진행하면
In 무리해서 진행하면, 진행하면 means “if we proceed” or “if we carry it through.” The 면 ending makes the action a condition for the predicted result. Use this form when discussing what may happen if a plan, task, or process continues.
아마
In 아마 하루가 더 힘들어질 거야, 아마 means “probably” and softens the prediction rather than presenting it as certain. It appears before the expected result. Use it when giving a likely consequence while leaving room for uncertainty.
하루가
In 하루가 더 힘들어질 거야, 하루가 means “the day” as the subject that would become harder, with 가 marking the subject. The sentence describes the overall day becoming more difficult, not only one task. Use a time expression with 이 or 가 when making it the subject of a description or change.
더
In 더 힘들어질 거야, 더 means “more” or “even more,” showing that the day would become harder than it otherwise would be. It comes before the description of difficulty. Use it before an adjective or adverb when comparing the expected degree with an earlier or normal level.
힘들어질
In 더 힘들어질 거야, 힘들어질 means “become harder” or “become more difficult.” The form describes a change into a more difficult state and is followed by 거야 for the prediction. Use this kind of change expression when explaining how a situation may develop.
거야
In 힘들어질 거야, 거야 gives a conversational prediction or expectation, meaning “will” or “is going to” in this context. It presents the day becoming harder as the likely outcome. Use the pattern with a future-looking verb form when stating an expected result in informal speech.
동의하기
In 동의하기 전에, 동의하기 means “agreeing” and turns the action of agreeing into a noun-like expression before 전에. The speaker refers to what should have been checked before agreeing. Use a verb in this -기 form before 전에 to say “before doing something.”
전에
In 동의하기 전에, 전에 means “before” and places the capacity check earlier than the act of agreeing. It follows the noun-like form 동의하기. Use it after an action or time expression to establish what must happen first.
감당할
In 감당할 수 있는지, 감당할 means “handle” or “manage” as part of an ability expression. The speaker is considering whether they could manage the commitment. Use this form before 수 when asking or stating whether someone can cope with a task or responsibility.
수
In 감당할 수 있는지, 수 expresses possibility or ability as part of the larger expression meaning “whether it can be managed.” It does not carry this meaning independently here; it works with the preceding verb form. Use it in an ability pattern to say that an action is possible or manageable.
있는지
In 감당할 수 있는지, 있는지 means “whether it is possible” and turns the ability expression into an indirect question. The speaker says they should have checked whether they could manage it. Use this form when checking or wondering whether a situation or action is possible.
확인했어야
In 확인했어야 했어, 확인했어야 means “should have checked” as part of a past regret or self-criticism. The speaker recognizes that the capacity check ought to have happened earlier. Use this form with the final 했어 in the pattern for saying that an earlier action should have been done.
했어
In 확인했어야 했어, 했어 completes the expression meaning “should have checked.” Here it is not simply an independent “did”; it closes the past obligation or regret construction. Use the full pattern when explaining that something was necessary in the past but was not done.
그럴
In 그럴 수 있어, 그럴 refers to the kind of situation just described, namely overcommitting and needing to change plans. It contributes “that can happen” or “that kind of thing.” Use it when responding reassuringly to another person’s mistake or understandable difficulty.
있어
In 그럴 수 있어, 있어 means “can happen” or “is possible,” not “is located.” Together with 그럴 수, it reassures the listener that the situation is understandable. Use it in an ability or possibility expression when saying that something can occur.
특히
In 특히 모든 일이 다 급하게 느껴질 때는, 특히 means “especially” and highlights the particular condition in which overcommitting is understandable. It narrows the general reassurance to a specific situation. Use it before the condition or example you want to emphasize.
모든
In 모든 일이 다 급하게 느껴질 때는, 모든 means “all” or “every” and modifies 일이. It presents the situation as involving every matter rather than only one urgent task. Use it directly before a noun when referring comprehensively to all items in a group.
일이
In 모든 일이 다 급하게 느껴질 때는, 일이 means “things” or “matters” as the subject of feeling urgent, with 이 marking the subject. Here it refers broadly to the tasks or situations occupying the person. Use a noun with 이 or 가 when making it the subject of a description or perception.
다
In 모든 일이 다 급하게 느껴질 때는, 다 means “all” or “completely” and reinforces that every matter feels urgent. It adds totality to the subject phrase 모든 일이. Use it to emphasize that nothing in the relevant group seems left out.
급하게
In 급하게 느껴질 때는, 급하게 means “urgently” or “as urgent.” It describes how the matters seem to the person, rather than saying that the person is acting urgently. Use this adverb before a verb when describing the manner or perceived quality of a situation.
느껴질
In 급하게 느껴질 때는, 느껴질 means “feel” or “seem” and describes the matters being experienced as urgent. It comes before 때 to form the time condition “when they feel urgent.” Use it when describing how something is perceived, especially when the impression may be subjective.
때는
In 느껴질 때는, 때는 means “when” or “at times when” and introduces the condition under discussion. The 는 gives the time situation a topic-like emphasis: when everything feels urgent. Use a clause before 때 to state when an action, feeling, or situation occurs.
말이야
At the end of 모든 일이 다 급하게 느껴질 때는 말이야, 말이야 adds conversational emphasis similar to “you know” or “I mean.” It frames the preceding condition as an explanatory aside in friendly speech. Use it after a thought when speaking informally and drawing the listener’s attention to that point.
만날
In 만날 때, 만날 means “meet” and modifies 때 to mean “when we meet.” It places the suggested simpler activity within the future meeting. Use a verb in this form before 때 when specifying the time at which an action will happen.
때
In 만날 때, 때 means “when” or “the time” and connects meeting with the activity being proposed. The phrase means “when we meet.” Use it after a verb or noun to identify the time or situation in which something occurs.
좀
In 좀 더 간단한 걸 할 수 있을까, 좀 means “a bit” or “somewhat” and softens the request for a simpler activity. It makes the suggestion sound less forceful. Use it before a request or description when making a proposal more tactful.
간단한
In 좀 더 간단한 걸, 간단한 means “simple” and describes the alternative activity as less complicated or demanding. It appears before 걸, which refers to the thing to do. Use an adjective in this position when describing a proposed activity or option.
걸
In 간단한 걸 할 수 있을까, 걸 refers to “something” or “the thing” being done and functions as the object of 할. It is the conversational form used for the nominalized object in this sentence. Use an adjective before this kind of object expression when referring to “something that is [description].”
할
In 걸 할 수 있을까, 할 means “do” as part of the possibility question about doing a simpler activity. It appears before 수 in the ability construction. Use this form before 수 when asking whether someone can or could do an action.
있을까
In 할 수 있을까, 있을까 makes the question tentative, meaning “could we” or “would it be possible.” The speaker uses it to propose a change without demanding agreement. Use this form when making a polite suggestion or asking whether an action is feasible.
그러면
In 그러면 우리 둘 다 더 쉽게 감당할 수 있겠네, 그러면 means “then” or “in that case.” It connects the proposed simpler plan with the expected benefit that follows. Use it when responding to a suggestion and drawing out its consequence.
둘
In 우리 둘 다, 둘 means “two” and refers to the speaker and listener together. With 다, the phrase means “both of us.” Use 둘 다 when emphasizing that an outcome applies to two people or two things equally.
쉽게
In 더 쉽게 감당할 수 있겠네, 쉽게 means “easily” and describes managing the plan with less difficulty. It modifies 감당할 수 있겠네 rather than describing the plan itself as simple. Use this adverb before an action when explaining that the action can be done without much difficulty.
있겠네
In 감당할 수 있겠네, 있겠네 expresses a conversational realization or inference that something “can probably” be done. Together with 감당할 수, it means that both people should be able to manage the simpler plan. Use this ending when recognizing a likely possibility in response to new information.
Grammar Points
V-고 싶었어
말하고 싶었어
mahl-HAH-goh shee-PUHSS-uhI wanted to say it.
This expresses a desire in the past: the verb stem is followed by -고 싶었어.
V-았/었어야 했어
확인했어야 했어
hwa-GEEN-heh-SSUH-yah HEH-ssuhI should have checked.
This expresses regret or criticism about a past action that should have happened.
Korean Vocabulary
계획
noun
gyeh-HWEK
plan
계획을
우리 계획을 바꿔야 해서
말하다
verb
mahl-HAH-dah
to tell; to say
말하고 싶었어
직접 말하고 싶었어
메시지
noun
meh-SHEE-jee
message
애매한 메시지를 보내는 대신
무리하다
verb
moo-ree-HAH-dah
to overdo it; to push oneself too hard
무리해서
무리해서 진행하면
바꾸다
verb
bah-KKOO-dah
to change
바꿔야
우리 계획을 바꿔야 해서
보내다
verb
boh-NEH-dah
to send
보내는
메시지를 보내는 대신
실망스럽다
adj
shee-MAHNG-seu-ROHP-tta
to be disappointing
실망스럽긴 하지만
실망스럽긴 하지만
애매하다
adj
eh-MEH-hah-dah
to be vague; to be ambiguous
애매한
애매한 메시지
약속
noun
yak-SSOHK
appointment; commitment
약속을
너무 많은 약속을 잡아서
지치다
adj
jee-CHEE-dah
to become exhausted
지친
지친 상태로 가고 싶지는 않아
직접
adv
jik-JJUP
directly; in person
직접 말하고 싶었어
진행하다
verb
jin-HAENG-hah-dah
to proceed; to carry on
진행하면
무리해서 진행하면
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to overdo it; to push oneself too hard
Show Answer
무리해서to proceed; to carry on
Show Answer
진행하면to change
Show Answer
바꿔야appointment; commitment