Korean · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 6 of 12
Solving problems
문제 해결Munje haegyeol
Explain a problem in Korean with -는데 and -밖에 안, say what broke or got lost (-아/어 버리다), and understand the offers staff make.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Explain a problem with -는데: it's only a week old, but…
- Say “only” with -밖에 + a negative
- Say what broke, tore or got lost, with -아/어 버리다
- Offer and accept help: -아/어 드릴까요?, -아/어 드릴게요
Listen
In Daegu, Kwon Sangho takes a vacuum cleaner that stopped working after a week back to a service centre. Ms Yang at the desk helps him. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Ms Yang
어서 오세요. 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
Eoseo oseyo. Mueoseul dowadeurilkkayo?
Welcome. How can I help you?
Sangho
이 청소기를 산 지 일주일밖에 안 됐는데 고장 났어요.
I cheongsogireul san ji iljuilbakke an dwaenneunde gojang nasseoyo.
I bought this vacuum cleaner only a week ago, and it's broken.
Ms Yang
죄송합니다. 어떤 문제가 있으세요?
Joesonghamnida. Eotteon munjega isseuseyo?
I'm sorry. What's the problem?
Sangho
어제 청소하는데 이상한 소리가 났어요. 그리고 지금은 전혀 안 켜져요.
Eoje cheongsohaneunde isanghan soriga nasseoyo. Geurigo jigeumeun jeonhyeo an kyeojyeoyo.
Yesterday, while I was cleaning, it made a strange noise. And now it won't turn on at all.
Ms Yang
제가 한번 확인해 드릴게요. 잠깐만 기다려 주세요.
Jega hanbeon hwaginhae deurilgeyo. Jamkkanman gidaryeo juseyo.
I'll check it for you. Please wait a moment.
Ms Yang
모터 소리가 좀 이상하네요. 보증 기간이 일 년이니까 무료로 수리해 드릴 수 있습니다.
Moteo soriga jom isanghaneyo. Bojeung gigani il nyeoninikka muryoro surihae deuril su itseumnida.
The motor does sound a bit strange. The warranty is one year, so we can repair it for you free of charge.
Sangho
일주일밖에 안 썼는데, 교환해 주실 수 없어요?
Iljuilbakke an sseonneunde, gyohwanhae jusil su eopseoyo?
I've only used it for a week. Couldn't you exchange it?
Ms Yang
영수증이 있으시면 새것으로 교환해 드리겠습니다.
Yeongsujeungi isseusimyeon saegeoseuro gyohwanhae deurigetseumnida.
If you have the receipt, we'll exchange it for a new one.
Sangho
아, 영수증은 잃어버렸어요. 카드로 샀는데 괜찮아요?
A, yeongsujeungeun ireobeoryeosseoyo. Kadeuro sanneunde gwaenchanayo?
Oh, I've lost the receipt. I paid by card. Is that OK?
Ms Yang
네, 괜찮습니다. 청소기를 오늘 맡기고 가시면, 새것이 오면 바로 연락드리겠습니다.
Ne, gwaenchanseumnida. Cheongsogireul oneul matgigo gasimyeon, saegeosi omyeon baro yeollakdeurigetseumnida.
Yes, that's fine. If you leave the vacuum cleaner with us today, we'll call you as soon as a new one arrives.
Sangho
네, 좋아요. 제 전화번호 드릴까요?
Ne, joayo. Je jeonhwabeonho deurilkkayo?
Yes, fine. Shall I give you my phone number?
Ms Yang
네, 여기에 써 주세요. 기사님이 한 번 더 확인한 후에 연락드릴게요.
Ne, yeogie sseo juseyo. Gisanimi han beon deo hwaginhan hue yeollakdeurilgeyo.
Yes, please write it here. We'll get in touch after our technician has checked it once more.
Understand
Explaining a problem: -는데 and -밖에 안
When you complain, first give the background with -는데 (chapter 2), then say what's wrong: (san ji iljuilbakke an dwaenneunde gojang nasseoyo), it's only been a week since I bought it, and it's broken. -(으)ㄴ 지 … 됐어요 (it's been … since) is from A2.
(bakke) + a negative verb means “only”, with the feeling “not more than I'd like”: (iljuilbakke an dwaesseoyo), it's only been a week; (cheon wonbakke eopseoyo), I've only got 1,000 won. The verb after (bakke) must be negative, with (an), (mot) or (eopda). (man), also “only”, works with positive verbs: (cheon wonman isseoyo).
| With (man) | With (bakke) + negative |
|---|---|
| (Keopiman masyeoyo.) I only drink coffee. | (Keopibakke an masyeoyo.) I drink nothing but coffee. |
| (Han myeongman wasseoyo.) Only one person came. | (Han myeongbakke an wasseoyo.) Only one person came (disappointing). |
| (Jogeumman juseyo.) Just a little, please. | (Sigani jogeumbakke eopseoyo.) I have very little time. |
It broke, I lost it: -아/어 버리다
Things that go wrong by themselves are often passive-like verbs (chapter 3): (kkaejida), to break (glass, a screen); (jjijeojida), to tear; (eopseojida), to disappear; and for machines (gojang nada), to break down.
-아 / -어 버리다 after a verb says the action is completely done and can't be undone, usually with regret, sometimes with relief: (yeongsujeungeul ireobeoryeosseoyo), I've lost the receipt; (keikeureul da meogeo beoryeosseoyo), I ate the whole cake. (ireobeorida), to lose, and (ijeobeorida), to forget, are so common that they're written as one word.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (Keobi kkaejyeosseoyo.) | The cup broke. |
| (Gabangi jjijeojyeosseoyo.) | The bag tore. |
| (Setakgiga gojang nasseoyo.) | The washing machine has broken down. |
| (Jigabi eopseojyeosseoyo.) | My wallet has disappeared. |
| (Bimilbeonhoreul ijeobeoryeosseoyo.) | I've forgotten my password. |
Shall I…? I'll… for you: -아/어 드리다
You know -아 / -어 주다 (do something for someone). When you do something for a customer or an older person, use the humble (deurida) instead: -아 / -어 드릴까요?, shall I…?, and -아 / -어 드릴게요, I'll… for you. Staff often say it in (hamnidache): -아 / -어 드리겠습니다.
Offers often come with a real condition, -(으)면 (A2): (yeongsujeungi isseusimyeon gyohwanhae deurigetseumnida), if you have the receipt, we'll exchange it. (yeollakhada) becomes (yeollakdeurida) when staff will contact you.
| Staff say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (Mueoseul dowadeurilkkayo?) | How can I help you? |
| (Hwaginhae deurilgeyo.) | I'll check for you. |
| (Gyohwanhae deurigetseumnida.) | We'll exchange it for you. |
| (Jamsiman gidaryeo jusipsio.) | Please wait a moment. (very formal) |
| (Yeollakdeurigetseumnida.) | We'll get in touch with you. |
More in the grammar: But and background: -지만, -는데, -아/어도 · Passive and causative verbs
New words
- 청소기cheongsogivacuum cleaner · (cheongsohada), to clean
- 고장 나다gojang nadato break down, to stop working · for machines: (gojang nasseoyo), it's broken; (an kyeojyeoyo), it won't turn on (, kyeojida, to come on)
- 이상하다isanghadato be strange, odd · (isanghan sori), a strange noise
- 소리sorisound, noise · (soriga nayo), it makes a noise
- 확인하다hwaginhadato check, to confirm
- 보증 기간bojeung giganwarranty period · (bojeung gigani kkeunnasseoyo), the warranty has run out
- 무료muryofree of charge · (muryoro), for free
- 수리surirepair · (surihada), to repair
- 교환gyohwanexchange · (gyohwanhada), to exchange; (saegeoseuro gyohwanhada), to exchange for a new one (, saegeot); (hwanbul), refund (A2)
- 맡기다matgidato leave (something) with someone, to entrust · (gabangeul matgyeodo dwaeyo?), can I leave my bag here?
- 연락드리다yeollakdeuridato contact (humble) · the humble form of (yeollakhada)
- 기사님gisanimtechnician; driver (polite) · also how you address a taxi or bus driver
- 깨지다kkaejidato break, to get smashed (glass, screens) · (hwamyeoni kkaejyeosseoyo), the screen has cracked (, hwamyeon, screen)
- 서비스 센터seobiseu senteoservice centre, repair centre
Practise
1.How do you say “It's only been three days”?
2.You dropped a glass cup on the floor. What happened to it?
3.Sangho explains the problem. Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I bought it only a week ago, and it's broken.
4.Match the Korean with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
5.You work in a shop. How do you offer to check something for a customer?
6.What does (jigabeul ireobeoryeosseoyo) mean?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
산 지 일주일밖에 안 됐는데 고장 났어요.
San ji iljuilbakke an dwaenneunde gojang nasseoyo.
I bought it only a week ago, and it's broken.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.