About This Lesson
Use Setting a boundary around advice to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
저는 우리 대화를 소중히 여기지만, 경계를 하나 정하고 싶어요.
juh-NUHN oo-REE dae-HWA-rul soh-JOONG-hee yuh-GEE-jee-mahn, GYUHNG-gyuh-rul ha-NAH juhng-ha-GOH SHEE-puh-yoh. I value our conversations, but I need to set a boundary.
B
듣고 있어요. 추측하기보다는 이해하고 싶어요.
DUHT-koh ee-SSUH-yoh. choo-CHEUK-ha-gee-boh-dah-NUHN, ee-HEH-hah-goh SHEE-puh-yoh. I'm listening. I'd rather understand than guess.
A
조언이 바로 나오면, 제 말을 제대로 들어주지 않은 것처럼 느껴져요.
joh-UHN-ee pah-ROH nah-OH-myuhn, jeh MAH-rul jeh-DAE-roh DUH-ruh-joo-jee AH-nuhn guht-CHUH-rum nuh-GYUH-juh-yoh. When advice comes right away, I feel like I haven't really been heard.
B
도와드리려고 한 건데, 어떻게 받아들여졌는지 알겠어요.
toh-WAH-druh-ree-ryuh-goh hahn GUHN-deh, uh-TTUH-keh pah-DAH-druh-ryuh-JYUH-nuhn-jee al-ge-SSUH-yoh. I meant to help, but I can see how it landed.
A
가끔은 제안하기 전에 질문을 먼저 해 주셨으면 해요.
gah-KKUH-muhn jeh-AN-ha-gee juhn-EH, JIL-moo-nul MUHN-juh heh joo-SHYUH-ssuh-myuhn HEH-yoh. Sometimes I need questions before suggestions.
B
그건 합리적인 부탁이고, 존중할 수 있어요.
guh-GUHN ham-NEE-juh-gin boo-TAH-gee-goh, jon-JOONG-hal ssoo ee-SSUH-yoh. That's a fair request, and I can respect it.
A
저도 정말 조언을 원할 때는 분명하게 말씀드릴게요.
juh-DOH juhng-MAHL joh-UHN-ul WUHN-hal TTAE-nuhn boon-MYUHNG-ha-geh mahl-SSEUM-druh-ril-GEH-yoh. I'll also tell you clearly when I actually want advice.
B
그러면 제가 당신에게 필요한 방식으로 대답하는 데 도움이 될 거예요.
guh-ruh-MYUHN jeh-GAH DANG-shin-eh-geh pee-RYOH-han BAHNG-shi-geu-roh dae-dah-PAH-nuhn deh DOH-oom-ee DWEL guh-YEH-yoh. That will help me respond in the way you need.Word by Word
저는
‘저는’ means ‘I’ or ‘as for me’ in this sentence, introducing the speaker as the topic. The particle 는 marks the topic, and this form is useful when stating your own view or need.
우리
‘우리’ means ‘our’ here and refers to the relationship shared by the two speakers. It comes before the noun it describes, as in 우리 대화, and is useful when talking about something shared with another person.
대화를
‘대화를’ means ‘the conversation’ as the object of valuing. The particle 를 marks 대화 as what is valued, and the pattern 대화를 소중히 여기다 is useful for expressing that a conversation or relationship matters.
소중히
‘소중히’ means ‘preciously’ or ‘as something valuable’ and describes how the speaker regards the conversation. It commonly comes before 여기다 in 소중히 여기다, useful when expressing that someone or something is cherished.
여기지만
‘여기지만’ contributes ‘value, but’ in 소중히 여기지만, connecting appreciation with a different point that follows. The ending 지만 commonly links two contrasting ideas, especially when acknowledging something before setting a boundary.
경계를
‘경계를’ means ‘a boundary’ as the object being set. The particle 를 marks 경계 as the object, and 경계를 정하다 is a useful pattern for stating a personal or practical limit.
하나
‘하나’ means ‘one’ and specifies that the speaker wants to set one boundary. It can be placed before a noun to count one item, and here it makes the request sound focused rather than broad.
정하고
‘정하고’ means ‘set and’ in 경계를 하나 정하고 싶어요. The ending 고 connects 정하다 with the following 싶어요, and the pattern N을 정하고 싶어요 is useful when stating something you want to decide or establish.
싶어요
‘싶어요’ expresses ‘want to’ and completes 정하고 싶어요, meaning ‘want to set’. It follows a verb form such as 정하고, and V-고 싶어요 is useful for politely stating a personal desire.
듣고
‘듣고’ means ‘listen and’ and connects with 있어요 to form 듣고 있어요, ‘I am listening’. The ending 고 combines the action with the following verb, while V-고 있다 is useful for describing an action in progress.
있어요
‘있어요’ completes 듣고 있어요 and shows that the listening is currently continuing, rather than simply saying that something exists. The pattern V-고 있어요 is useful when reassuring someone that you are paying attention to an ongoing action.
추측하기보다는
‘추측하기보다는’ means ‘rather than guessing’. The form 기보다는 compares the action of guessing with the preferred action that follows, and V-기보다는 is useful when explaining which of two approaches you prefer.
이해하고
‘이해하고’ means ‘understand’ in the connected form used before 싶어요. Together with 싶어요 it forms 이해하고 싶어요, ‘want to understand’, and V-고 싶어요 is a reusable way to express a desired action.
조언이
‘조언이’ means ‘advice’ as the subject of 나오면. The particle 이 marks 조언 as what comes out, and this subject-marking pattern is useful when describing advice, information, or a response appearing.
바로
‘바로’ means ‘right away’ in 조언이 바로 나오면. It indicates that the advice appears immediately, and it is useful before a verb when emphasizing that something happens without delay.
나오면
‘나오면’ means ‘when it comes out’ here, referring to advice being offered immediately. The ending 면 marks a condition or time, and V-(으)면 is useful for describing what happens when a situation occurs.
제
‘제’ means ‘my’ and specifies that the following words belong to or come from the speaker. It comes before a noun, as in 제 말, and is useful when politely referring to your own words, needs, or belongings.
말을
‘말을’ means ‘words’ or ‘what I said’ as the object of listening. The particle 를 marks 말 as the object, and 말을 듣다 or 말을 들어주다 is useful when talking about listening to someone’s words.
제대로
‘제대로’ means ‘properly’ or ‘as it should be’ and modifies 들어주지 않은. It is useful before an action when emphasizing that the action was done fully or correctly, as in 제대로 듣다.
들어주지
‘들어주지’ contributes ‘listen to for someone’ before the negative form 않은. 들어주다 presents listening as something done for the speaker, and 말을 들어주다 is a useful pattern when asking someone to listen attentively.
않은
‘않은’ marks the listening as not having happened properly in 들어주지 않은 것처럼. It modifies the following 것, and V-지 않은 + noun is useful for describing something that did not happen or was not done.
것처럼
‘것처럼’ means ‘as if’ or ‘like the fact that’ and compares the situation with not being properly heard. The pattern V-(으)ㄴ 것처럼 is useful when describing an impression that something happened in a certain way.
느껴져요
‘느껴져요’ means ‘feels’ or ‘seems to me’ and presents the speaker’s personal impression. The pattern N처럼 느껴져요 is useful when explaining how another person’s action or situation comes across to you.
도와드리려고
‘도와드리려고’ means ‘in order to help you’ and shows the intended purpose of the speaker’s action. The form combines the respectful helping expression 도와드리다 with 려고, and V-(으)려고 is useful for stating an intention or purpose.
한
‘한’ contributes ‘did’ or ‘intended’ in 도와드리려고 한 건데, referring to the action the speaker meant to carry out. The pattern V-(으)려고 한 + noun is useful when describing an intended or attempted action.
건데
‘건데’ gives background and a soft contrast in 도와드리려고 한 건데, leading into the different result or interpretation. It is a conversational form of 것인데, and the pattern V-(으)ㄴ데 is useful for giving context before explaining a contrast.
어떻게
‘어떻게’ means ‘how’ and introduces the manner in which the action was received. It commonly comes before a verb, and 어떻게 + verb is useful when asking or explaining how something happened.
받아들여졌는지
‘받아들여졌는지’ means ‘how it was received or understood’ in the speaker’s explanation. The ending 는지 turns the clause into an indirect question, and 어떻게 받아들여졌는지 알다 is useful when discussing another person’s interpretation.
알겠어요
‘알겠어요’ means ‘I understand’ or ‘I see’ here, showing that the speaker now recognizes how the action was received. It is useful as a polite response after someone explains a feeling, reason, or point of view.
가끔은
‘가끔은’ means ‘sometimes’ and highlights occasions when the speaker needs questions first. The particle 는 gives the time expression a topic or contrastive focus, and 가끔은 is useful when describing an occasional preference or condition.
제안하기
‘제안하기’ means ‘suggesting’ or ‘making a suggestion’ as an action treated like a noun. The ending 기 nominalizes 제안하다, and V-기 전에 is useful for saying that one action should happen before another.
전에
‘전에’ means ‘before’ and follows the nominalized action 제안하기. The pattern N 전에 or V-기 전에 is useful for setting the order of actions, such as asking questions before giving suggestions.
질문을
‘질문을’ means ‘questions’ as the object of 해 in 질문을 하다. The particle 를 marks the object, and 질문을 하다 is the common pattern for asking questions.
먼저
‘먼저’ means ‘first’ or ‘beforehand’ and specifies that questions should come before suggestions. It commonly appears before the action it orders, and 먼저 V is useful when requesting a particular sequence.
해
‘해’ contributes ‘do’ in 질문을 먼저 해 주셨으면 해요, where it refers to asking questions. It comes before the benefactive expression 주셨으면, and the full pattern V-았/었으면 해요 is useful for politely expressing what you would like someone to do.
주셨으면
‘주셨으면’ frames the requested action as something the listener would kindly do for the speaker. In 해 주셨으면 해요, it is useful for making a polite request that someone perform an action for you.
해요
‘해요’ completes the polite expression 해 주셨으면 해요, meaning ‘I would like you to do it’. In this construction it does not stand alone as ‘do’; V-았/었으면 해요 is useful for stating a considerate wish or request.
그건
‘그건’ means ‘that’ or ‘as for that’ and points back to the request just made. It is a shortened topic-marked form of 그것은, and it is useful when evaluating or responding to something the other person has just said.
합리적인
‘합리적인’ means ‘reasonable’ or ‘fair’ and describes 부탁 as an acceptable request. It comes before the noun it modifies, and 합리적인 + noun is useful when judging a request, decision, or expectation as sensible.
부탁이고
‘부탁이고’ means ‘is a request, and’ and identifies the previous statement as a 부탁 before connecting to the next clause. The ending 고 links this noun-based description with another statement, which is useful when presenting two related evaluations.
존중할
‘존중할’ means ‘respect’ in the form used before 수 in 존중할 수 있어요. The ending ㄹ prepares the verb for the possibility construction, and V-(으)ㄹ 수 있어요 is useful for saying that you can or are able to do something.
수
‘수’ is the noun used to express possibility or ability in 존중할 수 있어요. It works with V-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 or 없다, a common pattern for saying that an action is possible, impossible, or within your ability.
저도
‘저도’ means ‘I also’ and adds the speaker’s own commitment to the other person’s request. The particle 도 means ‘also’, and N도 is useful when adding another person or thing to the same statement.
정말
‘정말’ means ‘really’ or ‘actually’ and emphasizes that the speaker genuinely wants advice in the relevant situation. It can modify a verb or adjective, and 정말 is useful when clarifying sincerity or strengthening a statement.
조언을
‘조언을’ means ‘advice’ as the object of 원할. The particle 를 marks what is wanted, and 조언을 원하다 is useful when directly stating that you want advice.
원할
‘원할’ means ‘want’ in the modifier form used before 때는. It describes the time when the speaker wants advice, and V-(으)ㄹ 때 is useful for saying ‘when someone does or wants something’.
때는
‘때는’ means ‘when’ or ‘at the time when’, with 는 adding topic or contrastive focus. In 원할 때는 it introduces the condition under which the speaker will clearly ask for advice, and V-(으)ㄹ 때는 is useful for stating what applies in a particular situation.
분명하게
‘분명하게’ means ‘clearly’ and describes how the speaker will communicate the desire for advice. It commonly modifies speaking, explaining, or stating, and 분명하게 V is useful when clarity is important.
말씀드릴게요
‘말씀드릴게요’ means ‘I will tell you’ in a respectful form and expresses the speaker’s commitment to say it clearly. The ending ㄹ게요 is useful when offering or promising an action in response to the other person.
그러면
‘그러면’ means ‘then’ or ‘if so’ and connects the previous agreement with its expected result. It is useful at the start of a clause when drawing a consequence from what someone has just said.
제가
‘제가’ means ‘I’ as the explicit subject of the response. The particle 가 marks the subject and can focus attention on who will perform the action, which is useful when assigning responsibility or stating who will respond.
당신에게
‘당신에게’ means ‘to you’ and marks the person toward whom the response is directed. The particle 에게 follows a person or recipient, and 사람에게 + verb is a useful pattern for describing an action directed at someone.
필요한
‘필요한’ means ‘needed’ or ‘necessary’ and modifies 방식 in 당신에게 필요한 방식. It is placed before the noun it describes, and 필요한 + noun is useful when identifying what a person or situation requires.
방식으로
‘방식으로’ means ‘in the way’ or ‘by the manner’ and marks the method of responding. The particle 으로 indicates the way an action is carried out, and N 방식으로 is useful when explaining how something should be done.
대답하는
‘대답하는’ means ‘answering’ or ‘responding’ in the form used before 데. The ending 는 turns the action into a modifier, and V-는 데 도움이 되다 is useful for saying that something helps with carrying out an action.
데
‘데’ refers to the process or situation of doing something in 대답하는 데 도움이 되다. In this pattern it means ‘in doing’ or ‘for doing’, and V-는 데 도움이 되다 is useful for describing what helps an activity.
도움이
‘도움이’ means ‘help’ as the subject of 될 거예요. The particle 이 marks 도움 as what will be helpful, and 도움이 되다 is a common pattern meaning that something helps or proves useful.
될
‘될’ means ‘will be’ or ‘will become’ in 도움이 될 거예요. It is the form of 되다 used before 거예요 to describe an expected result, and 도움이 될 거예요 is useful for saying that something will help.
거예요
‘거예요’ contributes the meaning ‘will’ or ‘is expected to’ in 도움이 될 거예요. It completes the future-expectation pattern V-(으)ㄹ 거예요, which is useful for stating a likely result or planned situation.
Grammar Points
V-기보다는
추측하기보다는 이해하고 싶어요.
choo-CHEUK-ha-gee-boh-dah-NUHN ee-HEH-hah-goh SHEE-puh-yoh.I want to understand rather than guess.
‘-기보다는’ means ‘rather than doing V’ and contrasts a less preferred action with the preferred one.
V-는지
조언이 제대로 받아들여졌는지 궁금해요.
joh-UHN-ee jeh-DAE-roh pah-dah-druh-ryuh-JYUH-nuhn-jee goong-GEUM-heh-yoh.I wonder whether the advice was properly received.
‘-는지’ turns a clause into an indirect question meaning ‘whether’ or ‘if’.
Korean Vocabulary
가끔
adv
gah-KKEUM
sometimes
가끔은
경계
noun
GYUHNG-gyeh
boundary
경계를
대화
noun
dae-HWA
conversation
대화를
도와드리다
verb
toh-WAH-druh-ree-dah
to help someone
도와드리려고
듣고 있다
verb
DUHT-koh eet-TTAH
to be listening
듣고 있어요
바로
adv
pah-ROH
right away
받아들여지다
verb
pah-dah-druh-ryuh-JEE-dah
to be received; to be interpreted
받아들여졌는지
소중히 여기다
verb
soh-JOONG-hee yuh-GEE-dah
to value
소중히 여기지만
이해하다
verb
ee-HEH-hah-dah
to understand
이해하고 싶어요
제대로
adv
jeh-DAE-roh
properly
조언
noun
joh-UHN
advice
조언이
추측하다
verb
choo-CHEUK-ha-dah
to guess
추측하기보다는
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
I'm listening. I'd rather understand than guess.
Show Answer
듣고 있어요. 추측하기보다는 이해하고 싶어요.I meant to help, but I can see how it landed.
Show Answer
도와드리려고 한 건데, 어떻게 받아들여졌는지 알겠어요.That's a fair request, and I can respect it.
Show Answer
그건 합리적인 부탁이고, 존중할 수 있어요.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to guess
Show Answer
추측하기보다는to be received; to be interpreted
Show Answer
받아들여졌는지to help someone
Show Answer
도와드리려고conversation